ORGANIC AND BIODYNAMIC WINES

 

Last Monday, June 20th, we attended the Vinum Nature Fair in Barcelona. Vinum Nature is the biggest event dedicated to organic and natural wine in the whole of Spain. We enjoyed a pretty impressive array of wine and Cavas, and we learnt quite a bit about this fascinating world.

 

Organic wines are here to stay. The expansion of organic viticulture is not just a trend, but the proof that more and more producers are aware of a very significant fact: authentic wines are not made in the cellar, but in the vineyard. True wine is the result of a sustained, respectful dialogue between Man and Earth. Thus, the more we take care of the land, the better will be the wine.

 

What's the difference between organic wines and traditional ones? Generally speaking, the producers of organic wines apply a series of agricultural practices which are respectful both to the vines and to their entourage.

 

Thus, organic winemakers do not use syntethic chemicals, such as herbicides, pesticides or insecticides.

 

Instead of employing chemical fertilizers, they use green composts.

 

The use of sulphur as fungicide, particularly in the form of the well-known "Bordeaux Mixture", is allowed in organic farming (according to the EU regulation 2092/91.) Despite this fact, more and more winemakers tend to substitute it for biodynamic preparations and preventive practices.

 

Spain already has a respectable number of producers of organic and biodynamic wines. Here is our selection for you.

 

We begin in northern Catalonia, near the French border. Produced by the French-owned winery Terra Remota, Terra Remota Camino 2013 is a complex red wine from L'Empordà made from Grenache, Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon.

 

Heading south, we arrive at the heart of Penedès, we found the Albet i Noya winery, pioneer of organic farming in Catalonia and producer of Albet i Noya 3 Macabeus 2015, a delicious white wine, single varietal Macabeo, which is perfect for the summertime.

 

Not far from there, in the Garraf mountains, Can Ràfols dels Caus crafts Gran Caus Rosat 2015, a single varietal Merlot that is one of Spain's best rosé wines.

 

Still exploring the sunny Penedès, Xarel.lo d'AT Roca 2014 is a pure, zippy, single varietal white wine. A Xarel.lo made from old-vines by the AT Roca winery.

 

Southward again, our next stop is Montsant, where Venus La Universal blends Grenache, Merlot, Cabernet S. and Syrah to produce the crisp, lively red wine Dido La Universal 2014.

 

We remain in the region, because the Joan d'Anguera winery has something special for us: the red wine Altaroses 2014, an increasingly sought-after biodynamic single varietal Grenache, full of subtlety and finesse.

 

Our last stop in Catalonia is Celler Frisach, located in Terra Alta. The winery has just released L'Abrunet de Frisach Rosat 2015 an original rosé wine made from three varieties of Grenache: Red Grenache, White Grenache and Grey Grenache.

 

Now a huge jump to Rueda, the craddle of Verdejo in the midst of the Castilian plateau. V3 Viñas Viejas Verdejo 2013 is a single varietal white wine made from centenary vineyards by Bodegas Menade.

 

Finally, our last wine comes from Ribera del Duero. A single varietal Tinta Fina, Austum 2014 is a fresh, intense red wine crafted by Bodegas Tionio.

 

Until our next post,

Enjoy wine