• Welcome
  • Community
  • Blogs
  • Photos
  • Videos
  • Join
  • Log in
Follow MNN    
MNN - Mother Nature Network - Envrionmental News
improve your world

 

Saturday, May 26, 2012
  • Earth Matters

    Browse All » Animals Weather Energy Politics Space Translating Uncle Sam Wilderness & Resources

  • Health

    Browse All » Allergies Fitness & Well-Being Healthy Spaces

  • Lifestyle

    Browse All » Arts & Culture Travel Natural Beauty & Fashion Recycling Responsible Living

  • GREEN TECH

    Browse All » Computers Gadgets & Electronics Research & Innovations Transportation

  • Eco-Biz & Money

    Browse All » Green Workplace Personal Finance Sustainable Business Practices

  • Food & Drink

    Browse All » Beverages Healthy Eating Recipes

  • Your Home

    Browse All » At Home Organic Farming & Gardening Remodeling & Design

  • family

    Browse All » Babies & Pregnancy Family Activities Pets Protection & Safety

Tweet
Pin It
Email Bookmark and ShareShare
WorldShares lets you earn donations for your favorite nonprofit. Earn up to 20 points now.
Learn More

Earn Points
What's this?
MNN.COM›

MNN BLOGGERS

Robin Shreeves

Labels on organic wines changing

They're meant to ease confusion, but to those who don't understand the difference between 'made with organic ingredients' and 'certified organic,' wine labels can be clear as a glass of cabernet.

Thu, Jun 25 2009 at 9:21 AM EST

Reading bottle labels for wines that are made with organic grapes just became clearer -- or not. The labeling requirements for wines that contain a mixture of organic and non-organic grapes are being changed.
 
Wine Industry Insight reports that a Memorandum of Understanding has been drawn up between the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB). The TTB will implement the new organic grape labeling policy on behalf of the AMS/USDA.
 
Wines that are labeled "Made with Organic Ingredients" will now have to indicate if there are non-organic ingredients in the wine, too. It can be done with a variation on one of the following statements:
 
  • “Made with Organic and Non-Organic Grapes”;
  • “Made with Organic [variety] Grapes and Non-Organic [variety] Grapes”;
  • “Made with _% Organic Grapes and _% Grapes”;
  • “Made with _% Organic [variety] Grapes and _% Non-Organic [variety] Grapes”
 
It looks like a separate percentage statement must also be on the bottle, indicating the amount of organic ingredients that are organic in the bottle. The Percentage Statement must appear on the information panel in proximity to the Organic Ingredients Statement, according to the new rules. 
 
Now here's where it can get confusing. Just because a bottle of wine contains 100 percent organic grapes, it does mean that it meets the USDA’s standard to be certified organic. If the wine contains added sulfites, it cannot be certified organic. If the winery has not gone through the USDA certification process, it cannot be certified organic.
 
So, in order to avoid confusion, if a wine is made with 100 percent organic ingredients, it cannot be labeled "100% organic ingredients." The concern is that consumers might think it’s certified. Instead, the wine may label itself with something like “Ingredients: Organic Grapes.” This is supposed to let consumers know that there are no non-organic grapes in the wine.
 

The new labeling practices went into effect on June 2, 2009. 

 
Photo: falcon1961
 
(MNN homepage photo: tstajduhar/iStockphoto)
Previous Post
Seasonal recipe: Squash blossom frittata
   Next Post
First step towards global harmonization of organic standards
You might also like:
Related Topics: Organic Wine, USDA

Comments

Follow this conversation
Add your comment
View:
  • All (2)

anonymous
Paolo Bernardi Today 10:42 AM

All this is very disappointing and so deceiving for the consumer. Technically speaking sulfites are a byproduct of fermentation as well. How you can prove you are not adding it? And what are you using instead of those... cupper (more dangerous); stabilization thru mannoproteins is that allowed? De-sulfiting via reverse osmosis? Yes? Spin Cones too? And what about the use of genetically modified vine? Is that considered organic? The use of special enzymes and then inoculated "selected" yeasts.... More

  • |
  • Reply
  • report this post 

anonymous
Organic Wine Dealer 06/28/2009 10:03 AM

No, you can NOT get certified over night. There is a 3-year process before attaining certification. By the way, there are several reputable international certification companies which are recognized by the USDA (Example: IMO Switzerland) so they do not need to be directly certified by the USDA. All they need is to get a US label approval which demands proof of ceritification. Yes you are right, all wines have sulfites. The NO Sulfites Wines are really "Non-Detectable Sulfites". To be certified.... More

  • |
  • Reply
  • report this post 

Add your comment

Sign in with one of these accounts or just add your comment below.
    Log in or
    create an account
     
    •  
Used only for emailed comments and will not be displayed with your post
Notify me with an email when other people comment on this article.
The posting of advertisement, profanity or personal attacks is prohibited.
Click here to review our Terms of Use

EDITORS' PICKS

tease to asteroids

tease to pet facials

tease to emotional eating

ADVERTISEMENT

NEWSLETTER

Mother Nature. Delivered

CONNECT WITH MNN

Follow @twitterapi
 Tumblr
 Google +

About Robin Shreeves

Stay-at-home mom on eco-friendly food options.

RSS feedMore about Robin

Recent Posts

  • 5 dairy recipes for Shavuot with local and seasonal ingredients
  • 5 recipes for watercress
  • Most people want equal access for all to good food
+ Add this to my site
From our sponsor

MillerCoors and SABMiller Make Water a Local Issue

By partnering with organizations like the WWF, GIZ, and The Nature Conservancy;... more >

The Importance of World Water Day

U.N. World Water Day offers a global reminder of how important freshwater is for... more >

River Network Grant Contest Helps Local Waterways

From cleanup projects to water-conserving gardens, river-centric proposals from... more >

Water As A Crop™

"When landowners understand that water is a crop, they'll cherish it and... more >

Rocky Mountain Bottle Company

Leading the Way for Glass Recycling more >
GREAT BEER. GREAT RESPONSIBILITY

Robin's BLOGROLL

Follow NathanGreen Fork Blog
Twilight EarthCook Local
BittenMore Hip than Hippie
John and Lisa are Eating in S. JerseyGrass Stain Guru
The Atlantic Food ChannelThe "Blog" of "Unnecessary" Quotation Marks

ADVERTISEMENT



Quick Links

  • About Us
  • Advisory Board
  • Editors' Blog
  • Press
  • Privacy
  • Sitemap
  • Terms of Service
  • WorldShares

MNN Tools

  • Advice
  • Blogs
  • Day in History
  • Eco-glossary
  • Infographics
  • Lists
  • Photos
  • Videos

Connect

  • Community
  • Contact Us
  • Contests
  • Idea Lab
  • Mixed Greens
  • Newsletters
  • Polls
  • RSS

Channels

  • Earth Matters
  • Health
  • Lifestyle
  • Green Tech
  • Eco-Biz & Money
  • Your Home
  • Family
  • State Reports

Follow MNN

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Tumblr
  • Google+
  • StumbleUpon
 

Copyright © 2012 MNN Holdings, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Website by GLICK INTERACTIVE | Powered by CIRRACORE
 
SPONSORS