The Nest

Friday, June 22, 2007 4:18 PM

The Most Delish Organic Wine

Hello Nesties! I’m going to be blogging about eco-conscious living, and sharing all the tricks and tips I’ve picked up in the past few years. I’m a regular Nest contributor with a husband of three years and a fifteen month old daughter. I fancy myself somewhat of an eco expert, but I still have a lot to learn, so I’m eager to hear your ideas for living a greener life and creating a healthier home.

I made the switch to organic food six years ago, yet for some reason I only recently got serious about organic wines. This makes no sense at all, since I consume nearly as much wine as I do food, and because grapes are one of the most chemically treated crops out there (ewg.org has a list of the most pesticide-intensive produce). I’d had some underwhelming experiences with organic wine in the past (specifically an organic Chard my parents used to serve which was oaked to within an inch of its life).

Recently I got the chance to interview Denis Toner, a sommelier and the founder of the Nantucket Wine Festival. He told me that most truly organic wines aren’t terribly good, because they can’t contain sulfur dioxide, and wines that lack this preservative are destined to be inconsistent at best. Instead look for wines labeled “made with organically grown grapes” since these wines are close to organic but still contain that crucial sulfur dioxide. He then clued me into Robert Sinskey, a Napa Valley winemaker who produces organic-grape wines. At $20+ per bottle they’re too pricey for every night drinking (at my house anyway), but perfect for any slightly special occasion. I discovered some more gently priced organic-grape wines at Whole Foods.

Of course, there’s a lot of debate among environmentalists over whether it’s better to prioritize organic or locally grown goods. Organic wines prevent pounds of pesticides from being dumped onto the land and winding up in our bodies. . . but if that organic wine is shipped from Spain, tons of pollutants are being pumped into the atmosphere during transport. So it might be better to pick-up a local wine instead. But you don’t need to live in Napa Valley to drink local—I’ve heard from a reliable source that 48 of the 50 United States produce wine.

Regardless of whether you decide to go organic or local with your wine buying, you’ll be a much more eco-responsible oenophile than if you ignored the issue entirely. So raise a glass or two to you! (For bonus points, sip from one of these stylish recycled-glass tumblers from Vivaterra)

Do you have a favorite wine made from organically grown grapes? I’d love to hear about it so I can add it to my list.