The Rise of Natural, Organic Wines: What You Need to Know
Organic wine sounds healthier and more luxurious, but the designation is so much more than just a phrase. Many vineyards are transforming their growing practices and becoming more sustainable or even certified organic. With new eco-friendly and biodynamic processes, winemakers are creating wine that is better. The result of organic grape growing and wine making is healthier both for you and the environment.
Since 2023, Halter Ranch in Paso Robles has been certified organic by California’s Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF). Our Texas vineyard also received its CCOF organic certification in June 2024. Not to be outdone, our Temecula tasting room offers the same organic wine as our Paso Robles location.
Continue reading to learn the history and benefits of organic wine farming!
The History of Organic Wine
Organ grape farming began taking off in the 1960s. However, organic wines had to fight an uphill battle to gain similar popularity. This is because traditional winemakers—and pesticide companies—saw organic wines as a threat.
Because United States organic wines do not have sulfites, they often have a shortened shelf life. This caused skepticism and reluctance in distributors.
Organic wine did not grow in popularity until the 2010s, when they rose among the luxury market. Progress was slow, but today, consumers recognize the purity and local flavor inherent in organic and sustainable wines. Terroir-driven wines have a unique sense of place that is impossible to manufacture.
The Benefits of Organic Wine
Conventional wines lack many of the benefits found in organic bottles. Instead, they contain numerous additives and pesticides. These can negatively impact wine quality, the vineyard’s environment, and consumers’ health. While methods other than organic growing can reduce pesticide residues, most wine manufacturers do not use these techniques.
Therefore, organic growing is the only reliable method for ensuring healthy, pesticide-free wines. Standards are strict. Adhering to CCOF guidelines means allowing the organization to pre-approve every product put in or on the ground. The winemaking process undergoes additional regulations.
Organic Wine Farming
Organic wine begins with organic grapes. Winemakers work with nature, rather than fighting it, to guarantee the highest quality wine grapes. The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) also has stringent rules about the grape-growing and wine-making processes.
From the roots of the vines to the ripe grapes to the finished bottles of wine, organically crafted wines are different than traditional wines. Though popularity and acclaim were slow to arrive, today’s organic options represent the best of modern vintners’ offerings.
Halter Ranch’s vineyards in Paso Robles, CA and Fredericksburg, TX are both 100% organic and CCOF certified. Our Halter Ranch estate is a haven for the natural world to continue flourishing while delivering exceptional, timeless wines. Our goal is to make this land fruitful for generations to come.
To yield delicious crops of organic grapes in both vineyards, we abide by strict organic winemaking and farming practices. We abstain from the use of all synthetic pesticides and fertilizers. Instead, we prioritize the use of renewable resources and diligently conserve soil and water.