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.
Small £4.25 Medium £6.00 Large £8.25 Bottle £24..50
Small £4.50 Medium £6.25 Large £8.50 Bottle £25.50
Small £5.00 Medium £6.75 Large 9.50 Bottle £28.00
Small £5.75 Medium £8.50 Large £11.50 Bottle £34.00
Bottle £26.00
Bottle £28.00
Bottle £48.00
Bottle £36.00
Small £4.25 Medium £6.00 Large £8.20 Bottle £24.50
Small £4.50 Medium £6.25 Large £8.50 Bottle £25.50
Small £4.75 Medium £6.75 Large £9.50 Bottle £27.50
Small £5.50 Medium £8.25 Large £10.75 Bottle £32.00
Bottle £26.00
Bottle £48.00
Bottle £48.00
Bottle £38.00
Small £4.25 Medium £6.00 Large £8.25 Bottle £24.50
Bottle £45.00