What is Natural Wine?

Natural wine is a buzzword in the wine industry, but what exactly is it?

Natural wine is a type of wine that is produced with minimal intervention, both in the vineyard and in the cellar. This means that natural wine is made with organic or biodynamic grapes that are grown without the use of pesticides or herbicides.

Natural wines are different from regular wines because they are not filtered or treated with any chemicals. This means they can sometimes look a bit cloudy or hazy. This happens because the grapes and skins have natural particles, yeast, and bacteria in them.

Natural wines are usually not put in oak barrels because that can hide the real taste and smell of the wine. Instead, they are usually stored in cement or metal tanks to maintain the quality and authenticity of the wine.

What is Natural Wine

Natural wine is a type of wine made from grapes that are grown without the use of chemicals or pesticides.

It is a wine that is produced using traditional winemaking techniques, without the addition of any artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives. Instead, natural wine is made using only the natural yeast present on the grapes and in the winery and is often unfiltered and unfined.

One of the defining characteristics of natural wine is that it is made using minimal intervention. This means that the winemaker allows the grapes to ferment naturally, without adding any commercial yeasts. Natural wine is often made using grapes that are grown using organic or biodynamic farming methods, which place a strong emphasis on sustainability and environmental stewardship.

In the US, natural wine has become increasingly popular in recent years, as consumers have become more interested in drinking wines that are made using sustainable and environmentally-friendly methods. Natural wine is often described as having a unique taste and character, with flavors that are more complex and nuanced than those found in conventional wines.

The Making of Natural Wine

Natural wine is a type of wine that is made with minimal intervention and without the use of synthetic chemicals.

The process of making natural wine starts with the selection of organic or biodynamic grapes that are grown in sustainable vineyards. These grapes are hand-picked and sorted to ensure that only the best quality ones are used for the wine.

Once the grapes are harvested, they are crushed and left to ferment with native yeasts. Natural wine is fermented with no added yeast, and no additives are included in the fermentation process. This means that the wine is made with the natural yeast that is present on the grapes and in the vineyard.

During the fermentation process, the wine is left to macerate with the skins for a period of time. This allows the wine to extract more flavor and color from the skins. The length of the maceration period can vary depending on the grape varietals and the desired style of the wine.

After the fermentation process is complete, the wine is left unfiltered and bottled with minimal intervention. This means that the wine is not treated with any synthetic chemicals or additives to alter its taste or appearance. Natural wine is often bottled with low levels of sulfur, or no sulfur at all.

Types of Natural Wine

Natural wine is a broad category, and it encompasses several different styles of wine. Here are some of the most common types of natural wine:

Organic Wine

Organic wine is made from grapes that are grown without the use of synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, or herbicides. Instead, organic farmers use natural methods to control pests and improve soil health. Organic wine is often considered a type of natural wine because it is made with minimal intervention.

Orange Wine

Orange wine is made from white wine grapes that are left to ferment with their skins on.

This process gives the wine a distinctive orange color and a richer, more complex flavor profile. Orange wine is often associated with the natural wine movement because it is made with minimal intervention and often with native yeasts.

Pétillant Naturel

Pétillant naturel, or pet nat for short, is a type of sparkling wine that is made by bottling wine before the fermentation process is complete. This results in a light, effervescent wine with a slightly cloudy appearance. Pet nat is often made with minimal intervention and without the addition of sulfites.

Raw Wine

Raw wine is a term that is often used to describe natural wine that is made with minimal intervention. It is typically made with native yeasts, and little or no sulfites are added. Raw wine can be red, white, or orange, and it is often unfiltered and unfined.

Red, White, and Orange Wines

Natural wine can be made in a variety of colors, including red, white, and orange. Red natural wine is made from red grapes and is often fermented with the skins on, while white natural wine is made from white grapes and is typically fermented without the skins. Orange natural wine is made from white grapes that are fermented with the skins on, giving the wine a distinctive orange color.