What Is in the Soil for Organic Wine?

Fertilizer

• Certified organic wines can not be grown in vineyards where chemical pesticides, fungicides or fertilizers are used. Organic wine producers fertilize by adding material such as composted animal manure, soy meal or fish meal to soil.

Weed Control

• Organic farmers can fight weeds by mowing or tilling them down. Allowing chopped-up weeds to rot back into the ground provides soil with natural fertilizer. Other weed-control methods include covering the ground with mulches or even allowing geese, sheep and goats to graze.

Pest Management

• To rid vineyards of pests, owners can use cover crops that draw beneficial bugs that kill off pests harmful to vineyards, such as leafhopper and mites. Clover and California poppy are two common cover crops. Cover crops can also protect soil from erosion, prevent weed formation and improve soil structure and fertility.

Fighting Disease

• To fight powdery mildew, which is common in organic vineyards, owners can use micronized sulfur. To prevent mildew infections, a common non-chemical method is to remove leaves around grape clusters which causes the fruit's cuticle to thicken, making it more resistant to mildew infections.