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Have you ever wondered about organic wines? Are they really that much better? Are you doing right by Mother Earth by buying organic wine? So many questions, and more than I can unpack here today, but I’ll do my best to skim the surface and give you a couple good organic wine labels to look for.

When I eat certain organic produce I usually taste a difference with better flavor. But price is also a factor in my food choices, as is size/yield (anyone ever seen those super tiny mandarin oranges? I just can’t bring myself to buy those). Lots of variables to consider with no cut and dry answer, and everyone has their own unique needs and situations.

It’s smart to recognize all things are not necessarily as they seem, and it’s worth investigating some facts about organic practices before buying whole hog into the organic religion. This article from Tiffany at frugal food/healthy living blog Don’t Waste the Crumbs has some interesting information on what “organic” actually means (as it pertains to the United States Department of Agriculture, not necessarily other organizations/countries) and how allowances in practice vastly differ from what is portrayed through their marketing claims.

While there is a lot of debate and controversy over conventional vs. organic farming practices, one thing (I think) we can all agree on is the need to care for the earth and not just decimate the soils supporting our beloved crops. Amen?

Here are two wines I picked out to spotlight in honor of Earth Day. Both use organic grapes and both are very reasonably priced at under $14/bottle. I have tried both Natura and Bonterra brand wines in the past and very much enjoyed both (I originally tried a Natura Carmenére and an unknown red from Bonterra).

Bonterra Merlot 2021

Bonterra Merlot 2021

• $11.49/bottle at Total Wine
• Organic grapes from California
• 13.7% ABV
• Deep ruby with blue tint, fairly opaque
• Aromas: blueberry, plum, black cherry, fig, bay leaf, savory meat, cinnamon, dusty cocoa
• Medium or Full Body, juicy, plush wine with well-integrated tannins
• Moderate mid-palate
• Moderate finish

Natura Malbec 2020 Emiliana Vineyards

Natura Malbec 2020

• Organic grapes from Rapel Valley, Chile
• $12.99/bottle at wine.com
• Full body, 13.5% ABV
• Medium ruby color but lighter around edge, more red tint (no blue)
• Medium acidity
• Dry
• Soft, gentle tannins
• Aromas/flavors: red fruits (currant, cranberry), black cherry, pepper, braised tomato, earth, leather, spice, gravel, herb, mineral
• Moderate to long finish

I’ll admit I wasn’t overwhelmed with these particular two wines, but that could be due to my changing tastes and expectations. I wouldn’t say either was a bad wine at all – they just lacked layers of complexity. They do improve after being open for a day and getting a little love from oxygen. And I think they would do well with some pizza or other food to accompany and improve them.

Still, if you would like to drink organic wine in a budget-friendly price range, these are worth checking out. Both labels also make several other varietals. See other Natura wines here and other Bonterra selections here. Wines that are available through my wine.com affiliate link can be found here.

A cool feature at wine.com is that you can filter your search for “green” wines, which includes organic/biodynamic/sustainable wine producers. Check out their other organic offerings here.

Organic wines offer a product that purportedly benefits the land, crops, and our bodies. When you purchase an organic wine, you’re encouraging farmers to continue using organic and sustainable growing practices. And it’s nice to know that drinking an organic wine does not mean you have to pay a premium, unlike with other organic products at the supermarket. 🙂

Are there any organic wines you enjoy? Let the rest of us know in the comments!