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04/26/08 - Wine Racks

The Best Articles on Wine Racks

Why choose organic wine?



What could be a better accompaniment to a meal of organic food than a glass of organic wine? Wine is one of humanity's oldest beverages. It's been used in medicine and religious rituals, and it is all over our social calendars. A lot of research has been made to study its effect on human health. Is it a coincidence that the French, who are second in the world in wine consumption, also have the second lowest occurrence of heart disease?


That alone is a good reason to enjoy a glass of wine. But why select an organic wine over one made with conventional methods?


First, as with all organic food, organic wine is produced without any pesticides, herbicides or insecticides. According to some estimates, seventeen such substances are used in conventional wine grape production, making grapes one of the most heavily sprayed crops. After years of spraying the soil, as well as a season of spraying the grapes, the grapes contain contact as well as systemic pesticides. They may not only harm the plants, the soil, and ultimately the environment, but may also be present in the wine as a residue.


Organic farming promotes "biodiversity" and allows other plants to grow in and around the vineyard. Instead of using chemical substances to eliminate weeds, vintners let them grow. In place of herbicides they cultivate the soil and plant cover crops. They use only natural fertilizers, such as composted animal manure, and cultivate beneficial insects, such as ladybugs, to keep the less-welcome ones away.


Grapes are hand picked, which allow only the ripest and healthiest to be used in wine production. An independent body of certification (accredited by the USDA), has to control each winegrower, once or twice a year, to test if he meets the standards for organic farming.


But being "organic" doesn't stop when the grapes are picked. The winemaking process itself is a factor. Organic wineries keep physical treatment of the wine to a minimum level, although the temperature is controlled throughout.


Further, to call a wine "organic," it must not contain added sulfur dioxide, or sulfites. A natural byproduct of the fermentation process, sulfites are essential to prevent oxidation or bacterial spoilage of the wine. While the U.S. Department of Agriculture allows organic wines contain up to 100ppm of sulfites in the final product, many contain less than that; organic red wine, for example, often contains only 40ppm. Conventional winemakers generally add sulfites, and the sulfite levels of their wines will be twice as high.


Organic wines haven't had a good reputation throughout the years, but you'd be surprised at how far they've come. Add a glass of organic wine to that next organic meal, and make it tasty, heart-healthy, and environmentally friendly.

About the Author


Debbie O'Meara is the owner of www.organic-food-and-drink.com, full of resources and information about organic food and beverages, including wine.

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Blaufraenkisch Ausbruch


The Blaufraenkisch grape is cultivated in Hungary and picked at a very late stage, when the berries are shrunk. The result is this full-bodied, sweet red wine which is recommended as a delicious aperitif, but also to accompany fine beef in a creamy sauce. Blaufraenkisch Ausbruch is a perfect gift for the sweet wine-lovers. 102660 102660


Price: 23.99 USD



Wine Racks in the news

New custom frame GE Monogram wine reserves and beverage centers

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 23:42:14 PDT
KBIS 2008 Review] The new custom frame GE Monogram wine reserves and beverage centers are refined and elegant coolers, offering literally unlimited options for entertainment and personalization of your kitchen. Designed to integrate smoothly into any home decor, these elegant appliances accept a custom cabinet frame which surrounds a glass window. You can customize your wine reserve or beverage center with door handles available in a local GE design center, or order signature Monogram tubul

Local Racing Season Is On….Finally!

Tue, 22 Apr 2008 11:57:01 PDT
After a long, cold, wet, gray winter of Dickensian proportions, followed by those too-early-in-the-year “training races” with names like “Froze Toes” for good reason, the temps have finally surpassed the 70 degree mark across the U.S. Midwest and the race calendar is suddenly chockablock. Now this is what we live for, isn’t it? So we’re all finding our early season form. Maybe it’s awful, due to too many days when it just wasn’t worth venturing outside. Maybe it’s not so bad, due to b

The Obligatory Vacation Recap

Tue, 22 Apr 2008 17:39:00 PDT
In the few minutes I have before I dive back into another conference session, figured I’d cover some of the items of our last vacation. This was a 2.5 week excursion mostly to Scotland, with a few days in England. Alex planned most of the trip, with me handling things like the transportation and hotels to stay along the way. Overall, about a 50/50 split on the events et al. Sadly, at the end, it wasn’t a usual vacation. Until now, it’s always been either just me, or myself and Alex. Now there’

First-year business toasts success with big plans for future (Post-Bulletin)

Tue, 22 Apr 2008 19:21:54 PDT
Salem Glen Vineyard and Winery owner Dustin Ebert can toast the success of his venture's first season -- if he saved some wine for himself. Since opening last July, the southwest Rochester winery has sold almost all 3,000 bottles of its debut vintages

Benefits: April 24, 2008 (Naples Daily News)

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 12:42:55 PDT

A SHORE THING (Orlando Weekly)

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 21:14:17 PDT
With stints at Antonio’s La Fiamma in Maitland and Terramia Winebar in Longwood, Adriatico chef Marco Cudazzo has played a significant role in pleasing local palates with a penchant for pasta and rustic dishes from the old country.


Sweet Wine
Wine Vino

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