A Little History Lesson of Organic Wines...

There is a lot of interest and a lot of confusion about organic wine these days. The interest stems from the increasing presence of wines with organic claims on store shelves and from wine consumers who want organic alternatives to conventional wines. Most of the confusion has to do with the labeling of these organic wines.

Grape growing like most other farming is organic by origin, but like most other farms, most vineyards today are not organic. A more recent history of organic wine and the labeling of organic wine dates back to 1990 when congress passed the National Organic Foods Act. The goal of the Organic Foods Act was to protect producers, handlers, processors, retailers, and consumers of organic food by assuming that foods labeled as organic were in fact organic. The Organic Foods Act put the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) in charge of establishing regulations for organic foods and food products. They in turn established the National Organics Standards Board (NOSB) to advise them. Since fermented beverages were included in the Organic Foods Act, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF) which regulates wine labeling also became involved. The ATF said they would allow organic claims on the label if the claims were documented by an accredited or recognized certifying agency and that the certification had to be submitted for approval with applications for label approval. The ATF did not allow finished products (i.e. wines) to be designated as organic. This changed when Hallcrest Vineyards and the Organic Wine Works challenged the ATF and became the first exception based on an inspection of raw materials, production methods, and records by The California Department of Health Services, Food and Drug Branch. Since then, only a few wineries have followed the same course and become certified processors of organic wines.

Along came the National Organic Program (NOP), also part of the USDA. The NOP’s goal has been to set guidelines for the processing and labeling of organic products and to maintain the “National List” of allowed and prohibited substances. According to the NOP and the ATF who have stated that all label approvals filed with them must comply with the USDA relating to the NOP, there are four categories that organic wines can claim: 100% Organic, Organic, Made With Organic Ingredients, and Some Organic Ingredients. Today, these categories define organic wine so understanding the differences among the four categories is important if you want to know what you are really buying.

The standards are being monitored and regulated by the individual certifying agencies who are in turn being monitored and regulated by the USDA so be careful and make sure you trust the certifying agency that the label identifies.

Food Friendly Wine!

The Sterling Vineyards winemaking team believes that the wines should express true varietals character. They craft each wine with this in mind, choosing gentle techniques tailored to bring out the aromas and flavors that each grape variety develops in the terroir it likes best. The resulting wines have exceptional quality that shines anywhere, with intriguing complexity that brings out the best in a wide variety of cuisines.

After grapes for Sterling Vineyards Chardonnay are harvested during the coolest hours, they go directly to press as whole clusters. The majority of Chardonnay, on the other hand, is barrel fermented in a selection of oak for rich depth and texture. Chardonnay ages for 12 months or more in barrel on its yeast lees. Select portions of Chardonnay for the blend may undergo malolactic fermentation, in which harsher malic acid is converted to softer lactic acid. Continual stirring of the lees gives the Chardonnay wines a creamy, toasty mouthfeel that complements their elegant, fresh fruit aromas and flavors.

The 2007 Sterling Organic Chardonnay shows a clear pale gold with aromas of green apple and stone fruit, with subtle notes of vanilla and baking spices. Flavors of Pippin apple, white peach, and nectarine are complemented by toasty, spicy notes from the judicious use of oak. A lighter style of Chardonnay that is very food friendly. This will pair well with various cheeses, grilled fish, chicken, quiche and pasta with clam sauce. It can be found online on wines.com!

Japan's Nigori is One of a Kind

With strong ties to tradition and its Japanese roots, SakéOne is the leading producer of "Ginjo" (premium) grade saké in the U.S. With a set of four premium sakés produced and bottled under its own Momokawa label, the company set out to develop new products that would help fill the growing demand for premium saké. Defining a niche for fruit-flavor-infused saké, SakéOne launched the Moonstone brand, becoming the first company to bottle a new category of flavor-added saké.

The rest, as they say, is history. Since SakéOne's inception, the popularity of premium saké has boomed in the U.S. SakéOne is the fastest-growing sakéry in the U.S. Led by an impressive array of wine industry veterans, the company continues to grow exponentially. SakéOne now distributes its saké in all fifty states, Canada, the Caribbean, and South America.

There is something different about this rich, creamy certified organic Nigori. It warms our hearts and tantalizes our palates. This is the first of its kind. It is the first Nigori to be certified organic. Momokawa Sake Nigori has rich and silky layers of coconut and cream with big burst of fresh pineapple and a hint of banana. Lush fruit and spice aromas layer their way to big fruit flavors packed in a complex body and long, clean finish. This creamy white unfiltered sweet sake is kooky with coconut. It would be excellent to pair it with a spicy Thai, free range Chicken in Molé sauce, or a dark flavourless chocolate torte. Also, another perfect match is tropical fruits such as fresh papaya, mango and guava and should be served by shaking it well and it should be chilled. Curious? Give it a taste by ordering this organic wine at wines.com.

The Best Kept Secret in Southern France: REDblanc

We have located a biodynamically-produced sulfite-free Cotes du Rhone that is a real glory to behold. REDblanc Biodynamic Cotes du Rhone 2007 is 30% Syrah and 70% Grenache combine to create a Rhone classic. This wine is as clear of an example of terroir-driven typicity that you are likely to find at any price. It comes from a 400 year old winery in the Vinsobre AOC of France's Rhone Valley and is as pretty in the glass as it is on the palate.

REDblanc combines a meaty core of ripe berry fruit with tones that range from herbal to peppery in a package that tends to be medium bodied with good acidity and softer tannins. With age, the wines can gain lovely leathery and black olive notes that makes them a great match for savory and gamy dishes. REDblanc really is a fresh new taste that has blown in with the Mediterranean breezes of France. Its rich ripe berry flavors are completed with the acidic structure and a finish that lingers. It is the best kept secret of Southern France.

REDblanc proposes environmentally-friendly wines for the consumer motivated by ecological goals, guaranteed by the high standards of soil husbandry, bio-diversity and eco-system preservation of Ecocert Organic and by Demeter Biodynamic certification. REDblanc also brings a new dimension to the traditional taste of one of the most beautiful vine-growing regions of the world, and a new impulse towards its essence of perfection.