Dormant old vines with mustard cover crop

Organic Wine: A Useful Wine Guide

Organic, Biodynamic, and Sustainable Wine

Organic Terms to Know

As climate change concerns and health information become ever more prevalent, the choices we make about what we put in our bodies and how it was produced become more complicated.

When it comes to how wine is produced, you have choices. Organic, biodynamic, and sustainable farming pertain to the grapes used to make the wine and are related but not the same. These concepts refer to the environment, not your health.

FYI: I find great wine deals so you don’t have to. To keep me on the hunt, I earn a commission when you buy wine based on my recommendations.

Organic wine is primarily concerned with how the grapevines themselves are managed. Note: standards are different for US-made wine vs wine made in European Union countries, most importantly around the use of sulfites as a preservative. Organic grapes are produced with absolutely no chemicals, synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, or fungicides.

Biodynamic wine (PDF) is as equally concerned with improving the quality of the land the grapevines grow in and the vineyard ecosystem as it is with how the grapevines are treated. Biodynamic farming meets all of the same standards as organic, but they take it further. Practitioners believe this type of farming creates healthier vines and grapes — leading to better wines.

Sustainable wine encompasses the ecosystem beyond the vineyard, in addition to the concerns of the vineyard itself. Sustainable wineries also typically are concerned with the environmental impact of all aspects of their winery, including its carbon footprint and how the winery impacts the local community and watershed. Great examples of organizations certifying winery sustainability include Sustainable In Practice (SIP) and Napa Green.

Important note: Many Napa Green sustainable wineries are not practicing organic farming. If complete avoidance of chemicals, synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, and fungicides are a requirement for you, Napa Green is not a certification you should use to choose your wines. Sustainability certifications sometimes do require organic farming, as in the case of SIP.

Dry farming — the practice of not using irrigation on the grapevines — falls under the rubric of sustainability, but does not have anything to do with organic or biodynamic farming. Whether or not a vineyard is dry farmed is more of an issue in US vineyards. In designated appellations in France and most of the EU, supplemental irrigation is strictly regulated and generally prohibited (not for environmental reasons, but because supplemental irrigation is said to dilute the taste of the terroir in the grapes).

Natural wine is generally more concerned with winemaking than farming, though most natural wine proponents believe this kind of wine starts with organic or biodynamically-farmed vineyards. If you’re looking for Vegan wine, the simplest way to be sure that’s what you’re getting is to go Natural.

Organic Wine Certifications & Labels

Organic certification is managed by dozens of agencies in each country according to a set of standards defined by each government. One example of this is California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF), an organization who certifies that wineries meet the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) standards.

In the US, wine certified as USDA organic means the grapes were grown organically and no sulfites were added during winemaking. If a wine has organic grapes but added sulfites, the wine is labeled as “made with organic grapes.”

In the EU, limited sulfites are allowed, but they only have one label for organic wine. Most other countries lack their own standards for organic wine and instead produce wines according to the standards of other countries who will import the wine — any wine sold as USDA Organic in the US meets the US standards, regardless of where it was produced.

Organic certification is a process which includes a requirement of three years of farming free of prohibited materials (chemicals, synthetics, etc.). To help farmers who are transitioning to organic capitalize on their efforts, there are transitional certifications (like the Transitional Certification program offered by CCOF) which acknowledge that the land has been free from prohibited materials for at least one year and that all other USDA organic standards are met.

Biodynamic certification is managed by Demeter, an international organization who owns the trademark on the term Biodynamics.

Regenerative Organic Certified™ is the newest agricultural standard with a formal certification body. This body requires participants to be certified across three pillers: soil health, animal welfare, and farmworker fairness. Learn more at the Regenerative Organic Alliance.

Are all organic wineries certified?

Importantly, while there are many certified or organic and biodynamic wineries to choose from on the market, many are not labelled as such. The wine industry calls these wineries “practicing organic” or “practicing biodynamic.”

