Top organic wines to try
From deliciously floral Prosecco to silky, juicy Australian Shiraz and earthy French Cabernet Franc that deserves a steak dinner, here are 20 exciting organic wines recently reviewed by Decanter’s editorial team.
Organic wines come in many different guises, and the best examples show all of the delicious balance and bright fruit that you’d expect from a great bottle.
Below you’ll find a range of excellent styles reviewed by Decanter experts in the list below.
Around 6% of the world’s vineyards were certified organic in 2019, equal to 454,000 hectares, according to the International Organisation for Vine and Wine (OIV).
There are different rules and approaches around the world, but broadly speaking organic wineries and grape growers avoid the use of synthetic chemicals in the vineyard and seek to promote soil health and biodiversity.
Some organic producers say their wines better reflect a sense of place or terroir.
A key facet of organic winemaking rules has been the use of sulphur dioxide, or sulphites.
In the US, organic wines can’t contain added sulphites, beyond those naturally occurring in the wine itself. Wines labelled as ‘made with organic grapes’ can have sulphites added up to a certain threshold, according to the US department of agriculture (UDSA).
In Europe, organic winemaking rules agreed at EU level in 2012 set down limits for sulphites, but below the threshold for conventional wines.
Some producers use organic methods without pursuing official certification, and there are brilliant winemakers who have long eschewed chemical pesticides and fertilisers in the vineyards.
It’s worth doing some research behind the label if you have the time.
Alternatively, speak to your local wine merchant before you buy, because they will likely be able to share more information about the winery.
There are differences between organic and biodynamic approaches, and also from loosely-defined natural wines. Private and government-sponsored sustainability schemes have also risen to prominence in the last couple of decades.
To some extent, these separate strands show how environmental considerations and judicial use of intervention techniques in the cellar are central conversations in modern winemaking.
Top organic wines to try
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Organic vs natural wine: what’s the difference?
Biodynamic wines explained
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Drappier, Clarevallis, Champagne, France
Open and inviting, the aromas of honey and brioche draw you in and flood the senses with acacia, toast and lemon curd. A wine that's...
Drappier
Alessandro Berselli, Signature Collection Brut, Prosecco, Conegliano-Valdobbiadene Superiore, Veneto, Italy, 2020
88
Bright lemon and apple flavours with some salty, herbal and floral notes and bright acidity. Well balanced and fresh, although perhaps finishes just a touch short.
2020
Alessandro BerselliProsecco
Aldi, Organic Prosecco Rosé, delle Venezie, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy, 2021
89
I've long felt it's worth paying a couple of pounds more for Aldi's Organic Prosecco (£7.49) than the 'regular' version – not least if you prefer a drier wine – and the same is true if you're a pink fizz fan. This has 15% Pinot Noir joining the Glera, to give a gentle note of strawberry to the lifted blossom and ripe orchard fruit.
2021
Aldidelle Venezie
Matetic, EQ Quartz, San Antonio, Chile, 2017
A wild style, with savoury notes of oyster shell, a creamy, silky mouthfeel and a lingering finish with notes of white peach, honey and blossom....
2017
Matetic
Casa de Mouraz, Branco, Dão, Portugal, 2017
From an organically certified field blend vineyard planted in the 1960s, featuring some 15 varieties, including Malvasia Fina, Encruzado, Bical, Cerceal, Barcelo. This unoaked, lees-aged...
2017
Casa de Mouraz
Bodegas Palacios Remondo, Plácet Valtomelloso, Rioja, Spain, 2019
92
Made with fruit from Viura vines aged over 30 years, this white Rioja is all about texture. There's a silkiness to palate, balanced by focused acidity with a fine seam of minerality throughout. Time in large oak foudres adds structure and some creamy, nutty undertones to the lemon and grapefruit citrus. Savoury and citrus aromatics add appeal. A great food wine that will evolve further with time in bottle.
2019
Bodegas Palacios Remondo
Domaine Paul Gadenne, La Débaroule Chignin, Vin de Savoie Chignin-Bergeron, Savoie, France, 2020
92
This lively white, made from Jacquère, is like a soft embrace from a powdery snowman - bracing, fresh and enlivening. Lovely open aromas of yellow apple, lime and pear develop into quince on the palate, with a lemon curd depth. It’s chalky, mineral and zippy, with a refreshing acid line, like a true Alpine wine. One of the most widely planted grape varieties in Savoie, Jacquère tends towards lower alcohol levels, making for dangerously fresh and drinkable wines. This was fermented with indigenous yeasts and aged on lees for eight months before bottling without fining or filtration. Having studied winemaking in Beaune, the young Paul Gadenne returned to his home region of Savoie to begin crafting pure wines from local varieties, working organically in the vineyards and intervening only minimally in the cellar. This is a new domaine with great promise.
2020
Domaine Paul Gadenne
Famille Brocard, Organic, Chablis, Burgundy, France, 2019
90
Jean-Marc Brocard adopted organic practices in 1997 (one of the first in Chablis) and now 60ha are certified with a further 40ha farmed biodynamically. Here, the bone-dry palate has racy acidity, flinty minerals and bright lemon juiciness. Will gain nutty complexity with further bottle age. In store and online.
