Five fantastic organic white wines for under £10

If you want to imbibe something fresh, light, alcoholic and environmentally-friendly, but without spending a fortune, then read on for our list of five fantastic organic white wines for under £10.

All the wines that feature over the following pages have been selected ‘blind’ – which means that they were tasted without any knowledge as to their source or varietal components – as part of db’s Organic Wine Masters.

This annual competition is the largest organic-only wine tasting in the UK, and has been devised to single out the best samples in this growing sector, with the only stipulation for entries being that the grapes and / or wine must be certified organic and / or biodynamic.

With organic grapes generally considered around 20% more expensive to grow compared to conventionally-managed vineyards, it was particularly pleasing in this year’s competition to see a high standard of inexpensive white wines feature in the competition.

That added cost for organics relates to the fact that the farming method commonly produces fewer grapes per vine, and requires more labour to manage, so it’s encouraging to see that good results can be achieved for organic wine while keeping a low price point for the end product.

And let’s hope that the trend towards a more widespread practice of sensitive vineyard management continues, as the world faces an economic depression caused by Covid-19 – any downturn tends to bring on cost-cutting measures, and when it comes to a low-margin product like wine, there’s a fear that this could mean cheaper, less sustainable approaches in the vineyard.

While vineyard management that protects soil health and promotes biodiversity tends to go hand in hand with organic grape growing, there are plenty of producers who manage their vineyards in an environmentally-responsible manner without seeking organic certification.

In other words, please don’t believe that wine without a bio logo on the label is necessarily causing damage to its natural environment during the production process, but do take comfort in the fact that all the wines recommended below have been certified by an independent body, and have then been independently assessed by db, as well as deemed to be of great quality relative to their price points.

So, take a look at our five fantastic organic white wines for under £10, and read on for further information on the Global Organic Masters, a well as how to enter.

5. Masso Antico, Passerina, Terre di Chieti IGT, Bio

Producer: Masso Antico
Region: Abruzzo
Country: Italy
Grape variety: Passerina
Closure: Plastic cork
Approx. Retail price:  £9
Medal: Silver – Organic Wine Masters 2020

Employing the little-known Passerina grape from the Terre di Chieti wine region, not far from the Adriatic coast in Abruzzo, this brilliant-value organic white has masses of fresh fruit, from apple to pear and pineapple along, with a lovely pink grapefruit hit on the finish, making it a refreshing, richly-flavoured white.

4. Corvezzo, Pinot Grigio Delle Venezie DOC, Organic & Vegan

Producer: Corvezzo
Region: Veneto
Country: Italy
Grape variety: Pinot Grigio
Closure: Screwcap
Approx. Retail price: £7.50
Medal: Silver – Organic Wine Masters 2020

Hailing from the newly-formed Pinot Grigio Delle Venezie DOC – a union of Pinot Grigio-growing areas in northeastern Italy – this is a benchmark inexpensive Italian white, with lemon sherbet and pear aromatics, and all the refreshment of biting on crunchy orchard fruits.

3. Santa Julia, Organic Torrontes

Producer: Santa Julia
Region: Mendoza
Country: Argentina
Grape variety: Torrontes
Closure: Screwcap
Approx. Retail price: £9
Medal: Silver – Organic Wine Masters 2020

Argentina may be best known for big reds based on Malbec, but it can also turn its hand to pretty white wines too, notably based on the country’s native grape called Torrontes. This wine from Santa Julia, in keeping with the typical characteristics of Torrontes, has orange blossom and peach aromatics, along with masses of apricot and pear fruit flavours, making for an intense and floral experience – one that’s ideal for those who like wines from grapes such as Viognier, Muscat or Gewürztraminer.

2. Forza della Natura, Cattaratto

Producer: Cantine Rallo
Region: Sicily
Country: Italy
Grape variety: Cattaratto
Closure: Screwcap
Approx. Retail price: £6
Medal: Silver – Organic Wine Masters 2020

This Sicilian white is bursting with ripe apricot fruit, but also also a pleasingly bitter peach stone finish to keep your mouth fresh and ready for another sip. A perfect alternative for those who love fruity warm climate Chardonnay, but want to branch out.

1. Luzón Organic Blanco

Wine: Luzón Organic Blanco
Producer: Bodegas Luzon
Region: Jumilla
Country: Spain
Grape variety: Airen
Closure: Screwcap
Approx. Retail price: £8
Medal: Silver – Organic Wine Masters 2020

Our final organic wine bargain comes from the region of Jumilla, a Med-bordering area in the southeast of Spain, and a good place to go to for good value juicy reds and whites. This wine is made with Spain’s most planted white grape, Airen, and comes packed with flavours of passion fruit, pineapple and pink grapefruit. While it’s quite a full-on fruity white, it has a surprising and welcome fresh citrus finish.

Uniquely, The Global Organic Masters sees all preconceived ideas about the importance of location pushed to one side as wines from across the world are judged by style and price exclusively.

Please contact us at awards@thedrinksbusiness.com for any queries.

If you’re an award winner and need stickers for your bottles please visit our stickers page.