Hello,
Early this week I received a shipment of six bottles of wine. When I opened the box, the bottles were hot to the touch. Will this cause any issues with or damage to the wine? I was planning on storing the wine in my wine cellar for a couple of years. Will heating the bottles decrease the shelf-life of the wine?

Thank you,
Peter, AZ
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Hi Peter,

While this is not the best thing to wish for, if the bottle gets warmed up it quickly shows: the cork is being pushed out by the expansion of the wine in the bottle!
As long as the wine has not sipped out and created a way out (and therefore a way in for the oxygen), you can always push the cork back in and the incident should be of no consequence.
Generally speaking rapid variations of temperature are not good for wine but it’s only one of many factors in its life expectancy!

Dr Mic

Hi,

The fermentation process produces approximately .9 lbs of carbon dioxide for
each pound of ethanol.

What happens to the carbon dioxide? Is it vented to the atmosphere?

Sincerely.
Sy
....................
Most of it is released during fermentation (that's why it is dangerous to lean over open casks and people die each year doing that). Depending on the amount of freshness the winemaker wants in the final product, he will arrange to stop the fermentation and keep more or less dissolved CO2 in the wine. 400 to 600mg/l in red wines, 800 to 1,200 in rosés, 1,200 to 1,500 in white wines and even more in sparkling wines obviously since the famous bubbles are made of CO2!

Dr Mic

Hello!

Wonderful site you have!

We are interested in the monthly wine club - we live in N.J. - how are the wines packed to ensure freshness & no damage from the seasonal heat, or cold, when the order arrives?

Thank you.

Olivia

...................

We use recycled cardboard boxes most of the times and Styrofoam containers in times of extreme heat or cold. It generally takes 6 to 8 days delivery time.
Damage to the wine is extremely rare and, when assessed, refunded.

Thank you for your interest in the wine club. It's still a small one but our people seem to enjoy it. I rotate wines from different vintages so you never have the same bottle twice (well, exceptionally!). See you there sometime?

Michel

I always have to bring your messages from the "spam filter" file and move to my inbox. Not sure what can be done about that but I definitely want your emails. Is there something I need to do with my filter folks at GCI?

Also, if not for the cost of shipping, I would be ordering you wines. Sure wish you could use USPS.

Hope all is going well and please give my best to Veronique,
Caroline
........................

Hi Caroline,

Indeed it is illegal to ship wine with USPS! Have you looked up our free shipping offers?
The best way to beat the system is to order a full case for which you get the (relatively speaking) best price per bottle. And you can always make me an offer!

Generally spam filters have a feature like a white list where you can enter email addresses that you want to accept as senders. See if you can find that! The one I use for my newsletters is michel@theorganicwinecompany.com
Also filters often take out emails with HTML (code) content and/or images. Those are settings that you should be able to turn on and off to see what actually goes through. I have no spam filter beyond what my server does and I simply put in the junk folder the addresses I don’t want and that’s enough…

Dear Friends:

Greetings from San Francisco! In recent months, we have received an increased number of requests for information about organic wines. These requests emanate both from the public and the media. Questions we thought we had answered continue to be asked over and over again. "Why should consumers care about organic wines?" We are truly delighted with this steadily growing interest in what we do and why we do it, and therefore it is with much pleasure that we update you as to the status of organic wines.

For starters, what do we mean by an Organic Wine? First and foremost, it's a wine made from certified organically grown grapes. The fundamental idea behind organic wine is that making wine from grapes grown without pesticides, herbicides and chemical fertilizers is clearly better for our planet AND therefore, in all likelihood, better for you, the wine drinker.

"Why should consumers care about & choose organic wines?" Well, let's take a look at the alternative. Conventional wines are the result of conventional agricultural practices. These were adopted in large part after the last World War and rely heavily on chemicals. The problem with that approach is that these chemicals damage the soil, the vine, the air, the water, the farmers, and, in all likelihood, all of us down the road. Not only that, this approach triggers a destructive circle of poison. Pesticides, herbicides and fungicides throw the natural harmony of the vineyard completely off balance. Chemical fertilizers strip the soil of minerals essential to its health, thus necessitating an ever-increasing reliance on artificial inputs to restore what has been lost.

