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We wouldn’t blame you for thinking organic vino came with a hefty price tag, but we’ve tracked down the best-tasting sustainable bottles (sans pesticides), clocking in at under a tenner. You’re welcome!
Why do people drink organic wine?
For many of us the pandemic changed the way we shop, and we’re now increasingly aware of the issues around sustainability and how our food choices can be linked with the health of the planet. Hello, veganism!
But thankfully something so simple as switching to organic wine can make a big difference. By eradicating the use of chemicals in your bottle, you’re protecting soil health, which in turn supports more wildlife.
It’s not just some throw away term like “superfood” either, if a bottle is certified as organic, you know it has fulfilled strict conditions on how it was produced and handled at every step of the way.
Aside from that, arguably organic wine tastes better, as it’s unmasked by a bunch of crazy chemicals. So if you don’t have a lot to spend, chances are a £5.50 bottle of organic vino is going to go down a helluva lot better than its non-organic equivalent.
Whether that means you’ll be saved from a wine-induced hangover is another matter entirely...
How we test organic wine
On the hunt for the best-tasting organic vino, we gave our testing panel 25 chemical-free white and red wines to try. We got their full feedback, so you know which ones are worth adding to your basket RN.
Thought reds were just for the winter months? Think again. This organic beaut comes from sunny Sicily, and we can basically taste the sunshine in each sip. The heat dries out these grapes, sweetening them slightly in the process, resulting in a rich raisin and strawberry flavour that’s vegan-friendly too.
When bought as part of Majestic’s mixed six, you can snap this Italian bottle up for under a tenner. It’s not as well known a grape as say, pinot grigio, but don’t let that put you off. You’ll get way more complexity here, with a slightly savoury, herby note that our panel thought tasted much pricier than it is.
Emiliana O Organic Chardonnay
This Chilean chardonnay gives you real organic bang for your buck. It’s an unoaked style, with tropical fruit salad sweet notes and a full mouthfeel. Our testers were impressed with the acidity and creamy finish — give it a go with creamy pasta.
If you’re ready to commit to a case, we’d put our money on this racy fiano — a white grape from Puglia. A total treat with all kinds of Mediterranean food — whether that’s lemony baked fish or a big ol’ bowl of pasta — expect peach, grapefruit, citrus and honeysuckle. Let’s face it, this is looking far more accessible than a holiday right now.
There’s a reason pinot grigio is so damn popular — it’s generally pretty cheap and is always super refreshing, whatever's on the menu. At this price, it’s never going to be the most complex bottle on the rack, but if you’re looking for lemony acidity, apple and pears with the slightest spritz, this one’s a crowd-pleaser.
With vegan, sulphur-free and biodynamic options to try, Aldi is our go-to brand for great-tasting (and cheap!) wine. This is a classic, crisp, easy-drinking pinot grigio, and at this price it’s the perfect mid-week treat — just add pizza.
Shying away from nasty chemicals, Veramonte is another sustainable winery in Chile, producing cheap as chips chardonnay to stock up on. It’s lightly oaked, and pretty powerful with notes of lemon and pear drops.
This budget-friendly malbec is packed with vibrant black fruit flavours and a velvety-smooth finish. The spice and vanilla notes will go a treat with roast meats, steak and cheese.
Stacey looks after all food and drink reviews — from coffee pods and veg boxes, to natural wine and tequila. Stacey is also founder of Crummbs, where she’s written nearly 2,000 restaurant and hotel reviews since 2013. Prior to this, Stacey wrote hundreds of in-depth buying guides for the Independent, i newspaper and BBC Good Food, as well as reviewing restaurants and interviewing celebrities in her column at Balance Magazine. Stacey has also appeared in BAFTA-nominated BBC documentary Blood, Sweat & Takeaways, where she investigated South East Asia's food production industry, appearing on both Newsnight and BBC World Service to share her findings. Regularly checking out the latest restaurants, bars and product launches, Stacey also loves experimenting with recipes at home, and is a WSET-certified wine and spirits expert, with over 10 years of experience in the business. You can follow Stacey on Instagram @crummbs_uk
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