What Makes Wine 'Natural'?

In recent years, natural wines have surged in popularity, celebrated for their authenticity as an escape from the conventional. But what exactly makes wine "natural," and how does it differ from conventional or even organic wines?

Understanding Natural Wines

Natural wine, at its essence, is wine produced with minimal intervention. This means grapes grown organically or biodynamically, harvested by hand, fermented spontaneously with native yeasts, and bottled without additives like commercial yeasts, sugars, enzymes, or high levels of sulfites. The idea is to let nature guide the winemaking process, resulting in a wine that truly reflects its terroir. This gives the wine their unique characteristics imparted by the grape variety, soil, climate, and the vineyard's ecosystem.

Key Characteristics of Natural Wine

• Minimal Intervention: Little to no added chemicals, preservatives, or flavorings.
• Organic or Biodynamic Farming: Grapes grown without synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, or herbicides.
• Native Yeast Fermentation: Utilizing wild yeasts naturally present on grape skins and in the vineyard environment.
• Lower Sulfites: Limited use of sulfur dioxide, primarily to stabilize rather than preserve excessively.

How Does Natural Wine Differ From Organic and Conventional Wine?

• Conventional Wine: Typically uses chemical fertilizers and pesticides, commercial yeasts, filtration, and additives like acidifiers, stabilizers, and higher levels of sulfites.
• Organic Wine: Grapes grown organically but may still include commercial yeasts and approved organic additives. Sulfite use varies, generally less than conventional but higher than natural wines.
• Natural Wine: Takes the organic approach further by minimizing any additional processing or additives, making it the purest form of wine production.

Why Choose Natural Wine?

Natural wines offer a distinct tasting experience, characterized by vibrant, dynamic flavors and aromas that reflect their place of origin. Moreover, choosing natural wine supports environmentally friendly practices, small-scale farmers, and sustainable agriculture.

Embracing natural wine means enjoying wine as nature intended!