Melanie asks :  Do you have any good organic wine recommendations? 

 From Eddie:

There are increasingly more and more organic growers. I’ll do some research and come back later. In the mean time….

The one that stands out is Chateauneuf-du-Pepe (Chateau Beaucastel). They have been doing it for years (both white and red). They also practice biorhythm re their various activities. The red is excellent with duck or game. Expect to pay around £30 per bottle for a decent vintage.

Further comment from Eddie:

Apparently, organic viticulture has been in practice in France (agriculture biologique) for some time. In 1991, the EU introduced regulations which cover a range of crops etc including wine production. California took to it much later and believe it or not, the Australians took to it even later.

The intresting thing about organic wine is that the regulation isn’t confined to soil management, it also applies to the use of sulphates (antioxidation and sterilization) as well as fining agents as well as the use of wild yeast.

The best producers of this type of wine in France are: Ch de Beaucastel of Chateauneuf-du-Pape , mas de Daumas Gassac of the Languedoc and Domaine de Trevallon of Provence. In the US, the pioneers are Fetzer, Gallo, Wente Brothers, Bunea Vista and Mondavi. In Australia, the early pioneers are  Gil Wahlquist and Penfold. There are an increasing number of smaller growers (worldm wide) that practice this approach.

I have only tried Penfold, Beaucastel and Buena Vista.

Eddie

Updated on 16 November 2009:

Just discovered that the following “Great Vineyards” also practice Biodynamic Viticulture:

Domaine Leflaive in Puligny-Montrachet, Domaine Leroy in Vosne-Romanee, Chapoutier in Hermitage and Huet in Vouvray.