Vines cover 3% of the France’s useable arable land, 16% of the pesticides used in agriculture are used on vines, due to the delicate nature of these plants and/or the habits of growers, of whom many believe they cannot do without certain phytosanitary treatments which are sometimes highly damaging to the environment. 2% of vineyards in France (about 3% in Europe as a whole), have chosen to prove the exception to this rule and not to use pesticides, artificial fertilizers or other chemical aids. Several Organic brands exist; the best known and most widely bought in France is the label “AB Certifié Agriculture Biologique”.

For more information on the label “AB Certifié Agriculture Biologique go to the site for the le site de l'Association Interprofessionnelle des Vins Biologiques du Languedoc-Roussillon (AIVB-LR) (The Interprofessional Assiciation of Organic Wines of Languedoc-Roussillon). AIVB-LR are the organisers of the Millésime Bio Wine Fair, which will take place at Perpignan on the 28, 29 and 30 January 2008.

· The European Label

In March 2000 the European Commission created a logo bearing the words “Organic Farming – EC Control System” applying the rule of 1991, which has since been modified by the rule of 20 June 2007, which should come into force on 1 January 2009. The logo is to be used on a voluntary basis by producers whose systems and products have been found on inspection to satisfy EU regulations.

Until the 1 January 2009, people who buy products without the EC logo can be certain that it contains no GMO’s and that at least 95% of the ingredients have been organically produced. From 1 January 2009, the European logo will be obligatory; the national AB label will no longer be more demanding than the European rules. A tolerance of contamination by GMO is also tolerated up to 0.9%.

· National label

The AB label only certifies the grapes; it guarantees that they have been grown without pesticides or chemical fertilizers, with some exceptions subject to strictly controlled limits such as the use of copper sulphate to prevent mildew, limited to 6kg per hectare per year over five years (see Feature 2007: Organic viticulture and mildew).

· In France : three associated logos of increasingly high requirements

The logo ‘Nature et Progrès’: this certifies that AB grapes have been used, but also that the vinification process is certified as organic. It is used by some 50 wine makers who therefore do no use sugar (in other words, they don’t chaptalise), colouring, animal gelatine, non-organic grape derived sugar, plastic corks or added yeast.

The Demeter logo: also means a ‘biodynamic’ method has been used, slightly different to that of Biodyin. 90 winemakers bear the Demeter logo.

Note: Many Anglo-Saxon countries have Organic brands which make a competitive advanteg out of being more demanding than national label. A route taken by too few Drench brands.

The European AB logo is not acknowledged by the American law. Exporting wines to the US implies applying for the certification of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and following the National Organic Program (NOP), which is a much heavier procedure than the one European producers face to get the AB certification. Requirements of the NOP cover cultivation, like AB requirements do, but extend their control over the whole management of the property.
"The procedure is a lot heavier than it is in Europe, with higher application costs too. The organic wine market is developping in the USA, there is no doubt. However, it is probably a little too soon to predict how this demand will evolve", says Frederic Brochet, Head of the wine and spirits division at Fauchon and organic wines producer in the Loire, "Now, my opinion regarding the consumer, is that organic wine responds to a widespread and long-term concern about food quality and has therefore a bright future before it. My opinion regarding the producer is that going organic is an investment and that producers should absolutely try and maximize this investment by exporting their valuation of their products everywhere they have possible clients. And that's the American market, where the organic logo is without a doubt an asset."