You might be wondering why, aside from the costs of certification, a winery might practice these farming methods but choose not to be certified. I found a compelling explanation buried in a document called The European Union Rules for Organic Wine.

“Many European wine producers have been certified organic for years, but choose not to declare it on their labels. This is mainly due to prejudice against organic wine quality which persists in strongly affecting consumer opinion in some market sectors, and some producers prefer not to take the risk of encountering it. Meanwhile, producers whose name is strong enough to carry its own reputation regardless of any qualifiers such as organic or D.O.C. may also prefer to omit additional logos, instead providing the information via publicity material to interested consumers.”

This is true in the US, too.

Sustainability certifications are typically not associated with a government agency, though some regional laws governing land use and sustainability exist. Depending on your reasons for choosing organic and biodynamic wines to drink, considering sustainable wineries is also a worthwhile endeavor. In most cases these certifications look beyond the vineyard to winery waste and byproducts, employment practices, and stewardship of local watersheds (sometimes requiring dry farming).

Note: Not every certified wine carries a certification logo.

USDA Organic

USDA Organic Seal

The official USDA Organic Seal. Any wine that has this logo is certified organic.

EU Organic Seal

EU Organic Logo

The official EU Organic logo. Any wine that has this logo is certified organic.

Demeter Biodynamic

Demeter Certified Biodynamic Logo

The official Demeter-Certified logo. Any wine that has this logo is certified biodynamic.

CCOF

CCOF-Certified Logo

The official CCOF-Certified logo. Any wine that has this logo is CCOF-certified.

Sustainable in Practice

SIP-Certified Logo

The official SIP-Certified logo. Any wine that has this logo is SIP-certified.

Napa Green

Napa Green Logos

The official Napa Green logos. Any wine that has these logo is Napa Green-certified.

Organic & Biodynamic Wineries in Napa & Sonoma

These wineries have quietly been practicing environmentally-friendly farming for quite some time. A belief that high-quality grapes come from healthy soil and healthy grapevines drives their decision-making in the vineyards. This list of highly-acclaimed Napa and Sonoma wineries challenges the notion that organically-farmed wines are inferior to conventionally-grown wines (all are certified organic by CCOF).

Peju Winery

In addition to being certified organic at their Rutherford estate, Peju Winery is also certified Fish-Friendly (watershed management) and a Napa Green Soil-to-Bottle Winery. Note: not all of their vineyards are currently certified organic, most are in transition.

Peju produces a wide variety of wines, only available to their wine club members and via the winery directly (including their online store). Many of Peju’s wines have received 90+ ratings from esteemed critics and Gold or Double Gold medals at wine competitions.

Regions: Stags Leap District and Yountville, Napa Valley

Grape Varieties: Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Red Blends, Sauvignon Blanc, and Zinfandel

Buy from the winery directly

Where to buy it (updated today)

Please note: if the wines aren’t an exact match, they’re there for a reason. Check those out,too!

Shop all Peju wines offers

Clos du Val

Clos du Val is an example of a winery that doesn’t talk about their organic farming. You won’t find it on their website or their bottles. They also don’t mention anywhere that they’re a Napa Green Soil-to-Bottle winery.

Clos du Val has a tremendous reputation going back to their inaugural 1972 vintage, with big scores from major critics for their Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Sauvignon Blanc.

Regions: Calistoga, Howell Mountain, Los Carneros, Oak Knoll, and Rutherford, Napa Valley

Grape Varieties: Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Red Blends, and Sauvingon Blanc

Buy from the winery directly

Where to buy it (updated today)

Please note: if the wines aren’t an exact match, they’re there for a reason. Check those out,too!

Shop all Clos du Val wines offers

Frog's Leap

Dry-farmed, organic, and mostly biodynamic, Frog’s Leap has been a pioneer in eco-friendly farming in Napa Valley for more than 25 years. This winery also believes healthy grapes make better quality wine.

Often highly-rated, the Frog’s Leap line-up includes Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc, and Rosé. They also offer half-bottles for their wine and several virtual tasting options available via their online store.

