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Organic wine? Wine made with organically grown grapes? Biodynamic wine? Vegan wine? If you are confused about what these terms mean, you are not alone. The only thing all of these wines have in common is that they are made with organically grown grapes by winemakers that use environmentally responsible viticulture practices.

Technically speaking, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Organic Program defines an organic wine as one that is made from certified organic grapes and contains no sulfites or other preservatives. Some sulfites are naturally present in wine, but most winemakers add a small amount of sulfites to stabilize wine and prevent it from oxidizing or spoiling when exposed to light or heat. As a result, very few wines qualify as organic.

More common are wines that use certified organic grapes but add small amounts of sulfites. These wines are labeled "Made with organically grown grapes" and are the ones most often referred to as organic wines.

Biodynamic wines are made using the biodynamic farming method that was developed in Europe in the early 20th century. It is a sustainable farming practice that employs more stringent methods than organic farming methods, focusing on increasing soil fertility through natural methods.

Wines that are labeled "Vegan" do not use any animal products in the wine-making process. Most wines contain impurities that cause them to appear cloudy or have an off taste or smell. Vegan wines use bentonite clay or carbon as clarifying agents to remove impurities instead of casein (milk proteins), egg whites or a gelatin substance made from the skin of fish.