5 fab organic wines for £ 15 or less
Want to discover more great green wines? Check out these top organic drops, all for £ 15 and less...
As the name indicates, Terra Alta ( meaning “highland”) is a mountainous region famous for its beautiful rolling countryside. Picasso painted here for a short stint and the scenery is said to have inspired some of his first cubist paintings. This remote wine region is also a picture of health, especially in the hands of this organic family estate in southern Catalonia. Driven by love and respect for the land, winemaker Pepe Fuster makes Agricola Fuster Dardell Organic Red 2019, Terra Alta, Spain (£ 10.99, or £ 8.99 Mix Six, Majestic), from old vine garnacha and shiraz – for a generous, vivid wine with complex, savoury, spicy layers, framed by some playful smokiness and smooth, rounded tannins.
A Soave with great purity and tingling freshness, Pieropan Soave Classico 2019, DOC, Italy (£ 15.99 or £ 14.39 when you mix 12 or more, Laithwaite’s), is unoaked and made from organic garganega and trebbiano grapes. Elegant with aromas of ripe peach, pear and florals, there’s a super- fresh apple note mid palate, followed by more pear, soft nuances of melon, herbs and a streak of minerality from the volcanic soil vineyards. One to enjoy with seasonal organic ingredients, such as mushroom risotto.
Adnams Provence Rose 2019, France (£ 10.99, Adnams) has exquisite aromas of dried flowers. So much so, you can almost sense the stunning lavender fields and picture the untamed countryside. The winemaker, Emmanuelle Baude, has a reputation for being passionate about her vineyard - and it really shows in this beautiful rose, marked by succulent red fruits, a wonderful purity and charming, silky texture.
Luckily for sparkling wine lovers, the organic fairy tale extends to the world of fizz – and it’s immediately clear this certified organic, vegan- friendly spumante feels like a breath of fresh air with its beautifully balanced bubbles that radiate freshness. A gentle giant of a grillo ( one of sunny Sicily’s local grapes), Purato Grillo Spumante, Italy (£ 11.99, Ocado), is drier than prosecco, with delicate florals on the nose and an appealing herbal note among the light, citrusy fruit. Bellissimo!
A pinot noir with excellent eco credentials – from the Ecocert winery to the label made from recycled paper – this little cracker from Cono Sur really highlights the quality and fruit- driven value of Chilean pinot noir. Cono Sur Pinot Noir 2019, Chile (£ 7.50, Sainsbury’s), shows lovely cherry, raspberry and strawberry aromas, concentrated flavours punctuated with earthy tones, and a touch of spice adding to its complexity. Who would have thought the palest wash of pink – almost transparent – could provide so much pleasure?