Mankind and the grapevine have been intertwined since the beginning of recorded time. Pottery fragments have been found with the residue of wine dating back over 7,000 years. Poets from all ages have waxed words of favor and delight and thanks for the pleasures of wine. The great cleansing power of fermentation rendered wine to be safer to drink than even water for much of the world. And now medical studies, one after another, continue to grow the list of benefits of drinking wine in moderation as part of a healthy lifestyle.
Wine has a special relaxing place in a busy modern world. Wine is a direct expression of the soil and climate within which the grape grows, called terroir. And for at least 6,900 years wine grapes were grown naturally without any chemicals. But nowadays herbicides kill the weeds; toxic systemic fungicides control mildew and bunch rots, and an arsenal of pesticides stand ready to annihilate anything that moves. The romance of this health-giving nectar of the gods has been tainted, but it’s not over.
A small but growing band of winemakers are committed to producing this civilized beverage in a most responsible way – organically. One of the pioneers of this movement, Brian Fitzpatrick, started Fitzpatrick Winery 25 years ago making wines from organically grown grapes long before anyone took note. Brian recalls that it wasn’t even 20 years ago that the health food industry didn’t even embrace wine and natural foods stores refused to carry any alcohol. Those times are long gone as is evidenced in almost every natural food store. Look close however at what’s actually offered in the local wine section.
You, the consumer, still have a few choices to make. Obviously taste is so very important in enjoying wine. Even though wine’s health-giving attributes are many, wine shouldn’t taste medicinal. Wine should taste delicious. But wine should also make you feel good, not only as you enjoy them but afterwards too. Too much sulfites and chemicals added in winemaking and farming can take all the fun out of a dinner with wine the morning after. It doesn‘t have to be that way.
And great tasting world-class wine made from organically grown grapes is a reality and available today. The choice is yours and it boils down to reading the label and trying a few brands to find the perfect truly healthy wine for your tastes. Organic Wine versus Organically Grown Wine, that is the question. Both wines meet the same certified criteria in both the farming and winemaking processes bar one – sulfites. And unless you are within that 1% of the population that is hypersensitive to sulfites, it’s a non-issue for the rest of us in enjoying wine.
However, the quality of Organically Grown Wines compare consistently better and you can taste for yourself. Let your purchase decisions make a statement for good health both for you and the environment.
