One of the ways wine can become more sustainable is to care for the land and people who farm it and make the juice. In that spirit, organic farming is the story behind our very first month’s selections, with three organically farmed wines made by winemakers who are farmers at heart (including one that we’re bringing to you exclusively!).

I’m fascinated by agriculture and the millions of decisions that go into farming. It’s no small feat to grow a healthy crop such as grapes (or anything else for that matter), and doing it organically takes the right climate, lots of skill, and a healthy dose of luck.

For grapes to be farmed organically, growers cannot use synthetic chemicals to deal with pests, fungus, and weeds, but rather they have to use preventative measures instead. This is better for the land, water, and air because it doesn’t leave behind potentially harmful stuff, and it’s good for workers, too, because they aren’t exposed to potentially harmful stuff either.

Instead, growers have to prevent disease and pests by doing things like encouraging helpful microorganisms in the soil—which leaves it better off for future grape growing, too—training vines to get better air flow so mildew doesn’t form, and planting different plants between the vines. These different plants are called “cover crops,” and they help store carbon, which is better for the planet, too.

Our wines this month are farmed organically and tell the story of three different regions: Austria, Slovenia, and California, and we’re thrilled to bring these to you.

Kolfok

First in your trio, you’ve got a savory and delightful rosé from Austria made from Pinot Noir. Kolfok farms organically and layers in other herbs and plants into the vineyard, which is good for biodiversity and soil health. Organic viticulture is the norm rather than the exception in Austria, which is pretty cool. Here’s an interview featuring winemaker Stefan Wellanschitz talking about his climate-positive practices, too!

Rodica

Next, you’ll try a Slovenian wine, and—as we said to the winemaker when we tried it—it tastes like sunshine! It’s Rodica Istra Sparkling Malvasia Col Fondo 2020, and it’s made from the Malvazija Istriana grape. Malvasia is a tough grape to keep track of—so many varieties go by that name, and this one is named after the Istrian peninsula, which straddles Slovenia, Croatia, and Italy. The vineyards are also “dry farmed,” which means that there’s no water used for irrigation, which reduces the resources needed to produce this lovely wine.

Eureka! Wine Co.

Finally, you’ve got a wine you can’t get anywhere else in northern VA right now! It’s the Eureka! Wine Co. California Light Red 2022, a collab between our wonderful partner, Williams Corner Wine, and the California-based winemakers behind Les Lunes & Populis. The idea behind the collab is to invest in a project that would bring organically farmed wine to more folks, and the wine is scrumptious, too. Plus, the Carignan and Zinfandel vines that make these wines are 70+ year old, which is good for sustainability (not using the resources to rip up vines and replant). Pop this one in the fridge for a few, and you’ll see how lovely reds can be in the early summer.