Discover the Top 10 Organic Wineries Around the Globe
What’s in your glass? Humans have been making wine for millennia. Cultures have been influenced by the production of grapes and the legacy of winemaking and trade throughout history. Now we have modern agriculture and technology to get us wine from virtually any region, including offerings from organic wineries, that appeals to all tastes.
But not all wine is created equal. Recently, winemaking has become a massive production with pesticides, additives, and unsustainable farming practices used to create and bring about large amounts of wine fast and at top dollar. Unfortunately, these methods implemented to produce wine aren’t just bad for the earth; they’re also bad for us. Sulfites and harmful chemicals can disrupt our natural bodily systems, strip the wine of its health properties, and concentrate down the chemicals used in its production, which we then consume. This is where the importance of seeking out wines from organic wineries becomes evident, as they prioritize sustainable and healthier practices in both farming and winemaking.
So the next time you reach for a glass of wine – or plan a wine trip – consider these vineyard options. All use organic and sustainable practices. Some are biodynamic and some don’t use animal products in any mode of their production.
There are many organic wineries out there. Here are some of our favorites!
Frey Vineyards
Where: Redwood Valley, Mendocino County, California
At a glance:
- Organic
- Sustainable/Biodynamic
- Vegan
- Gluten-free
- No GMO yeast
- No sulfites
- Family-owned
Why: Frey Vineyards is America’s first organic winery. They take this very seriously, believing that sustainability is the only way to provide future generations with health and quality of life. Frey’s wine is biodynamic. This means that their farming and winemaking practices are designed to be as close to nature as possible – a more beneficial practice than other sustainable farming methods. Batches are not allowed to be manipulated with yeast or malolactic acid. Instead, Frey’s wines mirror the land from which they come. Each batch is specific to the site and vintage.
Cooper Mountain Vineyards
Where: Willamette Valley, Oregon
At a glance:
- Certified Organic
- Certified Biodynamic
- No added yeasts or bacteria
Why: Cooper Mountain Vineyards has been committed to organic and sustainable agriculture since 1995. Their grape-growing philosophy is based on a deep love of the land and the desire to cultivate vines that will bear fruit for almost 100 years – a truly lasting legacy. They don’t use irrigation so that the grapes acclimate to the climate. The result is a lively and authentic flavor that is a true expression of the terroir.
Emiliana Vineyards Chile
Where: Santiago, Chile
At a glance:
- Organic
- Sustainable/Biodynamic
- Carbon Zero certified
- Vegan certified
- No sulfites
Why: Emiliana Vineyards was founded in the late ’90s when two winemakers started converting a conventional Chilean vineyard into an organic, sustainable one. Since that time, the winery has received numerous awards and certifications, including “Top 50 Most Admired Wine Brands for 2018” by Drinks International, “Winery of the Year” by Wines of Chile, and “Green Winery of the Year” by The Drinks Business. Emiliana Vineyards hosts numerous wine tours where you can explore the vineyards, farms, practices, and wine that have garnered them so much attention.
Osawa Wines
Where: Maraekakaho, Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand
At a glance:
- Certified Organic
- Certified Sustainable
- No sulfites
- Family-owned
Why:
Osawa Wines was founded in 2006 and features numerous vineyards growing 8 varieties of grapes. They’ve been certified organic and sustainable since 2016 but have practiced natural farming long before that. Every method used in the vineyard is designed to grow grapes without harming the natural environment or draining resources like water. They even have sheep to cut the grass instead of machines.
Chateau Pre La Lande
Where: Pineuilh, Aquitaine, France
At a glance:
- Certified organic
- Certified vegan
- Certified biodynamic
- No added yeasts
Why: Chateau Pre La Lande believes their natural and respectful viticulture is what has led to their multi-medalled wines. Their grapes are treated with the utmost care in every aspect of production. Grape growers use natural farming methods, hand harvesting, and delicate pressing techniques that maintain terroir flavor. The wines are then finished in traditional amphoras and extracted into recycled glass bottles.
Chateau Freely
Where: Saussignac, Bordeaux, France
At a glance:
- Organic
- Sustainable/Biodynamic
- No sulfites
- Yoga and wine retreats
Why: Chateau Freely makes their wine from hand picked organic grapes following biodynamic farming and winemaking wisdom. They’ve been making wine since 2005 and soon after became certified organic and certified biodynamic from Demeter (the only certifier of Biodynamic farms). Located in the rolling hills of the Bordeaux region of France, guests can stay on-site and enjoy vineyard and wine tours, plus yoga classes and retreats.
Ktima Ligas
Where: Pella, Macedonia, Greece
At a glance:
- Certified organic
- Permaculture farming practices
- One of the oldest wine regions in the world
Why: Pella, where Ktima Ligas is located, has been a winemaking haven for thousands of years. Ktima Ligas uses mostly grapes indigenous to the area and experiments with different fermentation methods. The family uses minimal intervention while cultivating the grapes and incorporates permaculture and regenerative agriculture principles. With such a rich history, it’s fair to say this wine is going back to more historic flavors.
Maso Martis
Where: Marignano (Trento) Italy
At a glance:
- Certified Organic
- Family-owned
Why: Maso Martis has grown grapes for about 40 years, and the original family still runs it. Their farm solely grows organic grapes and buys grapes from a nearby small certified organic farm. Each wine is a microcosm of the land, reflecting the year and region in which it was made. Their high-altitude location is ideal for vibrantly intense wines. The small Italian town surrounded by the mountains of northern Italy is beautiful and definitely worth a visit.
Menade Winery
Where: Ruede, Valladolid, Spain
At a glance:
- Organic
- Ecologically certified
- Committed to biodiversity
- Allergen and histamine free
- Family-owned
Why: Spain is home to the highest number of organic wineries in Europe. One of our top recommendations is Menade winery, founded by 6th generation winemaking brothers, who decided to start from scratch. They wanted to return to the basics of natural biodiverse farming and winemaking. Their wine uses zero chemicals and harnesses the power of 40 different animals and plants to create healthy soil and delicious grapes for winemaking.
Meinklang
Where: Pamhagen, Austria
At a glance:
- Organic
- Biodynamic
- Demeter certified
- Volcanic Soil
- Family-owned + Operated
Why: Meinklang is not a winery, it’s a wine garden nestled in a biotope. A biotope is an area of uniform environmental conditions that provides a living place for a specific assemblage of plants and animals. This incredible symbiotic property of vines, animals, insects and plants, borders the Hungarian lowlands and is situated in the middle of the World Heritage Site of the National Park Neusiedlersee. The Meinklang farm functions much like a living organism. Everything from wild herbs and flowers, fruit, vegetables, grains and grapevines grow freely here like nature intended with little to no intervention. The farm relies not only on the people who tend to it, but also on the local herd of cows, horses, pigs, and sheep which contribute to the farm with their natural fertilization. Besides the farm’s synergy, Somló, an extinct volcano stands nearby. The volcanic mineral-rich soil creates the perfect environment for grapevines. This nutrient soil allows the vines to absorb more valuable minerals which is then concentrated into the final product. We believe that the volcanic soil combined with the happiness produced by the perfect harmony within the farm, contributes to the beautifully produced wines at Meinklang.