Organic Christmas buzz

As the holidays step into full gear, many of us will be hosting family and friends to celebrate the season and welcome the New Year. Organic wine, beer and liquor are becoming an increasingly popular choice for the green entertainer.

There is some controversy as to whether organic wine even exists. The European Union refuses to acknowledge organic wine, but classifies wines made from organic grapes. US and Canadian markets classify the wine itself. In both cases, organic refers to an absence of chemicals in growth and vinification process. Strictly speaking, the grapes are organic, not the wine itself. Organic grapes are produced using organic farming methods without the use of chemical herbicides, pesticides or industrial fertilizers. Organic farmers use a range of natural practices to prevent the use of these chemicals, including crop rotation, integrated pest management, selecting suitable grape varieties and mechanical weeding methods. A primary difference between organic and non-organic wine is the amount of sulphur they contain. The amount of sulphur dioxide allowed during vinification to prevent wine from turning to vinegar is limited under organic rules.
Summerhill Pyramid Winery in Kelowna is one of Canada’s most visited winery and largest certified vineyard – certified by the Pacific Agriculture Certification Society. 
Hainle Vineyards Estate Winery has a strong commitment to natural, chemical free viticulture and handcrafted winemaking. All of their growing and cellar practices are traditional according to a purity law of 1856 – one that exceeds Canadian and International certified organic winemaking standards. At Hainle, they are dedicated to producing the highest possible quality, naturally dry, fully fermented wines
Lotusland Winery uses only organically grown Fraser Valley fruit that is chemical fertilizer and pesticide free. Wine is produced in small batches and is low in sulfites. 

Beer is made primarily from barley and hops. Producing these grains commercially involves the use of herbicides, insecticides, fungicides and fossil fuel derived fertilizers.
Pacific Western Brewing Company in BC produces the award-winning NatureLand Organic Ale with organic hops and pure spring water. All ingredients in the ale and their NatureLand Organic Lager are certified organic, including the water.
Crannog Ales are not just natural, but certified organic, using plants that are grown in a system that promotes and enhances biodiversity and natural cycles. It is based on minimum use of off-farm inputs and on management practices that restore, maintain and enhance ecological balance.

While less widely available than organic wine and beer, organic liquor is available online and through specialty suppliers.
Conventional vodka is made from grain produced using multiple applications of pesticides and artificial fertilizers. Square One vodka is made from 100% organically grown rye using organic fermentation process. Vodka 14 boasts a USDA organic certification, meaning that the grain they use for distilling is legally certified not to be chemically or genetically altered in any way and to have been farmed in an environmentally sound manner without the use of pesticides or chemical fertilizers.
Juniper Green organic gin is made with organic grain, organic juniper berries, organic angelica root and organic savory without chemical fungicides.
4Copas tequila uses estate grown, organically certified blue agave that has been tested for peak sugar content individually before harvest.
Papagayo organic spiced rum is produced in a remote region of Paraguay using sugar from organic farming projects bought under International Fair Trade Association rules.
Da Mhile scotch from Springbank Distillery is the world’s first organic scotch whisky. An entirely natural product, the production of Da Mhile involves no chill filtering.

Drink all you want without fear of imbibing a pesticide cocktail this holiday season. Just don’t get behind the wheel of your Prius after a few too many organic brews. And a bottle of organic wine makes a perfect gift for the budding sommelier on your list.

If your local liquor store doesn’t stock enough organic options, simply request them and with demand soon there will be more to choose from.