If there’s one thing we all need, especially at this time of year, is a fully stocked wine fridge. And if you’re looking for your next drop that meets your sustainable values, you’ve come to the right place.
Not only are there so many organic, vegan, and natural wines on the market right now, many of them are actually affordable and easy to find at your local bottle shop.
Before we dive in, here’s a quick rundown of what these terms actually mean.
Image via Organic Wine
Organic
Organic winegrowing means no synthetic chemicals, including pesticides and herbicides, can be used in the vineyards to tackle pests and disease. Certification is provided by an independent third-party organisation. In Australia we have two main certifying bodies most winegrowers will use to prove that their wine is organic. These are Australian Certified Organic (ACO) and the National Association for Sustainable Agriculture, Australia (NASAA). The logo will be printed somewhere on the wine label.
Vegan
Wines will go through a filtering process called fining in order to clarify and stabilise their wines. Typical fining agents such as gelatin, isinglass, egg whites and milk proteins which are all derived from animals. In contrast, vegan-friendly wines are either fined with the help of natural materials such as bentonite clay, carbon and limestone, or completely unfined and unfiltered.
Natural
For a wine to be considered natural, winemakers must not add anything to the wine in the cellar that’s not naturally occurring – things like preservatives, additives, or chemicals. Similar to organic wines minus the official certifications – which can be an expensive process for small growers.
Sustainable
Sustainable wine refers to the farming and winemaking practices that winegrowers follow to reduce their environmental impact. They take into account things like waste management, energy and water conservation, protecting and enhancing the soil, and working with nature. Both Australia and New Zealand have national programs that work with winegrowers who are committed to becoming more sustainable. Taking it a step further, more brands are looking at ways they can reduce their carbon footprint with lower impact packaging and carbon neutral shipping.
Biodynamic
Biodynamic wine is also organic and growers don’t use any chemicals or additives. The big difference here is that all activities in the vineyard, the planting, pruning, composting and harvesting are done according to a cosmic calendar, based on the lunar cycle and astrological events.
Here are just a few of our favourite sustainable, organic and vegan wine brands that don’t cost the earth.
1. Tamburlaine Organic
Tamburlaine is a Hunter Valley winery that has been around since the 60’s and one of Australia’s largest producers of organic wines. They have an excellent and affordable selection of red, white, and sparkling wines that are also vegan-friendly.
2. Round Theory Wines
Round Theory has these funky bottles that use 30% less glass than traditional wine bottles and actually reduces their environmental impact. The white wine range is sustainably grown and sourced, carbon positive, vegan-friendly and really delicious.
3. Kalleske
These Barossa Valley winemakers see themselves as caretakers of the land. They practice sustainable farming and don’t just want to maintain the environment but improve it for future generations. They’re certified organic and biodynamic and the Moppa Shiraz is *chefs kiss*.
4. Temple Bruer
These guys are one of the only Australian wineries to be both 100% Certified Organic and Carbon Neutral. They measure their carbon footprint at each step of the wine’s lifecycle from the cradle to gate. They also make some really great-tasting and affordable wines.
5. Pure Vision
This family-owned winery is dedicated to sustainable practices. They were of the first certified organic wineries in Australia before it was a ‘thing’. They knew the future of winemaking was sustainable and wanted to create great wines that are also good for the planet.
6. Organic Wine
Organic Wine is a fantastic online store with a curated selection of organic, biodynamic, and preservative-free wines. They have an easy to use wine finder where you can filter wines based on your needs, down to the region where the grapes were grown. Best of all, they ship Australia wide!
