What is natural wine?

As the organic food movement has picked up speed over the last few years, there is also a movement with organic, biodynamic and natural wine. Organic & biodynamic happen in the grape growing process, for them to be natural the process must continue in the wine making process. By not using or using the least amount possible any of the 200 approved additives permitted in wine, this also includes the technological manipulation(spinning cones, laboratory cultivated yeast,etc) that will take away what the individual terror & what mother nature has provided. This is the way wine has been made for centuries before technology was introduced.

The definition is similar to the German Law of Purity for beer, where only water, barley and hops are used. Natural wine is just grape juice and nothing else.

Some aspects to consider in natural wine…
Avoiding chemical herbicides.
Using indigenous yeasts.
Hand picked grapes.
Low to no filtering & sulfites.
No chaptilization.
No adding of powdered tannins.
Respecting of the grapes including rough handling,pumping or micro-oxygenation.

Natural winemaking represents the true expression of terroir and prevents wine varietals from all tasting the same.

Some thoughts on organic wines…

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Organic wines have been available for quite some time and it’s only recently that people have become more aware of them. Organic wines need to be certified “organic” by USDA to be labeled organic. Organic in a nutshell means that the grapes used are not treated with pesticides, fertilizers. 100% Organic means ” that all grapes used are certified organic & no sulfites added”. Organic means “95% of ingredients are certified organic & may a little sufites added”. Made with organic grapes means “at least 70% of grapes are certified organic & may contain sulfites”. Some organic wines are even vegan. Organic is not be confused with Eco friendly(although most organic producers are) or sustainable. Eco friendly can be used when using recycled glass for bottle, paper for labels, no run off into streams that may hurt environment & solar power. Most retailers have organic wines but Whole Foods seems to have the best selection. Some names to look for when buying organic wines…..

CALIFORNIA
Lolonis
Bonterra
Frey
Organic Vinters (Vegan)

WASHINGTON
Badger Mountain

SOUTH AFRICA
Stellar Organics (Vegan)

CHILE
Nuevo Mondo

ARGENTINA
Vida Organica