Organic Wine

Applying all the basics of sustainable winemaking and taking them one step further into organic winemaking you'll find some very significant differences, both in the winemakers approach and the end result in the bottle. Grape growing like any other farming is organic by origin. However, like most other methods of farming the vast majority of vineyards today are not organic. For many winemakers, especially at large wineries, it isn't cost effective to farm organically, and far too many things can go wrong throughout the year that can easily destroy crops.

Chemical fertilizers promote large yields and chemicals can easily wipe-out vineyard destroying diseases. Vines that are chemically fertilized and regularly sprayed for various diseases with chemicals are absorbed through the roots into the vine's sap and passed through leaves, stems, fruit and finally, into your glass. Not only do you eventually ingest these chemicals, but by using them it also drastically reduces the natural terroir of the wine and diminish the wine's fruit profile in your glass.

Organic wines are produced by using only organically grown grapes. No pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, chemical fertilizers, or synthetic chemicals of any kind are allowed on the vines or in the soil of the vineyards claiming to be organic. Strict rules govern the winemaking process such as hand-harvesting, the types of yeasts that can be used during fermentation and storage conditions in the vineyards of all imported and domestic wines that acquire certification.

Organic winemakers abstain from all chemical substances used to stabilize conventional wines such as sulfites. It is important to remember that sulfites are a natural byproduct of the fermentation process and that it is impossible for any wine to be completely free of sulfites. Wines that are completely free of sulfites are an accident of nature–fermenting yeasts present on all grape skins generates naturally occurring sulfites. Organic wines may have naturally occurring sulfites, but the total sulfite level must be less than 20 parts per million in order to receive organic certification.

The stricter government regulations for organic wine and the rejection of using added sulfites are, for all intents and purposes, the two key differences between organic and sustainable winemaking

Antiyal 2005

Red Wine

from Chile, South America

winemaker's notes:

Among the very best wines being produced in South America, a "garage wine" from the celebrated Chilean winemaker Álvaro Espinoza.

Made with an organic blend of Carmenère (50%), Cabernet Sauvignon (40%), and Syrah (10%). Aged in French barrels for twelve months, then cellared in the bottle for six months.

critical acclaim:

"Intense and dark, with an oily nose of mineral, leather and mocha along with ripe berry fruit notes. The blend (50% Carmenère, 40% Cab Sauvignon, 10% Syrah), works like a charm. The flavors settle on lightly herb-infused berry flavors and chocolate, while the finish is on the spot. Rich, ripe and with modest tannins; drink now–2009."

91 Points

Wine Enthusiast

"Lovely aromas and flavors of blackberry, bramble, grilled meat and lilacs, with plenty of guts, ample structure and a solid, loamy finish. Shows both polished fruit and rugged terroir. Carmenère, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah. Drink now through 2011."

92 Points

Wine Spectator

Bonterra Organically Grown Syrah 2006

Syrah/Shiraz

from Central Coast, California

winemaker's notes:

Maintained through an organic growing process, our Syrah vineyards are entering their prime, reflected in the wine’s brilliant color and intense aromas. Bonterra Syrah blends a touch of Rhone varietals like Grenache, Mouvedre and Viognier for a powerful floral note. Concentrated berry flavors come to the fore with notes of vanilla and toasty oak spice from aging in French oak.

You can see youth well served in the wine’s brilliant crimson color and intense, heady aromas of black cherry and wild mountain blackberries before giving way to bitter-sweet, vanilla chocolate. The tannins are velvety smooth and supple. The oak is wonderfully integrated, with complementary flavors of cedar oak spice.

critical acclaim:

"Extraordinarily rich in briary flavors of wild blackberries, licorice, cocoa and pepper, this Syrah has the added virtue of finishing dry. Although it’s a bit soft, it’s a beauty, especially at this price. "

90 Points

Wine Enthusiast

Colina Verde Rioja 2006

Tempranillo

from Rioja, Spain

winemaker's notes:

Our vineyard extends over more than 60 hectares, all of them certified by the different control organizations of Organic Agriculture. During the entire year the farm is subject to an exhaustive and continuous monitoring. The cycle starts in November with the analysis of the soil and a careful pruning process.

