ÖKO - made with organically grown grapes

“Welcome back to a balanced world.”

ÖKO
[ÖKO: ökologie > ecology > the interrelationships of organisms in the environment]: The tree, a symbol of nature and life, provides the necessary oxygen for all things in the world to survive.

ÖKO is an eco-wine based on the guiding vision to partner with various growers whose vineyards are in harmony with nature and produce a wine of distinction and quality.  To qualify for ÖKO, each property must be certified organic by an internationally accredited organization. 

Every vineyard that supplies organically grown grapes for ÖKO is a dazzling display of nature’s instinctive system of checks and balances.  Through the benefits from using cover crops, organic manure and natural predators, an organic vineyard eliminates the use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides.  As a reward to the grower, the vines produce rich, full-flavored, and balanced grapes.

The cover crops planted among the rows bloom throughout the year with flowers of yellow, red, orange, purple, and all the shades of green, a painters paradise. The typical cover crop can range from brown mustard to Daikon radish, clover, winter peas, bell beans, oats, and sunflowers.  Each is planted for a specific purpose ranging from retaining water, preventing soil erosion, adding nutrients, to creating beneficial habitats for predators.

While the vineyards are blooming with plants, bugs and bees, bluebirds, hawks, bats, and owls are performing acrobatic skills only seen in the wild.  They are feasting on vine-damaging insects, rodents, and weeds.  This is nature’s version of the neighborhood watch program, providing protection to the vineyard.  Each bug and animal helps out by reducing vine predators such as snails, leafhoppers, mealy bugs, crows, blackbirds, moles, gophers, and wild turkey, while maintaining a natural balance. 

This is the meaning of ÖKO, the interrelationship of organisms in an environment; the environment is an organic vineyard.  A premium wine is similar; the interrelationships of the key elements such as fruit flavors, acidity, and structure, all play an important role. If one element dominates the wine, it is out of balance. If a vineyard is out of balance with nature, then it will struggle to produce grapes. The grapes will have un-ripe flavors or will not produce at all.  When a wine is produced from un-healthy grapes, the fruit flavors, acidity, and structure are out of balance.  The key to making great wine is starting with a healthy vineyard that is in harmony with nature. 

ÖKO currently produces two wines, a Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot blend from the Languedoc region of France and a Pinot Grigio from the Veneto region of Italy.  The current release of Pinot Grigio is accredited by ICEA and the Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot blend is accredited by ECOCERT.  Each wine is made with organically grown grapes and reflects the true heart and soul of healthy, beautiful vineyards.