What is organic wine?

Organic wine is wine that is made from grapes grown organically, brewed in accordance with organic wine regulations, and has received official certification.

The use of chemical fertilizers and genetic modification during grape cultivation, and the use of chemicals and additives during the winemaking process are more restricted than for regular wines.

Organic wine is characterized by its agricultural methods that are kind to people and the environment, and its aim to create wine in the traditional way.

Organic wine farming

Organic wine grapes are grown using organic farming methods.
Organic farming has three principles:
・Do not use chemical fertilizers on plants.
-Do not use synthetic chemicals such as pesticides or herbicides.
・No genetic manipulation is performed.

Other requirements include that the above conditions must be met for at least three years and that the produce must not be affected by adjacent non-organic farming fields.

Organic farming uses natural fertilizers such as compost and green manure, and herbs instead of pesticides.
In addition, pesticides that have been used for a long time, such as Bordeaux mixture (※), are permitted for use in limited areas.
*Bordeaux mixture: a solution of copper sulfate and quicklime that has been used for over 100 years.

Historical background of organic farming

After World War II, efficient agriculture using synthetic chemical fertilizers became widespread, but around the 1950s, the negative effects of chemical agriculture began to be viewed as a problem.

The harmful effects of chemical agriculture

In fields where chemicals are used, the soil becomes hard like rock, preventing roots from adequately absorbing moisture from underground.
Pesticides disrupt the field's ecosystem, including microorganisms, and deplete the soil's natural nutrients, creating a negative cycle that requires the use of large amounts of chemical pesticides to nourish plants.
The large amounts of pesticides and insecticides used pose a threat to the health of producers and consumers. (*)

*When spraying pesticides, they wear protective clothing and masks like space suits. Also, grapes for wine are not washed, so the French magazine "Que Choisir" featured a case where non-organic wine was found to contain 300 times the amount of pesticides found in tap water.

Comparison of organic and chemically farmed fields

How to make organic wine

It is important to us that organic wines are brewed in a way that is as close as possible to traditional winemaking methods.
Originally, wine was a simple alcoholic drink made by converting the sugar in grape juice into alcohol through the action of yeast on the grape skins.

Throughout the long history of wine, many people have continued to innovate and work hard to create wines that taste great, but at the same time, many wines have come onto the market that are mass-produced in factories using scientific technology and additives.
In order to produce a popular flavor and consistent quantity of wine, wine made in factories contains many processes and additives that are not necessary for traditional winemaking.
These include synthetic tannins, acidulants, artificially flavored wood chips, and preservatives in quantities that can withstand transportation at room temperature.

One of the great attractions of wine is that you can enjoy the different flavors that come from the grape variety, the land, and the climate.
Conscientious organic wine producers cherish the principles of traditional winemaking, which is based solely on grapes.
Even when human intervention occurs, it is limited to temperature control and the use of coarse filters to remove impurities, avoiding chemicals and high-tech techniques as much as possible, and instead producing wine that makes the most of the natural power of the grapes.

Organic wine preservatives

Even organic wines contain preservatives.
The amount is less than one-third of that of regular wine (standard set by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare).
MAVIE's organic wines contain few preservatives, so the taste will change if they are not stored at a constant temperature below 20°C.

There is sugar remaining in wine and yeast still living in it. The main role of preservatives is to inhibit the activity of the yeast and prevent the deterioration of the wine's quality.
If no preservatives are added and the yeast remains active, even when the yeast is transported and stored at a constant temperature of around 10 degrees, even a slight change in temperature can cause the yeast to become activated and produce carbon dioxide, which can lead to leakage or, in severe cases, the bottle breaking.

Organic wine is transported at a constant temperature and kept at a low temperature, and the minimum amount of preservatives are added to preserve the original flavor of the wine.

Organic wine, which contains fewer preservatives, will lose its flavor if stored at temperatures above 20 degrees Celsius due to the activation of yeast.
At MAVIE, we strictly control the temperature of our wines, keeping them at no more than 20°C throughout the entire process, from the producer's cellar to storage in our warehouse and all the way to the customer's hands.

However, most wines in supermarkets and convenience stores are stored at room temperature. High-quality wines are stored in cellars to prevent their quality from deteriorating, so why is it that regular wines can be stored at room temperature without any problems?
The difference is in the amount of preservatives used in the wine.
In mass-produced wine, more than the original purpose of preventing deterioration of flavor is added in order to cut distribution costs and storage hassle.
*Some wine specialty stores set the temperature in their stores low in order to maintain the quality of the wine without having to store it in a cellar.

By the way, wines made by major manufacturers and labeled as containing no preservatives are made through processes such as killing the yeast with heat or removing the yeast with a microfilter.

What is the difference between organic wine and natural wine or bio wine?

There are no legal restrictions on the labelling of wine as natural or organic.
Organic wine is subject to legal regulations, and any wine that does not meet strict standards and is not certified as organic will be penalized.

In Japanese, "bio wine" refers to wine made using organic or biodynamic farming methods, or farming methods that incorporate some of these. The same applies to natural wine.
However, the definition of the terms "organic wine" and "natural wine" is vague and refers to a wide range of methods including reduced pesticide farming (lutte raisonnée), so it is difficult to determine to what extent a wine is made in accordance with nature. For example, it is possible to reduce the amount of pesticide used from 100% to 10% or even to 90% and still call it "reduced pesticide."

