This document provides information on organic and conventional viticulture practices as well as various certification labels. It discusses the key insights on organic viticulture including its growing market share and higher labor requirements. It also outlines the official certification labels like Organic/Ecocert, Demeter, and private labels like Biodyvin and Nature & Progrès. Maximum sulphite levels and requirements for organic certification, natural inputs, and animal product use are compared for each label. Conventional practices and labels without certification for vegan wines and "natural wines" are also overviewed.

1. Guide on today’s labels
& viti-vinicultural practices
October 2019
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Presentation by

2. SUMMARY
 Key insights on the Organic viti-viniculture
 Conventional vine growing & winemaking
 The official labels
• Organic and Ecocert
• Demeter
 Private labels
• Biodyvin
• Nature & Progrès
• Terra Vitis
 Labels without official certification
• Vegan
• Natural wines & “S.A.I.N.S”
 Bioprotection
 In brief
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3. Organic Viticulture –Key Insights
A growing market:
 In 5 years, the volume sold with an AB label has increased by 276% in France
 111,12 millions of organic labelled bottles sold in France in 2017
 On the Export markets, organic wines sales have bumped by 45% since 2014 to reach
416 millions euros in 2017
 More than 10% of the entire French vineyard is certified organically –78 502 hectares
 Often considered as expensive or as a way to get premium, producing organically requires 2
times more human workforce in the vines:
• 3,5 people annually versus 1,8 in conventional viticulture practices
Source: data 2017 from Agence Bio
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4.  Authorised herbicides, pesticides and chemical products are used in the vines and the
cellar to prevent and treat different diseases.
 During the vinification: possibility of using oenological processes and synthetic chemicals
to work the wine
 As there is no label apart from the regulation rules, using synthetic chemicals, respecting
the environment and human health are up to the estate.
 Maximum legal dose of sulphites:
White/rosé : 200 mg/L
Red : 150 mg/L
Sparkling : 185 mg/L
Conventional Vine growing and Winemaking
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5. OFFICIAL LABELS
DEMETER
Global biodynamic certification
International label with presence
accross 60 countries:
 Wines are organically certified
 Synthetic chemicals are prohibited
 Check of the rate of pesticides before
certification
 Products of animal origin : casein and
egg are authorised
 Usage of natural farming inputs to
bolster the soil
 Copper and sulphites limited to a
quantity of 3kg/ha per annum.
 Biodiversity and wellbeing of the
workers are key to Demeter.
 Maximum dose of sulphites :
White/rosé : 90 mg/L
Red : 70 mg/L
Sparkling : 60 mg/L
AB/EUROLEAF
Biological Agriculture
AB : French label
Euroleaf: European label
 Synthetic chemicals are prohibited
 Check of the rate of pesticides before
certification
 Products of animal origin are
authorised
 Use of natural chemicals authorised
 Copper limited to a quantity of
4kg/ha per annum
 Adding sulphites is restrained in
comparison to conventional viti-
viniculture.
 Maximum dose of sulphites :
White/rosé : 150 mg/L
Red : 100 mg/L
Sparkling : 155 mg/L
ECOCERT
French organization specialized in
certifying organic products.
In order to obtain the green EU logo and
the mention "organic", your products
must be certified by a certification body
approved by the competent authorities
like Ecocert to attest their compliance to
the EU organic regulation.
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6. H.V.E
Haute Valeur Environnementale
French certification created in 2012.
HVE relies on Environmental KPIs regarding all aspects of vinegrowing. It assesses that all the elements
developing biodiversity have been put in place: hedge, grass, trees, flowers, insects… and that the
practices are reducing to a minimum the pressure on the environment : air, water, soil, biodiversity,
landscape.
It certifies that the vine grower is committed to a global virtuous approach, but doesn’t look at the
quality of the final product itself.
They are 3 distinct levels of commitment. Only reaching the 3rd one will allow the Domaine to use the
label.
Hommage de Bonpas
Côtes-du-Rhône Villages Signargues
« HIGH ENVIRONMENTAL VALUE » CERTIFICATION
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7. NATURE & PROGRES
Nature & Progrès is a pioneer association
in organic farming.
It is an independent French brand.
 Synthetic chemicals prohibited
 No check on the pesticides rate
 Possible presence of animal origin
inputs
 The maximum quantity of sulphites
authorised is 2 times smaller than
what is required in organic
certification.
 Particularity : SPG (Participative
Guarantee System) => members,
consumers and professionals are
controlling the winemakers
 Maximum dose of sulphites:
White/rosé : 90 mg/L
Red : 70 mg/L
Sparkling : 60 mg/L
BIODYVIN
Private French label
dedicated to viticulture
 Wines should be certified organic
 Check on the pesticides rate are done
in some cases (some importers
require it)
 Animal origin inputs : most of the
filtration are done with pea-based
fining agent and sometimes casein.
 Maximum dose of sulphites:
White/rosé : 90 mg/L
Red : 70 mg/L
Sparkling : 60 mg/L
PRIVATE LABELS
TERRA VITIS
Sustainable agriculture
Private certification born 20 years ago in
Beaujolais.
 Check on the pesticides rate are done in
some cases
 Animal origin inputs authorised
 Terra Vitis wines are not certified
organic.
 Advocates a reasonable and pragmatic
use of inputs and synthetic chemicals. It
takes into account the biodiversity,
waste produced, and wellbeing of the
workers.
 Maximum dose of sulphites:
White/rosé : 150 mg/L
Red : 100 mg/L
Sparkling : 155 mg/L
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8. VINS S.A.I.N.S
Without Any Input, no added Sulphites
Label created in 2012 by the burgundian winemaker Catherine
Vergé in reaction to the European organic regulation.
It is a subcategory of natural wines.
Grapes should be organically grown.
Inputs are prohibited during the winemaking and sulphites in
particular.
14 winemakers only are members of this label.
NATURAL WINES
Wines called « nature »
 Specification given by the « Association des Vins Naturels ».
 A natural wine is one which grapes have been grown
according to organic or biodynamic practices.
 The wine is vinified and bottled without any inputs
exception made with sulphites that can be added in very
small quantity
 Maximum dose of sulphites :
Red : 30mg/L
White : 40mg/L
LABELS WITHOUT OFFICIAL CERTIFICATION
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9. VEGAN WINE
The « Vegan » mention is neither mandatory neither regulated. Consumers should then learn to distinguish
labels-with control processes and logo –communication purpose.
The certification of vegan products is offered by association or private companies based in Europe, the US,
Canada, Japan or New Zealand. Those organisations are the only credible experts able to assess the conformity
of products.
They certify that the wine has not been processed with animal origin inputs.
« vegans » winemakers fine the wine with vegetal proteins (peas, soja), algae powder or clay (bentonite).
Today, 4 can certified that the wine is vegan:
 The Vegan Society which gives the « Vegan Trademark ».
 Association Végétarienne de France : Label V, with 2 versions, vegetarian and vegan.
 Associazione Vegetariana Italiana: Label V in Italy which gives its own label «Qualità Vegetariana ».
 Expertise Vegan Europe (EVE) with 4 levels of vegan labels: Eve Vegan Niveau 01, 02,03,04.
Gamme
Gaïa de Fortant
LABELS WITHOUT OFFICIAL CERTIFICATION
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10. BIOPROTECTION
BIOPROTECTION
A natural alternative to sulphites
No academic definition of the term bioprotection. This includes methods and tools for 'biological control‘.
Few or no sulphur added during the vinification, but the wine is protected with a really tiny amount when
bottled .
This technique uses non fermenting yeast which other microorganisms to develop.
The objective is to improve the organoleptic quality of the wines which result more opened and with
greater freshness and aromatic breadth.
Wines have better purity and tannin quality and are revealing more precisely their terroir.
Jean-Claude Boisset
Nature d’Ursulines
Gamme
Nature de Fortant
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11. IN BRIEF
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CATEGORY
CONVENTIONAL
WINES
AGRICULTURE 'RAISONNEE' Vegan Wines
LOGO /
OFFICIAL CERTIFICATION /
(label privé) (label privé) (label privé)
ORGANIC CERTIFICATION
REQUIRED
/
NATURAL INPUTS ONLY /
FREE FROM ANIMAL ORIGIN INPUTS / / / / / /
PESTICIDES RATE CHECK /
MAXIMUM DOSE
OF SULPHITES
White/rosé: 200 mg/L
Red : 150 mg/L
Sparkling : 185 mg/L
White/rosé: 150 mg/L
Red: 100 mg/L
Sparkling: 155 mg/L
White/rosé: 150 mg/L
Red: 100 mg/L
Sparkling: 155 mg/L
White/rosé: 90 mg/L
Red: 70 mg/L
Sparkling: 60 mg/L
White/rosé: 90 mg/L
Red: 70 mg/L
Sparkling: 60 mg/L
White/rosé: 90 mg/L
Red: 70 mg/L
Sparkling: 60 mg/L
White: 40mg/L
Red: 30mg/L 0 sulphites /
ORGANIC WINES
BIODYNAMIC
WINES
NATURAL
WINES

12. Sources
Agence bio : https://www.agencebio.org
Ministère de l’Agriculture et de l’Alimentation : https://agriculture.gouv.fr
Ministère de l’Economie : https://www.economie.gouv.fr/particuliers/comprendre-labels-bios
Ecocert : https://www.ecocert.com
Demeter : https://www.demeter.fr
Association des Vins Naturels : avn.vin
Terra Vitis : terravitis.com
Biodyvin : www.biodyvin.com
Nature & Progrès : www.natureetprogres.org
Les Vins S.A.I.N.S : https://vins-sains.org
Certification vegan : www.vegan-france.fr / http://vegan-labels.info/
H.V.E : https://agriculture.gouv.fr/certification-environnementale-mode-demploi-pour-les-
exploitations
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