There is an enormous amount of scientific evidence, which we will review in more details for you at a later date, documenting how pesticides, weed killers, fungicides and other chemical substances damage the soil and the plant, its fruits and everyone else in their path. Grapes are no exception and wine is merely liquid grapes. Make no mistake, grapes are one of the most heavily sprayed crops around. When pesticides are sprayed on the grape skins to protect them from disease, they end up as residue in the wine (by being washed from the grapes as they are pressed or put in the vat). And then there are the systemic pesticides which are sprayed on the ground, absorbed by the vine roots, end up in the grape pulp, and therefore inevitably as residue in the wine.

Thankfully, there is the sustainable approach, namely, organic farming. There is absolutely no question that organic farming methods are better for the earth and all of its inhabitants. They are based on traditional, common sense farming methods which are not harmful to people or the environment. Like the Chinese acupuncturist, the organic farmer's primary objective is balance, and his other mandate is the Hippocratic Oath: "First do no harm." The key to the success of organic farming is maintaining a balanced, fertile soil. Why? Because a healthy soil is likely to produce a healthy plant capable of fighting off disease. How is that achieved without the use of heavy-duty chemicals? Well, let's bear in mind that our forefathers did manage to reap some fruits from their land before the advent of Malathion & RoundUp.

Let's briefly review some of the organic techniques & tools. "First do no harm," said Hippocrates, the father of medicine. That is our motto as well. Therefore, instead of chemical fertilizers, we spread manure or algae in the vineyards. Instead of spraying pesticides, we promote biodiversity. That means we grow plants other than vines in and around the vineyard. Why? Because biodiversity helps regulate the vineyard soil by attracting beneficial flora and fauna into the vineyards, such as insects, spiders and predatory mites. Cover crops provide shelter and food (pollen, nectar) to "beneficial bugs" which decreases/replaces the need for insecticides or pesticides.

What cannot be fully controlled through biodiversity can still be managed organically, through the use of naturally occurring plant or mineral extracts, which leave no residues in the soil. As for weeds, we let them grow, and we mow periodically so that the cut weeds rot back into the ground, thus providing organic fertilizer. Needless to say this approach is much more labor-intensive than the conventional quick fixes. In fact, it costs on average 20% more per unit, and the yield will be less. In our opinion the costs are more than worth the outcome by any measure you want to use.

All right, all right, you say, organic viticulture is better for the earth and probably for me, but are the wines any good? That's what I want to know. Well, what would be the point of producing something, organic or otherwise, that no one can drink? Relax, nowadays many organic wines are every bit as good as their conventional counterpart, and as affordable and varied. Some feel that organic wines are actually better, and that they taste more flavorful and "cleaner." That's what we hear most often. Of course, it's always a matter of personal opinion. However, more and more, consumers AND critics are beginning to think that they do taste better.
One theory is that since organic vineyards have more natural resistance to poor weather or pestilence, they tend to perform better in poor vintages than non-organic ones. Additionally, many organic vineyards harvest by hand, rather than using mechanical pickers. This allows only the ripest and healthiest bunches to be picked, with the minimum amount of stress to the vine, fruit or soil.

In short, why do we encourage you to choose organic wines? Well, because they're very good, because they are very affordable, and because when you do, you help us break the "circle of poison." There is absolutely no question that organic agriculture is the way OF the future and the way TO our future, therefore we should all support it wherever and whenever we can.

'Till Next Time...

Warmly,Véronique Raskin

President & Founder

Dear Customer Service,

I wanted to let you know that my shipment arrived on the exact date I requested. Your new selective shipping date service works. Thank you!

There is something I would like to ask about the Bordeaux. When I opened it the cork had a stale smell. The wine also seemed to have the same, faint odor. Since I am hardly an expert on wine, even less so with organic wine, I wanted to know if this is typical for this particular wine. The taste of the wine was quite nice, though, (obviously the odor did not prevent me from trying the wine!) and it is mainly curiosity that causes me to inquire.

The shipment occurred during our brief heat wave and when it was delivered the box was warm and had most likely been riding around in a hot delivery truck all day. I don't know if this might have had an effect on the wine or not.

I haven't tried the white wine yet but will let you know when I do.