Regions: Rutherford, Napa Valley

Grape Varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, Merlot, Petite Sirah, Red Blend, Sauvignon Blanc, and Zinfandel

Buy from the winery directly

Where to buy it (updated today)

Please note: if the wines aren’t an exact match, they’re there for a reason. Check those out,too!

Shop all Frog’s Leap wines offers

Grgich Hills Estate

Grgich Hills estate vineyards are 100% organic. Their farming philosophy indicates they incorporate biodynamic practices as well. A certified Napa Green Soil-to-Bottle winery, their wines are often highly-rated and are often available in half-bottles.

Regions: Calistoga, Carneros, Rutherford, and Yountville, Napa Valley

Grape Varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Fumé Blanc, Merlot, Petite Sirah, Petit Verdot, and Zinfandel

Buy from the winery directly

Where to buy it (updated today)

Please note: if the wines aren’t an exact match, they’re there for a reason. Check those out,too!

Shop all Grgich Hills Estate wines offers

Matthiasson Wines

Napa insiders and Michelin-star restaurants have long known about the splendor of Matthiasson wines — but very few talk about their organic farming, instead hailing Steve Matthiasson as one of the best winemakers working today. He’s among the winemakers who believe “wine is made in the vineyard” and is renowned for his minimal-intervention style, highlighting the terroir and grapes’ natural characteristics.

A huge selection of wines include standards like Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon, but also adventurous styles and grapes like Refosco, Schioppettino, Ribolla Gialla, Pinot Meunier, and a Viognier dessert wine.

Regions: Sonoma Mountain, and Sonoma Coast, Sonoma County; Coombsville, Oak Knoll, and Rutherford, Napa Valley

Grape Varieties: Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Ribolla Gialla, Red Blends, Riesling, Schioppettino, Vermouth, and White Blends

Buy from the winery directly

Where to buy it (updated today)

Please note: if the wines aren’t an exact match, they’re there for a reason. Check those out,too!

Scribe Winery

Scribe is among the many acclaimed wineries who don’t mention anywhere they’re farmed organically. Digging in while researching them though, we noted that a Canadian importer in Manitoba has done extensive research on the winery because they only import organic, minimal intervention wines (you could definitely call this importer’s selection “natural”).

Not quite a cult winery, Scribe, like Matthiasson, is highly sought after by trendy restaurants and in-the-know wine lovers. They make a large variety of wines, and each bottle is numbered uniquely. We especially love that they bottle their Chardonnay in 500mL bottles — the perfect size for sharing without overdoing it.

Regions: Los Carneros and Sonoma Valley, Sonoma County

Grape Varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Riesling, Sylvaner, Syrah, and Vermouth

Buy from the winery directly

Where to buy it (updated today)

Please note: if the wines aren’t an exact match, they’re there for a reason. Check those out,too!

Shop all Scribe wines offers

Next California Next Section

Organic & Biodynamic Wineries in France

French wine regions simultaneously have a reputation for being conventional and environmentally-friendly. Even in places where strict local rules make being organic or biodynamic a challenge, chateaux are making the switch. This is a selection of the finest chateaux in Bordeaux, Burgundy, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, and Champagne that are farming organic or biodynamic. To find a decent-sized selection of organic French wine, I recommend shopping online at Millesima.

Château Pontet-Canet

Pontet-Canet is the best known Bordeaux superstar to go all organic & biodynamic. This winery continues to prove that organic wine isn't low quality wine — in fact quite the opposite.

"Having changed hands only twice over two centuries, Château Pontet-Canet boasts a rare ownership legacy in Bordeaux. But it was the Tesserons—the family that owns Château Lafon-Rochet in St.-Estèphe—and more specifically the leadership of Alfred Tesseron, its current proprietor, that has cemented its place in the pantheon of the best properties of Pauillac. “Throughout history farmers have been laboring, innovating, to get the most fruit possible from their land,” Alfred told us when we met with him at the estate. “All that interests me is what we need to do to get the best quality.”

