Organic Wine Luis Pasteur called wine the most healthful and hygienic of all beverages. Today, however, there is an increasing concern about the use of chemical pesticides and fertilizers on crops, including grapes. This issue is not only one of health but also of ecology.
Most vintners consider it essential to wine-making.
SO 2 can cause mild to serious allergic reactions in sensitive individuals, particularly asthmatics. To be certified organic, a wine must be made from organically grown grapes and cannot have SO 2 in excess of 10 parts per million. The French say it is organic if it has less than 100 ppm. Some wineries add these trace amounts only to their blush and white wines to prevent discoloration and improve bouquet. Others exclude SO 2 altogether although a minute amount is produced naturally during the fermentation process.