tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9210235767643862872.post8484221292013391886..comments2024-03-18T04:47:16.199-07:00Comments on The Gray Report: Final ruling: "Organic wine" cannot have added sulfitesW. Blake Grayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17755307711801965966noreply@blogger.comBlogger30125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9210235767643862872.post-35059563443630557672011-12-14T02:37:08.275-08:002011-12-14T02:37:08.275-08:00Yes, European organic wine can contain sulfites (1...Yes, European organic wine can contain sulfites (100 mg for red <br />and 150 for white if I'm not mistaken), but I don't think there's any requirement to mention the level of sulfites on the label here. Only if it's for export to the USA and if it's over 10 mg/l <br />(basically all wines, whether the winemaker adds it or not!), then <br />the label has to include 'Fabio (Vinos Ambiz)http://vinosambiz.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9210235767643862872.post-61830330189276602042011-12-12T17:27:58.034-08:002011-12-12T17:27:58.034-08:00Fabio: One thing I've learned about European o...Fabio: One thing I've learned about European organic wines is that sometimes their sulfite levels are higher than the wineries report, because there's no legal reason for them not to be.<br /><br />I don't see anything nefarious in this. But it does make an unfair playing field for US wines made from organic grapes, which must put "contains sulfites" on the label.W. Blake Grayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17755307711801965966noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9210235767643862872.post-123414047491483102011-12-12T03:40:55.905-08:002011-12-12T03:40:55.905-08:00If you're in NY, try Chambers St.Wines, they h...If you're in NY, try Chambers St.Wines, they have a large selection. I think they carry no-sulfite wines from Laureano Serres, and Alfredo Maestro for example from Spain, and there are many more producers of no sulfite added wines from France and Italy. Puzelat and Occhipinti for example.<br />Industrial-organic. Yes, if the large wineries all went organic it would be great for the Fabio (Vinos Ambiz)http://vinosambiz.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9210235767643862872.post-5754464581294349862011-12-10T09:08:56.211-08:002011-12-10T09:08:56.211-08:00OK Fabio, apology accepted. I'd be very intere...OK Fabio, apology accepted. I'd be very interested in trying the sulfite-free European wines you recommend.<br /><br />Something you need to know about the US is that the distribution system here is complicated and run by individual states rather than the national government. This slows down the wine getting to the stores, which I think is a big issue for no-sulfite wines.<br /><br />Since W. Blake Grayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17755307711801965966noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9210235767643862872.post-37065702083421681192011-12-09T14:52:15.930-08:002011-12-09T14:52:15.930-08:00I didn't intend any insult! I'm still puzz...I didn't intend any insult! I'm still puzzled as to why you thought I was insulting you! I sincerely believe it's possible to make quality wines without adding sulfites. Maybe it's a question of numbers and I should have said "some" instead of "many"! <br />Maybe there are more quality sulfite-free wines here in Europe, because in my experience the exceptions Fabio (Vinos Ambiz)http://vinosambiz.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9210235767643862872.post-9094411817230598662011-12-09T09:46:46.161-08:002011-12-09T09:46:46.161-08:00Should point out that this is a US-only debate - h...Should point out that this is a US-only debate - here organic wine is the term used to describe wine made from organically grown grapes. I agree with Blake, katherine and others - it's nuts to have a separate definition for organic wine and wine made from organically grown grapes - utterly nuts - it's confining organics to a tiny niche and is likely to confuse consumers.jamie goodehttp://www.wineanorak.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9210235767643862872.post-32872103598486344562011-12-09T09:44:35.822-08:002011-12-09T09:44:35.822-08:00Lalvin 71B-1122 isn't GM
