You hear a lot about Organic Wines, but which ones are really organic and can you taste the difference? You can with Domaine Bousquet
What, firstly, is an organic wine? Well, it’s wine that’s been certified to organic standards by law. To achieve this it has to meet strict requirements around pesticide use, land management, preservation and storage
Most important is the pesticides used, as these actually have contact with the grapes and so ultimately may end up inside us. We also know that pesticides can kill more than just pests and can actually impact negatively on vital pollinators such as bees
An organic vineyard is also a bio-diverse environment. Often growers will plant certain kinds of flowers or shrubs between vines, ones that encourage pest-predators to come in and dine. This reduces the need for pesticides. The predators themselves become food for larger creatures, so a natural cycle is established.
Proper organic soil management makes the ground good for growing vines without fertiliser, and thoughtfully planting hedges and trees helps the ground stay in place and not blow away as dust, which is what happens to ground that’s reliant solely on chemical fertilisers.
And even the bottling is monitored, to control the quantity of sulphur dioxide used. Some people are allergic or intolerant and get headaches and other symptoms. Your hangover may not be entirely related to how much you drank last night.
Research also shows that organic red wines have higher levels of antioxidant rich bioflavonoids.
The Bousquet family originally arrived from Carcassonne, in the South of Francem in 1997 but have four generations of experience in the winemaking tradition. Today Domaine Bousquet is Argentina’s No. 1 regenerative organic certified winery located in The Uco Valley at 4,000ft in the foothills of The Andes. 65% of organic Argentine wine exports are from Domaine Bousquet.
It’s a perfect area for organic winemaking as thermal amplitude makes sure the grapes fully ripen, whilst keeping their natural acidity, the sandy soils are good for both drainage and optimal vine-stress, and the roots of the organic vines can penetrate more deeply which means better absorption of trace minerals. Even the water is carefully controlled a drip irrigation system.
This combination of high altitude and organic winemaking results in wines which are particularly expressive, with exuberant fruit characteristics, balance and complexity and a tangible sense of terroir.
And it isn’t just what’s in their bottles, but the bottles themselves. 80% of them are low weight (less than 410g), so not only is less glass used, but more bottles can be transported without raising costs or using more fuel. One wine is even bottled in the UK
On site, 97% of their waste is recycled, so even better for the environment.
Our tasting revealed wines that had winning complexities, the Malbec is unoaked, which made a pleasant change, and the colour is midnight dark which reflects the blackberry nose and notes of plum. Tannins are soft and unctuous. An excellent wine.
We also tried the Chardonnay, which presented with a soft yellow colour and had what one expected on the nose, namely tropical fruits with citrus. A fresh acidity went well with our oriental styled meal of stir fried prawns and we had enough left to wash down our cheese.
You can find Domaine Bousquet wines at Vintage Roots
Domaine Bousquet Organic Chardonnay 2022, Uco Valley
100% Chardonnay, unoaked and fermented in stainless steel on the lees.
Vintage Roots: £12.95
Domaine Bousquet Chardonnay | Vintage Roots
Domaine Bousquet Organic Rosé 2023, Uco Valley
A blend of Pinot Noir (50%), Syrah (30%), Pinot Gris (10%) & Viognier (10%), unoaked and fermented in stainless steel on the lees.
Vintage Roots: £12.95
Domaine Bousquet Rosé | Vintage Roots
Domaine Bousquet Organic Malbec 2021, Uco Valley (bottled in the UK to reduce carbon footprint)
100% Malbec, unoaked and fermented in stainless steel on the lees.
Vintage Roots: £12.50
Domaine Bousquet Malbec | Organic Malbec | Vintage Roots
Domaine Bousquet Organic Cabernet Sauvignon 2022, Uco Valley
100% Cabernet Sauvignon, unoaked and fermented in stainless steel on the lees.
Vintage Roots: £12.99
Domaine Bousquet Cabernet Sauvignon | Organic Cabernet Sauvignon | Vintage Roots
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