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Posted
by Organic Wine Journal
on Jan 19, 2012
in Features
From Schiller-Wine:
Every year, towards the end, Handelsblatt online and Vinum release a list of the 100 Top Winemakers in Germany, this year for the 26th time. This is a pretty good list of Germany’s Top 100 Wine Estates. Overall, I would say, right on the dot, although there are always wineries where you wonder why they are on the list and other where you wonder why they are not on the list. Handelsblatt is the German equivalant of the Financial Times and Vinum is a wine journal.
About 20 of the top 100 winemakers follow organic or biodynamic principles in the vineyard. Weingut Battenfeld Spanier and Weingut Kuehling Gillot in Rheinhessen, both owned and run by H.O. Spanier and are two of them.
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Posted
by Organic Wine Journal
on Jan 19, 2012
in Features
Lyle Fass picked his top five wine trends of the past year on sidetour.com. Natural Wine is one of them:
Natural wine people reject the excessive (as they see it) use of sulfur and only use a minimal amount at bottling to keep the wine stable. Why do they use sulfur? Most wine would barely age two months if sulfur is not used. Huge statement, I know, but the science backs it up. I don’t want to bore you with the details, but I believe sulfur is necessary, though there are people who use it too liberally. How’s that for not taking a position? But one thing is undeniable, when natural wine is good, it is as wonderful and as exciting as wine can get.
Read the rest of his five trends here, and while you’re at it sign up for his course, Learn The Secrets To Buying Wine Worth Your Money.
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Posted
by Organic Wine Journal
on Jan 19, 2012
in Events
From the Astor Center:
It’s time for our Eighth Annual Natural Wine Event! Sample delightful natural wines imported by Jenny & François Selections, and learn about them from the winemakers themselves.
On Saturday, February 18, taste 20 wines for just $20, and stand face to face with these passionate artisans as they share their stories.
Throughout the afternoon we will also hold short optional seminars with three engaging speakers: Florent Plageoles from the Plageoles winery in Gaillac, France; Helena Lomazzi from the Colombaia winery in Tuscany, Italy; and Andy Fisher, President of Astor Wines & Spirits and Astor Center.
Eleven natural winemakers will be in attendance. Please book your spots early, as tickets may sell out.
Wineries Featured at the Event:
Dante & Helena Lomazzi
Colombaia
Tuscany, Italy
Coturri Winery
California, USA
Damien Delecheneau
Domaine de la Grange Tiphaine
Loire Valley, France
Joël & Christine Ménard
Domaine des Sablonnettes
Loire Valley, France
Emmanuel Guillot-Broux
Domaine Guillot-Broux
Burgundy, France
Nadia Lusseau
Haut Lavigne
Southwest Region, France
Chad Hardesty
Hardesty Vineyards
California, USA
Alain Richard
Loup Blanc
Languedoc-Rousillon, France
Florent Plageoles
Plageoles
Southwest Region, France
David Barrault
Tire Pé
Bordeaux, France
Gilles Bley
Clos Siguier
Cahors, France
Price: $20.00
Date: Sat, Feb 18th, 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM
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Posted
by Organic Wine Journal
on Jan 18, 2012
in Features
From Opici Wines:
De Martino was chosen as “Winery of the Year” at the 9th Annual Wines of Chile Awards held on November 17th at Casas de Lo Matta in Santiago, Chile. Unique methods of wine production coupled with their commitment to decreasing their carbon footprint were determining factors in selecting De Martino for this important award. “We have always sought the highest standard of quality for our wines, but have never compromised our deep respect for the vineyards and their surrounding environments,” commented Marco Antonio De Martino, Commercial Manager at the winery.
One of the largest organic wine producers in Chile, De Martino was the first certified carbon-neutral winery in South America. Their commitment to preserving their land includes measuring their water usage to reduce their environmental impact and producing wines that accurately represent Chile’s uniqueness.
Chief Winemaker, Marcelo Retamal, is constantly searching for new and exciting terroirs. “Being recognized as ‘Winery of the Year’ is a great incentive for all of us at De Martino, as it motivates us to continue our quest for innovation and, above all, to produce wines which accurately represent their place of origin,” stated Retamal. As a result of their continuous experimentation, they have become specialists in the cultivation of high altitude vineyards in the Andes mountain range, such as those in the Choapa and Elqui Valleys. It has also challenged itself to restore old vineyards in the Maule Valley.
Family-owned since it was founded in 1934, De Martino has been a pioneer in South American winemaking, being the first to accomplish many feats. From its certification as carbon-neutral to bottling Carmenere in its purity. They continue to strive for more without sacrificing their principles.
