Many wine producers in France are turning to organic or bio-dynamic farming methods. There are some fabulous wines produced from organic wines and there are some not so fabulous.
Organic wine production can be very profitable especially as there is a trend for some drinkers to prefer only organically produced wines and these drinkers are prepared to pay a premium.
I am not so certain that organically produced wines always taste better: but organic wine production can hold its own in a niche market.
Organic farming holds many dangers fro wine producers. This year, in the Burgundy region of France there has been a severe problem with mildew destroying the crops owing to heavy rainfall and high temperatures providing excellent conditions for the breeding of mildew spores. There is very little that organic farmers can do to prevent mildew other than ensuring that their vines are well ventilated. If the farmer resorts to chemical means to prevent mildew then he loses his organic "licence" for three years. There is a difficult investment decision to make.
The mildew problem in Burgundy comes on top the problems that wine producers in the north of the region were faced with, in May, when thousands of hectares of vines were severely affect by intense hail storms. There is precious little that farmers can do to protect themselves from the vagaries of the weather. Hundreds of wine growers in Burgundy and other regions of France will see their profits diminish.
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