The European Regulation 203/2012, published on March 9th 2012, has finally allowed to regularize the organic wine sector, after several years of controversy.
The legislation establishes new rules as regards the production of organic wine, also outlining the vinification methods, approved by the Standing Committee on Organic Farming (SCOF).
The new legislation also allows reporting the European logo on the label, for companies certified by an authorized body.
The contents of the regulation provide for some restrictions in the use of certain oenological practices and adjuvants during the wine-making phase.
An organic producer can use about half of the number of adjuvants, which can use a conventional manufacturer by regulation. The quantity of sulfur dioxide in organic wines, has been one of the most debated topics from Italy, with the final decision by the EU of limits not accepted by many Italian winemakers, because considered too high. We must remember that the climatic conditions of Italy, allow to produce wines with quantities of sulphites on average lower than producers from across the Alps.
The approved regulation has set the following total sulfur dioxide limits:
– for red dry organic wines: maximum 100 mg/l;
– for white dry organic wines: maximum 150 mg/l.
What has been said so far allows us to define the “organic” wine only when:
- in the vineyard: production of organic grapes, grown without the help of synthetic chemicals (fertilizers, herbicides, fungicides, insecticides, pesticides in general) and without the use of genetically modified organisms;
- in the cellar: vinification is carried out using only the oenological products and processes authorized by regulation 203/2012 (list in Annex VIII bis).
In any case, the winery needs a certification of conformity by a certifying body.
Certainly, within the limits and regulations imposed by the regulations, every certified organic producer will follow its specific conduct, using the oenological practices that are closer to the personal concept of “sustainable agriculture”