What is Natural Wine? Its Characteristics from Other Wine
What is natural wine? Most times, people mistake the wine they drink for natural wine but that isn’t always the case. As you read on, I would be showing you want natural wine is and what differentiates it from the regular wine that you often drink.
What is Natural Wine?
Natural wine is one type of wine that is made with minimum intervention both in the vineyard and during processing at the winery.
The philosophy of natural wine is to let the wine showcase the true character of the grapes and the environment where the grapes grow without the interference of modern winemaking techniques or additives. What usually characterizes natural wine from the bottom up includes vineyard practices and
1. Organic or Biodynamic Farming
Most of the grapes are grown along organic or biodynamic farming lines; that is, no synthetic pesticides, herbicides, or fertilizers are used.
Mostly hand-picked to ensure that only the best fruits get picked.
2. Winemaking Process No Added Yeasts
Natural wines are generally fermented with wild, indigenous yeasts occurring naturally on the grapes and in the winery environment instead of commercial yeast strains.
Minimal Additives: Most additives, like sulfites meant to protect the wine and preserve its freshness, are not used or minimized. Some natural winemakers use very small amounts of sulfites; others use no.
No Filtration or Fining: Lots of natural wines remain unfiltered and unplugged, hence cloudier or with a certain precipitate at the bottom of the bottle. This is because the winemaker doesn’t remove particles or clarify them, which he believes might strip the wine of its natural flavor and texture
Minimal Technology: The process of making the wine is kept as simple as possible. In addition, the reliance on modern equipment or new techniques in winemaking is minimal.
3. Taste and Appearance
Natural wines may be quite far from conventional wines in their flavor profile, generally described as more rustic, earthy, or funky. They will also have a wider flavor and aromatic profile.
Their color could also vary, and they may appear rather orange or amber than a conventional white or red wine.
4. Ideology
Transparency and Authenticity: Sometimes, natural wine is associated with other broader concepts of sustainability, transparency, and authenticity. When this is the case, producers tend to view the health of the vineyard ecosystem as a prime consideration that may lead to wine with an authentic expression of origin.
5. Labelling
Unlike organic wine, there is no legal definition of “natural wine” that allows the term to be used somewhat loosely at times. There are shared principles, however, as relates to production that the natural wine community abides by.
It has gained popularity in recent years, particularly with those interested in sustainability, organic farming, and more artisanal approaches to food and drink. But it is polarizing too, as its flavors and appearance can differ sharply from what many people are accustomed to in wine.
Now you know the difference, you can tell which is a natural and which isn’t.
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