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Home > Blogs > Uncorked > Archives > 2005 > November > 25 > Entry
A California Winemaker Responds
In the rush of the holiday, this comment to my earlier “Uncorked” posting about “organic” wines and what that designation means sort of got lost, so I offer it up here as its own separate posting. It comes from …
… Brian Fitzpatrick of Fitzpatrick Winery and Lodge. Now, let’s get back to digesting that Thanksgiving meal and the post-Thanksgiving meal and the next-day Thanksgiving meal and … well, you get the idea.
I am the owner/farmer/winemaker of Fitzpatrick Winery & Lodge in California and for 26 years have been farming and making wine from organically grown grapes. My number one goal is quality; and I believe the way to world class wines starts with organically grown grapes. Imagine if the wine tastes great and is free of toxic herbicides, fungicides, pesticides, etc. Your health and that of the environment are the beneficiaries of our efforts. And why not? The only thing holding back farming wine grapes organically is attitudes. Drop your excuses and get with it; there is no downside to building a living healthy environment. Making great wines starts with growing great grapes. The winemaker’s hand oversees the process but can’t make up for mediocre grapes. So when you’re looking for stunning world class wines, the growing region, the vineyard and winemaker all offer leads to discovering that trophy wine. Through my 26 years professionally making wines I know that my judicious use of sulfites helps me deliver consistent quality wines. But that’s not to say that you will never find a fantastic organic wine (made without sulfites) but you may have some disappointments along the way. Not all wines are great, no matter how and where they’re grown or how there made. Winemaking is like the Iron Chef and Nature delivers it’s fruit a little different every year. But the benefits to your health and our environment are always better with wines made from organically grown grapes. Wine is part of a healthy lifestyle - Slainte! (Irish for ‘Good Health’)
Cheers!
Mark Fisher
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Comments
By Bob
November 29, 2005 11:11 AM | Link to this
Thanks to Brian for his insights. I think he pretty well nailed the issue. Great wines start with great grapes. He seems confident that great grapes can be produced with organic methods. He does also make the point that judicious use of sulfites is almost a necessity for making consistent quality wines. This is even more essential for wines that are intended to be aged for long periods of time. It would be nice if more great wines were available that did avoid the use of herbicides, fungicides and pesticides. I don’t know enough to know how feasible true organic growing methods are in some of the great wine regions of the world that are not blessed with the conditions in California. I tend to by wines intended for aging so I welcome the use of sulfites in opposition to true organic winemaking.