17 Best Organic Red Wines For GMO-Concerned Drinkers In 2023
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In recent years, there is an increase in the popularity of organic foods. This trend is also true when it comes to wine drinkers who are concerned about genetically modified organisms or GMOs.
Organic wines are created using organically grown grapes from vineyards that don’t use chemicals and have biodynamic or natural practices. Despite having recent controversies claiming GMO wines could contaminate other grapevines and harm the environment, some enthusiasts still prefer organic wines.
This list contains a handful of the best organic red wines available on the market today!
Our Top Picks for the Best Organic Wines
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Best Overall - Francone Barbaresco DOCG Gallina
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Most Affordable - Castaño Ecológico Monastrell 2020
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Most Sustainable - A to Z Pinot Gris
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1. Francone Barbaresco DOCG Gallina
The Barbaresco wine from Piedmont is produced to help protect the environment. The eco-friendly rules are a new set of laws for grape growing that started there.
More than 100 vineyards have already agreed to it, including renowned producers of Barolo and Barbaresco wines.
The deep ruby hues of this organic wine make it the perfect accompaniment for any celebratory occasion. It has a pronounced aroma with fresh strawberry, raspberry, and almond dominating and containing hints of spice, tea leaf, and coffee to create a complex yet pleasing scent.
The dry palate is full-bodied from its high alcohol content while still tasting fruitier than most wines at 15% ABV.
This balance continues on the tongue as flavors reminiscent of dried strawberries mix well with notes like raspberry licorice, creating an elegant taste experience that leaves you wanting more.
2. Castellore Organic Pinot Grigio
The winery responsible for this Pinot Grigio is a passionate proponent of sustainable practices. They don’t use pesticides and herbicides in the growing of their organic wine.
This dedication to quality has resulted in an intense nose made up of pear and green apple, followed by aromas that include acacia flowers and honeycomb. Enjoy it with light starters or serve as an excellent aperitif - the flavor will not disappoint!
3. Castaño Ecológico Monastrell 2020
Spain is home to the largest area of organic vineyards in Europe. If you're into wines from this region, try looking out for “Ecológico” on wine bottles. It is the Spanish term for “Organic.”
The Bodega Castaño young red is lively and generous, making it a great wine to share with friends. It was initially partially carbonated by maceration to extract the flavor from inside its grape skins before undergoing fermentation.
This process created a pleasant astringency that carries through as evidence of tannins on your tongue. The best part? Its quality-to-price ratio!
4. Lapostolle Casa Merlot
Lapostolle is one of the oldest vineyards in Chile, if not in the world. Established in 1910 by a visionary who planted this incredible vineyard using French massal selection.
Few places on earth have perfect soil and climate conditions for growing such elegant wines with great color, depth, structure, and complexity.
With a dark-berry and olive aroma, this full-bodied red wine is both inexpensive and full of flavor from start to end. It has chewy but soft tannins that finish dryly tight for your enjoyment.
5. A to Z Pinot Gris
A to Z is a company that dedicates itself to sustainability and fair value, from their farming practices all the way down through their business. This company has been named "Best for the World" five times by B Corp to recognize its dedication.
This best organic wine showcases Meyer lemon, apple, and honeysuckle flavors with a hint of sweetness. It's intended as an accompaniment at any dinner party, so get funky and experiment!
6. Tikal Natural Organic Red Blend
This red wine is a mixture of 60% Malbec and 40% Syrah sourced from organic vineyards in the Valle de Uco. Its maturation period lasts 8 months. This wine has less ripeness than previous vintages but still carries some acidity to balance its fruit flavors nicely.
The organic red wine has a beautiful pomegranate color with an aroma of fresh red cherries that captures the true essence of biodynamic vineyards.
It tastes light as well, like French oak undertones mixed in black raspberry and spiced mocha notes all coming together beautifully into one refreshing glass.
7. Parducci Sustainable Red Wine
Parducci's Pinot Noir offers various berries and aromas, making it the perfect red wine for any occasion. It is medium-bodied with rich flavors that are full on your palate. You can enjoy it with grilled salmon or pork tenderloin accompanied by an elegant cut of beef.
This best organic red wine is light, fruity, and well-balanced. It also has a firm finish that leaves your mouth watering for more of this palate-pleasing concoction.
8. Bonterra Equinox Red Organic Wine
This organic red wine blend is made with the grapes of Merlot and Petite Syrah. The winemaker picked those two varieties due to their unique qualities to produce this top-notch wine.
It has notes of blackberry, plum, and oak wood mixed with tobacco and vanilla flavorings that are found from aging it for a few years, bringing out its rich flavors.
Organics allow all sorts of fruitiness to come through while not masking anything behind sulfites. Making wines with high concentrations of sulfite makes it taste bland. Thus, it must be avoided.
9. Occhipinti Il Frappato Sicilia
Arianna Occhipinti is a young and celebrated winemaker of biodynamic grapes in Sicily. She
has been farming for over a decade, and she believes that her methods have enhanced the soil and the wine.
Her work in the field of winemaking is unparalleled, and her passion can be seen on every bottle she produces. One such example is that many native Frappato grapes have thrived off volcanic soil to create lighter wines with floral flavors.