On the other hand, labeling something as organic is punishable by law if it is not certified and meets the standards set by the government.

Of course, there are uncertified natural and organic wines that are made in almost the same way as organic wines, but consumers who buy them on store shelves don't know how strictly they were made.

In order for consumers to make their own choices, they should first be given a minimum guarantee, and for this reason MAVIE places great importance on organic certification.

*By the way, the French word vin bio (=vin biologique) and the Italian word vino bio (=vino biologico) originally mean the same thing as organic wine. When used correctly in those languages within the EU, these words can only be used for organic wine. However, when used in Japan, these words are not subject to legal restrictions, just like the word bio wine.

Organic wine certification system

Only public certification bodies that meet the criteria of independence, impartiality (neutrality), effectiveness, and competence are recognized.
The organic wines sold at MAVIE are limited to those that have received official certification, such as EU organic certification.

Even if you resonate with the organic lifestyle and decide to make your own choices, unless you buy directly from the farmer who produced it, in today's world where the production site is separated from the place of consumption, it is difficult for consumers to determine whether products are truly made with care.
This is where the certification system came in. Only foods that have been certified can be called organic.

The certification process that guarantees reliability should be carried out by a third party that is completely independent from any party involved in the sale of the product. Based on this principle, in the EU, the involvement of producers, retailers, etc. in official organic certification bodies is not permitted (although this is permitted in Japan's JAS organic system).

In the EU, only organizations that meet the following criteria - independence, impartiality (neutrality), effectiveness, and competence - are recognized as official certification bodies. There is also a system for auditing the operation of certification bodies. An "auditor" is placed within the organization, and three sets of eyes are constantly on watch, including official audits by the government and audits between countries.

In this way, consumers can always be sure that they are purchasing organic food. The certification system is a transparent mechanism that builds the trust of not only consumers but also all those involved in the organic industry.

MAVIE values certification because it believes that "organic" in Japan should not end up being a passing marketing fad, but is a necessary system for it to be properly distributed as "one of the obvious options," as it is in European countries.

The pros and cons of organic wine

While it is an environmentally and people-friendly way to enjoy wine in a comfortable way, the quantity and taste are easily affected by the weather and the skill of the wine maker, so producers, importers, and retailers all need to carefully assess the quality.

The benefits of organic wine

It is grown using farming methods that are kind to both the environment and people.
It reflects the characteristics of the grape variety, as well as the soil and climate.
It is of reliable quality and can be drunk with confidence.
Less pesticides and chemicals are used.

Disadvantages of organic wine

Production costs are high.
It is easily affected by the weather, and there are years when production is low or not at all.
Since the taste cannot be adjusted, it is easily influenced by the skill of the producer.
Temperature control is required during transportation and storage.

Changes in organic wine and MAVIE's organic wine

The change in organic wine

In 2012, regulations for organic wine brewing were established in the EU, and while the base of organic wine has expanded, it has also become possible to produce organic wine industrially.

In 2012, the EU established organic wine brewing regulations. Until then, only "wine made from grapes grown organically" was certified, but now there are regulations for "organic wine" that place restrictions on the amount of preservatives and additives used in the brewing process, as well as on chemical brewing techniques.

However, before these regulations were established, most organic wine producers followed the "Organic Wine Charter" established by national organizations, and used methods that were much stricter than the current EU regulations.

Although the new EU regulations place some restrictions compared to regular wine, they do permit the use of wood chips, heat treatment and the removal of impurities using ion exchange resins (although it is stated that these techniques need to be reconsidered given the inherent nature of organic wine), making it possible to mass-produce "organic wine" in factories.

Industrial wines that were labeled as organic for marketing purposes ended up on the market.

MAVIE organic wine

MAVIE has always and will continue to sell only "delicious organic wines" made by producers with the utmost care and philosophy.

It's only natural that it's delicious.

"Organic" is not an added value, but a choice we arrived at as a result of our pursuit of delicious wine.

With respect for winemakers who have a passion and philosophy for winemaking, MAVIE delivers their wonderful works, along with their thoughts, to the people of Japan.

Mavi organic wine

Organic certification: Official certification is the bare minimum necessary for consumers, including us, to "think and choose for ourselves." It is a transparent system that prevents fraud and guarantees the history of the wine.
We deal only in organic wines that are made with passion by small-scale wine producers who are responsible for every step of the process, from grape cultivation to wine brewing and bottling. We always visit the site, and only begin business with the producers after we have been impressed not only by their vineyards and wineries, but also by their personalities and philosophies.
Yasushi Tamura, who has been stationed in Europe for over 10 years and has thoroughly enjoyed the finest cuisine and wines since his days working for a major food manufacturer, has selected only wines that he believes to be truly delicious. In addition , Mr. Boisseau, a top professional sommelier in France, has been cooperating with us as a selection partner since the establishment of MAVIE.
Thorough quality control: Delicious organic wine delivered to you while still delicious. From everyday wines in the 1,000 yen range to luxury wines costing tens of thousands of yen, we strictly manage temperature-controlled transport and warehouse storage during import. We also ask shipping companies, contracted retailers, and restaurants to strictly manage temperatures during domestic distribution, and we believe in delivering wines to you without compromising on quality.

What is organic wine?