Twenty years ago, when I first started out in the wine trade, organic wines were a rare find. In viticulture classes, I was taught the importance of regular chemical fungicide spraying regimes. Vines were carefully tended to pristine, bare soils with nary a weed in sight. Organic wines were the provenance of a handful of small-scale, premium wineries—or they were PR vehicles for larger producers that, more often than not tasted tart, lean, and vegetal. Fast forward to today, and it’s a whole different story. Organic wine has gone from niche to mainstream, with great options at every price point. Consumer demand has played a big role, but so have advances in vineyard management, making organic farming more viable even in regions that once relied heavily on conventional methods. However, organic doesn’t necessarily equate to environmentally perfect. For most organic wine producers, controlling fungal diseases without synthetic treatments generally means a heavy reliance on copper-based sprays. Studies have shown that excessive copper levels lead to reduced microbial activity and biodiversity in the soil, both of which are crucial for vine health and soil fertility. More frequent tractor passes for organic vineyard maintenance also increase fuel consumption and soil compaction. For […]
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