Using a word like “natural” to describe wine might sound superfluous. It’s all natural, right?
Not to be mistaken with organic, biodynamic, sustainable or vegan wine, natural wine merges elements from each of the aforementioned styles into its own distinctive concept. Although there is no official definition, the general idea is that nothing is added or removed from the wine, making the entire process as low-intervention as possible.
The Oxford Companion to Wine’s criteria for natural wine are as follows:
- Grapes are typically grown by small-scale, independent producers
- Grapes are hand picked from sustainable, organic or biodynamic vineyards
- Wine is fermented with no added yeast (i.e. native yeasts)
- No additives are included in fermentation (yeast nutrients, sugars, etc.)
- Little or no sulfites are added
At their finest, natural wines can be unique in flavor with unparalleled liveliness. At their worst, they can be ultra-funky and overall bizarre. There is an inherent unpredictability with natural wine–intriguing to some, but certainly not all.
Natural wine seemed to peak in popularity prior to 2020, as consumer gravitation toward small-batch and sustainable products picked up pace. Although its trendiness may have faded in recent years, these wines have maintained their appeal today, with natural wine shops and bars to be found across the globe.
Wine has been made for thousands of years, and many of those ancient practices are emulated by the natural-wine movement of the modern age. Its more recent history is traced back to the 1970s, when a group of French winemakers from the Beaujolais appellation decided to simplify their techniques and omit all pesticides, fungicides, herbicides and additives to the juice. The movement grew, and spread throughout Europe and beyond.
Austria, Italy and Spain are major European producers of natural wine, with France as the unsurprising leader. Japan makes natural wines as well, and many U.S. winemakers are taking part in the practice.
Opinions of natural wine tend to be strongly pro or con. One argument against the style is that eliminating sulfates has no benefit, but significantly increases potential to make flawed wine. Others are skeptical of health claims that have yet to be substantiated, like reduced risk of hangovers due to the omission of said sulfates.
Natural wine has a complicated reputation, partially due to a lack of understanding and hesitation to break from the familiar when it comes to wine. But those who ride for natural wine will continue to do so, regardless of tomorrow’s trend forecast. Try it for yourself at Sonoma County’s Old World Winery or Martha Stoumen Wines–it might be your new favorite.
526 thoughts on “Au Naturale”
wonderful issues altogether, you simply gained a new reader. What might you recommend in regards to your post that you simply made some days ago? Any sure?
What¦s Happening i am new to this, I stumbled upon this I have found It absolutely useful and it has helped me out loads. I am hoping to contribute & aid different customers like its aided me. Great job.
hi!,I really like your writing very much! percentage we be in contact extra about your post on AOL? I need an expert on this house to resolve my problem. Maybe that is you! Having a look ahead to see you.
Very nice info and right to the point. I am not sure if this is actually the best place to ask but do you folks have any ideea where to get some professional writers? Thanks in advance 🙂
Some genuinely interesting information, well written and broadly user genial.
Would you be interested by exchanging links?
I am not sure where you’re getting your info, but good topic.
I needs to spend some time learning much more or
understanding more. Thanks for fantastic info I was
looking for this information for my mission.
I am continuously looking online for ideas that can facilitate me. Thanks!
I do trust all of the ideas you have introduced in your post. They are really convincing and will certainly work. Nonetheless, the posts are too quick for novices. Could you please extend them a little from subsequent time? Thank you for the post.
Utterly composed subject material, Really enjoyed studying.
Keep working ,terrific job!
I do love the manner in which you have presented this situation and it does indeed offer me a lot of fodder for consideration. However, coming from just what I have experienced, I just trust as the responses stack on that individuals keep on issue and don’t get started on a soap box involving the news du jour. Still, thank you for this superb piece and although I do not necessarily go along with this in totality, I value your point of view.
fantastic issues altogether, you simply gained a new reader. What may you recommend in regards to your put up that you made a few days in the past? Any positive?