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Whole Foods is adding to their selections of Organic Wines. From the press release:
This year, America sipped past France to become the largest wine-consuming nation, as wine enthusiasts are increasingly embracing a lifestyle with wine and food. At Whole Foods Market, shoppers are not only trying new varieties, but they are also increasingly turning to organic wines with no sulfites added (NSA). To meet this demand, the company is expanding its offerings and is now the only national retailer to carry the first USDA Certified Organic NSA wines from Italy and Spain.
Whole Foods Market now carries wines from Bodegas Iranzo, Spain’s oldest estate-bottled winery, and La Cantina Pizzolato, Italy’s top-selling organic winery. Specifically, Whole Foods Market stocks Spartico Organic Tempranillo from Bodegas Iranzo, and La Cantina Pizzolato Organic Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Rosso Convento, all priced under $13.
“We are thrilled to add these quality Italian and Spanish wines to our line-up of domestic organic wines, providing shoppers with the best selection of organic NSA wines available at a retail supermarket,” said Geof Ryan, national wine buyer for Whole Foods Market. “We see more and more interest in these wines from wine enthusiasts who believe NSA wines provide the most pure expression of the grape and from those who have sulfite sensitivities or allergies.”
Depending on the store, approximately 10 to 20 wines of the wines on Whole Foods Market shelves are organic NSA wines. Domestic producers offering these wines at Whole Foods Market include Roulé Rouge from northern California, which makes a red table wine, and Frey Vineyards from Mendocino County, which produces such wines as an Organic Red, White and Rosé as well as true varietals like Organic Chardonnay and Petite Syrah.
“The quality of organic wines improves every year, and these wines from Italy and Spain are a testament to the traditional artisan winemaking craft passed on for generations,” said Ryan. Since 1994, Bodegas Iranzo has exclusively produced wine from organically grown grapes and was one of the first wine producers in Spain to be USDA National Organic Program-certified organic.
Tasting notes for the imported NSA wines include:
Spartico Organic Tempranillo – this fruity, medium-bodied violet black wine has smoky, salty nut aromas with sugared berry sweetness and tartness with a firm powdery tannin finish.
La Cantina Pizzolato Organic Merlot – with aromas of smoked nuts and spicy raspberries, this deep ruby red is a dry, yet fruity medium bodied wine with good balance.
La Cantina Pizzolato Organic Cabernet Sauvignon – this dry, medium-to-full bodied wine has aromas of honey-roasted pineapple and roasted green pepper, with hints of tangy cranberry notes.
La Cantina Organic Rosso Convento – a medium-bodied blend of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, the Convento has pleasant aromas of black raspberry and plums, with baked apple and spice notes, with a toasty cedar finish.
Wine labeled as “organic wine” must be made from organically grown grapes and cannot have any added sulfites. The wine may have naturally occurring sulfites, but the total sulfite level must be less than 10 parts per million. Wines with added sulfites that total more than 10 parts per million must include the statement “contains sulfites.” Wines labeled as “made from organically grown grapes” may have added sulfites.
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Posted
by Organic Wine Journal
on Jan 18, 2012
in Features
Return To Terroir will take place in NYC on February 27th, at the Altman Building from 11-5PM. 70 wineries will be attendance and Nicolas Joly will give a presentation “The Urgent Need For Biodynamics” at 1pm. The event is for trade and press only, though there will be dinners and tastings around the city open to the public. We’ll let you know those when they are announced.
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Posted
by Organic Wine Journal
on Jan 18, 2012
in Events
Coturri & Mushroom Winemaker Dinner
Eric Tucker & his team will provide a 5-course prix fixe meal featuring truffles & other exotic mushrooms with the uniquely natural & complex organic wines from Coturri Winery. Join us for this very special evening in our private wineroom.
Wednesday, January 25th, 2012
6pm-930pm (ish)
5-course prix fixe menu with Coturri wine pairings
$90/person (before tax/gratuity)
Space is limited, please call Alison for a seat at the table
415.345.3900×13
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Posted
by Organic Wine Journal
on Jan 9, 2012
in Features
There’s an interview at the Louis/Dressner site with Stefano Bellotti of Cascina degli Ulivi.
In 1984, I met an farmer who was working biodynamically. I instantly saw an agriculture that was working better. As a kid who grew up in the materialistic 70′s, I didn’t quite trust the whole biodynamic vision, but I saw the results and knew something about it was working. So I started, and I am very happy. It has opened up the world for me, made it more complex and interesting.
A lot of people think biodynamic agriculture is some sort of religion. It’s not. When you see the results, you can see that it’s an agricultural model that works. And if one day a better model comes along (or contributes to biodynamics), I’ll be very happy!
Read the full interview.
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