Organic Hill
In 2009, I found out that I was gluten intolerant (not celiac) and needed to find gluten-free goods. This prompted me to discover the multitude of organic shops in and around Melbourne that sold organic wine.
After a lot of trial and error, I realised that my allergies were caused by preservatives as well as gluten. Organic products, simply put, made the most sense. Ten years ago, there was a limited selection of organic wines, especially quality organic wines.
Organic items were misunderstood and perceived as a 'hippy lifestyle' rather than a healthy lifestyle resulting from the avoidance of herbicides, pesticides, and toxic spray. The organic industry had a reputation as a result of an affiliation with a 'hippy lifestyle'.
Ten years ago, organic, gluten free, preservative free, and vegan items were fairly limited. At the time, organic wines were hard to find, particularly excellent quality organic wines! On the contrary, the organic sector was poorly regarded and considered to be a 'hippy way of life,' when it was really focused on producing items that did not contain herbicides, pesticides, or toxic chemicals.
The light bulb moment occurred in 2009 when I learned of the advantages of switching to organic products, leading me to establish my organic wine distribution company 'Merchant of Vino.' I pioneered the distribution of organic wine and products in Victoria, beginning with a premium range of organic, preservative free, vegan, and bio dynamic wines.
Preservatives have been used in winemaking since Roman times, and sulphites are among them. We at Organic Hill have been bucking the convention of using sulphites as preservatives since our inception as a winery by making wines without added sulphur dioxide or preservatives.
In response to these concerns, two chemicals that are common allergens and are known as Preservative 220 (sulphur dioxide) and Preservative 224 (potassium metabisulphate) have been eliminated.
As well as their potential as allergens, our winemakers argue that preservatives dull the vibrant fruit flavours of fermentation, and that the absence of sulphites allows those characteristics to shine through naturally. As a result, our Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon PF wines are rich, juicy, and aromatic.
Organic Hill has created wines of exceptional purity and freshness by using preservative-free winemaking methods and winery practices. Traditional quality wines are made using traditional quality methods and techniques as well as avoiding sulphur as a preservative. We have also worked with varietal selections that are excellent for making sulphur-free wines, in addition to rejecting other allergens such as fish nuts and milk products, which have 'tannins' that act as a natural preservative and fortify the natural flavours and aromas. We have produced a premium assortment of organic and preservative-free wines.
Why not have a bottle of Organic Hill waiting for you when you arrive?