Alfred converted Pontet-Canet’s farming to organic, and later biodynamic practices, halting the use of all chemicals, and noticing a better concentration of flavors in the fruit as the years went on. He also changed the whole facility to a gravity-fed one, avoiding the use of pumps that can extract astringent seed tannins, and installing a double sorting line to ensure that only pristine berries make it into the winery. Alfred himself designed cement vats and amphorae for fermentation, drawing upon the gravel from the property itself to mix the cement, infusing the wine with the property’s terroir throughout the process." — Wine Access

Regions: Pauillac, Left Bank, Bordeaux

Grape Varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon (66%), Merlot (30%), Cabernet Franc (4%) [varies by vintage]

Where to buy it (updated today)

Please note: if the wines aren’t an exact match, they’re there for a reason. Check those out,too!

Shop all Château Pontet-Canet wines offers

Château Fonplégade

An outright steal for a Grand Cru Classés Bordeaux — typically available for around $50 — with massive 94+ ratings from Wine Spectator, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, James Suckling, Decanter, and Jeb Dunnuck. And it's organic, too. "With an impeccable balance between fruit, complexity and aromatic length, this wine is characterized by a sophisticated minerality, consistent from year to year, with soft and supple tannins and a velvety texture. It is made from the estate's oldest vines, meticulously hand-farmed using organic and biodynamic practices to bring out the finest quality in each cluster. Predominantly Merlot, the blend includes just enough Cabernet Franc to imbue the wine with an elegant tannic structure." — Wine.com

Regions: St. Emilion, Right Bank, Bordeaux

Grape Varieties: Merlot (mostly), Cabernet Franc (for structure)

Where to buy it (updated today)

Please note: if the wines aren’t an exact match, they’re there for a reason. Check those out,too!

Château Guiraud

Again, a tremendous value when compared with its more famous neighbor Chateau d'Yquem, especially given Guiraud's massive 94+ ratings. "Throughout its history, Château Guiraud has shown independence and forged its own path. Its pioneering spirit leads the property to create its own conservatory of grape varieties. In 1996, the team initiated a profound cultural revolution by engaging in the study of biodiversity. In 2011, it became the first 1st Grand Cru Classé in 1855 to receive Organic Agriculture certification."

"Every autumn a microscopic fungus called Botrytis cinerea appears and transforms the grapes. This is the famous 'noble rot' that is nature's gift to Château Guiraud. In autumn the grapes take on a dark colour which can even seem austere, but this 'noble rot' is a precursor of aromatic expression. Understanding this phenomenon is essential as only the grapes that have been perfectly concentrated by the Botrytis will be picked one by one."— Château Guiraud

Regions: Sauternes, Graves, Bordeaux

Grape Varieties: Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon (predominantly) Note: Sauternes wines are sweet

Where to buy it (updated today)

Please note: if the wines aren’t an exact match, they’re there for a reason. Check those out,too!

Shop all Château Guiraud wines offers

Château de Beaucastel

"Pioneers in their innovative approach to organic farming in 1950 and then biodynamic farming in 1974, Famille Perrin has the deep conviction that the grapes must have flavors to make an expressive wine. A wine that reveals the quintessence of its aromas and the grandeur of its origins."

"In order to reveal their character, aromas, and originality, the 13 grape varieties of Château de Beaucastel are vinified separately: Grenache and Cinsault provide warmth, color, and roundness; Mourvèdre, Syrah, Muscardin, and Vaccarese provide structure, aging abilities, colour, and a very straight taste; Counoise and Picpour provide body, freshness, and very particular aromas." — Château de Beaucastel

Regions: Châteauneuf-du-Pape, France

Grape Varieties: Bourboulenc, Clairette, Counoise, Grenache, Grenache Blanc, Marsanne, Mourvèdre, Muscardin, Picardan, Picpoul, Roussanne, Syrah, Terret Noir, Vaccarèse

Where to buy it (updated today)

Please note: if the wines aren’t an exact match, they’re there for a reason. Check those out,too!

