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Organic wine sounds straightforward until you try to buy a bottle. A wine made from certified-organic grapes may not qualify for the USDA ‘organic’ category. In the U.S., the regulated ‘made with organic grapes’ label is a separate certified category with different requirements.

That distinction matters because the words on the label tell you different things about how the grapes were grown, what happened in the winery and whether sulfites were added. If you want to choose wine based on farming practices, environmental impact or what goes into the bottle, here’s what those terms really mean and how they might matter to you.

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What is organic wine?

The simplest way to understand organic wine is to start with the grapes. A wine made with organically grown grapes is not necessarily a USDA-certified organic wine. In the United States, the USDA organic designation also applies to how the wine is produced.

That distinction is important because a wine can be made from organic grapes and still contain added sulfites, while a wine labeled USDA Organic cannot have added sulfites. So when you see the word “organic” on a bottle, it is worth knowing exactly what that label means.

Does organic wine have sulfites?

USDA-certified organic wine cannot contain added sulfites. That is one of the important differences between certified organic wine and wine made with organically grown grapes.

Sulfites, including sulfur dioxide (SO₂), are widely used in winemaking because they help protect wine from oxidation and unwanted microbial growth. They can be added at different points during winemaking, including fermentation, storage and bottling.

That means choosing a wine made with organic grapes does not necessarily mean choosing a sulfite-free wine. If avoiding added sulfites matters to you, look for a USDA Organic seal or a certified-organic claim, and confirm that the label says the wine contains only naturally occurring sulfites where applicable.

Organic Wine vs. Wine Made With Organic Grapes

If a wine is labeled “made with organically grown grapes,” the grapes were grown according to organic farming standards, but the finished wine does not meet all of the requirements for USDA organic certification.

I have never considered the USDA organic seal the only measure of a good wine choice. I am much more interested in understanding how the grapes were grown, how the wine was made and what the producer is doing to protect the land.

That means a wine made with organic grapes can be a very different choice from a USDA-certified organic wine. It can contain added sulfites, for example, while USDA-certified organic wine cannot.

You may also see wines described as natural wine. Natural wine is not a USDA certification, and the term doesn’t have one universal legal definition. Many natural wines are made with organically or biodynamically grown grapes, but those terms are not interchangeable.

For someone who cares about both what’s in the glass and how it got there, the label is only the beginning. That’s where organic, sustainable and biodynamic wines become worth understanding.

Is organic wine healthier?

Choosing organic wine may reduce your exposure to certain pesticide residues, but that doesn’t mean organic wine has been proven to provide greater health benefits. And organic certification doesn’t turn wine into a health food.

There is also the environmental side of the equation. If choosing organic wine makes you feel better about supporting farming practices that are easier on the planet, that can be a meaningful reason to choose it. Just don’t confuse that benefit with a proven nutritional or sexual-health benefit.

Is it vegan?

Organic wine is not necessarily vegan. The wine may have been made with egg white fining or other animal byproducts.

If you want to buy a wine that is both organic and vegan, be sure to check that the label indicates both. The term vegan is not regulated by the USDA, but there are several indicators that will help you know if a wine is vegan. The winery may add this information to the label. But if they don’t, you can look for terms like unfined. If you are a strict vegan, the best way to ensure your wine is 100% vegan is to check the Barnivore website, which keeps an extensive database of vegan wines.

Organic vs sustainable wine

If you’re choosing wine because you want to make a better choice for the planet, organic isn’t your only option. Sustainable winegrowing takes a broader approach to the environmental impact of producing wine.

A sustainable winery may use organic farming practices, but sustainability can also involve reducing water use, conserving energy, cutting greenhouse gas emissions, protecting biodiversity and reducing waste. A sustainable wine may contain added sulfites and may not qualify for organic certification.

What is sustainability in the wine industry?

Sustainability in wine is less straightforward than organic certification because it encompasses many different practices. Depending on the winery and its certification, those practices can include reducing water use, limiting pesticides, using renewable energy, protecting soil and wildlife, increasing biodiversity, reducing packaging and cutting greenhouse gas emissions.

There are also numerous sustainability certifications around the world, each with its own standards. That can make the labels difficult to interpret.

A wine made with organically grown grapes can be a good choice, but so can a wine from a producer that has invested in broader sustainable farming and production practices.

How are biodynamic wines different from organic wines?

If you’ve seen “biodynamic” on a wine label, you may wonder how it differs from wine made with organically grown grapes. Biodynamic farming goes beyond organic farming by treating the vineyard as an interconnected agricultural system, with an emphasis on soil health, biodiversity and the long-term health of the farm.

Biodynamic vineyards do not use synthetic pesticides or fertilizers, but the approach involves much more than what a farmer leaves out. Biodynamic farming also uses specific preparations and practices intended to build healthy soil and encourage biodiversity.

Biodynamic certification is separate from USDA certification. In the U.S., Demeter requires organic compliance as a baseline, but a wine may use biodynamic certification rather than carry the USDA Organic seal because the finished wine and its labeling must independently meet USDA organic rules. But if you’re interested in wines produced with a strong emphasis on farming practices and the health of the vineyard, biodynamic wines are worth exploring.

How to find sustainable and biodynamic wines

Once you know what organic, sustainable and biodynamic mean, finding these wines gets easier. Look for certification on the bottle or check the winery’s website for information about its farming and production practices.

In the United States, several established programs certify sustainable winegrowing. Certified California Sustainable Winegrowing, LODI RULES, SIP Certified and Napa Green are among the programs you may encounter on California wines. Their standards address different aspects of vineyard and winery practices, including soil health, water use, energy, pest management, biodiversity and climate impact.

For biodynamic wines, look for Demeter certification. Biodynamic certification has its own standards for farming and wine production and goes beyond simply avoiding synthetic pesticides and fertilizers.

Certification programs also vary from country to country. These organizations can help you learn more about the standards used in different wine regions:

Fair‘n Green Europe
Sustainable Winegrowing of France
Organic Wine Growers New Zealand
Sustainable Winegrowing Australia
Demeter USA

This article was written in 2021 and most recently updated in September 2026.

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Amy Reiley

Eat Something Sexy's Creator & Editor-in-Chief Amy Reiley is the award-winning author of five aphrodisiac cookbooks. She has her Master of Arts in Gastronomy, awarded by Le Cordon Bleu and The University of Adelaide. She is also a Certified Nutrition Coach awarded by the International Sports Sciences Association and she is a California Certified Massage Therapist.

Amy is considered a leading authority on aphrodisiacs. Her work in aphrodisiacs is quoted in publications including National Geographic, The New York Times, Epicurious, Wine Enthusiast, Health and Playboy magazines. She speaks internationally on aphrodisiac foods and has brought her knowledge of aphrodisiac history and science to national television shows including The Today Show and CBS Early Show. She is a frequent guest on relationship and lifestyle radio and podcast shows and has been interviewed by BBC and NPR radio, Cosmopolitan radio and popular podcasts including My Dad Wrote a Porno.

Amy is also a freelance food, wine and health researcher and writer as well as a wine competition judge. Her work has appeared in publications ranging from Variety to The Daily Meal. She is an MSN content provider. And she is also a former wine editor for Gayot.com and wine & spirits editor of Las Vegas magazine.

Fun fact: Amy was the creator of the first ever comprehensive food and wine apps, Amy Reiley's Pocket Gourmet and Amy Reiley's Pocket Vineyard for Palm.

What Is Organic Wine? Does It Really Make a Difference?