this post contains affiliate links meaning i may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase using these links. that being said, i only recommend products i love and trust.
When it comes to buying wine don’t be fooled by the colorful label, instead what you should really be looking for are certifications like USDA organic or biodynamic. Wine has a handful of benefits but depending on which you choose, it might be doing more harm than good. Biodynamic vineyards and organic wine will guarantee you are getting the highest quality, without any of the bad stuff.
Conventional Wines
Did you know that wine companies are not required to state what additives are inside their bottles? Instead, brands will add ingredients that reduce haziness or enhance flavors, and even change the color. This is because they want to create the most attractive product.
In doing so, chemicals are added at many different stages of the winemaking process manipulating the end result.. to their so-called “perfection”.
We could get into the many different and unnecessary additives in wine today, such as added sulfites, preservatives, pesticides, etc. but as a general rule of thumb, the less human involvement in the process, the better. After all, nature has been doing this for hundreds of years.
Organic Wine
There are a few different terms for “healthy” wine with little to no additives. For example, natural wine, biodynamic wine, organic wine, clean wine.
Natural wines are considered healthier than conventional with less pesticides, chemicals, and additives, similarly to that of organic or biodynamic wines (without the label).
Organic wines are produced with organic grapes free from pesticides, with minimal intervention, and organic farming methods. They also cannot, by USDA standards, add sulfites to their wine.
Biodynamic wineries do all that as well, but they take it a step further with a holistic approach. A holistic approach to their soil, labor practices, wildlife, and water. Taking into consideration every living being (yes, including the live soil). This comes from an increased interest in sustainability and as a result, producing the lowest impact on the environment.
Whenever you can, look for this term on the wine labels. Or just buy from Frey winery, my favorite biodynamic winery for those very reasons.
Frey Wine
Frey is made right here in the United States and is my top choice for sustainable wines. Believe me when I say that they check all the boxes. For four generations, this family has used traditional and natural winemaking that involves minimal intervention, zero chemicals, and zero sulfites.
It’s important to note, the term biodynamic allows, by law, 100 ppm of added sulfites to a bottle. In over 40 years, Frey Wine has intentionally avoided added sulfites. For good reason, they aren’t necessary.
Their wine is not only USDA Organic, but they go the extra mile to put quality attention into their soil, fermentation process, their land, and their biodiverse farm.
Here are a few of their many clean wines.
Pinot Noir
Frey’s 2022 Pinot Noir is a light and refreshing beverage that pairs well with a variety of seafood dishes or spicy meals. It comes with the aroma of ripe red fruits like plum and berries.
Cabernet Sauvignon
These organic producers churn out a wonderful and robust cabernet sauvignon. I am a red wine girly through and through and this is a superior product unlike I ever had before.
Organic Red
This is a best-selling medium bodied red blend that pairs well with almost any dish. If you don’t know which to choose, this is always a safe bet with it being so versatile.
Organic White
Frey’s organic white is a simple wine loaded with flavor. The key notes include juicy melon and pear. While it has a wonderful fruit flavor, it is a dry wine.
Two perks I want to highlight are 1.) Frey also offers free shipping on orders over $150 and 2.) when you join their wine club you get 20% off year round. The wine club includes customizable shipments three times a year. Select from 4 bottles or 6 and enjoy a glass daily.
Fabulous!