Ontario’s largest organic winery with Richmond Hill roots is trying to bring more grape growers on the organic bandwagon and, in turn, help meet its own demands.

Southbrook Vineyards owner Bill Redelmeier said he cannot meet the demand for his product because there are not enough organic growers. Southbrook adheres to a biodynamic farming regimen, which Redelmeier calls “extra organic.”

Half of the grapes Southbrook uses are from its own vineyard, but Redelmeier is not looking to expand his own supply.

“Our feeling is the best way for us to expand the Ontario organic industry is to encourage more growers to convert to organic,” he said.

Growing the industry has been somewhat of a chicken-and-egg situation between growers, wineries and suppliers, but Redelmeier said this was more of a past problem.

“So what we’re trying to do is to become the grease that gets everything going,” he said.

An additional issue, albeit only a small part of the problem, is a lack of nearby organic manure, Redelmeier added, explaining it is costly and not particularly green to truck in from far away.