10 wines from the Global Organic and Vegan Masters 2024

This year’s wines in the Global Organic and Vegan Masters proved that there is more choice than ever in the category. Here are 10 wines that showcase some of the best vegan or organic options available.

Tasting notes from Patricia Stefanowicz MW and Patrick Schmitt MW.

SECRET DE LÉOUBE

Producer: Château Léoube

Region: Provence

Country: France

Vintage: 2023

Grape varieties: 63% Cinsault, 37% Grenache

ABV: 13%

Residual sugar: <1g/l

Approx. retail price: £36

Medal: Gold

A brilliant, benchmark Provençal rosé that’s also organic, Secret de Léoube is a great find in a world when environmentally-friendly wines are in strong demand, as well as dry, palepink drinks.

This particularly-fine example mixes notes of white-fleshed peach with a touch of crunchy redcurrant, complemented by a hint of ripe cherry and a dry, appealing mix of chalk dust and lemon zest. Refreshing yes, but also soft and fruity at its core too. (Patrick Schmitt MW)

GAIA ORGANIC MALBEC

Producer: Domaine Bousquet

Region: Gualtallary

Country: Argentina

Vintage: 2022

Grape varieties: 100% Malbec

ABV: 14.5%

Residual sugar: 1.94g/l

Approx. retail price: £14

Medal: Gold

Affordable, fine and organic, this Gaia Malbec from Domaine Bousquet is a brilliant box-ticker for the discerning, environmentally-minded drinker.

Among the flavours of dried herbs and blackcurrant are notes of vanilla and cracked pepper, along with a touch of cherry jam, and then lots of grippy tannins to ensure the finish is refreshingly and dry. (Patrick Schmitt MW)

STONELEIGH PINOT NOIR 2022

Producer: Stoneleigh

Region: Marlborough

Country: New Zealand

Grape variety: 100% Pinot Noir

Abv: 13.5%

Residual Sugar: 1.7g/l

Vintage: 2022

Approx. retail price: £10.99

Medal: Gold

With more than 30 hectares dedicated to biodiversity and regenerative land in the Rapaura sub-area of the Wairau Valley, Stoneleigh is well-respected for its espousal of sustainability.

This stylish Pinot Noir is typically pale ruby in colour and has bright cherry fruit with a delicate smoky overlay. Dry and light-bodied, the palate shows good intensity of flavours supported by racy acidity and linen-textured tannins with nutmeg accent adding interest. Sappy and savoury with a lingering lifted finish, the wine will match nicely with vegetarian dishes, such as roasted Portobello mushrooms with melted Bleu d’Auvergne cheese and thyme, as recommended by Stoneleigh Vineyards. (Patricia Stefanowicz MW)

A CABERNET FRANC

Producer: VIK

Region: Cachapoal Valley

Country: Chile

Vintage: 2022

Grape varieties: 85% Cabernet Franc, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon

ABV: 14%

Residual sugar: 2.87g/l

Approx. retail price: £20

Medal: Gold

Proof of the quality of Cabernet Franc in Chile’s Cachapoal Valley is this fine organic wine from Vik, featuring notes of ripe red berries, some blackcurrant too, then dried herbs, fresh peppercorn and plums. The finish is long and fresh, with a hint of nettle, but also sweeter notes of vanilla and raspberry, and then a dry, finely-tannic edge. Layered, refreshing, and lingering. (Patrick Schmitt MW)

WARBOYS VINEYARD SHIRAZ

Producer: Angove Family Winemakers

Region: McLaren Vale

Country: Australia

Vintage: 2022

Grape varieties: 100% Shiraz

ABV: 14.5%

Residual sugar: 1.2g/l

Approx. retail price: £36

Medal: Silver

Hailing from the brilliant Australian producer that is Angove Family Winemakers, this Warboys Shiraz uses fine McLaren Vale grapes to yield a drop of power and complexity.