Shop all Château de Beaucastel wines offers

Domaine Duband

"The Domaine David Duband lies in Chevannes, in the heart of the Hautes-Côtes de Nuits and produces refined and elegant wines from 23 prestigious appellations from Nuits-Saint-Georges to Gevrey-Chambertin.

The estate farms 17 hectares of vines organically, under the strict management of the Ecocert label. The Domaine Duband also buys grapes from a few small vinegrowers who farm with great respect for the vines and of their surrounding environment."

"David Duband loves wines that are alive, distinctive and elegant and which express the subtleties and incredible diversity of the "climats” of Burgundy. Since 2008 he has vinified his wines using whole clusters of grapes as the noble bitterness of the stems adds a certain refinement and elegance to Pinot Noir. The wines of Domaine Duband are present in 16 of the 25 restaurants with 3 Michelin stars in France." — Domaine Duband

Regions: Nuit-Saint-Georges, Bourgogne (Burgundy), France

Grape Varieties: Pinot Noir

Where to buy it (updated today)

Please note: if the wines aren’t an exact match, they’re there for a reason. Check those out,too!

Domaine Pattes Loup

In 2004 Thomas Pico took over the estate of Bois d'Yver and in 2005 began the conversion to organic farming. Organic certification was achieved in 2009. Pattes Loup is known in natural wine circles, too. In addition to organic farming practices, Pico hand-harvests and hand sorts, only uses indigenous yeasts, and bottles his wine unfined and unfiltered. No new oak is used in vinification and he uses concrete and stainless steel to retain freshness in the wine.

"These wines are the essence of “Chablis”, but not only in their briny minerality. There is a sense of vitality to the wines, and a textured density that can only come from dedicated work in the vineyards and transparent winemaking." — Polaner Selections

Regions: Chablis, Bourgogne (Burgundy), France

Grape Varieties: Chardonnay

Where to buy it (updated today)

Please note: if the wines aren’t an exact match, they’re there for a reason. Check those out,too!

Champagne Drappier

"Although the vines in Urville were originally planted by the Romans 2000 years ago, it was Saint Bernard, founder of Clairvaux Abbey, who had our cellars built in 1152. Seven centuries later, in 1808, around this magnificently preserved testimony to medieval times, where the exceptional cuvées slumber, the family domaine was created which today is headed by Michel Drappier. An area in which Pinot Noir thrives, a grape variety which “runs through our veins”, Urville lies where our vineyard was first planted and is now cultivated according to organic and natural principles. Just like the “archives” plotting the long history of our house, we also continue to cultivate forgotten and nevertheless unforgettable grape varieties: Arbane, Petit Meslier and Blanc Vrai. Today, rather than sophisticated, sometimes overdone excellence, we prefer authenticity and a natural approach. Thanks mainly to very low quantities of dosage and extremely limited use of sulphites, of which the Brut Nature Without Sulphur cuvée is the culmination, we are able to highlight the multifaceted aspects of our terroirs and our wine-making." — Champagne Drappier

Regions: Côte des Bar, Aube, Champagne

Grape Varieties: Pinot Noir (85%), Chardonnay (15%), Pinot Meunier (5%) [this is the Carte d'Or and it varies from year to year]

Where to buy it (updated today)

Please note: if the wines aren’t an exact match, they’re there for a reason. Check those out,too!

Shop all Drappier wines offers

Champagne de Sousa

Certified organic and biodynamic. "Located in the heart of the prestigious “Côte des Blancs” for three generations, on renowned soils listed as Grands Crus such as Avize, Cramant and Oger, the Champagne De Sousa and son has both genuine and certified origins while offering an exceptional quality at a bargain price."

Regions: : Vallee de la Marne, Cote des Blancs, d’Epernay, Champagne

Grape Varieties: Chardonnay (50%), Pinot Noir (40%), Pinot Meunier (10%)

Where to buy it (updated today)

Please note: if the wines aren’t an exact match, they’re there for a reason. Check those out,too!