Dive into the passionate world of wine made from organically cultivated grapes. Chemical products of synthesis, pesticides, herbicides, etc. have no place in our daily tasks. We only use environmentally friendly organic products, which, apart from not harming man's health, contribute to improving the taste of the products obtained. Organic matter from crushed vine shoots is used to cover the earth for the first months of the year.

critical acclaim:

"Light red. Suave, understated strawberry, dried cherry and floral scents are underscored by gentle minerality. Light-bodied red berry flavors are crisp and impressively focused, with a late note of cherry skin adding pleasantly bitter grip to the sweet finish. This lithe, precise wine, made from organic grapes certified by the Eccysa group, is very nicely balanced. "

90 Points

International Wine Cellar

Cono Sur Sustainable Agriculture Chardonnay 2007

Chardonnay

from Chile, South America

winemaker's notes:

The farming of this wine was devised specifically to make efficient use of renewable resources, protect the environment and cause minimum impact to the surrounding ecological system, in line with best Sustainable Agriculture practices. Beginning with the 2009 vintage this wine will be certified organic, having passed the required three year transition period.

Bright yellow in color with some golden tints. Aromas of citrus and light mineral. Complex, with good balanced acidity on the palate. Citric and fresh. Enjoy with seafood, white meats, dried fruits, butter and cream sauces, and cheeses.

De Martino Organic Cabernet Sauvignon/Malbec 2006

Red Wine

from Chile, South America

winemaker's notes:

Cabernet Sauvignon grapes from the Maipo Valley are blended with the area's distinctive local grape, Malbec, to produce a deep red wine with violet hues and an intense aroma of blackberry, cherries and truffle.

This wine has a deep red color with violet hues and an intense aroma of blackberry, cherries and truffle. Great volume and cherry flavor. Aged in oak barrels for 12 months.

Ideal served with pasta, red meat, and aged cheese.

De Martino Organic Sauvignon Blanc 2007

Sauvignon Blanc

from Chile, South America

winemaker's notes:

The DeMartino family has been producing wine in Chile’s famous Maipo Valley for almost 70 years. Delicate use of oak adds complexity, but the strength of DeMartino wines is in their fruit, which results in big, rich, extracted flavors. These wines are concentrated yet elegant, each with a distinctive personality.

DeMartino first began producing organic wines in 1991. From the pruning to the harvest, De Martino’s organic wines are produced under the auspices of the Organic Management Program, certified by BCS Oko-Garantie. The organic grapes, which are grown in their own Isla de Maipo estate on the De Martino property, have permanent green cover crops between rows to facilitate biodiversity in the vineyard. The hand-picked grapes are fermented in their own yeasts and require a minimum of sulfur.

This 100% Sauvignon Blanc has a bright yellow color with an expressive aroma of grass, citrus and white peach. On the palate it is crisp and well-balanced with an abundance of fruit, coupled with a vibrant acidity and luxuriously long finish. Ideal with smoked cheeses, fish, oysters and sautéed vegetables.

Finca Luzon Verde 2006

Mourvedre

from Jumilla, Spain

winemaker's notes:

Estate bottled. This wine is produced under organic regulations established under U.S.A guidelines with grapes grown from organic agriculture and it is certified organic by the USDA National Organic Program.

Deep violet color, with intense aromas of blueberries, minerals and leather. Layers of plums and blackberry with solid tannins on the palate.

Finca Luzon Verde 2007

Mourvedre

from Jumilla, Spain

winemaker's notes:

Made from 100% organic Monastrell.

Red cherry in color with a violet rim. Mature red fruit combined with slightly nutty aromas. Meaty on the palate with great fruitiness. This is a structured and well balanced wine.

