6 Reasons to Drink Organic Wine
I know there will be arguments on whether or not drinking alcohol is part of a healthy lifestyle, but I'm not here for that type of advice. I'm here to talk about living my best life while hopefully giving you some insightful tips to incorporate into your life, and for me, a little alcohol consumption is A-okay.
However I was tired of the way it made me feel afterwards. Since I consume very little sugar these days, the hangover effects were seeming to worsen with less intake. I was hearing mixed reviews about the benefits of organic wine (though from my perspective choosing organic over non-organic anything is always a giant "yes"). I decided to give it a try for myself, and ladies and gents, I'm hooked. I never want to drink non-organic wine again.
Don't get me wrong, not every bottle is good. But the bottles I've had that are good don't give me that fuzzy, tired feeling in the morning, taste great, and are really, really affordable! I took a bottle of Natura on a hike in Tennessee recently, and it was the perfect accompaniment while watching the sunset. So I've compiled 6 reasons why drinking organic wine is a good idea, along with a list of my top picks so far (one of which you can by at Trader Joes for less than $7.) You're welcome.
6 Reasons to Drink Organic Wine
1. No GMOs
(i.e. no alien organisms in our bellies)
Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are not allowed in organic farming. Thank goodness!
2. No synthetic additives
(i.e. the color of the wine is the natural color of the wine. No tricks with synthetic pesticides and herbicides.)
Natural/organic wines rarely contain any dyes or other synthetic additives to improve color and “mouth feel." Hallelujah.
3. No added sulfites
(i.e. ditching additives is always a good thing. Also, this means you don't have to wait to open that bottle.)
Sulfites = sulfur compounds, and while it can't be linked directly to headaches, it's not something you want to be consuming more of just for the heck of it. Sulfites are naturally present in the skin of grapes, so every bottle of wine will have sulfites. However, organic winemakers claim to use only “small amounts of additives including sulfites” or no added sulfites at all. Non-organic wine manufacturers will add extra sulfites in order to make sure their wine lasts longer. Wines that are labeled “sulfite-free” are those that have very low levels of sulfites, 10 mg/L or less. Look for those!
4. Less sugar
(i.e. less headaches, inflammation, and energy crashes)
Grapes, of course, contain some natural sugars, but some winemakers choose to add additional sugar to improve the wine’s taste. This adds additional calories and can contribute to other problems like inflammation. No way, rosé, give me the low sugar, natural wine any day of the week.
5. Lower Alcohol Content
(i.e. less of a hangover)
Bear with me, I can see how you might think lower alcohol content belongs in the negative column, but the truth is, if you actually enjoy the taste of wine, and I'm assuming you do, this means you can have an extra glass without experiencing the same side-effects you would if you consumed another glass of higher alcohol wines (i.e. you may have less of a nasty hangover!). So unless you're chugging wine like Natty Light from your college years just to get drunk and hating every minute of it, savor one more glass and feel better for it in the morning.
6. Supports sustainable organic farming and production methods
(i.e. helps our planet continue to go round and round)
Organic farming practices can include the use of cover crops, green manures, animal manures, animal grazing, water conservation, use of renewable resources and crop rotations. These practices have many benefits including helping to fertilize the soil, maintaining better quality topsoil long-term, naturally managing weeds and insects, reducing presence of harmful bacteria or molds, and promoting biodiversity. Winning!
And BONUS! Organic wines are typically lower in cost because the fermentation process is quicker, meaning the growers don't have to age it in barrels and charge you for all of that time. This also means organic wines don't age well, so once you snag that delicious $10 bottle, go ahead and pop it open and enjoy! Just remember to let it breathe for a minute. Many of these wines are young reds and need aeration.
The moral of the story is: drinking organic wine will not rid you of hangovers for the rest of your life, but if you enjoy wine like I do and are looking for a cleaner option that may make you feel better in the morning, I highly suggest giving one of these bottles a try. Without further ado, here is my list of favorites so far:
Delicious Organic Wines
Natura Carmenere $12 - Natura is the #1 imported organically grown wine brand. Their vineyards are pesticide, herbicide and fertilizer free - NO chemicals!
Albero Spanish Red Wine (available at Trader Joe's) $7
Bonterra Cabernet Sauvignon $12-$14
2016 Les Hauts De Lagarde Sec $14
My goal is to continue to add to this list as my organic wine taste tests continue. Tough job but I'm willing to do it for you. ;) Please comment below and let me know if you've discovered a great organic wine that deserves to be on the list!
P.S. Moderate wine consumption has been linked with some of the following health benefits: higher intake of the antioxidant called resveratrol, which helps fight free radical damage, improved heart health, protection against arteriosclerosis, decreases in triglyceride and cholesterol accumulation, protection against stroke, and reduced risk for obesity, diabetes and metabolic syndrome. So there's that!
Cheers to more whitespace, wellness, and wine in moderation,
Tiffany