Next French Next Section

Great Organic Wines Under $20

Whether well-rated by critics or just super popular among websites who talk about organic food and wine, this selection is a good place to start on your hunt for affordable organic wine.

2018 Maysara Autees Pinot Blanc

Region: McMinnville, Willamette Valley, Oregon
Grape Varieties: Pinot Blanc (100%)
Suggested Retail: $19

90 points, Vinous Media

A slightly richer style of the Pinot Blanc grape, tending towards ripe fruit notes of apricot and even lychee. The floral scents in the nose are honeysuckle alight on a cool breeze. The upright acidity beckon you back again, with ample minerality on the dry, clean finish. Stellar with the firmer cheeses, fresh, ripe fruit and subtly herbed seafood. Autees is the ancient Persian Goddess that protects all the plants and trees on Earth. She is the protector of life and all things that grow. Certified: Organic and Biodynamic

Where to buy it (updated today)

Please note: if the wines aren’t an exact match, they’re there for a reason. Check those out,too!

Shop all Maysara wines offers

2019 BioKult Rosé

Region: Burgenland - Qualitätswein, Austria
Grape Varieties: Zweigelt (100%)
Suggested Retail: $14-18

96 points, International Women's Wine Competition, 90 points, Wine Enthusiast Magazine

This Rose is light, appealing red fruit, strawberry, raspberry, soft tannins.  It's a good food wine and goes well to pasta, light meals, risottos, cheese.  It has slight violet hues and very appealing to many people as it is a light and easy to understand rosé. Light residual sugar giving it a very pleasant appeal. Varietal:  Blauer Zweigelt Zweigelt is Austria’s no. 1 red grape variety producing wines that have a slight smokiness and velvety texture to them. Very appealing to many people as it is a light and easy to understand red. Award: Wine Enthusiast - 90 pts    Note:   A Handling Fee includes labor, shipping materials and FedEx "adult signature required" fee and are added into the Shipping Fee

Where to buy it (updated today)

Please note: if the wines aren’t an exact match, they’re there for a reason. Check those out,too!

Shop all Biokult wines offers

Tarantas Sparkling Rosé

Region: Utiel-Requena, Valencia, Spain
Grape Varieties: Bobal (100%)
Suggested Retail: $12-16

95 points, 2018 Experience Rosé Competition

Bright ruby garnet color. Aromas of berry and cherry, bubble gum dust, pressed linen, and lemon zest and potters clay with an lively, finely carbonated, dry medium-full body and an interesting, breezy finish with cottony, earthy tannins and no oak. Enjoy with; Soft goat cheese, spicy dishes, paella, pork and seafood main courses. Varietal:  100% Spanish Bobal Award: Experience Rosé - 2018 Competition - 95 pts & GOLD Medal & Best of Class and Best International Sparkling    Note: A Handling Fee includes labor, shipping materials and FedEx "adult signature required" fee, and will be added into the Shipping Fee

Where to buy it (updated today)

Please note: if the wines aren’t an exact match, they’re there for a reason. Check those out,too!

Shop all Tarantas wines offers

2018 Inkarri Malbec Reserva

Region: Valle de Uco, Mendoza, Argentina
Grape Varieties: Malbec (100%)
Suggested Retail: $12-20

93 points, Tim Atkin, 92 points, Andreas Larsson (Master of Wine) and, 90 points, Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate

Violets, blackberries and a hint of herbs make this a very expressive and fresh malbec. Powerful with a crisp finish. Drink or hold. Enjoy with: Grilled meats and game, mature cheese Varietal: 100% Malbec Awards: James Suckling - 91 points Tim Atkin - 92 points

Where to buy it (updated today)

Please note: if the wines aren’t an exact match, they’re there for a reason. Check those out,too!