It's wonderful that you are promoting an organic product. As a consumer who chooses organic whenever possible, I am glad to have a resource for good wine.

Sincerely,
Cindy

Hello Cindy,

It is obviously a little difficult to talk about smells through an email but let’s see! The smell of the cork is not really indicative of the quality of the wine unless it is so off that the wine will probably be not good! Sometimes it has been wet on the outside part and may have molded a bit without affecting the wine. However the wine itself should definitely have a pleasant smell though it is possible that it needs a bit of time (hence the decanting) to open up and ‘relax’, particularly with wines having aged in oak barrels as is the case here. It is not infrequent that a wine smells and tastes better the following day! If the wine was pleasant on the palate it makes me think that this was the case here. A bottle would need to rest after a long trip (as we do) and to take its time to reveal itself (like a good conversation). It’s like you don’t rush on your visitor with questions after they just got through the door! Bordeaux Capucine ’03 is a great vintage and should be really satisfying. Anything less could be a bad bottle, you be the judge.

Your comment on the temperature refers to what I am saying above, the wine is not really changed, but a bit disturbed probably.

All the best in your future enjoyment.

DrMic


Dr. Mic,

Thank you for the mini lesson on the care and handling of wine. The Chateau Moulin de Peyronin '03 was delightful to the last drop! I would not hesitate to recommend the wine and your service to others.

Again, thank you for your help and for providing a resource for organic wine.

Sincerely,

Cindy

Hello:

I am allergic to the sulfites in red wine. Are the wines low in sulfites, and are they sulfite free? I am pure Italian and grew up with wine at the dinner table every night. As you know, wine goes hand in hand with delicious Italian food.

If so, can you please recommend a bottle I can try.

Janine

All our wines have a minimal amount of sulfites in them as it is very difficult to do completely without !
We have a Muscadet without Sulfites and a dessert wine Cartagene also. And we have recently found a good red in France that wil be there in a few months.
However most sensitive people are very happy with our wines and discover that it is probably something else that bothers them in conventional wines! In any event we have thousand of clients in your case (my sister is highly sensitive too) and the consensus is there! Give them a try and I will refund you if you don’t find your happiness in our line! It is really up to your taste, you can find pleasure with the Venbtoux at $10, the Veronique at $14, the Cotes du Rhone Pouizin at $16, a Syrah Janiny at $19 etc.

Our wines are meant for the table and this is how we enjoy them ourselves!
All the best

Dr Mic

Hello Michel,

What wonderful wines!! I have a couple of severe gastro intestinal problems. Your organic wines do not cause me any distress whatsoever. I find they are “clean” on the tongue and leave no after effects such as headaches or stomach upsets. Since I prefer the red wines, this has been a totally new experience. I simply cannot drink regular red wine and, consequently, am very pleased to have happened upon your products. My congratulations to the producers of the wines and to you for making them available at such good prices!

Mary Jo Yack

I recently ordered several wines from you. Among them was a bottle of Domaine de Caillan Viognier 2003. When I opened this bottle, I was surprised to find it almost amber in color with a stronger, more unusual flavor than expected from a viognier. Is this common for this particular wine? I'm concerned that the bottle has started to turn, and don't really know what to do with it.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Maggie, NJ

I had the same experience with this vintage recently which means that it is starting to oxidize. It is definitely your call, was it drinkable and ok or simply past its time? These wines are meant to be drunk with a couple of years of their bottling and can last more ..or not, depending in part on the quality of their cork .
It seems that yours was gone, in which case we’ll be happy to replace it with a 2004 at the next opportunity. (We are actually drinking the last bottles of 2003 ourselves and my mother loves it, when it’s good!)

Dr Mic

Do you sell red wine in small bottles? I am looking for smaller bottles because I plan to use the wine as a daily medicine. It has been pointed out to me that the resveratrol in wine evaporates or oxidizes quickly after opening.. and this is the substance I'm after. I have been treating breast cancer naturally for three years with good results and would like to add this to my regimen. Thanks, Victoria

Hi Victoria,

We have no small bottles available at the moment. However there is an easy way around your request: purchase a $10 canister of neutral gas (Nitrogen) sold in wine shops to preserve wine. This is the gas also used in big wineries when they have open or unfilled casks. 2 or 3 whiffs of gas in the bottle after usage will preserve the wine almost indefinitely and avoid spoiling or losing any of it. Under the gas there is no oxidation possible therefore the degradation of resveratrol will be kept to a minimum.

