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Step 1
Do your research. Understanding what makes a wine organic is the first step to your purchase. All organic wines are made from organically grown grapes and cannot have added sulfites. The wine can have naturally occurring sulfites, but the total amount must be less than 20 parts per million. It must also come from a winery that doesn't use chemical insecticides, herbicides, fungicides or synthetic fertilizers during production.
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Step 2
Read the label. Keep an eye out for the USDA label before purchasing your wine, since all valid certifying agencies must comply with USDA standards in order to be officially labeled organic. There are four categories of organic wine to be aware of: 100% Organic, Organic, Made With Organic Ingredients, and Some Organic Ingredients. Make sure you familiarize yourself with the various levels so that you buy a wine that's up to your standards.
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Step 3
Drink up. Not all wineries have mastered the organic production process, so don't give up if you have a disappointing wine here or there. From South America to Australia to California, your options are endless. And one of the added benefits of organic wine is milder hangovers, so don't hesitate to try different varietals.
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Step 4
Splurge. Once you find a brand you like and trust in terms of quality, take the leap and purchase a more expensive bottle for a special occasion. Taking your wine purchases to the next level will open you up to a higher quality of product for those with more refined palates.
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Step 5
Go even greener. Organic is great, but biodynamic is the ultimate in environmentally friendly wine. If you see the term "biodynamic" on the label, the wine is not only organic but also incorporates local farms' biodiversity, soil fertility and crop nutrition into its production. Some biodynamic wine even takes into account the phases of the moon during growing periods.