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2016 Viticcio Chianti Classico DOCG

Region: Chianti, Toscana, Italy
Grape Varieties: Sangiovese (98%), Merlot (2%)
Suggested Retail: $16-18

94 points, James Suckling

Brilliant red in color, the pleasant aromas of red fruit, plums, and violets stand out against a background of tobacco, graphite, damp underbrush, and toasty oak. Varietals: 98% Sangiovese, 2% Merlot Wine made from USDA National Organic Program Certified Grapes.

Where to buy it (updated today)

Please note: if the wines aren’t an exact match, they’re there for a reason. Check those out,too!

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2018 Domaine Bousquet Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve

Region: Uco Valley, Mendoza, Argentina
Grape Varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon (85%), Malbec (15%)
Suggested Retail: $18-22

92 points, James Suckling and 91 points, Tim Atkin

Made with organically-grown grapes. A step up from the premium varietal line, these blends of Domaine Bousquet estate-grown grapes from plots with low yields offer more of everything – more body, more tannin in the reds, and more flavor. The 4,000-foot elevation ensures that, with the right handling, the grapes for these wines lend an Old World elegance so prized by wine lovers. 85% Cabernet Sauvignon 15% Malbec, aged for 10 months in French Oak. Violet Color with ruby tones. The nose shows Strawberries and flowers aromas with spicy and mineral notes. On the mouth is refined, stylish red, showing scented oak, fine, savory tannins and bright acidity.

Where to buy it (updated today)

Please note: if the wines aren’t an exact match, they’re there for a reason. Check those out,too!

Shop all Domaine Bousquet wines offers

La Cantina Pizzolato Sparkling Moscato IGT

Region: Treviso, Veneto, Italy
Grape Varieties: Moscato (100%)
Suggested Retail: $13-18

Bright gold color. Aromas of honeysuckle, ripe apricot, and angel food cake with a round, vibrant, sweet medium-to-full body and a smooth, refreshing, medium-length peach nectar, sweet apple, orange marmalade, and honey finish with no oak flavor. A balanced and floral Moscato that is sure to please fans of the varietal. Enjoy with herbal and spicy cheeses, Gorgonzola. A perfect dessert wine. Varietal:  Moscato 100% *All grapes are certified organic by BIOS and USDA. *Only Indigenous Yeasts used. Suitable for Vegans.    Note:   A Handling Fee includes labor, shipping materials and FedEx "adult signature required" fee, and will be added into the Shipping Fee

Where to buy it (updated today)

Please note: if the wines aren’t an exact match, they’re there for a reason. Check those out,too!

Shop all Domaine Bousquet wines offers

Next Under $20 Next Section

Organic Wine Delivery

Buying organic wine in person requires more effort than buying conventional wine. This is mostly because you either need to learn the wineries which are organic or look at (usually) the backs of bottles to hunt for certifications.

Sadly, buying organic wine online isn’t all that much easier — unless you have a trusted source. Typical online wine destinations make finding organic wine (and biodynamic or sustainable wines) next to impossible.

Where to Buy Organic Wines

When it comes to buying organic wine, you have a few choices. If you want someone else to choose wine for you and ship it to your door, please check out our Organic Wine Subscriptions page. If you want to choose your own wines, here are my best recommendations:

Directly from the Winery

Most wineries offer their inventory online. I suggest finding wineries you like and ordering from them directly. This is the most profitable means for wineries to sell wine to consumers (no middlemen) and recent laws have made it so that wineries can ship directly to consumers in every state except Alabama, Delaware, Kentucky, Mississippi, and Utah.

A personal wine recommendation: Tablas Creek Vineyard in Paso Robles, California. They are pioneers in biodynamic viticulture and now regenerative farming. They price their highly-acclaimed wines very fairly, and after drinking 12 vintages of their wines, I can honestly say it’s my favorite winery. If you love Rhone grapes (Syrah, Grenache, Grenache Blanc, Viognier, and so much more) or you’ve never tried them, this is an amazing place to start.