Dr Mic

I wanted to know what BIODYNAMIC means?
Also I am looking for a sweet organic red wine, do you have any? Most red are not sweet for some reason.
Thank you,
Joni

Hi Joni,

You can find the meaning of biodynamic in our info pages at
http://www.theorganicwinecompany.com/biodynamics.php

There are no sweet red wines in our line, they are all dry, meaning with less than 3 grams per liter of sugar. The reason is that the legal definition of a wine is the result of the complete alcoholic fermentation of grape juice, therefore there should not be any residual sugar in a finished wine!
If you mean fruity that is another matter and you can look at our Beaujolais or Cotes du Rhone Villages Visan for instance.

Sincerely

Dr Mic

Hello. I am a die hard Cabernet Sauvignon Lover , particularly the California, Napa and Sonoma wines. Recently, I have developed allergies after drinking these reds. All brands. I never had this problem until after menopause so I know it's related. My question is, would organic make a difference in this regard? Have you ever heard of someone being allergic to wine and not so with organic wine?

Regards, Dr. Nancy G
Doctor of Chiropractic
Certified Classical Homeopath

Dear Nancy,
Thank you for contacting me on this matter. I happen to be somewhat your colleague, having been an Advanced Rolfer/movement teacher for 30 years (oops! What a thought!)
and having been trained in homeopathy by my late stepfather, Dr Joly, a renowned homeopath and teacher in his time.

Indeed your situation is not unique, except that I never realized the possible link with menopause, a worthy path to explore. I could almost say that not a day goes by without hearing about one story of hypersensitivity/intolerance/allergy to some or all wines and a question from some wine lover eager to find an alternative! It has become my ‘cause célèbre’ or my “cheval de bataille” to use some French expressions!

This is actually a widespread phenomenon, very little talked about (certainly by the wine industry and one can understand why!) because of the ‘healthy’ image carried by wine these days.

Therefore nobody I meet, including health professionals like you, ever blames the product. Rather they take it on themselves finding reasons for their intolerance among genetics, old age or hormonal balance in your case, chemical poisoning or intolerance, weak liver, general poor health or plain bad luck! The product itself is never questioned!

The truth of the matter is that wine is indeed a very healthy food, taken in moderation to process the alcohol content AND provided it comes from organic sources or at a minimum made without chemicals in the process. Given that, 99% of people who claim negative side effects from wine consumption realize they can happily enjoy their favorite glass of wine with their meal and feel perfectly fine right afterward and the following day! Intolerance is in my view a very HEALTHY response of your organism who says: “There is something wrong in this product that I don’t want inside, please!”. Only seriously sick people (asthmatic or actual allergic sufferers) will not tolerate even organic wines because of their histamine, tannic or sulfite content.

Therefore my answer is an unequivocal YES, it will make a difference and is certainly worth trying if you do not suffer from any major illness. We need prominent voices to expose this dirty little secret. It is my contention that the decrease in wine consumption in old time wine growing nations is due more to the millions of people silently turning away from a drink that hurts them than to the appeal of modern concoctions. Make a poll around you to 10 to 20 people and you will be amazed by the percentage who has stopped drinking wine altogether or restricted consumption due to its ill after effects. I guarantee it!

In the meantime I will be happy to see you try our best Cab, the Mas de Janiny 02 and tell me what you think.

Michel Ginoulhac, M.D.
Wine Selection

Dear Michel,
I always enjoy a serendipitous meeting such as this one! I never expected to hear back from such an renowned expert as yourself in so many areas. Indeed, all that you say is true. From my prospective as a practitioner and menopausal woman , I can tell you that 90% of my women have had to give up red wine due to its propensity to increase hot flashes and histamine reaction. I, for one, adore Cabs, as I mentioned and, while I humbly accept the passing of my taut skin,and toned muscles, I really must rebel against giving up my wine!

