Four Of The Best Organic Wines To Try

Harvest at Cortese, Sicily

Azienda Agricola Cortese is a 14-hectare estate located in Ragusa, in the southeast corner of the Mediterranean island of Sicily. In 2016 the renowned oenologgist Stefano Girelli bought the near-abandoned estate and nursed it back to health by replanting vines and converting the estate to organic viticulture.

This wine is made with the Cataratto grape variety, which is indigenous to Sicily. It has a distinctive straw colour, with flecks of green. The characterful bouquet is a little spicy and reminiscent of jasmine, aromatic herbs and nutmeg, with delicate touches of white peach. On the palate, there is a strong mineral backbone, perfectly balanced with lively acidity. The finish is long and complex with delicious almond flavours.

FOOD MATCH:

Try this with wild mushroom arancini for a perfect match.

Gérard Bertrand is a pioneering organic and biodynamic winemaker in France's southern Languedoc regon. The vineyards in his Cigalus estate were the first to convert to biodynamics and the wines crafed here are still the benchmark for biodynamic Languedoc.

Cigalus Rouge is arguably the finest wine Gérard makes: a sublime seven grape blend, led by the Bordeaux varieties, Cabernet & Merlot and supported by Syrah & Grenache. Cigalus Rouge shows complexity and finesse in a beguiling mix of black fruits, plum and cedar spice with a charming warmth and complexity.

FOOD MATCH:

This is a big robust red that would stand up to similarly robust dishes, such as grilled or roasted joints of beef or pork.

Harvest at Gérard Bertrand's Cigalus estate

Maddox, King of the Vineyard

Elgin Ridge is a boutique, family-run winery, farming their estate by organic practices in the Elgin region of South Africa.

Their flagship 282 Chardonnay has a complex array of fruit flavours- fresh and zesty lime, sweet satsuma and candied citrus. The pithy texture is balanced by nice acidity and opens up to a velvet-like mouthfeel, leaving you with a wine that will continue to evolve in the glass. An excellent example of Elgin Chardonnay and a great alternative to top white Burgundy.

FOOD MATCH:

This is a very versatile style of wine that would pair equally wonderfully with rich rice dishes, such as risotto or paella.

Luzón Verde Organic is made by our long-time partners, Bodegas Luzón, who are regarded as one of the finest wineries in the region. It is made from the Monastrell grape variety, organically grown in vineyards located in the small Jumilla region, near Alicante in southeast Spain.

Luzón Verde Organic is lively and fresh with vibrant dark berry fruits balanced by a seam of refreshing acidity. The tannins are noticeable but silky soft and ideal to pair with varied tapas plates. Luzón Verde shows the excellent value to be found when you step outside the better-known Spanish regions.

Food Pairing:

This is a fragrant and juicy wine with fine acidity, ideal for pairing with classic Spanish tapas dishes: fried chorizo, morcilla, prawns pil-pil.

 Grapes growing in Monastrell , nature protects the grapes from pests