Organic Wine Exchange

If you’re not already familiar with organic wineries, or if you want to buy online from a store rather than wineries, I recommend checking out Organic Wine Exchange (OWE). Born from a love of organic foods and experience in the wine industry, Ann Arnold founded OWE to make it easy to buy affordable and food-friendly organic, biodynamic, and sustainable wines.

OWE carries a huge inventory of 100% organic wine so you never have to guess if what you’re buying is actually organic. Dozens of grape varieties, wine styles, and wine regions are easily filtered until you find exactly what you want to drink.

If you’re not sure what you want to try, I strongly recommend joining one of OWE’s organic wine clubs. Ann offers an organic wine club, a biodynamic wine club, a vegan wine club, and no sulfites added wine club. You can customize any of these to tailor them to fit your precise needs (low sugar, low alcohol, GMO-free, and more) and preferences (choose a wine color, grapes, or wine regions, too).

You can also purchase a one-time sampler instead of a subscription. Offered in 3-, 6-, and 12-bottle packs, you can select Mixed wine, or limit the pack to Red wine, White wine, Rosé, or Sparkling wine. Affordable priced from $49, discounts are provided for larger sampler packs.

Organic Wine Sampler
Organic Wine Sampler Biodynamic Wine Sampler
Biodynamic Wine Sampler No Sulfites Added Wine Sampler
No Sulfites Added Organic Wine Sampler

A Few More Places to Look

I discuss this more on a page about Natural wines, but if you’re interested in exploring the raw and sometimes funkiness of Natural wine, these are good places to shop for organic and biodynamic wines. Be sure to read the store’s philosophy of Natural wine to be sure it includes organic or biodynamic grapes — and if it’s not disclosed somewhere on the website I recommend moving on.

Wine Library seems to have an interest in the organic market as they offer the option to filter a given wine selection by Practicing Organic, Certified Organic, Practicing Biodynamic, and Certified Biodynamic. They also offer a decent selection of wines in these categories, mostly European, and including some interesting grapes like Aligote (a fresher take on Chardonnay), Gruner Veltliner, Gamay, Marsanne, and a blend of Malvasia and Viognier.

Millesima, a French wine dealer, also offers the option to sort by organic and sustainable options, with quite a few wines to choose from. They carry more than just French wine, but they specialize in selling Bordeaux, Burgundy, and Champagne selections that other retailers might not have access to. Their “environment” options include Biodynamic, Conventional Farming, Conversion to Organic Farming, Organic, Practicing Biodynamic, and Sustainable.

Where NOT to buy organic wines

It might surprise you to learn that I do not recommend buying organic wine from your local health-food superstore, especially Whole Foods and Sprouts. If this is confusing to you I understand because it’s confusing to me, too. These stores both carry a wide variety of conventionally-grown wine and since organic wines are often not labelled as such, you’ll run into the same problems picking organic wine here as you would at any other brick-and-mortar store.

We also don’t recommend buying organic wine at wine superstores like Total Wine or discount stores like Costco. They’re not doing much to help you identify organic and sustainable wine options in these stores and it’s likely hit or miss if the staff knows which wines are organic.

Total Wine doesn’t even try. If you search for “organic” on their website, you’ll get a handful of wines and spirits with organic in the name. What you won’t get is results for wines that are actually organic but not named that way. Total Wine does seem to label some wines Organic, but not all of them, so you’ll need to look at each description for each wine to see if it is indeed organic.

Wine.com has a “Green Wine” labelling system, however they lump organic, biodynamic, and sustainable all into the same “green” bucket. Which means you don’t know which wines are sustainable and which are actually organic (without doing more research).

Smaller online wine retailers and same-day delivery services like Drizly offer the same terrible online shopping experience as Total Wine.

Jessyca Frederick

Guide by: Jessyca Frederick

Inspired by frequent questions from friends and family about different wines and wine practices, I write Useful Wine Guides so that people I don’t know might benefit from my knowledge and desire to share information, too.