I would love to try your Cab and I would love to interview you further for an article I will write about this very subject. On Friday, this week, I will be addressing a local garden club about natural health opportunities into the "golden years". I will use the health giving aspects of red wine as an example. Resveratrol to the rescue!

Thanking you for your kindness
Dr. Nancy

Hello,
I just turned 21. I am not a heavy drinker, but wine every now and then is very relaxing. My teeth are overly sensitive meaning that I don't eat sugar. Sugar-free and diet everything. I have heard distinctions between sulfite-free and organic wine. Your website is very helpful. I have asked this question to many people that told me organic "is" sulfite-free, but it's not. I don't know when fermentation is or S02. Bottom-line......I need to know of wine(s) that are very very low in sugar. No one else has responded to my emails, so maybe they don't know the answer. I hope you reply to me with some help. I am in need of it. I don't trust most of what I read on the net or hear from others. How much sugar is in wine? Also, can I get any decent tasting wine that is sugarless or very low in sugar?

Thank you for your time

Hi Adam,

Sorry to hear about your difficulties. I hope you find a way to balance your body that would be more permanent and less annoying. I am pretty sure there are natural ways to help you achieve that and I can point to a few if you need.
As far as wine is concerned you should know that, unless a wine is left intentionally unfinished to keep some sweetness to it, a finished wine is "dry", meaning it contains less than 3 to 4 grams per liter of sugar (and it is fructose). In most cases and certainly in the wines we carry, the analysis finds less than 1 g/l, almost undetectable! Therefore sugar in itself should not be a concern to you. Most people are wary of the alcohol content that gets transformed in the liver and has obvious and well known detrimental effects when taken in abundance, since the liver has the capacity to handle a few grams a day just like it does with meats. Always a question of balance!
As far as labeling is concerned, unfortunately the FDA has ruled to label Organic only the wines without SO2 (sulfites) added and therefore under 10ppm.
This is the source of a lot of confusion because most 'organic' wines are made with the addition of SO2 therefore the world of official Organic Wines is restricted to a half dozen products that usually do not respond to people's expectations, not to say worse things about them!
The reality is that the bulk of organically grown wines which are made with some addition of SO2 are perfectly assimilated by even a sensitive organism and that nobody except the seriously ill should have concerns with them in reasonable amounts.
Needless to say you can certainly find better than decent wines in our portfolio of 50+ wines!
All the best
Dr Mic

Sulfites Allergy and Diabetes

Hello,

I am trying to obtain as much information as I can in reference to organic wine and sulfites. I am a diabetic and I am also allergic to sulfites. I have not been able to get any sound information on the subject. I would like to know if organic wine has any of it's own natural sulfites. It would be great to have an occasional glass of wine but I am afraid to attempt it until I can get a better definition about the sulfites. I am allergic to sulfur in medication which is how I found out that was my problem with having alcoholic drinks. I look forward to hearing from you. And thank you for your time.

CR

Hi there,

You can find some information on sulfites in our own website
http://www.theorganicwinecompany.com/sulfites.php
or in the attachment provided. Other organic wine websites provide useful information too if you search through Google.
It's all a matter of balance and sensitivity so it is impossible to know in advance what can be your response but I know from experience that most of the sensitive people who contact us and try our wines are very happy to discover that they can enjoy them without any negative side effects.
In most cases, other less known or talked about chemicals are involved. Our wines still use a certain amount of sulfites for stability but in such dosage and balance that they are perfectly accepted. I can only wish it would be the same experience for you! You need to give it a (prudent) try!

2007 could then be indeed a very Happy New Year!

Dr Mic

Please make wine without alcohol in it. The type of alcohol is Ethanol and is a carcinogen. It causes cancer. It destroys good bacteria and enzymes in the digestive tract. It is addictive and does not promote a healthy lifestyle. While there are great qualities about wine, leave the ethanol out of it. It can be done.
Thanks
David

Hello David,

Thank you for your concern. First of all, even though I have been a winemaker myself, I am not involved in that part any longer. Secondly, there have been numerous attempts to make wine without alcohol, which actually means that it has to be taken out at the end of the process since there would be no wine without alcohol! The results have been consistently bad apart from one notable exception, giving people no incentive to explore the idea further. Lastly, your note on ethanol probably refers to studies made on the isolated product, ignoring the fact that there are hundreds of components in a wine that act in synergy and allow its digestion by normally healthy people provided that the quantities involve do not exceed those that the digestive tract can process per unit of time. Same thing applies with animal products, fats etc. Long term studies on large groups of people have shown the positive effects on overall health of the regular consumption of small quantities of wines by men and women alike (1 to 2 glasses per day depending of body mass).
Beware of scientific conclusions drawn from one study to another field without considering the context! In this example a few thousands of years of experience with a product have more weight than a study on an isolated part of it.

