I grew up in a large Italian family so it’s probably not surprising that I love a good glass of wine. What is surprising is that it’s one of the few things my husband and I both agree on despite his “sensitive palate”. He too loves a good glass of red wine…probably more than me. So as I’m reading, researching and trying to apply all of the new knowledge on what’s good and what’s bad when it comes to our nutrition choices (ok…wine is not nutritious, but it can be good for you) I’ve been afraid of what I might learn about wine. As it turns out…there’s good news and bad news, but I think the end result is something we can both live with. The bad news is non-organic wine is bad for you and that means we have to say good by to many of our old favorites. The good news is that organic wine is good for you – in moderation. So we can all drink up without feeling guilty. And we get to have fun taste testing all of the new organic choices.
Some things to consider:
- organic wines are higher in antioxidants
- contrary to popular belief, a good organic wine is actually more flavorful and tastes better than non-organic wine
- organic wines have no added sulfites (make sure the label says so – No Sulfites Added or NSA)
- as consumers embrace the move to organic, more grape growers and wineries are embracing the organic movement as well…this means more choices for us!
- some non-organic wines contain urethane, a cancer-causing chemical
- non-organic wines are more likely to cause headaches, hangovers and allergic reactions due to the chemicals used in the grape growing process and an over-abundance of sulfites, which are used to extend the shelf life of the wine
- conventional winemakers can use any of 17 approved pesticides and herbicides on their grapes, which aren’t washed before processing. They can also add chemicals to change the flavor and acidity of the wine.
Here is a list of some of the most highly-rated organic red wines that my husband and I will be trying over the next several months. I’ll report back on our favorites.
- Benzinger Sonoma Mountain Red
- Red Truck Petite Sirah
- Frog’s Leap Cabernet Sauvignon
- Frey Vineyard’s Syrah
- Coturri Winery Zinfandel
- LadyBug Red Organic Table Wine
- Bonterra Merlot
- Carmenet Cabernet Franc
- Lolonis Carignane Redwood Valley
- True Earth Red Blend
What’s your favorite organic wine? Do you agree that organic wine is more flavorful than conventional wine?
lalalala lalalala I can’t hear you. I can’t hear you.
Are there any organic whites? Or blushes? I really haven’t found many reds that I like at all.
I’ve been to the Red Truck winery I think. Hubs and I have done a few California wine country tours. We’ve not specifically sought out organics, but I’m interested in what you said about them not giving headaches. Often wine gives me one and I hate that.
I am looking forward to trying the Frog’s Leap Cabernet Sauvignon. Frogs leap makes a great wine as it is and Cabernets are my favorite. Check out STLwinegirl.com. Angie is a very good friend of mine who is an expert in wine. I will be curious to see what she has to say and recomend.
I have a new friend who’s husband is a sommelier. Je said the best organics he’s had were from Bonterra and that they’re readily available. He wasn’t sure of the retail outlets that carried them (he buys from wholesalers), but he thought those local to Nashville might try Frugal McDougals or J Barleycorn since they have such an extensive selection. They might also be able to recommend some other organics.
Happy sipping!
Ha ha ha …. try the organic wine…I want your expert opinion!
I only researched reds b/c they have the greatest health benefits. I’ll dig around and see if I can find anything on whites and blushes from the sources I used.
Maybe organic wine will be the solution. I’m going to see if I can find Red Truck in Nashville this weekend so I can give it a try. I heard they talked about it on the Today Show this week. Apparently, it’s one of the best of the organic reds. I hope it’s good!
I’ll check out her site. If you talk to her, ask her if she can recommend an organic white or blush too.