ML01 is the GM yeast...Lalvin 71B-1122 isn't GM<br /><br />ML01 is the GM yeast that does malolactic at the same time as alcoholic fermentationjamie goodehttp://www.wineanorak.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9210235767643862872.post-38218442717990439202011-12-08T10:29:08.808-08:002011-12-08T10:29:08.808-08:00This is so disappointing. Shouldn't the goal o...This is so disappointing. Shouldn't the goal of organic agriculture be to make the world at large a safer and healthier place? Organic farming should not be an exclusive club for the very few; it should be an inclusive umbrella for the many vinetenders who practice sound, sustainable farming.Katherine Colehttp://www.katherinecole.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9210235767643862872.post-30247789314887179622011-12-08T09:49:07.145-08:002011-12-08T09:49:07.145-08:00Just a brief note that while I do still allow anon...Just a brief note that while I do still allow anonymous comments, I don't allow them to include racism, profanity, commercial advertising or other offensive content. Nor do I allow anonymous spamming of multiple comments.<br /><br />If you want to disagree with me, put your name on it. You can see my name and face on this blog. No lobbing long-winded insults from the bunker of anonymity.W. Blake Grayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17755307711801965966noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9210235767643862872.post-60920736094542356672011-12-08T07:27:48.125-08:002011-12-08T07:27:48.125-08:00Jon Frey: "You may think our wine sucks, but ...Jon Frey: "You may think our wine sucks, but it doesn’t really." <br /><br />This is not exactly a spirited defense of your wine's quality! It's as if you acknowledge that they kind of suck, which in turn is an acknowledgement of what just about everyone in the wine business thinks of your wines.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9210235767643862872.post-10622446661539603192011-12-08T00:54:52.636-08:002011-12-08T00:54:52.636-08:00Shoegrape: For reasons such as this decision, true...Shoegrape: For reasons such as this decision, true sustainable production is usually superior to organic. The problem is certification and accountability. Anybody can call anything "sustainable," whereas the positive side of this decision shows that with certified organic, greenwashing is difficult if not impossible.<br /><br />Jon Frey: Usually the victors get to write the history. W. Blake Grayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17755307711801965966noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9210235767643862872.post-65271691733836964492011-12-07T18:16:40.183-08:002011-12-07T18:16:40.183-08:00There is at least one non-GMO yeast that reduces m...There is at least one non-GMO yeast that reduces malic acid (malolactic fermentation), 71B-1122 by Lalvin. There are a couple of GMO yeasts that are being introduced that also reduce malic acid. For those who hate GMO's beware. More will probably show up eventually. Please explain the problem. <br /><br />Why are organic producers morally superior? And why are biodynamic producers even more Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9210235767643862872.post-16870775702815541372011-12-07T17:35:52.166-08:002011-12-07T17:35:52.166-08:00Hey Blake Whoa! part 2
More background on the NOSB...Hey Blake Whoa! part 2<br />More background on the NOSB decision FYI (don’t mean to go on too much, but would like cover all your points.) The NOSB Handling Committee’s recommendation to approve the petition, and the petitioner’s attorney’s arguments, relied on a “Technical Evaluation Report” prepared by a DC research firm. This “TER” was very incomplete and read like a “sulfites 101” primer jon freynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9210235767643862872.post-78658652795498515782011-12-07T17:34:33.395-08:002011-12-07T17:34:33.395-08:00Hey Blake Gray – Whoa! You weren’t there, so how ...Hey Blake Gray – Whoa! You weren’t there, so how about “the rest of the story” on the NOSB decision in Savannah? This decision was not just about wine, but also about the integrity of the organic seal. The board was very concerned about allowing a preservative in foods that bear the USDA organic seal, undermining market precedence and consumer trust in the seal. Consumers have come to jon freynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9210235767643862872.post-25531764594186503362011-12-07T15:04:06.782-08:002011-12-07T15:04:06.782-08:00Fabio: I'm sorry, it's simply not true tha...Fabio: I'm sorry, it's simply not true that many wineries have been making good wines without sulfites. I have had a few interesting wines made without sulfites, notably a couple from La Rocca, which opposed this petition. But they are the exceptions. <br /><br />Don't insult me by saying I meant large industrial "organic wines." That category does not exist.W. Blake Grayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17755307711801965966noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9210235767643862872.post-88358263739073604772011-12-07T14:56:07.744-08:002011-12-07T14:56:07.744-08:00Very interesting post. There's lots of politic...Very interesting post. There's lots of politicking involved (too much imho) in defining what's organic and what's not. But I was surprised to read that you think that "sulfites are crucial for the production of quality wine"! The fact is that many wineries have been making quality sulfite-free wines for years. Without adding sulfites that is, as a small quantity is always Fabio (Vinos Ambiz)http://vinosambiz.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9210235767643862872.post-57135005368097298322011-12-07T12:46:14.777-08:002011-12-07T12:46:14.777-08:00Robert C.