Francis Ford Coppola Exclusive Gift Basket

Oscar-winning director, writer and producer, Francis Ford Coppola, loves creating. Not only are the wines produced under his direction, but as an avid cook, he has created "Mammarella", a line of authentic organic pastas and sauces honoring his mother, Italia Pennino Coppola. Included in this gift box are the Diamond Series Claret and Cabernet Sauvignon, two types of artisan pasta, classic tomato/basil pasta sauce, red pepper packets and a "Mammarella" kitchen towel. Delicioso!

This gift includes:

• Coppola Diamond Cabernet Sauvignon
• Coppola Diamond Claret
• Mammarella tomato basil sauce
• Mamarella Mafalde pasta
• Mamarella Quadrefiore pasta
• Recipe postcard – Quick Mozzarella Sauce
• Red pepper flakes
• Mammarella printed kitchen towel

Gift box dimensions: 20 x 13.5 x 7

Wine gift sets & baskets may be packaged with the bottles separately boxed for their protection during shipment. Pursuant to state laws in New York and Connecticut, gifts that contain both food and wine will be sent in two separate packages.

Grgich Hills Chardonnay 2004

Chardonnay

from Napa Valley, California

winemaker's notes:

The Wine News Chardonnay of the Year!
"A classy Chardonnay in every respect, offering enticing aromas of acacia blossom, ripe Meyer lemon, honeysuckle, a touch of minerality and a modest dusting of French oak. Full bodied and elegant on the palate with excellent acid balance and expansive flavors of citrus, pear, quince, green apple and spice, this crisp, complex, food-friendly wine remains lively in the mouth, thanks to the absence of malolactic fermentation and the judicious use of French oak (one-third new); long, lemony close."

This is the first vintage that our Chardonnay is estate grown, meaning we control everything from the vineyard to the bottle. The grapes were grown organically at our American Canyon and Carneros vineyards, where the coolness allows the grapes to develop complex flavors while maintaining a pleasing natural acidity. We do not allow the Chardonnay to undergo malolactic fermentation. This preserves the wine’s crispness and acidity to balance its concentrated fruit. Our full-bodied, elegant Chardonnay has fresh aromas of acacia and citrus flowers, honey and a touch of mineral.

All of our vineyards are biodynamically farmed, an agricultural philosophy that incorporates all of the elements of organic farming, using no artificial pesticides, fertilizers, or fungicides. Additionally, it treats the Earth as a living organism and utilizes nature’s basic life forces to bring about balance between the grapevines and the Earth

Mas de Gourgonnier Les Baux de Provance Rouge 2006

Red Wine

from Provence, France

winemaker's notes:

Nature behaves better in Provence than practically anywhere else.

We can't blame her—after spending a few bucolic afternoons at the foot of the Alpilles, amid intoxicating perfumes of pine and garrigue, this is one paradise from which we would not want to be expelled.

Since the early 1970s, Mas de Gourgonnier has cared for its vines and olive trees completely organically—and has the certification to prove it. But it's not like you need a bureaucratic piece of paper to tell you that this wine is the real deal—just one look at the vineyards and you know that nothing artificial will come between you and this bottle of Mas de Gourgonnier Rouge.

The Cartier family—Luc, Lucienne and daughter Eve—work plenty hard to keep this system running smoothly, and the quality is evident. The 2006 Rouge is a knock-out, captivating red with everything you could want: perfect balance, bottomless depth, dynamic flavor and certainly great potential for the cellar. The power of the family's Cabernet Sauvignon in 2006 is especially tantalizing, giving this blend of Cabernet, Carignane, Grenache and Syrah incredible structure and great mouthfeel.

This juicy, deliciously complex red blend combines 37% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Carignane, 20% old-vine Grenache and 10% Syrah. Incense blends with blackberries on the lusciously perfumed nose; wonderfully grippy tannins present a structured yet silky mouth of black cherries with a serious amount of spice. The finish is fine and lingers with notes of cassis, black pepper and the unforgettable scent of garrigue that grows wild over this extraordinary, 100% organic Provençal domaine.

