The organic movement is only slowly taking root in France’s Champagne region, although its proponents believe that environmentally friendly techniques can help the sparkling wine express even finer subtleties.
Organic farming has experienced a boom in recent years, including in France, where the wine industry has been keen to adopt practices that shun synthetic chemicals and fertilizers.
Organic viticulture uses no pesticides or synthetic chemicals in the vineyard and relies on compost as a fertilizer.
The respect for the environment that underpins the organic movement's philosophy fits in with the French concept of terroir, where soil, topography and climate all combine to influence the taste of the wine. Less invasive farming techniques can therefore help produce wines that better reflect the nuances of their environment, or make the terroir sing.