Organic Black Wine of Cahors

 

Organically grown wines

In the soil

For years wine producers thought that in order to reap a good grape harvest they needed chemical weed killers and fertilizers. It was a time saving process, the soil needed less work and growers could expect a higher yield. However, it came with a price. Using these methods destroyed the microbes and bacteria in the soil, affecting the taste colour and aroma of the wine and reducing the vines natural defences..

Healthy Soil
Luckily a growing number of French wine producers are re-discovering the importance of healthy soil and are using grapes grown from organic soil.

These organic growers do not use fertilizers fungicides or herbicides but encourage the build up of stable humus through composting. Weeds are allowed to grow, cut back, rot, and are then ploughed back into the earth. The soil is kept active using organic fertilizer and a controlled minimum of nutrients such as copper. At least three years are required to prepare the soil when changing from traditional to bio production.

Vines
In order to prevent diseases such as mildew,  excess leaf growth is often removed to control the air circulation. To guard against harmful worms which attack the grapes a natural bacterium is added.

Some organic wine growers prefer to handpick the grapes so as not to damage the fruit and to make sure that only the ripest are chosen. The added benefit of this organic way of producing wine is creating a sustainable economy by providing regular employment in a healthy environment.

Sulphites
Sulphites are a natural by-product resulting from the fermentation process when wine is being made. It’s not toxic and is a natural preservative. Many wine producers add in more sulphites in the form of sulphur dioxide, which often causes allergic reactions. Organic producers add half the amount present in traditional wine, thereby reducing reactions and the aftermath.

No certification
Although there are no certified regulations, an organic wine vineyard is inspected yearly by the one of accreditation bodies and may also have any amount of random checks. Processing in the cellar is reduced to a minimum, to regain time lost working the soil.

National logo
Organic wine produced in France will have the National Logo for organic products--- the AB logo agriculture biologique which is owned by the State. Additional information clearly visible on the label will state “Vin issue de raisins Biologique” but will never state organic wine. The name of the accreditation body is also stated. The mark is a guarantee that the producer is preserving the quality of the soil and encouraging biodiversity.

Gradual increase
Organic viticulture has increased though by 40 percent since 2001 especially in the south where the threat of diseases such as rot and mildew is less because of the warm dry climate. Wine producers are recognizing the increased quality of the wine and even in hostile areas like the Champagne region there are more demands for conversion.

As well as respecting the environment, the organic wine producer tends to his wine making with so much care that one can taste the love in the first sip. Isn’t it wonderful to wine and dine knowing that hangovers are a thing of the past
 

 

Making the wine

 

Defining natural wine Most good winemakers see themselves as non-interventionist, or natural. They try to use as few additives as possible and as little manipulation as they can.

A natural wine is a wine made, in small quantities, by an independent producer, on low-yielding vineyards, from handpicked, organically grown grapes, without added sugars or foreign yeasts, without adjustments for acidity, without micro-oxygenation or reverse-osmosis.

Most natural wines are neither filtered nor fined. The few that are will either be filtered extremely lightly or fined with organic egg-white.

A natural wine contains no more than, 10 mg/l total sulphur if red, 25 mg/l total sulphur if white. If sulphur dioxide is added, it will be only at bottling and only in the tinest quantities. Many natural wines are made without the addition of sulphur dioxide at any point.

Each year, and each wine, is different. The winemaker has to improvise. There will always be times when, however reluctantly, he has to intervene to prevent it from spoiling. Advantages of natural wine For the consumer, the advantages of natural wine are obvious. It tastes better, is better for your health, and better for the environment. 

A wine is not great simply because it is natural. Not every vineyard is capable of producing a great wine. But organic farming and natural winemaking are the way to get the best out of a vineyard, whatever its potential. Natural winemaking will always produce a better, more individual wine than conventional methods used on the same site.

In natural wine, nothing is present that has not come from the grape.

Environmental impact Natural wine is better for the environment. All natural wine is the product of sustainable agriculture. A great natural wine can only be made on land that has been farmed organically for many years. Where your money goes A natural winemaker is a genuine artisan. Natural winemaking requires skill, patience, nerve, and hard physical labour. In most cases it brings small financial rewards. There is more money, less risk, and far less work in making wine conventionally. Only someone passionately committed to the idea of natural wine would choose to work in this way.

Natural winemakers will never be able to churn out the number of bottles needed to supply a chain of supermarkets or high street off-licenses, for example. There are currently very few people able to make wine in this way.

Frequently asked questions

What is natural wine ?
Natural wine is wine made in the purist, simplest, and most difficult way. A healthy grape naturally possesses everything that is needed to make wine and a truly natural wine is made from organic grapes and nothing else.

How is it different from organic wine ?
Most organic wines, although made from organically grown grapes, are technologically and chemically manipulated in the winery. The term organic wine is currently illegal. In effect, all natural wine is organic but very little organic wine is natural.

How is it different from biodynamic wine ?
Biodynamics is a specific form of organic farming employing a complex system of herbal sprays and composting techniques. Certfiied biodynamic wines are made from grapes farmed in this way, but there are few guarantees as to how the grapes are made into wine.

How do you know that a wine is natural ?
The only way to be certain how naturally a wine is produced is to know the producer personally, visit him at work in the vineyard, and know what you are looking for.

Why drink natural wine ?
It tastes better, is much better for your health, and better for the environment.

 

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  Kim and Lisa Stanton, Domaine des  Sangliers, 46700 Puy l'Eveque, France