This best organic red wine can be enjoyed with beef, pasta, and lamb, but you can also savor it on its own. Due to its excellent quality, it became a part of the top 2% of all wines worldwide in 2016.
10. CalNaturale Cabernet Sauvignon
CalNaturale strives for a wine that is both high-end and affordable. They say their Cabernet Sauvignon has origins in the Paso Robles region. It is situated on Central Coast, California, with rich but consumer-friendly varieties.
This is the first to be packaged in Tetra Pak Flexible packaging and made from organically grown grapes certified by QAI and CCOF.
This best organic red wine is rich, full-bodied, and balanced with supple tannins lingering on the palate.
11. Domaine Carneros Pinot Noir
On the edge of Sonoma and Napa Valley wine country in California, the town of Carneros is well-known for producing Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes due to its cool climate.
It lies north of San Pablo Bay which keeps temperatures relatively low year-round thanks to bay winds that mix warm inland air with cold seawater - a perfect match for grape vineyards!
Inspiring the senses with reminders of a lush summer meadow, black raspberry and cherry will fill your mouth. At the same time, plum adds to this organic wine’s rich flavor. The earthy cola and sandalwood blend together in harmony for an unforgettable experience that will have you longing for more.
12. Hall Wines Cabernet Sauvignon
Hall Wines is one of the most innovative vineyards in Napa Valley. They employ organic small-vine viticulture, wild-yeast fermentation, precision winemaking, and microblock blending to extract purity and quintessence from their grapes.
They also care for the environment with sustainable farming practices that yield some of California's best wines.
This organic red wine is a blend of 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Petit Verdot, 6% Merlot, and 3% Syrah. It has intense aromas that include pure dark fruit with an uplifting floral touch.
It's bright on the palate but dense because it possesses plenty of tannins from French oak barrels, balanced by its concentrated body. With this well-integrated yet nuanced and complex wine in your glass, all you need to do now is take a sip!
13. Tortoise Creek Mission Grove Pinot Noir
This particular label was made by a husband-and-wife duo who has been in the industry for most of their lives. They source from Californian small farmers with sustainable practices that align with their mindset.
The Tortoise Creek Mission Grove Pinot Noir is a pleasing sight to behold. Its aromas are reminiscent of violets and cherries.
Meanwhile, the taste is delicate but not at all disappointing, with a hint of raspberries and various red fruits on the back end. It is perfect for an evening wine tasting.
14. Ancient Peaks Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon
The Ancient Peaks family is proud of their history, and it shows how the grapes are grown to the wine bottle themselves. These wines are part of something big and bold—just how we like our California Cabs.
The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon tempts with a bouquet of caramel, coffee, black olive, and leather. The smooth palate reveals prodigious flavors, including plum, cherry, and blueberry, as well as minty freshness on the finish.
Acidity coupled with sumptuous tannins makes for an elegant wine that lingers long after your last sip is gone. This exquisite blend pairs nicely with richly textured dishes such as lamb rack or veal roast while shining bright in filet mignon.
15. Willamette Valley Vineyards Whole Cluster Pinot Noir
Over 16,000 vineyard owners joined together to form a collective called “Willamette Valley Vineyards.” They aim to produce world-class wines, and they were successful with their goal.
Wine Enthusiast Magazine has recognized them as “One of America's greatest Pinot Noir producers” with sustainable farming practices.
The deep, ruby color of this organic wine will remind you of a refreshing burst from your favorite fruit salad. The nose is fruity and sweet with notes that include black cherry, blackberry, raspberry, and caramel, to name just a few.
It's mouthwatering on the first sip - tasting like fresh raspberries soaked in a dark chocolate sauce. It has a juicy flavor balanced by tartness for an elegant finish at any meal or party.
16. Yalumba Patchwork Shiraz
Yalumba was founded in 1849 with Shiraz vines that are more than a century old. These vineyards produce the grapes used in their wines, leading to healthier plants with higher biodiversity.
This is due to their sustainable practices, such as not using chemicals like pesticides or herbicides on their grapevines.
This organic wine captures the warmth and complexity of a winter's day. Aromatic with dark plum, anise, licorice, and ripe fruit notes complemented by generous tannins on the long finish. You can drink it now or age for 5 more years.
17. Domaine Gigondan Cotes Du Rhone Reserve St Just AOC
Wine at Home stocks a variety of biodynamic and organic wines from around the world. Domaine Gigondan is one such winery that produces its wine with minimal human intervention to maintain its natural characteristics.
A ruby red wine with black pepper, mulled wine, and berry fruit aroma. It is elegant, with soft tannins on the palate. Ripe raspberry and blackberry flavors are combined with cinnamon and thyme undertones. The finish has a spicy kick that will balance out any meal you're eating!
Conclusion
If you’re like us, then the idea of drinking GMO wine can be unsettling. It's one thing to eat GMO in food, but another entirely when imbibing alcohol that contains them. That’s why organic red wines are essential for us.
Which among these organic wines do you prefer most? We would love to hear your thoughts in the comment section below.
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