7 good reasons to enjoy organic wines!

Organic wines are flooding the shelves of our wine cellar, much to our delight. What are the reasons to choose organic? We'll give you 7 reasons to enjoy organic wines right now!

OUR WINE SELECTION ORGANIC AND BIODYNAMIC

Cavissima tends to select wines that fit into a virtuous environmental approachThis involves selecting producers who take into account the nature that surrounds them and offer wines with the fewest possible inputsand, more specifically, chemical inputs. In the wine industry, when we talk about inputs, we are referring to products that are added to the land and are not naturally present in the soil. Some inputs end up in wines when winemakers decide to add them to their soils in order to obtain better yields, at the expense of the quality of their wines.

Discover now a lovely selection of wines from organic farming biological And biodynamic on our website.

Let's briefly revisit the difference between these two cultivation methods.

Organic wines

Organic wines are wines produced according to a very specific set of specifications, in order to obtain the AB label Or EcocertIn particular, the use of pesticides and chemical fertilizers is prohibited. The only permitted natural inputs are... copper and the sulfur (more commonly called sulfites) in reduced quantities.

After submitting the application for certification, a conversion period of [duration] will have to be observed. 3 years and comply with the procedures before obtaining one of the two labels.

Today, nearly 20 % French vineyards are cultivated organically!

Biodynamic wines

Biodynamic viticulture adopts the practices of organic farming; to qualify for this certification, one must first obtain one of the organic labels (AB or Ecocert). When we talk about biodynamic wines, we are referring in particular to wines produced in perfect harmony with the biodiversity and following the lunar cycles And solar panelsMuch more than a method, biodynamics is a true philosophy for farmers.

There are two labels for biodynamic certification: Biodyvin And DemeterTo be awarded one of these labels, the vineyard must be treated in the following way. as naturally as possible, a very short list ofnatural inputs is permitted. To prevent diseases, farmers use preparations based on horn dung, of herbal teas of plants, ofessential oils and homeopathic treatmentsThis process allows the vine to draw more from the soil and to strengthen itself naturally against diseases and weather problems.

Biodynamics is influenced by lunar cycles, meaning that winemakers follow the lunar calendar to help them with their work in the soil and their vineyards. The lunar calendar is a book dedicated to gardening according to the moon. It allows you to sow, plant, and harvest according to the different phases. lunar and planetary influences.

In 2020, over 1,000 wine estates are Demeter certified worldwide, the majority of which are located in France with 468 domains.
Biodyvin, for its part, represents 202 domainsmainly in France and a few other European countries.

Why consume wines from organic and biodynamic farming?

1. Take care of your health

Organic wines are more natural than conventional wines. Respect for the grape is paramount in organic farming; the fruit does not receive no chemicals.

When a wine is produced conventionally, sulfites and many other inputs are added during the manufacturing process, making the wine less natural than a wine produced using organic farming methods.

Say goodbye to headaches with organic wines! Indeed, wines grown using organic methods contain fewer sulfites and artificial products, which can cause headaches.

2. Rediscovering the taste of the land

Wine producers practicing organic or biodynamic agriculture have observed a quality improvement of their wine. Most wine lovers speak in particular of terroir wine when they taste an organic wine.

But what exactly is a terroir wine?
Several parameters make up the concept of terroir, such as her soil type (clay, chalk, gravel, limestone…), her climat, the exhibition from his vineyards, altitude From the vineyard… Organic wines are often authentic and truly reflect their terroir. For example, in a high-altitude terroir, grapes can benefit from cool temperatures. If the vineyard is cultivated organically, this characteristic will not be masked by the use of synthetic products. The wine will then gain in authenticity and will reveal the whole typicality from its high-altitude terroir. 

Organic winemakers want their terroir to express itself through their wines, so they work to enrich their vineyards with nutrients through the use of green manures, plants, and hedgerows. The ecosystem surrounding the vines, combined with the winemaker's passion, allows for the creation of magnificent wines that perfectly reflect their terroir.

3. Preserve our planet

The climate change we have been experiencing in recent years poses a serious threat to the environmental balance. Preserving our ecosystem has become a priority. It is necessary to act by following a sustainable and responsible approachThis involves more environmentally friendly consumption; consuming organic wines is a start. By following this approach, we preserve, on the one hand, the biodiversity, THE insects and all the species living around and on the vines. On the other hand, the soils are worked with greater respect and in a way gentlerThus, the richness of the soil, its immune system and the plant's defense mechanisms are preserved.

4. Preparing the vineyard for climate change

Vines that do not receive chemical products are in better health and above all have a much longer lifespanIn the long term, researchers have found that organic farming helps preserve vineyards by contributing to the fight against global warmingInitially, organic farming helps to limit polluting emissions. Indeed, greenhouse gases are limited since no synthetic chemical nitrogen fertilizers are used, thus avoiding contribution to...CO2 emissions necessary for manufacturing synthetic chemical fertilizers. Secondly, organic farming allows for greater CO2 storage in the soil. Carbon storage in soils is promoted by long fallow periods, which limit the number of tilling operations. Organic farming is more profitable in the long term than conventional farming, as it allows for lower water and energy consumption.

5. Support winegrowers who have chosen to work their land sustainably

Converting to organic farming is a lengthy process requiring a period of practice: three years of organic farming are necessary to obtain the AB label, as the soil must be free of any traces of chemicals. Organic farming represents a significant cost for winegrowers, and the average cost of organic wine production is... 28% more expensive than conventional agriculture, and this for two major reasons: 

• We need more manpower Organic farming requires a higher workload, as natural products must be applied to each plant, which is extremely time-consuming. Hiring new employees is therefore essential and comes at a cost.
• Yields are lower than those of conventional wines.On average they are 20% weaker.

This second argument may lead to an increase in cost of buying organic winesThe price can then become a deterrent for the consumer. However, some choose organic and prefer it. consume better and in smaller quantities.

6. Protecting the health of winegrowers

THE conventional winemakers are the first victims Related to vineyard management, they breathe in chemicals all day long while treating the plots: pesticides, insecticides, fertilizers... These winegrowers are impacting their health to save their production, and many of them are developing... diseases related to pesticide spraying.

A study conducted by theINSERM “confirms the strong presumption of a link between exposure to pesticides and six pathologies: non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHL), multiple myeloma, prostate cancer, Parkinson's disease, cognitive disorders, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and chronic bronchitis.”

7. Protect the inhabitants who live around the vineyards

Have you thought about the residents who are affected by the chemicals? When winegrowers indiscriminately use pesticides, these spread to the surrounding land, even reaching neighboring homes. These people did not choose to live in a polluted environment. Organic farming protects and preserves residents from this exposure to chemicals, since their use is prohibited. Organic farming therefore offers many advantages in terms of wine quality, the preservation of the terroir, and the health of our winegrowers and consumers.

Better wines, for a better life!

Organic farming is growing and represents a real trend among consumers. In 2021, the French consumed €1.2 billion worth of certified organic wines, an increase of 9,4% since 2019 according to statistics from Agence Bio.
French vineyards are evolving towards more respectful practices; discover right now these French regions where organic farming is widely established: 

• THE Languedoc Roussillon
• There Loire
• L'Alsace

OUR WINE SELECTION ORGANIC AND BIODYNAMIC