Graham's launches new Port

[Roy Hersh]

Natura is Graham's new organically farmed Ruby Reserve Port. Find out more here:
http://malvedos.wordpress.com/2011/10/3 ... ms-natura/

Several producers have been heading in that direction. TFP was the first to actually go through the requirements in order to label their Port organic(called Terra Bella in the USA). I am looking forward to try the Natura in the future!

What do you think of the concept of organically farmed Port wine?

[Paul Fountain]

I think it is all for the good. With the trend towards organics in so many other foodstuffs as well as table wine, I'd say that the port producers also have to move in this direction. The less chemicals we can use in the production of anything is a positive.
What remains to be seen (and we won't find out with this particular port either) is what, if any impact organic production has on ageworthiness of the port they produce. I'm sure the Symingtons and others all have little experiments going on quietly in the background. I'd also expect that there are more than a few vineyards that are folloowing organic practices without claiming to be organic while they test the waters

[Markus L.]

Once again I'm confused. Graham's organic Natura has been for sale here for at least a year (although it was recently removed). How can that be, if the launch of it is announced now?

[Michael Hann]

What do you think of the concept of organically farmed Port wine?

If the QPR of organically produced Port is equal to that of non-organically grown Port wine, I will happily buy and drink it. I'm not inclined to pay a premium price for organically grown Port or to abide by lower quality for the same price.

[Jeff G.]

There was perhaps a more interesting discussion over at another wine forum discussing the merits of organic vs non organic.

Some of the well used pesticides and fungicides have been extensively studied and utilized for > 50 years. There's tons of research and data wrt commercial pesticides.

Organic ones however are more of a recent thing and alot of them involve various plant oils, some of which the long term data is just not available to see what affect it may have on the environment.

Eugenol is one for example found in the new organic pesticides. It is a very potent oil found in things like nutmeg. In high doses, it can cause improper fetus development/abortion in pregnant woman/diarehhea/death.

Neem Oil is another one, it has an abortionary effect and causes potential liver damage.

Nature can be very nasty with some of the compounds it creates naturally, just because it's made from nature doesn't mean it's better for you.

The only "organic" products I buy are the ones where they don't utilize any sort of chemicals at all. Which include basically just various livestocks and milk.

Fruits and vegetables are constantly being sprayed with something that I personally prefer the synthetic chemicals that have been tested/researched and studied for over 50 years then these natural chemicals that have never been put to large quantity usage.

[Derek T.]

Once again I'm confused. Graham's organic Natura has been for sale here for at least a year (although it was recently removed). How can that be, if the launch of it is announced now?

Markus,

I'm guessing here but it is possible that the Symingtons have used Finland (and perhaps elsewhere) as a trial launch of the new product before launching it in larger markets. This will have allowed them to test the concept, blend, price, packaging etc on a small scale before having to commit to large-scale production for the UK and US markets.

[Moses Botbol]

There needs to be a new category of food and beverage that is “near organic” or something like that. Being organic does not always mean healthier as stated in earlier posts. I, as a consumer would gravitate to products that strive for natural techniques where it makes sense, but does not have to be 100% organic.

[Glenn E.]

There needs to be a new category of food and beverage that is “near organic” or something like that. Being organic does not always mean healthier as stated in earlier posts. I, as a consumer would gravitate to products that strive for natural techniques where it makes sense, but does not have to be 100% organic.

Look for "bio-dynamic" if you can find it. That's what organic started out as before the big food chains latched onto the label and changed it.

As I understand it, bio-dynamic foods are only grown in their natural season without any pesticides/fertilizers/etc at all. Sometimes the crop is wiped out by bugs... sometimes it isn't. But that's the way nature works.

[Eric Ifune]

Bio-Dynamic is not merely organic; it also incorporates a lot of mysticisim. Some of it's tenents are rational, but others are absolutely wacko, especially looking at a scientific aspect. Some very prominent wine makers swear by it; but I think one could look at it and rationally weed out the more anti-scientific aspects. What's left is a very rigourous, old fashioned organic regimen that does incorporated some cyclical (think farmer's almanac) lunar and solar influences.

Anyone that proclaims "ORGANIC" as part of marketing is someone I'd be wary of.

[Roy Hersh]

Can we please avoid heading in the direction of Mme. Bize Leroy and her philosophical mumbo jumbo on the merits of biodynamic diversity and the various points of viticultural interplay with certain phases of the moon? Please!