What is glyphosate, and why are we drinking it in our wine?
What is glyphosate, and why are we drinking it in our wine?
The delicate bouquet of a fine wine should evoke the essence of the land, the whisper of the soil itself. But lurking beneath these layers of flavors, aromas, and complexity, there is an unwelcome guest in many bottles: glyphosate.
Wine has always been a story of place, time, and care. It should reflect the richness of the land, not the residues of chemical dependency. A new standard is emerging, one that puts soil health, biodiversity, and human well-being at the forefront. Wineries committed to organic, biodynamic, and chemical-free regenerative farming—including brands like DIRT Wine—are proving that wine can be both exceptional, farmed without chemicals, and nature-positive.
Aromas of red and black fruits, licorice & notes of violet with a hint of glyphosate
Glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup, is the most widely used herbicide in the world. In vineyards, it is sprayed in the vine rows to suppress weeds, often under the banner of "sustainable" farming. While it is not directly applied to the plant or the grape clusters themselves, residues have been found in finished wines, making their way into the glass you raise in celebration. Even organic wines are not immune—glyphosate contamination can occur through drift from neighboring conventional vineyards, through water sources, or even in the winery itself when barrels are topped with conventionally grown wine.
In 2015, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), a division of the World Health Organization, classified glyphosate as a “probable carcinogen.” This contrasts sharply with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's stance that glyphosate poses "no risks of concern" when used according to the label. Meanwhile, Bayer, the company behind Roundup, has paid more than $11 billion to settle lawsuits from individuals who claim glyphosate exposure led to cancer—with more cases still pending.
The problem extends beyond the vineyard. A study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that over 80% of urine samples from children and adults contained glyphosate. Scientists have called these findings both “disturbing” and “concerning.” This chemical is everywhere—in our food, our water, our bodies.
Pictured: Vineyard sprayed with glyphosate underneath the vines for weed control. This is a quick way to recognize whether a vineyard uses glyphosate. Is there bare soil under the vines? If there is, it's highly probable that glyphosate was sprayed.
Understanding the Farmers' Perspective
It's important to acknowledge that many farmers do not use glyphosate with the intention of causing harm. For many, their livelihoods depend on maintaining productive vineyards, and glyphosate has long been a tool that allows them to cost effectively manage weeds while ensuring a viable crop. The transition away from chemical dependency is not always simple or financially feasible, especially for small-scale growers who operate on razor-thin margins. However, the reality remains that glyphosate use has unintended consequences, impacting soil health, biodiversity, and human well-being.
As consumers, we have a role to play in demanding transparency and supporting farmers on their journey to safer, more sustainable practices. By advocating for and investing in wines produced without glyphosate, we create market demand that encourages wineries and vineyards to explore alternatives. More importantly, we can help farmers transition by supporting policies and initiatives that provide financial and technical assistance for low-risk trials in chemical-free regenerative farming practices.
How Much Glyphosate Are You Willing to Drink?
While glyphosate gets much of the spotlight, it is only one of many synthetic chemicals used in modern viticulture. Fungicides, synthetic fertilizers, and other biocides are commonplace, even in vineyards certified under certain "sustainability" programs. These chemicals degrade soil health, reduce biodiversity, and may leave significant residues in your wine.
In fact, a 2019 study from the U.S. PIRG Education Fund tested 20 samples - 5 wine samples and 15 beer samples - for glyphosate. Of the 20 samples, 19 tested positive for glyphosate, including all five wine samples. Alarmingly, even two certified organic wines contained glyphosate residues, highlighting how pervasive contamination can be. The study underscores that despite efforts to farm cleanly, cross-contamination from water sources, wind drift, or shared processing equipment can introduce glyphosate into wines that are otherwise produced without synthetic chemicals.
This research provokes important concerns about how deeply glyphosate has infiltrated our food and beverage system. Even those who actively seek out organic or biodynamic wines may still be exposed to residues due to the widespread use of glyphosate in conventional agriculture. The study’s findings emphasize the urgent need for systemic change, including stricter regulations on herbicide use, greater support for farmers transitioning away from chemical inputs, and increased testing and transparency in the wine industry.
This raises a crucial question: How much glyphosate are you willing to accept in your wine? And more importantly, what can you do to avoid it?
What You Can Do:
A Call to Action
As a conscious consumer, you have the power to demand better. Here’s how you can make a difference:
- Ask Questions: Reach out to wineries and ask how their grapes are grown. Are herbicides like glyphosate used? Do they test their wines for chemical residues?
- Choose Regenerative, Organic, and Biodynamic Wines: While not all certifications prohibit synthetic herbicides entirely, wines produced under these practices are far less likely to contain glyphosate. Many of these farming methods emphasize soil health, biodiversity, and chemical-free approaches, reducing the risk of contamination.
- Support Transparency: Look for brands that publish the spray reports for chemicals like glyphosate that will show if and how much was used in the vineyards where they source their wine grapes.
- Know Your Farmer: If possible, source wine from vineyards committed to organic and chemical-free regenerative practices. Many vineyards, even if they don’t make their own wine, take pride in sharing which winemakers use their grapes.
- Help Farmers Transition: Advocate for funding and research into chemical-free regenerative farming trials, support wineries that invest in their growers, and push for agricultural policies that prioritize soil health and long-term sustainability over short-term chemical solutions.
- Demand Change: Spread the word. Share your findings on social media, engage with wineries, and advocate for a cleaner wine industry.
The next time you pour a glass, consider not just the tasting notes, but the farming practices behind the bottle. The future of wine is in our hands—let’s make it one that nourishes the land, the farmer, and the drinker alike.