As the Anon below you stated, they ar...Robert C. <br /><br />As the Anon below you stated, they are not GMO, they are Isolated. There are a handful of strains that are coming on the market now that are blending Saccharomyces Cerevisiae with other families for "added complexity" but these are not the norm. Most commercial yeasts on the market are isolated from specific fermentations that have re-occuring characteristics. Viognier Nevaeh aka Tarara Viggyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15995575678354827524noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9210235767643862872.post-858801727069191002011-12-07T10:59:11.855-08:002011-12-07T10:59:11.855-08:00Robert C.
Sorry man, but most most wine yeast ar...Robert C. <br /><br />Sorry man, but most most wine yeast are isolated. Not even Breed.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9210235767643862872.post-13402356903581462592011-12-07T10:51:07.233-08:002011-12-07T10:51:07.233-08:00Greg, Blake,
Ouch. Sorry to get off the subject,...Greg, Blake,<br /><br />Ouch. Sorry to get off the subject, but GMO's have their DNA tailored for a specific trait/product on that level. The locus or or set of information is then made to be transcribed at a higher rate to produce more of that trait/product. I used dogs as an example because they have been selectivly bred for a particular trait such as largness for Great Danes, smallness Robert Cnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9210235767643862872.post-42245689483574397012011-12-07T09:47:47.490-08:002011-12-07T09:47:47.490-08:00Sad. Period.Sad. Period.Jon Bjorkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08915787145103864827noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9210235767643862872.post-91626733596564760812011-12-07T09:36:51.405-08:002011-12-07T09:36:51.405-08:00Thanks for this clarification and how political &#...Thanks for this clarification and how political 'sulfites' are. I have never found a drinkable 'organic wine' but lots of those that are biodynamic or made with organically grown grapes are fantastic. Didn't know that BD wines could have some added sulfites.Sondrahttp://www.sondrabarrett.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9210235767643862872.post-42893145697904415902011-12-07T09:35:42.651-08:002011-12-07T09:35:42.651-08:00Robert C: I'm sorry, but that's a silly de...Robert C: I'm sorry, but that's a silly definition of GMO. Under that definition, we have all been genetically modiifed, because maybe our mothers and grandmothers selected their partners for their physical strength and/or earning capacity.W. Blake Grayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17755307711801965966noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9210235767643862872.post-27430616745275785412011-12-07T09:34:18.920-08:002011-12-07T09:34:18.920-08:00Thoughtful commentary. As a sustainable Oregon wi...Thoughtful commentary. As a sustainable Oregon winery nearing "LIVE" certification I had to chuckle at your "greenwashing" commentary. We want to keep our vines healthy and make good wine that will taste as good from the bottle as it does at the winery.<br /><br />Cheers and happy holidays!<br />Jeff Swanson<br />Olsen Family VineyardsJeff Swansonhttp://olsenfamilyvineyards.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9210235767643862872.post-45350107847075454782011-12-07T09:04:48.219-08:002011-12-07T09:04:48.219-08:00You're absolutely right, it is too difficult t...You're absolutely right, it is too difficult to keep making the distinction between organic wine and wine made with organically-grown grapes. Biodynamic wine could be the answer, except that Demeter USA has a certification mark on the word biodynamic and you have to pay them off if the wine is made outside the U.S., even if it's certified by part of the worldwide Demeter organization.Tomhttp://firstvine.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9210235767643862872.post-50489128638407470982011-12-07T08:44:53.945-08:002011-12-07T08:44:53.945-08:00I don't think you have to make bad wine choice...I don't think you have to make bad wine choices! Organically grown wine is all around us - from big boxed wines up to 100 points Parker wines - at all price points and quality levels.<br /><br />I have identified more than 150+ wineries that have organically grown wine in the U.S. <br /><br />Just go to http://www.winecountrygeographic.com and click on the The Map to go to the Google Maps Pam Strayerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00382825085636463727noreply@blogger.com