Producing Wine the Organic Way

Producing Wine the Organic Way
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Chris_Bowman]Chris Bowman

The word organic is very much sought after in today's society. People are more inclined towards healthy living which partakes of organic food and drink. This means that food is generally cleaner and non-chemically grown. Can such a product exist when it comes to wine productions and can any company specializing in organic wine production even manage to stay afloat?

Because of the increasing global trend, environmentalists and other nature lovers feel compelled to live green and healthy. More and more of these consumers want to be informed of what goes into their food and drink and how it affects their bodies. Some of these customers would not even dare purchase a product until they are fully apprised of its content and value. Organic wines were previously labeled as dull, a strange label since most of finest and rarest vintage wine happen to have been produced organically.

It can be safely said that a food product is organic if it was produced without the use of herbicides, pesticides, and synthetic fertilizers. It was not subjected to artificial preservatives, coloring, and is generally considered free of genetically modified organisms.

However, what is it exactly about being organic that is so good to begin with? Many believe that a lot of foodstuffs today are filled with unhealthy and unnatural chemical build-up because of the use of artificial pesticides and fertilizers on the crops or plants that we eventually consume. Many health professionals and environmentalists alike believe that these chemical build-ups often cause long-term health problems or contribute to allergies.

Chemicals seeping into groundwater and other traces of drinking water also pose a problem for many communities all over the world.

Many crops today, especially when grown by companies heavy on the commercial side, are grown with the use of artificial pesticides and fertilizers. Continued usage of these chemicals can also weaken the soil and create imbalance in our ecosystem. It can become worse when pests develop a tolerance to these chemical and stronger agents need to be used a result. The consequence of such use would be a stronger and more hazardous chemical build-up.

A healthy alternative is to farm and grow crops using organic methods. However, this also means that crops would grow at a slow pace and the earth itself would need more time to replenish its nutrients. For example, an organic farm means weeding by hand, which can be a very long process.

The pest problem can also increase exponentially without strategies and effective methods of control. You can introduce natural predators of these pests by creating a balanced and diverse set-up within your very own backyard. Encourage this by planting manure, flowers and other herbs to attract other species.

Vineyards can also be ravaged if left unchecked and under the mercy of mildew and black rot. These diseases when not stopped at the start may infect and eventually poison a whole vineyard. This is especially problematic in very humid places. There organic production is most effective in hot and dry regions where infection is less likely.

Do not forget that in order to market trade as an organic vineyard, your organization would have to be recognized by an official certification body across the world.

Chris Bowman is a grape growing expert. For more great tips on Producing Wine [http://www.overthegrapevine.com/organic-winemaking]The Organic Way and other grape growing information, visit http://www.overthegrapevine.com

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