supermarket
Editorial
Consider a New Year of Organic Wines
December 29, 2007
"TEN ... NINE ... EIGHT ... SEVEN ... SIX ... FIVE ... FOUR ... THREE ... TWO ... ONE!"
Incredulously, in just a few days all of us across the globe will be bidding farewell to 2007 and ushering in 2008 with robust countdowns such as that in diverse tongues as millions of clocks strike midnight in each respective time zone. "HAPPY NEW YEAR," we English-speaking men, women and children will cry, as the famous mirrored ball descends atop New York City’s bustling Times Square.
With that triumphant proclamation will come much fanfare, from horns blaring to balloons and confetti streaming, perfunctory kissing, prerecorded music regaling, "Auld Lang Syne," applauding, dancing and much more.
SMGN recognizes that although in this more enlightened era, many people choose to abstain from drinking alcohol, there are still plenty who choose to imbibe. Therefore, Retailers/Restaurateurs, do not forget to heavily stock your shelves to meet the demand for the traditional stroke-of-twelve toasting and first drink(s) of 2008. "Cheers!"
Green grocers (retailers who specialize in organic products) have likely stocked up on organic wines, which since the humble beginnings of the holiday season have likely been flying off your shelves. For the rest of you, just acclimating yourselves to the "green scene," SMGN is pleased to offer a brief introduction to organic wines so that you may plan profitably for this New Year:
Following the recent creation by the USDA of a National Organic Program, an organic wine is now defined as "a wine made from organically grown grapes and without any added sulfites". Sulfites, a.k.a., sulfur, is a naturally occurring compound that nature uses to prevent microbial growth. They are found on the grapes, themselves. Sulfur is a useful compound, as it protects damage to the wine by oxygen, and helps prevent organisms from growing in and contaminating the wine. In the absence of any sulfates, the wines, with their trademark flavors and aromas would be impossible to preserve and quickly deteriorate into vinegars.
No wine can ever be "100-percent sulfite free," however; the problem with adding to or enhancing already-existing natural sulfites is that humans are commonly allergic to these higher doses, hence the typical headaches or "hangover" sensations that come with drinking too many glasses of traditional (non-organic) vintages. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), the governing body for wineries in the US, allows wineries to call a wine sulfite-free when the levels of sulfites are under 10 parts per million (ppm). Conventional wines, however, range from 80 to 120 ppm and higher.
If a winery chooses to refrain from adding additional sulfites, they first have to make sure their winery is absolutely clean and sterile. Then, what the vintner (winemaker) must do is to prevent contamination from occurring, using alternative processing methods.
Some use a layer of carbon dioxide on the wine to kill off oxygen-dependant microbes. Nitrogen gas is used during bottling for the same reason.
Uncompromisingly sterile filtration is a crucial step for those suppliers seeking a competitive edge. All equipment involved - tanks, barrels, pipes, must be kept perfectly clean at all times. This is a lengthy and meticulous process for a winery to follow.
The bottle of wine then needs to be stored chilled and on its side. It is also a product to be consumed relatively "young." Retailer/Restaurateur, note that you will not store these products on shelves or in wine cellars for years. They must be sold quickly to ensure optimum freshness and quality. That, of course, translates into immediate cash for your business(es).
Although pricier product does exist, a few wholesome and affordable wines SMGN recommends that you feature, be it over the next few days of 2007 or throughout 2008 are as follows:
Reds
- Heller Estate's Cabernet Sauvignon 2002 from
- California's Central Coast
- Anita and Hans Nittnaus's Burgenland 2005
- Italy's Cantine del Notaio, Il Repertorio
- Benziger's 2003 Tribute from Sonoma County
Whites
- Austria's Soellner Wogenrain grüner veltliner 2005
- Nikolaihof vom Stein Riesling Federspiel 2005
- Madonna Estate's Los Carneros 2004
- From Oregon, Ponzi Vineyard's Willamette Valley Pinot Gris 2005
Champagne
- Larmandier-Bernier Vertus
- Fleury Brut
By Lisa Carvin, Freelance Reporter