Everything You Need to Know About Natural Wines

Everything You Need to Know About Natural Wines

While natural wines have been around for thousands of years, they seem to have had something of a resurgence in recent years. It’s interesting that something that is considered “a new fad” is actually an approach that has been with us for many generations and has made mealtimes and socialising more enjoyable for communities stretching far back in history.

In a nutshell, natural wine can be described as having been farmed organically and biodynamically, without adding or removing anything during the fermentation process. This process is sometimes called “minimum intervention”, which results in the production of wine that can be enjoyed in its pure form. However, the term natural wines can be interpreted in different ways and the precise approach can vary from vineyard to vineyard.

But what do you need to know about natural wines before you decide to try them? Read on for your ultimate guide on everything you need to know about natural wines!

• The names

In addition to “minimum intervention” you may find natural wines referred to as “naked” or “raw” wine. Again, these terms leave some scope for interpretation, and some may be more naturally-inclined than others, so it’s always reading up on the approach of a particular vineyard or wine producer if choosing a truly natural wine is your key principle.

Generally speaking, it is accepted that the modern natural wine movement originated in rural France, with small winemakers who shared a belief in cultivating low-intervention crops coming together to create their own wine scene. Today, there are thousands of natural wine options to choose from.

• The processes

Winemaking can be made to sound incredibly complicated and convoluted, but in essence it can be broken down into two parts: growing and picking grapes; and the subsequent fermentation into wine.

In the case of natural wines, not only are pesticides and herbicides a big no-no, but winemakers also typically handpick grapes rather than using large machines for harvesting in part one. Following on from this, in stage two, natural winemakers use native yeast so that every aspect of the process remains local and from the same environment.

During the fermentation process, natural winemakers also avoid the kind of fake flavour-makers that are often popular in mass production – such as egg white, oak flavourings, sugar or acids.

• Natural wine varies from country to country

Due to the fact that natural wine has only recently become “trendy” again, there is not yet a legal term to characterise it. The definition is dependent on which country you are in, and the levels of intervention that they characterise as staying “natural”. The French are considered to be the strictest of the bunch, as they do not allow any additives in the wines. The details are endless and looking into each and every country’s rules may well take you down quite a number of rabbit holes. However, understanding the essence of natural winemaking and the care, attention and diligence of producers in adhering to “natural” values is impressive and worthy of respect. The taste can also be incredible, so that’s another reason for paying close attention!

• Natural wine is a way of life

While some people may have previously scoffed at natural wines as a hippy or new age creation that denied progress, the renaissance it has seen in recent years shows that there is a growing appetite for beverages that feel less manufactured and more cultivated.

As a way of life, we must also credit natural wineries for trying to avoid some of the pollution that is typically created on standard farms, through high levels of herbicides and pesticides.

Guest Article.