Los Andes newspaper, well known in Mendoza, published an article about organic wines in which Renacer was named with its new line Punto Final Orgánico together with other wineries such as Trivento and Argento.
Every day more and more wineries are adding this type of product to their portfolios. A category that is growing between the commitment to sustainability and the bet for a quality that supports them.
The consumption of organic wines has long ceased to be a fad. This is reflected in Argentina in the growing number of wineries that have decided to bet on new launches in the segment, all with growth projections in volume and variety for the coming years.
For example, in the last quarter alone, we found new products from Trivento, Renacer, Grupo Avinea and among the sparkling wines, Cruzat. Beyond that, they are still fighting against the prejudice generated by old beliefs that are automatically defeated by the backing of quality.
The first of many
The most recent premiere in the organic wine market is Trivento Malbec Organic Wine. "For more than seven years we have been working very hard on the issue of sustainability and in 2021 we certified as a "B" company. Then we decided to crown all this work with our first certified organic wine," said Maximiliano Ortiz, winemaker at Trivento.
The Chilean-owned winery, which in 2021 consolidated its position as one of the most important exporters, decided to enter the market with a wine made with grapes from the Uco Valley which, for the moment, are purchased from another estate, but which in 2023 will be made from its own 5.7-hectare vineyard that will achieve organic certification. This first vintage has been 30,000 litres and all of it has already been shipped to different markets. Another of the reasons that led the Maipúzcoa winery to start making organic wines was the increase in demand for this type of product: "We noticed, especially since the pandemic, that there is a very strong segment of consumers of organic products and we wanted to be part of it. We did the corresponding market research and we believe that this is not a fad, but that it will continue to grow", the winemaker explained.
The next steps for Trivento are to incorporate new markets for this product and if it works in the future, to expand the line, but this is already in the long term. "Our objective is to attract new consumers, to make them aware of our organic wine, and from there to be able to grow in volume," Ortíz said.
Breaking down prejudices
Another winery that has made its debut in the world of organic wines in recent months is Bodega Renacer, which despite having been involved in sustainable practices for some time now, has only recently launched an organic version of its well-known Punto Final line. There are four wines: Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec Rosé in the varietal range; and Cabernet Franc in the reserve line. All made from certified organic grapes from the Renacer estate in Perdriel.
"Our philosophy is to make wines of origin, we do not take a model or seek to resemble other producers. This concept is reflected much more in the organic line. Our estate goes straight to the bottle," said Fernando Sota, winemaker at Bodega Renacer.
As for the style, to differentiate it from the traditional Punto Final, the winery chose an earlier harvesting point to highlight the fresh fruit. "It's a wine that's a bit more crisp and gives us a sense of green, which is related to organic," he described.
Why is there still a prejudice towards organic wines? For Fernando Sota this is due to facts from the past that are still present in some consumers. "A long time ago, the organic brand was destroyed by little and was associated with poor quality products," the oenologist pointed out. He also acknowledged that price also plays an important role, as the added value of organic production makes the final price more expensive, although there is no influence on quality.
Commitment to leadership
If we are talking about organic wines, the most important producer in the country cannot be left out. We are talking about Grupo Avinea, made up of Argento, Otronia, Cruz de Piedra, Pacheco Pereda and Cuesta de Madero, renewed its offer in the Argentinean market with two recent launches corresponding to the first two wineries.
From the end of 2021 it presented Argento Estate Bottled organic Malbec and Pinot Grigio; Argento Estate Reserve organic Malbec and Cabernet Franc; Argento Estate Collection organic Malbec and Malbec/Cab Franc; and Otronia 45 Rugientes, a unique Merlot from the southern tip of Patagonia.
Juan Pablo Murgia, Avinea Group's Winemaking Manager, "it is an honour and a responsibility to be the spearhead of organic wines from Argentina and ambassadors of organic wine in international markets". In this sense, he added: "Managing our vineyards in balance with the agro-ecological system is very important from the point of view of conservation, environmental care and sustainability of our vineyards".
With more than 10 years of experience in the segment, Avinea has noticed the growth in demand for this type of product, which is why they are constantly renewing their offer. "In Argento we are going to present two great premium wines from the Monasterio vineyard in Gualtallary. A Single Vineyard Malbec and a Single Block Malbec. Two wines of great personality, faithful expressions of this great Argentine terroir. In Otronia, we will present the 45 Rugientes Rosé de Pinot Noir. A Rosé that shows the essence of the Otronia vineyard", he added.
Sparkling wines also play
Since it was born more than 15 years ago, Cruzat has been committed to the environment and sustainability in all its forms. Thus, the winery dedicated to sparkling wines launched its first organic wine on the market, a 100% Chardonnay Nature made under the traditional or Champenoise method with grapes from the Blanco family's certified organic vineyards, located in the Luján de Cuyo region, which underwent a second fermentation in the bottle for six months.
"As in the rest of the world, the search for organic products is a trend that, fortunately, is gaining momentum in Argentina. There is a growing awareness of what we eat and drink, as well as a respect for the environment. For us, organic certification is a tool that allows us to offer transparency and show our permanent commitment to the terroir. It is telling the consumer that our product has passed an important production protocol and controls that confirm that our sparkling wine is 100% organic. Each production process is certified and complies with international requirements to carry the seal on its label," said Andrés Heiremans, general manager of Bodega Cruzat.
The growth in the segment is reflected in the numbers. In the first vintage of Cruzat Orgánico, only 5,000 bottles were produced and sold out in less than two months, so by 2022 the idea is to reach 15,000 bottles of organic wines.
"This shows that, far from there being negative feelings towards an organic product, there are more and more consumers who understand the importance of this type of production. Many consumers now understand that every organic product has a positive impact on the soil, on water, on biodiversity, and also on what we eat. We believe that it is everyone's responsibility to leave our children a better world and to teach them the commitment to care for the environment and healthy eating," Heiremans concluded.
News Source: Los Andes Newspaper - Guarda 14.
Journalist: Sol Devia
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