17 Best Organic Wines For Earth Day

According to Statista, in 2019, Spain had the world's largest amount of vineyard land practicing organic farming. With almost 300,000 acres, the European country embraces organic, showcasing the essence of native varieties with genuine character. In the cava-producing region of Penedes, Vilarnau was one of the first wineries to receive the "Wineries for Climate Protection" certificate. The certificate recognized Viarnau's sustainability efforts with organic farming while reducing its carbon footprint.

Tasting Table spoke with Vilarnau winemaker Eva Plazas regarding why the cava producer moved towards organic farming in 2013. Plazas says, "By applying organic viticulture, we are protecting the planet and fighting ... climate change. Since we applied organic viticulture in our vineyards, we have seen how flora and fauna have increased ... thanks to not using pesticides or insecticides."

Vilarnau Brut Reserva Orgánico cava is a traditional method sparkling wine with 15 months of bottle aging, creating yeasty brioche and marzipan flavors. The sparkler blends native macabeo, xarel.lo, and parellada varieties to make a lively, refreshing, bubbly, with golden layers of orchard fruit and citrus that is as delicious as it is good for the environment. As Plazas says, "Not only do we produce green cavas, but also sustainable ones."

In 1997, Tony and Michelle Soter left Napa Valley, where Tony Soter was the founding winemaker for Napa's Etude Wines and consultant for Napa properties like Araujo and Shafer, moving to the burgeoning wine region of Willamette Valley. With a focus on an environmental, organic lifestyle, the couple established their Mineral Springs Ranch in Yamhill-Carlton, home of Soter Vineyards. 

We spoke with Tony Soter about his perspective on organic wine. Soter says, "I started farming grapes organically in the mid-'80s. The motivation then was as much to avoid toxins as anything else ... I wouldn't expose workers, consumers, or neighbors to the residuals of any applied material that was not organic. Our aim with winegrowing has always been to grow the highest quality wines. My work in the 80s proved that growing organically AND for high quality were not mutually exclusive pursuits."

Regarding the property's biodynamical and organic certified vineyards. Soter says, "We look to nature for understanding to integrate our winegrowing intentions in harmony with all that surrounds us. It's good for the health of plants and people and translates into a profound expression of character in the wines we grow." Soter Mineral Springs Ranch pinot noir showcases this harmony in a multi-dimensional wine from heritage clones, revealing a refined balance of tannin and acidity. The wine opens with black, blue, and marionberry, which melds with dried leaves and earthy truffle flavors.

Over 150 years ago, Gustave Niebaum began the iconic Inglenook Estate in the Rutherford region of Napa Valley. A fur trader turned vigneron initially from Finland, Niebaum dreamed of creating a world-class American winery to rival the finest wineries of Europe. Today, film director Francis Ford Coppola and his family own the estate. He works with his winery team to craft Inglenook's wines from organically grown Rutherford estate fruit, including Enrique Herrero, Director of Vineyard & Cellar Operations. 

Herrero shared some of Inglenook's organic principles with us, including that "the adoption of organic farming practices by Inglenook is directly related to the core values of the Coppola family ... Nature itself is the original — and perhaps the very best — model of conservation and sustainability. Any actions we take in our vineyard management practices that emulate Nature will be incremental steps in the preservation of our environment and the sustainability of our vineyards."

Blacaneaux white is the sister wine to Inglenook's signature Rubicon red. It blends organically grown marsanne, roussanne, and viognier to make a Rhone-style white wine with elegance, delicate refinement, and gorgeous appeal with a finish that lingers for days. The aromatic wine melds tropical mango and floral honeysuckle with crushed stone, peach blossom, and lemon curd flavors, creating a well-rounded mouthfeel. 

Tablas Creek in Paso Robles, CA, received organic certification for its vineyards in 2003, believing farming without chemicals or pesticides reveals the authentic character of the fruit and the land. In a further effort to fight climate change, the winery became the country's first Regenerative Organic Certified winery in 2020. 

Regenerative farming makes the soil's health and all that benefit from the soil the focus, including animal welfare and social fairness. For Tablas Creek, the certification ensures its 270 acres of dry-farmed Rhone-variety vines incorporate livestock to graze instead of using tractors, planting cover crops, composting, and creating a habitat for plant pollinators.

Tablas Creek Esprit de Tablas Blanc is a white Rhone blend grown from vine cuttings brought to California from its sister winery, Château de Beaucastel, in Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Luscious and elegant, the wine layers succulent stone fruit flavors of peach and nectarine with wildflowers, honeycomb, and cream.

