By Rick Riozza
In our last column, titled Stop Pestering Our Wines, we pretty much bummed-out many of our readers who were—again, reluctantly, informed that so many of our vineyards are bombarded with pesticides. And by now, most of us realize that these insect poisons no doubt chemically seep and/or enter into our wines one way or another.
To be fair, there was some blow-back from the huge pesticide companies who claim that the threat from their products only minimally affects the final wine product as compared to the risk of a bad crop due to insect infestation. So where do you sit in that setting. And we feel for the folks who have to sell us on that idea; this in view of myriad reports of long-time wine enthusiasts suffering increased rashes, added allergies, unfounded headaches, and chunks of hair falling off in the shower. No one is happy about that situation!
But like in a very good novel or story, there is some really good and fortunate relief in view of bad situations and surroundings: Wines that are legally deemed organic and meet bio-dynamic farming standards provide the best product from the vineyard and from the winery. It’s nature’s best juice from our wine professionals who have the integrity to provide the best they can.
A favorite online wine company I heartily recommend is the The Organic Cellar, whose opening mantra is “Fine Organic & BioDynamic Wines of the World.” A really nice guy, Brian Cuddy is the owner, whom I’ve met at various wine trade shows, but missed meeting up with in Verona, Italy a couple of years ago, when I misplaced his contact info!
This Vino Voice column loves Brian as he has continually provided us samples from his organic wine portfolio, and we in turn for the past six years have showcased, reviewed, and recommended these same wines to you readers.
The Organic Cellar was founded in 2009 where Brian immediately began curating a portfolio of the best organic, vegan, and biodynamic wines he could find, beginning with the network of farmers, growers, and winemakers he had befriended throughout Italy.
His story tells us: During extensive business travel throughout Italy, Brian realized the depth of his love for wine. In a country where food and drink are so deeply ingrained in the culture, he couldn’t help but develop a deeper appreciation for the fine wines he found himself enjoying with his meals.
He soon realized that many of the wines he was drinking abroad didn’t seem to have the same negative effects as the wines he was drinking at home- for starters, they didn’t give him awful wine headaches or hangovers the next morning.
His curiosity led him deeper down the rabbit hole, and he found that often, smaller vineyards still followed very traditional Old World winemaking practices. He began visiting the vineyards and winemakers who were making the wines he loved so much and learned that what set these wines apart was the organic and biodynamic farming practices. The farmers he met were committed to producing incredible wines without the use of modern preservatives, pesticides, and other unnatural additives and chemicals.
It wasn’t long before Brian realized he had finally found his true calling.
The Organic Cellar now proudly imports and distributes quality, highly-scored organic, natural, vegan, and biodynamic wines to many popular restaurants and wine retailers in Southern California and beyond.
Please go online and check-out his portfolio at www.theorganiccellar.com, or, if you’re by the phone, feel free to give a call and check in with your questions, requests and delights: (949) 306-5474.
And now: three of our favorite organic wines to recommend from the Organic Cellar:
A few weeks ago, we had fun saying sayonara to Sancerre as we touted the deliciousness of a Muscadet Serve & Maine. So check out the Domaine Salmon Muscadet & Maine Sur Lie Reserve ($33), for one of the most pure and clean wines in the world.
Organic Cellar Tasting Notes include: Bright, light golden color. Fresh, fruity, clean aromas and flavors of lemon zest, dried leaves, cumin and toasted yeast.
A lively, dry, yet medium-full body and a smooth texture. Complex lengthy finish with mineral toasty aromas and flavors of ripe Key limes, Meyer lemon, and salinity. Delicacy, finesse and elegance complete the palate.
Pairs beautifully with cheese, mixed salads, grilled fish, especially with sauces, sea foods, and white meats.
For you Cabernet Sauvignon fans, look to a delicious $29 Spanish Cab that shows at everything you adore in the king of red wines: 2017 Dominio de Punctum Amor Amor.
The Cab’s tasting notes here include: Deep ruby red colored with aromas of blueberry and cassis. On the palate it is well balanced with soft tannins leading to a long, persistent rich finish. A perfect match for all kinds of roasted vegetables, meats and appetizers.
And finally, not only do Italian wine enthusiasts adore a Barbera d’Alba but the wine world does: 2018 Camparo Superiore ($42). Here, the harvesting was delayed as long as possible for optimum ripeness, which thereafter was handpicked in small baskets. The wine is made using softness techniques to extract the pleasant and fruity aromas.
Ruby red with violet highlights with a deep, persuasive nose. Good balance of ripe fruits, blackberry and cherry, promising further development in the bottle. Pair with Cornish game hen with porcini risotto or veal or pork chops in a rich sauce.
For the love of Organic Wine! Cheers!
