Wineries don’t go organic because they think sulfites affect taste (it doesn’t, for one thing); in fact sulfites are naturally occurring compounds that exist in most wines, “organic” or not. To be certified organic, a vintner may not ADD additional sulfite.

But that’s the least of certification. To be certified organic, a winemaker may not use pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, chemical fertilizers, or synthetic chemicals of any kind on the vines or in the soil. In fact, depending on the governing body, a vineyard may lose certification when its neighbor uses any of those.

There are many reasons why a winery might go the expense of going organic. In our experience in the Finger Lakes, the small vintners who get certified (some remain unlabelled as such) do so because they care about the environment. So yes, the answer is surprisingly simple.

I assume that people who *prominently* label their wine organic are doing so because it is a way to distinguish an inferior or mediocre product in a crowded market and compete effectively for customers who don’t buy on quality alone.

Isn’t the issue at hand here really what differentiates those people who choose to go after eco-certification vs. those who do not? The Eco people are much more likely to be making terroir driven stuff that tends to be lower in alcohol, more food-friendly etcetera, whereas the people with no interest in eco-certification are more likely to believe that it’s what goes on in the winery that determines how a wine tastes. It just so happens that all of the very high priced/high parker points stuff tends to be the latter rather than the former. Isn’t the real causal relationship between wine styles and price not eco certification and price?

The inefficiency to exploit isn’t eco-certification, it’s style – and if you happen to prefer spoof then you are SOL.

Also you can’t age Natural Wines? Really?

than what? than wine made with metabisulfites? with the amounts used in modern winemaking, I don’t believe you would be able to discern any difference* (‘with’ vs without). So, unless you are implying differences about how the wine is made in the vineyard, ie no irrigation, trellising methods, etc this is a cryptic statement, indeed.

* I cannot discern any difference at all