June Wine Club: Farming Organically
One of the ways wine can become more sustainable is to care for the land and people who farm it and make the juice. In that spirit, organic farming is the story behind our very first month’s selections, with three organically farmed wines made by winemakers who are farmers at heart (including one that we’re bringing to you exclusively!).
I’m fascinated by agriculture and the millions of decisions that go into farming. It’s no small feat to grow a healthy crop such as grapes (or anything else for that matter), and doing it organically takes the right climate, lots of skill, and a healthy dose of luck.
Instead, growers have to prevent disease and pests by doing things like encouraging helpful microorganisms in the soil—which leaves it better off for future grape growing, too—training vines to get better air flow so mildew doesn’t form, and planting different plants between the vines. These different plants are called “cover crops,” and they help store carbon, which is better for the planet, too.
Not every winemaker can farm organically, but those who can expend the resources (looking at you, big wine corporations!), should!
Our wines this month are farmed organically and tell the stories of three different regions: Austria, Slovenia, and California.
We’re thrilled to bring these to you!
The Wines
First in your trio, you’ve got a savory and delightful rosé from Austria made from Pinot Noir, the Kolfok Burgenland Rosé "Querschnitt" 2019. Kolfok farms organically and layers in other herbs and plants into the vineyard, which is good for biodiversity and soil health. Organic viticulture is the norm rather than the exception in Austria, which is pretty cool. Here’s an interview featuring winemaker Stefan Wellanschitz talking about his climate-positive practices, too!
— Kolfok Burgenland Rosé "Querschnitt" 2019
Next, you’ll try a Slovenian wine, and—as we said to the winemaker when we tried it—it tastes like sunshine! It’s Rodica Istra Sparkling Malvasia Col Fondo 2020, and it’s made from the Malvazija Istriana grape. (Col Fondo, in case you were wondering, refers to a finished wine that undergoes a second fermentation in the bottle and is not disgorged, meaning the sediment stays in the bottle.) Malvasia is a tough grape to keep track of—so many varieties go by that name, and this one is named after the Istrian peninsula, which straddles Slovenia, Croatia, and Italy. The vineyards are also “dry farmed,” which means that there’s no water used for irrigation, which reduces the resources needed to produce this lovely wine.
— Rodica Istra Sparkling Malvasia Col Fondo 2020
Finally, you’ve got a wine you can’t get anywhere else in northern VA right now! It’s the Eureka! Wine Co. California Light Red 2022, a collab between our wonderful partner, Williams Corner Wine, and the California-based winemakers behind Les Lunes & Populis. The idea behind this project is to bring organically farmed wine to more folks. Plus, the Carignan and Zinfandel vines that produced the grapes are 70+ years old, which is good for sustainability (not using the resources to rip up vines and replant). Pop this one in the fridge for a few, and you’ll see how lovely reds can be in the early summer.