"This impressively concentrated rendition of Gourgonnier – only 13% in alcohol, interestingly – is slightly rustic in its tannins but will prove exceptionally versatile at table... the wine is always matured in a mixture of tank and cask, never bottled much before the next harvest, is always distinctly recognizable as Gourgonnier, and always represents excellent value."
-Wine Advocate

Mas de Gourgonnier Les Baux de Provance Rouge 2007

Red Wine

from Provence, France

winemaker's notes:

Since the early 1970s, Mas de Gourgonnier has cared for its vines and olive trees completely organically—and has the certification to prove it. But it's not like you need a bureaucratic piece of paper to tell you that this wine is the real deal—just one look at the vineyards and you know that nothing artificial will come between you and this bottle of Mas de Gourgonnier Rouge.

The 2007 vintage harnessed all the traditional southern red power you’d expect yet wraps it in a velvet glove—this is rounder, juicier and fresher than it’s ever been, and you won’t be able to get enough of it. The estate’s 100% organic practices (since the 1950s) raise all sensations here to the next level—aromas are bountiful, chock-full of dried garrigue, black olives and pepper. Full-bodied yet energetic, the mouth explodes with black fruits and red berries, and plenty of baking spices.

37% Cabernet, 33% Carignane, 20% Grenache, 10% Syrah

critical acclaim:

"The 2007 Les Baux de Provence constitutes nearly 30% each of Carignan and Grenache, with slightly smaller shares of Cabernet Sauvignon (hence considerably less than in several recent vintages) and Syrah. Smelling delightfully of fresh plums, sandalwood, ginger, cinnamon, lavender, and a hint of game, it comes onto the palate expansively and with fine-grained underlying tannins. Juniper and cassis add a pleasantly bitter pungency to the finish, contributing along with saline and smoky notes to the invigoration of a long finish. This understated wine will not only offer highly versatile enjoyment over the next 3-4 years but should blossom further as well. "

89 Points

The Wine Advocate

Organic Wine Trio

Mixed Collection

winemaker's notes:

This collection reflects the diversity and quality of wineries who have "gone green." Discover the purity and sense of place offered by these organically grown wines: a luscious Viognier from Yalumba; a Cabernet-Merlot blend by OKO winery in the Languedoc, and spicy Petite Sirah from Red Truck Winery.

Includes:

• Australia: Yalumba Organic Viognier
  Think intense white flowers—particularly honeysuckle and apricot nectar, with hints of freshly turned earth. Silky, rich and luscious with a lovely fresh finish. Great press on this - 90+ ratings for both 2007 and 2008 vintages.
• California: Red Truck Petite Sirah
  Very darkly colored - typical peppery Petite Sirah gushing ripe raspberry, chocolate covered cherries and plums.
• France: OKO Cabernet-Merlot
  OKO: okologie › ecology › the interrelationships of organisms in the environment: The tree, a symbol of nature and life, provides the necessary oxygen for all things in the world to thrive. OKO is made from organically Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot in the Languedoc region of Southern France.

Please note that due to the popularity of this product, we reserve the right to substitute like wines and vintages of equal or greater value.

Organic Wine and Food Pairing

A Petite Sirah from Red Truck Winery, made with organically grown grapes farmed in Mendocino County vineyards, is paired with delicious, wholesome organic snacks. We've crafted the perfect gift where everything is organic. What a true wholesome treat!

This gift includes:

• Red Truck Organic Petite Sirah
• Organic oven roasted sliced almond delights
• Organic kalamata olive spread
• Organic fine wafer crackers
• Green & Black's organic dark 70% chocolate bar

Gift box dimensions: 13 1/4 x 11 3/4 x 4.5

Due to the popularity of this product, we reserve the right to substitute items of equal or greater quality.

Wine gift sets & baskets may be packaged with the bottles separately boxed for their protection during shipment. The wine glass is not included with this product.

Pursuant to state laws in New York and Connecticut, gifts that contain both food and wine will be sent in two separate packages.