Organic or sustainable wine ?
“Are your products organic?” We are often asked this question. It is understandable that more and more people want products that are healthy and kind to the environment.
We take these concerns seriously and are happy to say that we work with wineries that support organic grape growing, so you can drink these wines with confidence.
An organic wine is a wine made according to the principles of organic farming, i.e. farming without herbicides, GMOs or other chemical fertilizers. For the winemaker, this means applying these principles to the entire wine-making process, from the cultivation of the vines (viticulture) to the transformation of the grapes into wine (vinification). An organic wine is made from grapes that are themselves certified organic, along with all the additives (inputs) needed to transform the grapes into wine (yeast, fining agents, etc.).
A certified organic wine is thus produced from quality vines, using environmentally-friendly practices
When growing grapes, several factors play a role at the same time: weeds, pest and thrips pressure (risk of viruses), fungal pressure and production method. “Organic” is a legally protected label. This means growing according to strict rules, on SKAL-certified land, with inspections and registration. You are either organic or you are not – and that is why not everyone is allowed to use the word “organic”. In addition to those who already have a certificate, we select wines for you from producers who comply with all the rules for sustainable cultivation and production.
Organic cultivation does not automatically mean the lowest overall environmental impact in every situation. Sustainable farming refers to the overall impact on soil, water, energy and biodiversity, as well as how you deal with diseases, pests and weeds. Some of them, who are certified organic farming, go even further. Respect for tradition, love of nature and the courage to experiment find their natural symbiosis. Bratanov is a winery that ferments all its wines with “wild yeast” naturally formed on the grapes, without adding any stabilizers or preservatives. This minimal intervention approach is evident in every bottle produced by the winery.
The viticulture sector is currently investing heavily in better techniques, and developments with robots, drones and artificial intelligence are developing rapidly. In Bulgaria, they are combined with old practices of wine production and cultivation. During each of the four seasons, they measure and record what this means for the health of the vines, losses and the labor required. In this way, producers learn and continue to take steps towards further sustainability.