To mark the end of dry January, we thought we would celebrate in style with Vintage Roots’ pick of the best organic wines. Favoured by restaurants and wine critics alike, organic wine is currently experiencing a renaissance. But, what makes it so special? Well, organic wine is made using only organically certified grapes and grown without synthetic pesticides, herbicides, fungicides and chemical fertilisers. Many people claim that organic wines and spirits are hungover free but we will leave that up to you to decide!
You can’t mention organic wine without including a shout out to the organic wine people ‘Vintage Roots’. Neil Palmer, who founded the company with his co-conspirator Lance Pigott over 20 years ago, believes “the benefits of organic wine are numerous! Taste for a start, organic grapes are healthy and balanced and are of course the raw ingredient for any great wine.”
1. Cotes du Rhone Chateau Rochecolombe
Matured for 12-18 months in concrete tanks to ensure a full fruit driven expression of its Mediterranean origins in the southern Rhone. Impressive, imposing aroma of blackberry, damson and a hint of wild scrubland herbs. The palate is equally enveloping and inviting with copious waves of dark fruit interweaving with notes of liquorice and spice.
2. Bordeaux Supérieur Château Couronneau
Selected fruit from strictly controlled yields, this fine 100% Merlot Bordeaux Supérieur is a glowing example of what can be achieved with dedication, focus, biodynamics AND a great vintage! Aged in large, old oak barrels to give a subtle vanilla and cream flavour.
3. Rioja Graciano
Rioja is known for producing some of the best Spanish wine, and this 2012 Viña Ijalba is a classic example of Spanish quality and care. The wine is made from Graciano grapes, which account for just 0.04% of the total grapes planted in the region. Graciano grapes are famous for the deep, aromatic wines they produce, with strong hints of spices and long length.
4. Coteaux du Languedoc Picpoul de Pinet
A bright yet pale golden coloured Picpoul. So fresh and evocative of its maritime proximity. Wafts of sea-breeze mingle with delightful notes of citrus, apple skin and herbs. Hints of peach and exotic fruits make a fleeting appearance too.
5. Fasoli Gino DOC Soave Borgoletto
Wonderfully clean, fresh and precise with notes of almond blossom and chamomile flowers. Crisp, dry and refined, the wine’s subtle, charming expression is a lovely example of quality Soave produced by attentive, sensitive growers working their vineyards with respect and dedication.
And for those of us who are looking to extend dry January…
We recommend you check out the brilliant Seedlip drinks. They produce the world’s first distilled non-alcoholic spirits and have just announced that they are going to build an experimental nursery and plant laboratory with ex RHS Chelsea Flower Show Manager Tom Harfleet. This Seedlip Garden 108 spirit is a floral blend of hand-picked peas and homegrown hay from Ben Branson’s farm with traditional garden herb distillates.
Greenhouse PR recently organised an event with Vintage Roots and other top organic producers and chefs to celebrate why organic food and drinks makes people happy. Discover more about the organic feast here.
At Greenhouse, we support a wide variety of organisations pioneering new standards of sustainability across multiple sectors. Whether it’s fashion, finance or farming, we’re always on the look-out for new opportunities to reach our clients’ target audiences. If you’ve got a great story and need our help to tell it, we’d love to hear from you.