Hello there! This post could not be written any better! Reading through this post reminds me of my previous room mate! He always kept talking about this. I will forward this page to him. Fairly certain he will have a good read. Thanks for sharing!
I like foregathering utile info, this post has got me even more info! .
Very interesting subject, thankyou for posting. "What passes for optimism is most often the effect of an intellectual error." by Raymond Claud Ferdinan Aron.
Enjoyed examining this, very good stuff, thanks.
Absolutely pent subject material, thanks for information .
It is in reality a great and helpful piece of info. I am satisfied that you simply shared this useful info with us. Please keep us informed like this. Thanks for sharing.
I enjoy the efforts you have put in this, thankyou for all the great content.
I believe you have mentioned some very interesting points, regards for the post.
I?¦ll immediately take hold of your rss as I can’t in finding your e-mail subscription link or e-newsletter service. Do you’ve any? Please permit me recognise so that I may just subscribe. Thanks.
You are my inspiration , I possess few web logs and rarely run out from to brand.
You could certainly see your expertise in the work you write. The world hopes for even more passionate writers like you who aren’t afraid to say how they believe. Always go after your heart.
The very crux of your writing whilst sounding agreeable initially, did not really work very well with me personally after some time. Someplace throughout the sentences you managed to make me a believer unfortunately just for a very short while. I however have got a problem with your jumps in logic and one would do well to help fill in all those breaks. In the event that you can accomplish that, I would undoubtedly be impressed.
I always was concerned in this subject and still am, regards for posting.
It’s in reality a nice and useful piece of information. I am satisfied that you shared this useful info with us. Please stay us up to date like this. Thanks for sharing.
I’d have to examine with you here. Which is not one thing I usually do! I take pleasure in reading a post that may make folks think. Additionally, thanks for permitting me to comment!
Hello.This post was extremely interesting, especially because I was investigating for thoughts on this issue last Saturday.
Good info and straight to the point. I don’t know if this is actually the best place to ask but do you guys have any ideea where to employ some professional writers? Thank you 🙂
WONDERFUL Post.thanks for share..extra wait .. …
It is actually a great and helpful piece of info. I am happy that you shared this useful information with us. Please keep us up to date like this. Thanks for sharing.
I enjoy gathering utile information , this post has got me even more info! .
Great post. I am facing a couple of these problems.
Appreciate it for all your efforts that you have put in this. very interesting information.
Hello, you used to write magnificent, but the last few posts have been kinda boring… I miss your tremendous writings. Past few posts are just a little out of track! come on!
You could definitely see your expertise within the work you write. The arena hopes for more passionate writers such as you who are not afraid to say how they believe. At all times go after your heart. "Experience is a good school, but the fees are high." by Heinrich Heine.
I respect your work, thankyou for all the great content.
Wohh just what I was looking for, thanks for posting.
You are a very smart person!
I couldn’t resist commenting
I wanted to thank you for this great read!! I definitely enjoying every little bit of it I have you bookmarked to check out new stuff you post…
I conceive you have mentioned some very interesting details, thankyou for the post.
Good post however , I was wanting to know if you could write a litte more on this topic? I’d be very grateful if you could elaborate a little bit more. Thank you!
Unquestionably believe that which you said. Your favorite reason appeared to be on the web the easiest thing to be aware of. I say to you, I certainly get annoyed while people consider worries that they plainly don’t know about. You managed to hit the nail upon the top and also defined out the whole thing without having side-effects , people can take a signal. Will probably be back to get more. Thanks
Really nice design and style and excellent subject matter, absolutely nothing else we need : D.
It¦s actually a nice and useful piece of information. I¦m happy that you shared this useful information with us. Please keep us up to date like this. Thank you for sharing.
Very interesting subject, regards for posting. "I do not pretend to know where many ignorant men are sure-that is all that agnosticism means." by Clarence Darrow.
Hello. remarkable job. I did not anticipate this. This is a splendid story. Thanks!
It is truly a great and helpful piece of info. I am happy that you simply shared this helpful information with us. Please keep us informed like this. Thanks for sharing.