Many of these growers do not have the resources to acquire — or do not choose to pursue — the additional certification to “NOP” (U.S. National Organic Program) standards, which is costly and may or may not benefit the grower if their main market is not the U.S. The method by which the grapes are grown does not change when there is certification to U.S. standards. Rather, a certifier merely confirms that the method by which the grapes were grown already meets the U.S. standard.

We at Calypso Organic Selections believe that consumers are entitled to know that the grapes used in the wine are grown using organic methods, even though the law prohibits the use of the word “organic” without the additional certification to NOP. When we state on a bottle that the wine is “Made With Ecologically-Grown Grapes,” we must present to the TTB a certificate from an Accredited Certifying Agent from the country of origin stating that the grapes were grown organically. So while there may be no direct regulation by the USDA, the TTB still requires proof of the claim being stated on the label, and it does not change the fact that the grapes were grown through the use of organic agriculture.

The TTB has, lamentably, permitted some statements for which documentation is not required, such as “eco-friendly,” and we do not support labeling of that sort, as it certainly does take away from the importance we attach to certification. The TTB is relatively new to this area, and the methodology being used is still evolving. Nevertheless, it is incorrect to make a blanket assertion that wines made with “ecologically-grown” (versus “organic”) grapes are intruding on “legitimate” winemakers using organic grapes. It is, rather, a way to let consumers know what is in their wine at a time when the labeling standards have not developed in a way that permits full and fair identification of wines made outside the United States as having been made with grapes that are indeed organic.