Recently, it seems like we have more opportunities to see various organic products such as "organic" foods and cosmetics in our daily lives. Organic products are becoming an inseparable part of life for health-conscious and natural-minded people. Just as there are various types of food and products that are organic and non-organic, there is also a category of wine called ``organic wine.'' In recent years, both wine producers and consumers alike have become increasingly interested in organic wine, and an increasing number of producers are actively producing organic wine. Recently, you can see the words organic wine in familiar places such as supermarkets. When you hear the word organic, you may imagine that it is good for your health. I think there are many people who prefer organic wine because the name sounds good, but do you know exactly what kind of wine organic wine is? This time, we will answer the question "What is organic wine?" that you may know but do not know.

What kind of wine is organic wine?

• It is made from organically grown grapes that do not use chemical fertilizers or pesticides.
• Legally certified organic.

1. Avoid using synthetic chemicals such as pesticides and herbicides
2. do not use chemical fertilizers
3. No genetic manipulation

For this reason, organic wine is produced by using natural fertilizers such as compost instead of chemical fertilizers and substances, and by using herbs to repel insects instead of spraying pesticides on the fields. We are doing the construction. Many people may think that organic wine does not contain preservatives or additives. However, organic wines are also allowed to use preservatives and additives to prevent deterioration of the wine's taste. However, the amount that can be used is more limited than in regular wine, so only the minimum necessary amount is allowed to be added.

Is non-organic wine bad for your health?

I think many people have the impression that " organic = good for health because no pesticides are used ." Wine made using conventional farming methods is often thought to be bad for the body, but this is not necessarily the case. In fact, since harvested grapes are vinified without being washed, some people may be concerned about using conventional farming methods to make wine using unwashed grapes that have been sprayed with pesticides. not. However, depending on the type of pesticide, there is a rule that you must wait a certain amount of time after spraying before harvesting. This is called the holding period (the period from spraying pesticides to harvesting), and although the period varies depending on the type of pesticide, there must be a period of about two months between spraying pesticides and harvesting. Don't. Also, when wine ferments, the alcohol kills substances that are dangerous to the human body, so it doesn't necessarily have to be organic to be bad for the body. It has been known for a long time that pesticides are bad for the body, so research has been carried out and a holding period has been established to prevent harmful substances from entering wine.

What are the benefits of organic wine?

So why is organic wine becoming so popular? What are the benefits of making wine using organic farming methods? One of the main reasons for this is that it is "friendly to the natural environment." When growing grapes using conventional chemical farming methods, it is necessary to use large amounts of pesticides and insecticides. This puts a strain on the soil and plants where grapes are grown. On the other hand, organic farming helps protect the natural environment by not using pesticides or insecticides, making it possible to produce wine that is kind to the earth. In other words, organic wine has great implications for the protection of the natural environment such as plants and soil.

Are there any disadvantages to organic wine?

If it is possible to make wine while being considerate of the natural environment, I would like to incorporate more and more organic farming methods. However, organic farming also has disadvantages. Since organic farming does not use pesticides, it is difficult to control grape cultivation, and it is more susceptible to the effects of weather. Therefore, it is difficult to maintain the same taste and quality every year, and the taste of the wine is easily influenced by the producer's ability. Naturally, the time and effort required to grow grapes and the winemaking process increases, which leads to higher labor costs and higher wine production costs. Therefore, for low-cost, high-volume producers, growing grapes using organic farming methods involves great risks. Furthermore, even small and medium-sized wineries are forced to use pesticides to maintain the quality and price of their wine. For this reason, even though they usually grow grapes using organic farming methods and make organic wine, some producers choose not to obtain organic certification so that they can use pesticides in the unlikely event of bad weather.

What is the difference between organic wine and natural wine?

Just like organic wine, wines such as ``bio wine,'' ``natural wine,'' and ``natural wine'' have become more common in the market in recent years. There is a common misconception that organic wine and bio wine are the same thing, but they are actually different. Biowine generally refers to wine made using organic farming methods such as organic farming, biodynamic farming, and biologic farming. However, unlike organic wine, there are no strict rules for wines such as bio wine or natural wine. For this reason, the definition of biowine is ambiguous, and even products made using pesticides, such as those produced using reduced pesticide farming methods (farming methods that reduce the amount of pesticides used), can be given a name such as "biowine" at the discretion of the producer. It is. Of course, some bio wines are made using organic farming methods without pesticides. However, unlike organic wine, it is not certified, so it is difficult for consumers to understand the farming methods used to make it. On the other hand, organic wine requires legal certification, which guarantees that the wine is produced using organic farming methods.

summary

In order to continue growing grapes over the long term, I believe that making wine with consideration for the natural environment is essential. Nowadays, many wine producers are devoting themselves to producing wine using eco-friendly organic farming methods, even though it takes a lot of time and money. Why not try out some organic wine and support the producers' efforts?

Click here for a list of organic wine products