2019
Famille BrocardChablis
Emiliana, Gran Reserva Organic Viognier, Casablanca Valley, Chile, 2020
89
Made with fruit from cooler coastal vineyards in Aconcagua.The wine is aged in 40% French oak barrels, in pursuit of a more northern Rhône character. This is a ripe, rounded and fruit-forward style, with luscious peach and apricot stone fruit, a full body and a warming finish. Try it with spicy Asian dishes.
2020
Emiliana
Aldi, Specially Selected Organic Rosato, Etna, Sicily, Italy, 2021
90
Castellore is Aldi's Italian brand whose organic Proseccos have impressed, and now comes this 100% Nerello Mascalese pink that is well worth trying. It's dry but elegantly ripe, packed with tart redcurrant, tangy raspberry and juicy white peach flavours with a crisp line of mineral acidity throughout.
2021
AldiEtna
Luke Lambert, Syrah, Yarra Valley, Victoria, Australia, 2019
95
What a deliciously sexy wine! Enticing and complex from first scent, it shows great intensity of fruit – red plum more than black berries, along with refreshing rosehip and pomegranate. The supple, sappy mouthfeel is gracefully balanced by sinewy tannins, great acidity and gently sweet spicing. From organically farmed vines planted in 2001, it is 80% whole bunch fermented and aged in neutral foudres for six months.
2019
Luke LambertYarra Valley
Battle of Bosworth, Puritan Shiraz, McLaren Vale, South Australia, Australia, 2021
92
Unoaked, with no added preservatives and made to drink young to appreciate the old-vine fruit purity, this is almost like a ruby Port with (a bit) less alcohol and lots of silky, juicy raspberry, blueberry and milk chocolate smoothness. Fans of big, rich sweetly fruited reds will love this.
2021
Battle of BosworthMcLaren Vale
Domaine de Roquemale, Meli Melo, Pays d'Hérault, Languedoc-Roussillon, France, 2020
92
Located in the Grès de Montpellier area of the eastern Languedoc, Valérie and Dominique Ibanez cultivate a multitude of different varieties organically over 13ha. This is made from the red-fleshed Alicante Bouschet which gives heaps of blackberry aromas. It’s juicy, bright and cheerful, with sweet ripe plums and crushed raspberry notes. The label states that it’s a ‘vin de soif’, but there’s definitely some boldness and texture here, and a softly bitter cherry skin finish. It would be great with caponata or grilled tomatoes on the vine.
2020
Domaine de RoquemalePays d'Hérault
Ho-lan Soul, Reserved Organic Syrah, Helan Mountain East, Ningxia, China, 2017
92
This is an assertive, beefy and savoury Syrah style. The palate shows considerable elegance, plus fresh, herby acidity and fine tannins. A true northern Rhône lookalike. Lovely! (Silver Medal winner of DWWA 2021)
2017
Ho-lan SoulHelan Mountain East
Jean Leon, Vinya Le Havre Cabernet Sauvignon Reserva, Penedès, Spain, 2015
92
A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon with 15% Cabernet Franc, limited production from a 16ha vineyard planted in 1968. Spicy black fruit aromas, with hints of plum and red fruits, black pepper and a savoury edge. Aged in a mix of French and American oak (10%) which adds a toasty complexity and structure to the palate of spicy cassis, with leathery notes, some minty freshness on the long finish.
2015
Jean Leon
Casa de Mouraz, Tinto, Dão, Portugal, 2016
A characterful organic field blend of native Portuguese varieties including Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz, Jaen, Alfrocheiro, Baga and Rufete. Appealing nose of spicy black fruit,...
2016
Casa de Mouraz
Le Nez Français, Cabernet Franc, Pays d'Oc, France, 2015
91
This organic wine, from Domaine Gayda's Vincent Chansault and Argentina's José Galante from Bodegas Salentein, won Silver at the 2017 Decanter World Wine Awards, but is still drinking beautifully now. Savoury spiced leather notes from well-integrated oak accent bright mulberry fruit on the chalky-textured palate. Earthy, inky and very tasty – a perfect match for date night steak frites.
2015
Le Nez Français
Domaine Bousquet, Organic Malbec, Uco Valley, Mendoza, Argentina, 2020
90
From organic vineyards planted at 1,200m in Tupungato in the foothills of the Andes, this Malbec is great value for money. Spicy black fruit nose with hints of black cherry and violets. Medium-bodied, with rounded tannins and plenty of spicy black berry and cherry fruit.
2020
Domaine BousquetUco Valley
Te Awanga, Wildsong Organic Syrah, Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand, 2019
Wild, herbal notes alongside pure, fresh blackberries. Good concentration of blackcurrant with leafiness bringing freshness and interest, then a sweet finish of cherry and black...
2019
Te Awanga
Masi, Fresco di Masi, Veronese, Veneto, Italy, 2020
Using 100% sustainable, plastic-free packaging and sourcing organic grapes, this red Veronese from Masi features chocolatey, herby red fruits with some tobacco and spice. The...
2020
MasiVeronese
