Consumer demand for more naturally produced wines that taste just as good as more familiar products has seen the organic wine sector rising to meet the challenge, both globally and at home.
The reason people are increasingly turning to organic wine is because – as with organically produced foods – they offer the unique selling points of being health-focused and more environmentally sustainable.
“There’s an underlying philosophy to organic wine farming that has to do with sustainability and farming for the future,” advises Tania Kleintjes, who has held the position of organic winemaker at Spier since 2016.
“It is an expensive way of farming, with a rigorous accreditation process – but when a winemaker chooses to go this route, consumers know that they are doing so with the environment in mind. As with growing organic strawberries or apples, which come at a premium, it’s the planet that wins.”
Up-and-coming young winemakers are also intent on boosting the biodiversity of their vineyards because this approach has been shown to yields real benefits.
South African organic wine is indeed finding its moment, and is more than holding its own in the top awards arena, both locally and internationally.
Spier Wine Farm, one of the oldest in Stellenbosch, is a global leader in organic wine production. Spier’s organic wines have consistently been praised by consumers and critics alike. The range has received 42 industry accolades to date, most notably a Gold from the prestigious Concours Mondial de Bruxelles and 4.5 stars in the John Platter Wine Guide for the First Stone organic red blend; Gold at the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles for The Yellowwood organic red blend; and a coveted John Platter Wine Guide 5-star rating twice over for the Farm House organic chenin blanc.
The team at Spier has increasingly realised that it makes sense to invest in these award-winners, which have so far only been available in the farm-based tasting room or online. The farm now plans to meet demand by making these wines more readily and widely available.
“We believe the time is right to introduce our increasingly popular organic wines to market, through wine boutiques and at supermarkets,” says Kleintjes. “We are investing heavily in our organic vineyards, which currently span 20 ha at Spier and 62 hectares at Nooitgedacht, the latter being a Spier-owned farm in Paarl.”
Spier’s earth-friendly ethos is increasingly appealing to consumers, along with its transparency regarding what goes into the wines – something that helps to increase consumer trust. “I believe that one should interfere in the winemaking process as little as possible,” Kleintjes states. “This is also the view of our Spier cellarmaster Johan Jordaan. Such non-interference allows the unique Spier terroir to be expressed in all its richness, nuance and complexity.”
Spier’s method of organic farming creates a self-regulating, natural ecosystem in and around a vineyard, eliminating the need for anything artificial or inherently toxic. “Here we farm as naturally as possible, without chemical fertilisers or pesticides, and 100% of our organic waste is transformed into organic fertiliser,” explains Kleintjes. “We follow sustainable practices – such as planting cover crops to provide a habitat for beneficial insects that are the natural enemy of problem species, as just one example. Further, at Nooitgedaght, cattle browsing in the vineyard vicinity feed on the root systems of the cover crop, meaning it spreads faster and is more effective against problem species than if it was cut down using machinery.”
The results of this approach are appreciated in the bottle. Importantly, organic wine isn’t just a trend or a fad. It’s not new; in fact, winemakers such as Kleintjes have spent years creating rich, palatable wines that meet the most rigorous standards.
Levels of compliance have been agreed on the world over. Look out for the label of certification on your favourite organic tipple, as this means an independent and reputable third party has certified it “organic” by carrying out an annual audit. Spier achieves its organic certification by complying to rigorous vineyard and cellar standards.
