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Organic & Local
Organic Wine
The USDA created the National Organic Program, which defined “organic wine” as “a wine made from organically grown grapes without any added sulfites.” It can contain naturally occurring sulfites, but the total sulfite level must be less than 20 parts per million. Because most wine producers still use additional sulfites to create their wines, the organic label has been further broken down to create a distinction between “organic” and “made with organically grown grapes” (for those adding additional sulfites). In both cases, the grapes are grown without pesticides, herbicides and chemical fertilizers. Chemicals used for non-organically grown grapes can damage the soil, the vine, the air and the water, and strip the soil of minerals. Worse yet, some of these chemicals can be absorbed into the skin of the grape, and thus into the wine. So seeking an “organic” or “organically grown grapes” label has become an increasingly popular option amongst consumers, and a high number of vineyards worldwide have “gone organic.”
Biodynamic Wine
Going one step further, Biodynamic Agriculture, based on the writings of Rudolf Steiner in the 1920s, is based on the idea of a spiritual and ecological balance in farming and nature, considering the interrelationship between the soil, plants and animals. In this self-nourishing system, natural compost is provided by the animals without the use of any artificial plants or soil, and follows an astronomical calendar for the timing of plantings and harvest. This method of farming has become increasing popular in regions across France, Switzerland, Italy, Austria, Germany, Australia, Chile, South Africa, Canada and the U.S. There are currently 450 biodynamic wine producers worldwide including several top estates in France.
Does Organic Wine Taste Better Than Conventional Wine? While early attempts at producing organic wine 20 years ago yielded some disappointing results, today’s organic wines show up consistently among the top ten best wines of any region where they are represented. Some people prefer the taste of organic wine to the taste of conventional wine, because organically grown grapes are more flavorful and have a more distinct terroir character.
Local
Connecticut is home to a wonderful state wine trail which ties 16 wineries together across two major state regions.
There are 16 wineries scattered throughout the state, and they make a perfect destination for a day trip or mini-vacation to include wine tasting as well as visits to scenic or historic places. The climate in Connecticut is mild compared to the rest of New England and wines produced include Chardonnay, Cabernet, Merlot, and Riesling. While Connecticut wines have only been produced since 1978, many farms where the grapes are grown are hundreds of years old.
Recent notable wines at the Connecticut Wine Festival included Sharpe Hill Vineyard’s Ballet of Angels, the award-winning wines of Hopkins Vineyards, Miranda Vineyard’s Seyval Blanc and Woodridge White, Land of Nod’s Bianca, Taylor Brooke’s Traminette and Connecticut Valley Winery’s Chianti and port-style Black Bear.
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