Pest control on the organic farm is very important, as you can imagine. Some use methods favored throughout history, like encouraging certain predators like raptors which prey on rodents (see my article on King Estate and their on site raptor program), and introducing beneficial insects which eat those insects that prey on grape leaves. At an organic farm, unwanted weeds are typically dealt with by hand or machine and are left to compost alongside the vines. Some, non-threatening weeds are left alone.
Natural pesticides and fungicides are utilized (not synthetic pesticides) and only those approved by OMRI are allowed in a certified organic farm. Organic producers will use elemental sulfur, micronized limestone, bacterial sprays to help control crop-devastating things like fungus. While the sulfur is an irritant (it would burn one's eyes or lungs if you happened to get a big dose of it), it is not nearly as toxic as many of the materials used in conventional vineyards. Many of the synthetic pesticides are known carcinogens--like Captan. The main criteria for natural pesticides and fungicides for organic farming according to OMRI is low toxicity.
The list of additives that are permitted to be in conventional wine is quite long and somewhat scary. Tartaric acid, mega-red/mega-purple food coloring, calcium carbonate, diammonium phosphate, potassium metabisulfite, enzymes, copper sulfite...the list goes on and on. While not every conventional winemaker uses these products, it is nearly impossible to tell what goes into a wine without an ingredient label. This is one of the things that makes organic wines desireable.
Organic wine makers use tried and true methods in the winemaking process. For example, in order to avoid oxidation in the winemaking process, many organic winemakers keep their vats filled to the brim until bottling time comes around. Some also may use a layer of carbon dioxide or nitrogen over the wine to protect it from the air. To eliminate any rotten-egg smell from the winemaking process, many aerate their fermenting wines.
Grapes grown organically are thought to contain more natural nutrients which eliminates the need to add synthetic nutrients to the wine to aid in yeast development. To get rid of the cloudiness in a developing wine, organic winemakers can add in organic egg whites which bond with the offending protiens and sink them to the bottom. Several organic producers skip this step in favor of bentonite clay or diatoomaceous earth--which also sinks the protiens to the bottom and is vegan-friendly. Read my article on Frey Vineyards and their vegan friendly wines here.
For more information on organic wines and organic farming methods please visit the following websites:
OMRI: Organic Materials Review Institute http://www.omri.org/
Founded in 1997, the Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI) provides organic certifiers, growers, manufacturers, and suppliers an independent review of products intended for use in certified organic production, handling, and processing. OMRI is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. When companies apply, OMRI reviews their products against the National Organic Standards. Acceptable products are OMRI Listed® and appear on the OMRI Products List. OMRI also provides subscribers and certifiers guidance on the acceptability of various material inputs in general under the National Organic Program.
NOSB: National Organic Standards Board http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/nosb
The Organic Foods Production Act of 1990, part of the 1990 Farm Bill, authorized the Secretary of Agriculture to appoint a 15-member National Organic Standards Board (NOSB). The Board’s main mission is to make recommendations about whether a substance should be allowed or prohibited in organic production or handling, to assist in the development of standards for substances to be used in organic production, and to advise the Secretary on other aspects of the implementation of the OFPA. Read part 1 of this article series here and part 2 here.
Some online organic resources:
http://www.rodaleinstitute.org/new_farm
http://www.organic-center.org
http://www.ota.com
http://organicconsumers.org
http://organicconsumers.org
http://ifoam.org
http://omri.org
http://biochar-international.org
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