Mixed in with notes of spearmint and juicy blackcurrant are flavours of toast and coconut, sweet cherry and creamy vanilla, before the wine finishes with a lovely mix of dark chocolate, fresh mint, and fine mouth-coating tannin. (Patrick Schmitt MW)

ARÍNZANO MERLOT AGRICULTURA BIOLÓGICA

Producer: Arínzano

Region: Navarra

Country: Spain

Vintage: 2019

Grape varieties: 100% Merlot

ABV: 15%

Residual sugar: 2.7g/l

Approx. retail price: £40

Medal: Master

A mouth-filling, indulgent and frankly delicious drop with so much flavour and power, this organic Spanish Merlot is a wine with four-wheel drive that could go anywhere.

There’s fruit-cake-like flavours of prune and raisin, dried cherry and baked blackberry, complemented by notes of sweet balsamic and coconut, with a persistent finish, featuring not just characters of roasted coffee, and warming alcohol, but also mouth-coasting dry tannins, which make this dense and super-ripe wine surprisingly drinkable. (Patrick Schmitt MW)

CHIANTI CLASSICO DOCG RISERVA

Producer: Castello di Albola

Region: Tuscany

Country: Italy

Vintage: 2021

Grape varieties: 100% Sangiovese

ABV: 14%

Residual sugar: 1.2g/l

Approx. retail price: £32

Medal: Silver

A pure Sangiovese Riserva-level Chianti Classico with all the character one would expect from a great Tuscan red, as well as the benefit of being organic. In terms of flavours, there’s plenty of ripe plum and juicy red berry, mixed with refreshing notes of sour cherry, grippy fine tannins, and lovely lingering notes of tobacco and cedar wood. A youthful, structured, mediumweight red that’s delicious now, but could be cellared for another five years or more. (Patrick Schmitt MW)

FONSECA TERRA PRIMA

Producer: Fonseca

Region: Douro

Country: Portugal

Vintage: NV

Grape varieties: 20% Tinta Amarela, 20% Tinta Barroca, 20% Tinta Roriz, 20% Touriga francesa, 20% Touriga Nacional

ABV: 20%

Residual sugar: 98g/l

Approx. retail price: £21

Medal: Gold

This first-rate fortified wine delivers all the sweet, fruity, powerful appeal of Port as well as organic certification – which means not just growing the grapes according to environmentally-friendly practices but also producing it using an organic spirit.

Rich in flavours of raisin and prune, along with delicious characters of blackberry and cherry jam, it’s unctuous, as well as intense, gently warming, finely-tannic, and instantly. appealing. (Patrick Schmitt MW)

TROP M’EN FAUT

Producer: Champagne Drappier

Region: Champagne

Country: France

Vintage: NV

Grape varieties: 100% Fromenteau

ABV: 12%

Residual sugar: 0g/l

Approx. retail price: £85

Medal: Gold

A fascinating, unique and delicious organic Champagne made entirely from Fromenteau – the local name for Pinot Gris. There’s a beautiful white gold appearance and inviting, complex aromatics of ripe apples, honey, and brioche.

In the mouth, this is full and textured, with a broad, almost oily midpalate, with notes of baked apple, bread dough, and beeswax, followed by a persistent finish, featuring salty and yeasty notes, a touch of bitter orange, and then a bone-dry edge. This is a zerodosage fizz, and such is the depth of fruit, it doesn’t need any sugar. (Patrick Schmitt MW)

NATURAE ORANGE

Producer: Cramele Recas

Region: Recas

Country: Romania

Vintage: 2022

Grape varieties: 70% Riesling, 22% Sauvignon Blanc, 8% Muscat Ottonel

ABV: 12.4%

Residual sugar: 2.3g/l

Approx. retail price: £8

Medal: Gold

A brilliant and affordable orange wine from Romania’s Cramele Recas, this example sees a range of white grapes undergo extended skin contact to give a powerfully-flavoured, finely-tannic drink that could happily be served with fatty dishes, such as duck confit.

Flavour-wise there are notes of dried fruit, such as raisin and apricot, as well as fresher flavours of peach and ripe lemon, with a chalky-dry finish that makes you salivate. (Patrick Schmitt MW)

Related news

Cava DO on target to become 100% organic by 2025

O’Neill Vintners & Distillers achieves organic certification

Argentina is 'finally bringing back the money', says Doña Paula