The historic abbey of Badia a Coltinbouno was begun in 1051 by a medieval order of Benedictine monks in the rolling hills of Tuscany's Chianti. Valuing agriculture, the monks worked the land, planting vineyards and olive groves. Today, the estate remains a leading producer of organically farmed wines and olive oil in the region. In 2000 the estate's vineyards gained organic certification, producing wines with rustic elegance and refreshing acidity.

Within Chianti, the Chianti Classico vineyards sit at higher elevations than the former, creating wines with increased structure and complexity compared to the larger Chianti region. In select years where the fruit is deemed exceptional, Badia a Coltibuono crafts its Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG from a minimum of 80% sangiovese fruit grown within this sub-region. The wine ages at least two years, of which a minimum of three months must be in the bottle before release. The aging integrates the tannins and acidity, creating a balanced wine. Flavors of black cherry, toasted cedar, and licorice pair perfectly with a classic ragu alla bolognese.

For over 40 years, Grgich Hills Winery has been producing some of the finest chardonnay wines in Napa Valley under the leadership of Miljenko "Mike" Grgich. Following the belief that the vineyard, and not the winery, creates excellent wine, the essence of place shines through each of Grgich Hills estate wines, all of which employ organic farming methods. These methods create healthy soils nourishing the vines with organic matter. 

From estate-grown fruit in the southern tip of Napa Valley, Grgich Hills chardonnay is fresh, rich, and elegant, layering golden apple, Asian pear, and creamy lemon curd with a note of crushed stone minerality. The wine ages ten months in partially new French oak, imparting nutty, toasted spice and creme brulee flavors with a smooth, balanced finish.

From organically grown vines near the city of Haro in Spain's Rioja Alta region, CUNE crafts an expressive organic wine from hand-harvested garnacha, tempranillo, and graciano fruit. Succulent and savory, with medium-body and excellent acidity, this is the wine to pair with red wine braised lamb or braised beef short rib tacos, with the freshness balancing the meat's richness. 

Only native yeasts are used in the unlikely Rioja blend that leads with garnacha instead of the typical tempranillo, imparting ripe red berry, black cherry, and red licorice flavors. After fermentation, the wine ages for six months in oak barrels, giving a hint of toasted spice, woody herb, and nuttiness to the finish. The winery even uses recycled paper for the labels.

Since its beginnings in 1980, Sonoma's Benziger family has embraced eco-friendly farming methods, believing healthy vines create delicious wines. We spoke with Benziger Brand Ambassador, Chris Benziger, to understand the importance of organic production to the winery. Benziger told us, "Farming our vineyards organically allows the true authenticity of the site to shine through. The roots stretch deep into the diverse volcanic soils allowing the minerals to rise up and influence the flavors. It's brilliantly simple and beautiful." 

Director of Winemaking Lisa Amaroli adds, "By taking care of our land and treating our vineyards in the best way we know how, we are able to grow vines and grapes of a higher caliber (showing) one that will pick up the true terroir of the site ... Using organic and other sustainable farming methods will protect the land for the next generation, ensuring the longevity and health of our vineyards." 

Benziger West Rows chardonnay highlights the terroir Benziger and Amaroli speak of. Organic vineyards in Los Carneros in the southern tip of Sonoma County enjoy cool breezes off the San Pablo Bay, keeping refreshing acidity high, melding with honeydew melon, golden apple, and vanilla cream.

The fact that organic wines are coming out of Bordeaux is a sign that any vigneron in the world can farm organically. Bordeaux vines are subject to high rain and humidity levels annually due to the proximity to the Atlantic Ocean, spurring mildew and rot in the vines that commercial treatment with synthetic chemicals and fungicides will remove. 

However, Bordeaux producers are on an upward trend toward organic wine production. Bordeaux's regulatory wine council, CIVB, reports that 75% of the region's wineries are farming with an environmental focus, with many properties moving towards organic and biodynamic farming methods.  

Les Hauts de Lagarde rosé is a classic rosé style, organically grown, Bordeaux wine with a fleshy palate and easy-to-enjoy style. Softly pressing the fruit with limited maceration produces a deep salmon color with wildflowers and red berry aromas, followed by a palate of ripe watermelon, nectarine, and wild strawberries. Juicy and refreshing, we recommend pairing it with sushi and sashimi or ahi tuna tartare.