Chew On This / August 2009
Principles & Practices
Overview
The Principles and Practices of ConsciousWine came into focus over a two year period. An initial frustration with the quality—or lack thereof—in wines labelled organic got the wheels turning. On the quest for synthetic-free wine, the results just didn’t seem to match up with my mental image of the quality normally associated with the word organic. As research and my curiosity took over, what got revealed helped demystify sulfites and ultimately organic wine.
(Note: Check out the separate article on sulfites in the Wine Education article this month!)
Small amounts of sulfites seemed needed to stabilize the wine before final bottling. Recent research even suggested that sulfites might contain some antioxidant qualities. Many producers were not using a single synthetic in their vineyards, even though they were certified for wines made from organically grown grapes, yet added some SO2 (sulfur dioxide) before bottling to keep their wine stable once in the bottle. Crazily, many producers who were CCOF and Oregon Tilth-certified would not put it on their label, since the image of organic in the fine wine lover’s mind had been tainted. It had a reputation for not being something that consistently tasted good, and certainly wasn’t a taste worth searching after… ouch!
When does an organic carrot not taste better than a conventional one? I’ve never had that experience. Have you? Organic carrots just seem to be better. Conclusion: something was amiss in Winesville, and a re-definition of some terms was required.
So, how do we get the word out to the consumer that there are oodles of wineries growing their grapes without using any synthetic chemicals in the vineyards whatsoever, who are passionate stewards of their land, protectors of those places for future generations, choosing grape types perfect for that particular environment, and making their wines in a style that reflects the places from which they come in an honest way.
The 4 Principles of ConsciousWine
As a consumer, a wine lover, an eco-man or eco-woman who drinks wine, if you want to choose wines that:
- Use no synthetic chemicals in the vineyards whatsoever.
- Utilize practices supporting the vitality of the land for our kids’ kids and beyond.
- Reflect the unique character and personality of the vineyard in their wines.
- Makes wines that rock the house (i.e., it tastes good).
If you choose these wines, then you’re in the right place!
Having come up with these principles, we started talking to wineries. 
Those conversations revealed general and specific practices that expressed how wineries followed our 4 Principles. These practices seemed to support the bigger picture (our planet and the global community), and we came up with our top twelve!
- Biodiversity
- Making the Wine
- Sustainable Building Materials
- Sustainable Worker Policy
- Alternative Energy
- Minimizing Water Use
- Packaging/Supply Footprint
- The Neighborhood
- Live on the Farm & Eat From It
- Animals on the Farm
- Certifications
- Participation in Biodynamic® Farming Practices
In future issues, we’ll be talking specifics about the details of each practice, what they mean, and why they’re important.
Throughout ConsciousWine, these practices will be used to tell the winery stories.
Final Note: Wineries on The ConsciousWine List™ have not paid to be in this program. If you’re on the list, it’s because you’ve earned it
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