Best regards

DrMic

What is the typical alcohol content of organic wine. I am considering ordering the Chateau Bousquette 2001. I am not very familiar with organic wines but am interested in learning more.

Thanks

Cathy

Hello Cathy,

You can find the alcohol content of each wine in the Product Detail page accessible by clicking on each label or link (on the left side) of the shopping cart.
Most of our wines contain 12.5% alcohol which is kind of ideal. The difference is not due to organic growing but to the climate/soil combination between Europe and most of the US. Domestic wines and particularly Californian easily reach 14% if not 15%, which is not necessary nor desirable for the wine nor the drinker!

DrMic

Hello,

on the last order I received the bottle of "NV Cartagene Prestige Vin de liqueur Bourguet" The cork was half way out (from pressure?) when I opened the box and some had spilled onto the other bottles and box. The other two bottles were perfect, just sticky. Please let me know, I assume I should not drink it.... What is the situation?

Thanks,

Marty

Hi Marty,

This is not an unusual situation in hot temperature weather. The wine simply expands and if there is little air space between the wine and the cork (which depends on the bottle format, the cork and the bottling) the pressure pushes the cork out. There is usually no bad consequence for the wine unless, of course, the cork has gone out completely! In the case of the Cartagene particularly, since there is a higher alcohol content, I would not worry at all, it should be as good as new!

DrMic
Organic WIne Company

From: Robyn Garside Sunday, May 21, 2006
Subject: Shelf LIfe

Hi, Can you please let me know what is the shelf life of organic wine? And is there a preferred way to store the wine to maximise shelf life.
Thanks for your help.
Robyn Garside

PS. We really enjoyed our sample bottles of wine! Looking forward to receiving our next shipment.

A:
There is no real difference between conventional and organic wine regarding their shelf like as long as they contain some added sulfites. Look in the Details of each Product on the website where I indicate the probable best time to consume each wine.
The type and style of wine, the varietal and vintage are more important factors in deciding when is the best time to drink a wine.
After opening the bottle though, a wine stopper which allows you to pump the air out will extend the consumption for a few days.
Another option is to use a few puffs of Nitrogen, a neutral gas that you can purchase in canisters in any decent wine store.
This will prevent the oxidation by separating the liquid from the oxygen in the air and can theoretically extend the life of the wine… for a long time. Putting the bottle in a cool place is fine, but the fridge will tend to flatten the remaining flavors! I personally keep my bottles in sight and I never throw away any for turning bad (I may do if I don’t like the wine though!)

DrMic
Customer Care
Organic WIne Company

Welcome to The Organic Wine BLOG. There's a lot that goes into the making of wines, and especially those that use Organic grapes. Our family has been in the wine business for more than 200 years. My Sister and I own The Organic Wine Company, nestled into the hills above the San Francisco Bay.

We love wine, it's our passion, and so is bringing it to you for your palette to savor and enjoy every single drop from every bottle we produce.

This blog is being put together so that we may share our experiences with Wine, our vision for what we'd like to do for the planet as a whole, and many other thoughts and verses of our lives as healers that we want you to know about and share with your friends.

We hope that you'll come back here many times to read and give your feedback to us about this novella that we begin today on the Internet. We love to write, so this could be long in nature, but we hope and trust that you will enjoy what you read.

We invite you to go to our website located at: http://www.theorganicwinecompany.com/ and view our selection of wines. We have many to choose from and the prices are quite attractive for any budget. Also, if there's a special event that you need a wine recommendation for, please send us an email at cs@theorganicwinecompany.com and we'll be happy to recommend a bottle from our cellar.

Best wishes,

Michel Ginoulhac & Veronique Raskin
The Organic Wine Company