Lovely wines to bring you down to earth

ORGANIC food has been steadily growing in popularity since the 1990s. Even the cost-of-living crisis didn't put a dent in sales. Many Britons, it seems, are prepared to pay more for better quality, fewer pesticides and chemicals, and, when it comes to meat, improved animal welfare. But what does that mean for wine?

- by Matt Nixson

The definition of organic wine varies from country to country but, effectively, it means grapes are grown without the use of chemical pesticides, herbicides, fungicides or synthetic fertilisers. It can't be that hard, can it?

After all, all wines were organic until the 19th century when chemical fertilisers and pesticides were introduced. And, as with most organic farming, organic growing is better for the environment - but there's a cost.

The lack of chemical intervention means there might be a little less consistency and outbreaks of disease can be harder to control. Production is also typically more labour intensive.

When I first wrote about them several years ago, it was still easy enough to pick up a great bottle for under a tenner.

That's less the case now, though there's still great value to be had if you're eagle-eyed so be prepared to shop around.