Wednesday, April 23, 2008

Taste the difference

Organic Grapes While you may hear quite a bit of talk about organic fruits and vegetables, something that doesn't get too much focus is the growing interest in organic wines. Recently at a wine tasting, consumers got to taste the organic wine and found it to be outstanding. This article from the Kalamazoo Gazette (and mlive.com) helps to clarify the differences in organic and other wines.

Getting to the bottom of organic wine

An organic wine turned out to be the hit of a recent wine tasting at North 11 restaurant sponsored by Salut Fine Wine & Spirits, in Comstock Township.

The California wine, Girasole Vineyard's Pinot Noir 2006, impressed guests with its fresh, primary flavors and easy-to-drink nature.

The popularity of the wine among the small group at the tasting brought to mind a variety of questions people ask about organic wines. Here are some of those questions, along with answers from area wine retailers:

What is organic wine? This matter can be confusing. Some wines are certified organic by the
U.S. Department of Agriculture -- they are made with organic grapes and have no sulfites added. Some wines are labeled organic and are made with organic grapes but have sulfites added.

There are also organic wines that are not labeled organic because a vineyard didn't want to jump through all the hoops and pay the money to gain organic certification.

It is best to establish a relationship with a beverage-store owner or knowledgeable wine clerk who can help steer you to preferred organic wines.

Where can you get organic wine? Organic wines are available at most retailers that have a large selection of wines. The organic ones are often in their own section.

What are
sulfites? Sulfites are a natural preservative people have been using for hundreds of years to keep wine stable. They come from the skin of grapes. Some wine producers add more sulfites to keep wine stable for shipping and storage. Sulfites do not change the flavor of wine.

Are
sulfites OK for the body? Sulfites are dangerous to a small portion of the population that is allergic to them. By the time people are adults, they usually know if they are allergic to sulfites, which are present in other foods such as fruit juice and sausages.

Some people claim
sulfites give them headaches. Many of these people may be reacting to the naturally occurring histamines in red wines or simply drinking too much wine.

No comments: