National Wine Day is the perfect opportunity to expand your horizons and try out some amazing tipples that you might have overlooked in the past. With the ability to get 25% off when you buy 6 bottles or more with Threshers using the code WINE6 at checkout, you can afford to get experimental.
Here are 10 organic, sustainable wines which are not only appealing from an ethical standpoint, but are also a delicious option to indulge in on the 25th of May.
1. Terra Viva Organic Merlot
Merlot is a mainstay of the wine market and this organic option is especially well rounded thanks to the organic farming practices which are used to produce the Venetian grapes from which it is made.
Expect to experience a blast of bold berry flavours with each sip, with a surprising hint of blueberry sneaking in amongst the other ruby fruits. This Italian wine will work well with dishes sourced from its country of origin, so tuck into a plate of puttanesca pasta to get a truly authentic experience.
2. Clemens Busch Riesling Trocken
Sometimes you want a wine that can help overcome the heat of a warm day in late May, which makes this Riesling well suited to National Wine day. It is light and citrusy in flavour, with a lower ABV than many of its counterparts, which is obviously a good thing if you are planning on having a cheeky glass with your lunch.
This organic wine has the additional benefit of being minimally interfered with during the production process, so all of the dry, crisp notes it delivers are entirely genuine, rather than being wrought by arcane procedures.
3. Domaine Zind-Humbrecht Zind
Going above and beyond to appeal to environmentally conscious wine lovers, this Chardonnay not only gets the organic seal of approval, but is also rated as entirely vegan, meaning no animal products are used to bring it from the field to your fridge.
The perk of picking up a bottle of Domaine Zind-Humbrecht Zind, aside from its impactful flavours, comes from its longevity. You can happily leave the bottle to sit unopened for a year or two and get even more out of it when you finally decide to pop the cork.
4. Inkarri Estate Malbec
Hailing from the fertile vineyards of Argentina, this Malbec is separated and aged in a combination of oak barrels and concrete vats to ensure that no unwanted elements seep in over the eight or so months it takes to reach its optimal state.
Once the two parts are combined again, the result is a rich, memorable flavour that is resplendent with the robustness of blackcurrant and the smoothness of red berries. Those with particularly refined palates may be able to detect a hint of vanilla and even the deep, dank after-echo of the incredible earth from which the original grapes sprung.
5. Granza Tinta de Toro
Spanish reds are always a safe bet, but if you want to see what an organic example of this genre has to offer then this wine should surely snag your attention.
Aged for half a year in oak barrels sourced from France and the US, it is one of the more domineering organic red wines in terms of taste. You will instantly notice the distinctive blackberry flavours it brings to the table, along with the fruits of the late summer and early autumn that are so familiar to Britons.
Sitting at the drier end of the spectrum, the Granza Tinta de Torro is an ideal option for dining extravagantly, standing out in settings where a sweet wine might be inappropriate.
6. La Mulas Organic Cabernet Rosé
If rosé is a favourite of yours, then this organically produced example will tick all the boxes and be a breath of fresh air in comparison with some of the gutsier counterparts we have covered so far.
Made with a variety of eco-friendly farming and production techniques, this wine retains more of its natural flavours because there are no pesticides used to fend off creepy crawlies at the vineyard.
As well as being flavoursome and refreshing, reeking of the ripeness that suggests summer is in full swing, this wine has the added benefit of being one of the more affordable organic bottles you can pick up at the moment.
7. Vinca Mino Mendocino County Carignan Rosé
This is the first Californian organic wine on our list and there are a number of assets which make it stand out from the crowd.
As well as consisting of grapes grown according to organic standards, it is unfiltered and takes advantage of fermented yeast that has not been cultured separately to deliver a finish that is arguably entirely natural.
While the earlier rosé was focused on emphasising red fruits and berries, the Vinca Mino Mendocino County Carignan Rosé is much more tropical in its flavour profile. Prepare yourself for the unmistakable taste of watermelon, cleverly matched with herbal notes that are sure to surprise even the most seasoned wine connoisseur.
8. Badia a Coltibuono Chianti Classico
Coming from a producer that only makes organic wines, this Chianti enjoys a surprisingly extensive heritage of all-natural growing and fermentation which should reassure sceptics that this is the right route to take for the best flavour results.
It has the sweet and acidic one-two combo of just-ripe cherries as well as an encouragingly drinkable texture that will not linger too long on the tongue, nor leave you gasping for a glass of water or another mouthful of your main course. Choose your favourite Sunday roast and crack open a bottle of the Badia a Coltibuono Chianti Classico for the perfect finish to your weekend.
9. Bodega Mayo Garcia Magnanimvs Cava
Evidence that the range of organic wines available is impressively diverse, this cava lets you sup on something with bubbles that is also doing positive things for the planet as a whole.
All of the grapes used to make this wine are picked by hand and counterbalanced by experts to ensure that the flavours are resilient without being overwhelming. If you were unaware of its Spanish origins, you might assume that this was, in fact, a true Champagne in a blind taste test.
In other respects, this is very much a classic cava, with an intense dryness that plenty of people find appealing. Serve it alongside some canapés and you are certain to impress your guests.
10. Quoins Organic Vineyard Orion
The only organic wine in our list that is produced on English soil, it is also suitable for consumption by vegetarians and fits in with any expectations you might have from a classic white, sitting just shy of a Sauvignon Blanc in terms of its acidity.
While it may be a smoother, subtler wine than some of its continental equivalents, it still manages to pack a few interesting tricks up its sleeve. Keep your wits about you and you should pick up citrus fruits, with lime intermingling with lemon as you work your way through each mouthful.
People from the UK may have a built-in disregard for any wine which is produced domestically, but this organic tipple is the ideal indicator of just how much things have changed and improved. If you are going to try any organic wines on National Wine Day, you could do much worse than making this your choice.
