Organic Farming
Biodynamic agriculture provided one of the primary foundations for the organic movement that focuses on soil health and water conservation, eschews synthetic chemicals, and encourages the use of compost, pest and weed management, renewable resources, and cover crops. No pesticides, herbicides, synthetic fungicides or synthetic fertilizers may be used in the vineyard, though copper sulphate and elemental sulfur sprays may be used for mildew prevention. Organic wine is produced without the use of any additives in the winery including yeasts and sulfur dioxide.
Noteworthy
It wasn’t until October 2002 that the USDA implemented the National Organic Program (NOP) and defined a base market standard for labeling organic food and beverages in the United States. Farms that meet the USDA Standards for Organic Certification must demonstrate that no synthetic pesticides, herbicides or fertilizers are used in the farming process. Numerous organizations are now set up as third-party certifiers for the USDA.
California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF) is the oldest and most recognized certifying body and certification can take up to three years and includes annual reviews.