Natural wines... 👋👋

Earlier this week, we gathered with over a hundred growers and makers of natural wine from around the world to discuss and celebrate the latest in this movement. We'll be highlighting some of our favorite producers and trends in upcoming posts, but first:

While the "natural wine movement" is not new, we often get questions about it. So, we wanted to take a minute to answer some of our most commonly asked questions:

What are natural wines?

Wines made from sustainably-grown grapes (aka organic and biodynamic grapes) with minimal intervention in the winemaking process. Unlike conventional wines, natural wines do not contain added sugars and chemicals to influence flavor or texture of the wine.

Natural wines are often called "low intervention" or "minimal intervention" wines.

Fewer additives and manipulation during the winemaking process allows the true expression of the grapes and the terroir to shine through.

How is natural wine produced?

With little or no machinery and mechanization, grapes are harvested by hand (or hoof!) and fermented using yeasts that naturally occur (on the grapeskins and vines) instead of lab-produced yeasts.

These processes allow the true flavors of the grapes to shine through, resulting in a more authentic and unique wine. Natural wines are known for their vibrant flavors and lively character.

What are 'sustainably-grown' grapes?

Grapes that are farmed organically and/or biodynamically. While not all natural winemakers have applied for certification from the USDA (for organic) and Demeter USA (for biodynamic), all natural winemakers craft wines from grapes using these farming practices.

Organic: Simply put, everything that is used to create a wine exists naturally on earth. There are no synthetic or chemical fertilizers or additives used to process the grapes and/or wines. It's worth noting that sulfites are a naturally-occurring preservative and acceptable in organic wines.

Biodynamic: A holistic approach to organic farming that incorporates and protects the ecosystem. By farming harmoniously with the earth and its different life cycles, biodynamic farming promotes biodiversity by using plants and animals to fertilize and balance the environment.

Natural wines reduce chemical usage, promote biodiversity and have a positive environmental impact.

What about Zero-Zero wines?

Wines made with zero additions and zero subtractions. Nothing is added (sulfur, commercial yeast, etc) or subtracted (via filtration) during the winemaking process. As natural winemakers are committed to promoting sustainability and transparency, there is a growing sub-set of winemakers who are pushing the boundaries with zero-zero wines.

📷@rawwineworld