Simply put, Organic wines are made from organically grown grapes. But there are lots of different certifications for organic products around the world. For instance, organic wine in the United States cannot contain added sulphites, whereas it can in Europe. Most of the growers on the list might farm pretty much organically, even fully, but either aren't certified or are in conversion. The wines on the list are certified organic, or in organic conversion.
This method predates organic farming. Biodynamic farming was devised in the 1920s by an Austrian called Rudolf Steiner. At its heart is the biodynamic calendar, which regulates what you do, and when. Then there are the special natural composts you stick in cow horns and bury in the ground, in addition to renouncing all manufactured chemicals and fertilizers. This might sound a little unnecessary, but there's undoubtedly substance to it. A visit to a biodynamic vineyard gives you a sense that the vineyard feels in harmony with nature. In the wine world, some of the most passionate, honest winegrowers you'll ever meet farm in this method. Although they don’t shout about it, some of the world’s leading producers follow this method, including Cristal Champagne and Domaine de la Romanée-Conti.
People are increasingly concerned about sulphites in wines, so what are they? Sulphur is a natural product of fermentation, so there's no such thing as 'zero sulphur' wine, but you can have zero added sulphur and lower sulphur wines.
Sulphur dioxide has been added to wine as a preservative since Roman times. Does it give you a headache? Not exactly, but it does badly affect about 1% of the population. There's more added sulphur in dried fruit (about 20 times more) than wine.
However, in our experience, better wines tend to have fewer sulphites. There are fewer sins to cover up. You don't have to go to the extent of barely any added sulphur in order to make good wines, but at that end of the scale there are also some people making amazing, interesting and delicious wines.
You will find a selection of wines with significantly less added sulphur than most, or no added sulphur at all, on our list.
Light and fresh with peach and floral notes
Glass £6.75 Bottle £27.00
Sauvignon Blanc, pink grapefruit, passion fruit and mandarin notes
Glass £8.40 Bottle £36.00
Ripe stone fruit with apple like acidity, unoaked
Glass £6.95 Bottle £28.00
Viognier, Banoffee, spice and macerated pear
Glass £7.00 Bottle £30.00
Picpoul de Pinet, bone dry, fresh and mineral style balanced with lemon
Glass £7.00 Bottle £30.00
Dry and complex with fresh apple, peach and exotic fruit notes
Glass £9.00 Bottle £38.00
Viura, Pinapple, Dense Plummy Fruit
Bottle £36.00
Granche Blanc, Viognier, Peaches, Citrus, Toasted Nuts
Bottle £38.00
Chardonnay, Green Apple, Citrus, Mineral
Bottle £66.00
Merlot, Petit Verdot, Black Cherry, Blackcurrant
Glass £8.60 Bottle £36.00
Carignan Vert, jammy sweetness with subtle spice notes
Glass £8.60 Bottle £36.00
Dry, black cherry and wild berries with a long finish
Glass £8.14 B Bottle £35.00
Malbec, red fruit, igh acidity with a juicy finish
Glass £8.84 Bottle £38.00
Montepulciano, Red fruits, Liquorice
Glass £7.25 Bottle £30.00
Bobal, Fruity, Earthy
Bottle £42.00
Grenache, Mataro, Wild Strawberry, Spice
Glass £10.20 Bottle £43.00
Full brambly fruits, rustic herby and savoury
Glass £6.75 Bottle £28.00
Genache, Syrah, Carignan, Full Bodied, Red Fruits
Bottle £36.00
Cabernet Franc, savoury minerality with dried red fruits
Bottle £65.00
Sangiovese Primitivo, Rich, Fruit, Dried Flowers
Bottle £40.00
Catarratto, zippy acidity with dried apricots and raisins
Glass £8.50 Bottle £38.00
Delicate grapefruit with hints of white peach and minerals
Glass £8.20 Bottle £34.00
Super refreshing with light red fruits
Glass £7.45 Bottle £35.00
White flowers, with dried fruits, fine and elegant
Glass £9.00 Bottle £49.00
Voluptuous and elegant, white flowers, pasties and lemon
Bottle £42.00
Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Penot Meunier Rich, Baked Apple, Citrus
Bottle £70.00
Glera, Liberated from alcohol, traditional wine making method
Glass £6.50 Bottle £33.00
Syrah, Apple, Citrus, Summer Berries
Glass £6.50 Bottle £33.00
£7.00
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£5.95
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