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buyOrganics brings you a diverse selection of organic wines which are sure to appeal to anybody, contemporary and traditional organic beers and a choice of classic organic spirits

Organic – what does it mean?

Organic Grapes and Hops grown without pesticides are given the chance to live in a rich environment where the soil is unaltered and is full of natural life, the plants are not chemically dependant and the natural habitat can add rich minerals and flavours to the resulting crop. By using natural techniques for pest and fungal management the delicate ecological balance can be maintained producing an enriched beverage and healthy crops in the long run. This creates a beautiful landscape whilst also inviting beneficial visitors. For instance, plum trees are planted in organic vineyards in California to attract Anagrus wasps that then eat the destructive vine leafhoppers, which can cause massive crop damage if not controlled. Biodynamic farming adds a further element of natural crop management and is proving very successful.

By buying organic wine, beer and spirits you can be assured that only the purest harvests of hops or grapes has been used to formulate your beverage and that natural methods are used as much as possible in the brewing and fermenting process, thereby allowing you to savour pure flavour and fewer chemical residues.

Before a vineyard can produce organic yields it has to go through a re-conversion period which is a transitional period of 3 yrs. This is a difficult period of time for growers as they are learning and adopting new practices that may not always work. The result is poorer yields, which can be quite hard financially on growers. Our wine lists and purchasing, therefore wholeheartedly support vineyards going through re-conversion.

As Richard Ehrlich of the Independent on Sunday muses, “One view of a vineyard is of soil as clean as a well swept driveway, No other vegetation, no insects, no bacteria. The way to achieve that spotless vision, of course, is through robust spraying with fungicides, herbicides, pesticides and chemical fertilisers. The alternative is drinking organic, and it’s never been easier to do it. All over the wine producing world thousands of properties are now being planted by producers who recognise that sustainable agriculture is just better. The big O is just getting bigger all the time. We will all benefit from it’s growth.”

Is Organic wine better?

So much of the wine making process relies on the wine makers expertise that it is impossible to say that all organic wines are better than non organic ones. However because the grapes are interfered with less, organic wines better reflect the true nature of the grape. Experts say that the grapes are fruitier and have greater finesse than ones that have been assaulted with chemicals, organic wines also have more individuality than their doctored counterparts.

Many customers ask us if they can avoid a hangover by choosing organic wine and the simple answer is not really! The main cause of hangovers has been anecdotally blamed on Sulphur Dioxide. Sulphur Dioxide develops naturally in wine as part of the fermentation process. However it’s long been added to all wines as a preservative and as a cleansing agent to kill unwanted bacteria and wild yeasts, and also to prevent oxidation of the wine. Organic wines still use sulphur dioxide, however the maximum used is much much lower than in non organic wines. Because sulphur levels are lower in organic wines, organic wines tends to suit people who suffer from intolerant and allergic reactions such as asthma, migranes, respiratory and skin disorders, much better. Please contact us if you would like more information on the lowest sulphate level wines. We even have one organic wine in stock that does not contain sulphur dioxide!

Unfortunately organic wines do not have to have ingredients labelled on them. Although we would support this happening, the law does not require mandatory labelling of organic or any other wine. Not all wines can be clearly identified also as being organic, larger producers can afford the fancy labels, whilst smaller producers only have a few choice words written on the labels. The key ones to look out for are ‘biologique’ (France), biologica’ (Italy), ‘okologische’ ( Germany), or ecologico ( Spain).

Genetic Modification

Organic certification Standards are the only standards that expressly forbid the use of any form of genetic engineering in the vineyard and the winery, hence ensuring that organic wines are GM free. However danger does lurk from accidental cross contamination from GM grown fields. If this happens, organic growers automatically loose their organic status through no fault of there own. History shows us that meddling with nature can only have catastrophic effects for us and the environment long term.

Biodynamic Wines

Biodynamic practices are becoming more and more popular day by day. They are based on writing s by Rudoilf Steiner, the main focus of which being that plants are affected by the circadian rhythms of the moon and alignment of planets. The method also incorporates a homeopathic and holistic approach to grape growing resulting in a yield which has been coined ‘super organic’ by the Press. Some Biodynamic practices are used in the growth of all wines; the pruning of the vines will be done according to the Lunar Cycle as will the racking of the wine from Barrel to Barrel. Some of our organic wines are also biodynamic.

Organic Certification

The most common certifying bodies are :

Soil Association (UK)
Organic Food Federation (OFF)
Ecocert
Ecovin
Organizacion Internacional Agropecuaria (OIA)
Bio Agri Cert

All of them have the same or similar standards as Soil Association if not more rigorous.

All our Organic Wines and Beers are Vegan or Vegetarian

People are sometimes surprised to hear that most wines and beers are not Vegetarian let alone Vegan. This is because during the clarifying or ‘fining’ process several ingredients derived from animals maybe used. These include gelatine (from pig or cow bones), isinglass (fish swim bladders), egg white, milk protein and bentonite (inert clay). Generally they are used to remove proteins, yeasts and items in suspension in the wine or beer, so they are not there in the wine or beer you drink at the end of it. They are removed before bottling. However the though of drinking something that has had such used in it can be quite horrendous for some if not most. Our suppliers ensure that they inform us on the vegan or vegetarian status of the organic wines, beers, ciders, lagers, spirits and liqueurs we buy through them and actively work to encourage wineries to avoid these products in production.

All our organic wines, beers, lagers, ciders, Spirits and liqueurs are either Vegan or Vegetarian. This is displayed in the ‘more information’ for each product listed.

Why buy Organic Beer?

Beer offers the same heart benefits as wine does, it contains more B vitamins, and is a source of unique flavonoids (beneficial phytochemicals) found in barley malt and hops. Studies also indicate that where antioxidants are concerned, the darker beers pack a stronger punch. So some drink in moderation for all does seem to be good for health. However the ingredients in the beer also have a shady side to them. Beer is made traditionally from four natural ingredients, pure water, barley, malt, hops and yeast. German beer is governed by purity laws and can only use these ingredients. Other countries produce non organic beers that can also contain mixed cereals, added sugars, flavouring compounds, chemical preservatives, artificial clarifiers and creamers. Non organic beers use chemical fertilisers also to maximise barley yields, whilst hops, the bittering agent responsible for beers spicy, floral taste, are generally laced with pesticides. Hops are sprayed with pesticides approximately 14 times a year with an average of 15 pesticides and fungicides.

Organic Beer is made traditionally with only pure healthy ingredients. No chemical additives or GM substances are used and the production facilities are routinely inspected to ensure compliance. buyOrganics carries a wide selection of certified organic and biodynamic wines, beers and spirits from around the world thereby supporting a growing industry of responsible agriculture and pure tradition.

Happy Drinking!