design for a sustainable future
Category: food
ECOCERT - what is in the wine glass?
Appellation d'Origine Controllée and the French legislation around it can be a complex affair and sometimes political. Over the last years a number of wine producers have decided to work within the less stringent and regulated Vin de Pays and Vin de Table legislation. This enables them to express themselves and the potential of their wines more freely and independently. An organic certification within this framework is ECOCERT.
ECOCERT is the best known private body granting organic or bio-dynamic certificates. The certification does not appear on the bottle though and winemakers are happy to apply for this certification to reassure their customers about the high standards of their winemaking. At the same time they can keep their independence from an official body or a commercial brand such as AB (Agriculture Biologique).
The wines from Domaine Vinci in the Agly Valley (Roussillon) are being produced according to ECOCERT standards. Emmanuelle Vinci and Olivier Varichon purchased 7ha of vines in 2000, spread throughout the heart of the valley. The isolated and protected location of the vines between forests and steep rocky hills allows them to work in 'partnership' with the surrounding countryside.
They do not use chemical fertilizers, weed killers, pesticides or any other synthetic molecule based product. Weeding is done manually and pruning is adapted to each individual vine. The main focus is to help the vines to find their own balance between the grapes they produce and the soil supporting them. The grapes are picked when they reach their utmost gustatory maturity. Harvest takes place in the morning only and with small crates.
There are two red wines: The Rafalot is 100% Carignan from more than 120 year old vines. The cool, shady ground extracts finesse and complexity. The wine is intense with the look of darkest ink. The Inferno is made from 100% Grenache.
According to Simon Woods from Wine & Spirit, the Coyade is a 'floral, honeyed, almost briny blend of Maccabeu, white Grenache and white Carignan. Nutty, intriguing and very tasty.' The separate vinification of the grapes before blending brings wave after wave of different aromas - a multi-faceted and oily wine of great depth, marzipan, white flowers, blanched almonds and crème brulée.
Wines from the Domaine Vinci can be purchased at Aubert and Mascoli - www.aubertandmascoli.com .
If you want to know more about ECOCERT, please visit www.ecocert.com.
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