In this article
What is an organic wine?
In the European Union, “organic wine” is a regulated category, not a free description. A wine can only be called organic if it has been made from organic grapes under Regulation (EU) 2018/848, the winemaking respects specific restrictions (only the products, substances and practices allowed by Annex II, part VI, and Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/1165 may be used) and the wine is certified by a control body.
This means the certification does not look only at the vineyard: it also limits what happens in the winery. Sorbic acid and desulphurisation are prohibited, and sulphite limits are lower than for conventional wine.
But organic does not mean “sulphite-free”, and it is not a synonym for natural wine: an organic wine can contain added sulphites, within lower limits, and can use the winery practices the regulation allows.
Sulphite limits: organic and conventional
| Type of wine | Organic | Conventional |
|---|---|---|
| Dry red (residual sugar < 2 g/l) | 100 mg/l | 150 mg/l |
| Dry white or rosé (residual sugar < 2 g/l) | 150 mg/l | 200 mg/l |
| Residual sugar > 2 g/l | 30 mg/l less than the conventional equivalent | Depends on category and residual sugar |
All wines with more than 10 mg/l of sulphites must state “contains sulphites” on the label.
How to tell if a wine is organic
Look on the label for the European organic logo and the control body’s code. Without certification it cannot be called “organic”. Since March 2025, a dealcoholised wine can be organic, provided it is fully dealcoholised (up to 0.5 % vol.) and made with the methods allowed by Delegated Regulation (EU) 2025/405.
At Terroir Radical you will find wines with organic certification and wines from organic or biodynamic farming that are not certified. The difference is legal: only the former can be called “organic” on the label.
“Not all organic wines are natural, and not all natural wines are certified. What matters is the producer’s honesty.”
Biodynamic wine: ecology as a living philosophy
Biodynamics goes a step beyond organic: it treats the estate as a living, self-sufficient organism, follows the lunar calendar for vineyard tasks and applies natural preparations to strengthen the soil and the plant. There is no European biodynamic certification of its own: it is certified by private bodies, such as Demeter or Biodyvin, and that is not equivalent to an EU legal standard. Biodynamic does not mean certified organic either: they are two different things. That said, Demeter and Biodyvin certifications require organic certification first.
Natural wine: a winemaking approach, not a legal category
The EU has no common legal definition of “natural wine” and no harmonised certification system, so practices vary between producers and countries. It is usually associated with organic or biodynamic grapes, hand harvesting, spontaneous fermentation with native yeasts, little or no added sulphites and no filtering or correcting. That is why transparency is what matters: what is added, what is not, and how much SO₂ it contains.
Sulphites also form naturally during fermentation, which is why the correct expression is “no added sulphites”. We explain it in our guide to wine with no added sulphites and in TR’s selection criteria.
Frequently asked questions
What is an organic wine? A wine made from organic grapes, with winemaking that complies with Regulation (EU) 2018/848 and its implementing rules, and certified by a control body. Only then can it be called “organic” on the label.
Does an organic wine contain sulphites? It can, but within lower limits than conventional: 100 mg/l in dry reds and 150 mg/l in dry whites and rosés (50 mg/l less than conventional). With more than 10 mg/l, the label must say “contains sulphites”.
How does natural wine differ from organic and biodynamic? Organic wine is a category regulated and certified under EU rules. Biodynamic is a farming philosophy certified by private bodies (Demeter, Biodyvin). Natural wine has no European legal definition: it is a winemaking approach that must be explained transparently regarding sulphites, filtration and additives.
How do I know if a wine is organic? Check the label: it must carry the European organic logo and the control body’s code. If they do not appear, the wine cannot be sold as organic.
In short
- Organic — Regulated and certified by the EU. Organic grapes and winemaking with limits (lower sulphites than conventional).
- Biodynamic — A farming philosophy. Private certification (Demeter, Biodyvin); not an EU standard.
- Natural — A winemaking approach with no legal definition. Transparency on sulphites, filtration and additives.
See what is in the catalogue
In the catalogue we state, for each wine, what the producer confirms about how it is made.
Keep reading
- Natural wine: what it is and where to buy it
- Wine with no added sulphites: myths, limits and labels
- How to read a natural wine label
Sources: Regulation (EU) 2018/848 (Annex II, part VI) · Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/1165 · Delegated Regulation (EU) 2025/405 · Raisin. Last reviewed: 4 November 2026.