In the US, is there a specific process to go from chemical-aided wine making to organic wine-making? Can a wine be called organic simply because the grapes are organic or does the wine-making process have to be chemical-free too? By the way I greatly admire how knowledgeable you are, as you know incredibly more than is needed to work in your trade, I'm sure.
Answer From Expert Roger Bohmrich MW
First, thank you very much for your kind comments! Wine is a fascinating subject, and there is so much to know. The process never stops - there is always a new vintage, producer or region to learn about.
The short answer to your question is that there are two categories of wine under the regulations of the USDA National Organic Program. Wines may be labeled as "Made with Organically Grown Grapes" if they meet specific conditions in the vineyard. This is by far the easier and more common approach. A wine - as distinct from the grapes themselves - that is 100% organic and is allowed to carry the USDA Organic seal must conform to many more rules governing the entire production process. Inherently, this means that the number of organic wines will always be limited as compared to other agricultural products. There is a transition period for conversion of a vineyard to organic of 36 months, during which no prohibited substance (chemical fertilizer, pesticide, herbicide, etc.) may be used, and various criteria must be met for certification. Wine claiming to be fully organic must not be made with prohibited substances or genetic engineering. Ingredients must be organic, and the entire process must be certified (some wineries say they are "practicing" organic but are not certified, and therefore cannot make that claim on the label). Sulfites - which unfortunately provoke far more concern than justified - cannot be added to wines labeled 100% organic, but are allowed as an additive (up to 100 ppm) in wines claiming to be made from organically grown grapes. There are many more technicalities, but I hope this will give you the essentials.
