The natural wine, also referred to as “natty wine”, community has grown a lot in popularity in recent years. A movement that began in France has gained support among winemakers and wine enthusiasts all around the world. Yet, there appears to be some uncertainty surrounding natural wine. It is difficult to define exactly what natural wine is and how it is made due to a lack of strict legislation. This allows winemakers to label a range of wines as natural. Make sure to stay until the end to learn more about natural wines and find the answers to your questions.
How are natural wines different from conventional and organic ones?
As of now there is no official or regulated description of natural wines. We define them by comparing them to conventional or organic wines.
Natural wines, in comparison to traditional ones, come from organic grapes. This means that they come from vineyards where there is no use of pesticides. Also, in conventional winemaking there are many additives. These additives help control the aromas, flavors and texture of the wine.
In natural winemaking, there are no additives used. Some winemakers might add a small amount of sulfites, but this step is optional.
Sulfites occur in every wine as a by-product of the alcoholic fermentation so they aren’t harmful at all. They actually help the wine because they act like preservatives. In case you thought that they cause headaches, rest easy. There is no scientific explanation that supports this statement.
Finally, natural and conventional wines have a different winemaking process. The natural winemaking process skips steps like fining and filtering the wine.
When it comes to comparing organic and natural wines, there is one key difference. Organic winemakers can use additives if they are organic.
So, the best definition we could give to natural wine is “wine with nothing removed or added”.
Are natural wines vegan?
Yes, the vast majority of natural wines are vegan. What makes conventional wines non-vegan is the use of animal products for the fining of the wine. Since natural winemaking doesn’t include this process, natural wines are vegan. But, if it isn’t stated on the label, it’s better to ask your wine merchant to be 100% sure.
How are natural wines produced?
Natural winemaking aims to produce a finished product with the least amount of human intervention possible. Let’s have a look at the steps involved in producing natural wine.
- The grapes must be hand-picked from a vineyard that practices organic or biodynamic farming. When the grapes are crushed we get the juice that will later become our wine.
- This juice, called “must”, is placed in tanks where indigenous yeasts carry out the fermentation process. These yeasts are found on the grape skin. The grape stalks may remain in contact with the liquid during the fermentation process in some natural wine styles, such as orange wines.
- After fermentation, the wine is kept confined in the fermentation tanks. This way, waste grape material, and dead yeast cells settle in the tank’s bottom.
- Some winemakers might use a simple filtration system and pass the wine through a cloth. This helps remove larger particles.
- The cloudy natural wine that results is then bottled.
What is orange wine?
This term has been widely used in the natural wine community for many years. However, it causes some confusion and rightfully so. It’s not a wine made from oranges, but one with a deep orange hue. Modern winemakers are changing this term for “skin-contact wines” as it’s easier to understand. Orange wines, or skin-contact wines, refer to white wines that are made in the style of a red. The skins and seeds aren’t removed and stay in contact with the juice during fermentation. This process is employed to create more complex white wines. They are often described as bold, with aromas of tropical fruits, nuts, ripe apples, wood varnish, and dried orange zest.
Are natural wines more healthy?
There isn’t any scientific evidence stating that natural wines are healthier. They don’t contain any extra additives, that part is true. But the additives used in traditional winemaking are completely safe for human consumption. Less additives doesn’t mean a healthier wine. Natty wines contain alcohol, so excessive consumption will still result in a hangover.
Do natural wines taste different?
Natural wines do not have any of the ingredients found in refined conventional wines. So if you’re unfamiliar with them, you may find their taste strange. Natural wines may have sour undertones like cider or kombucha. This is to be expected because all these beverages are fermented for longer periods of time. Conventional wines have additives that speed up the process. Aside from that, the smells and flavors of natural wines are determined by the various indigenous yeasts found in each vineyard. As a result, natural wines might taste more yeasty and less fruity. Many people have characterized the scents of natural wines as being reminiscent of yogurt.
What is the best drinking age of a natural wine?
Since natural wines don’t contain large amounts of preservatives, they can spoil faster than traditional ones. This means that they aren’t meant for aging. The sooner you drink a natural wine, the fresher and tastier it will be. I recommend consuming natural wines within a year after buying them. If the label states that the wine contains sulfites then it’ll stay good for longer.
What is the best drinking temperature for natural wines?
When it comes to the proper temperature of serving and enjoying a natural wine, you can follow the same general guidelines for traditional ones. These are:
- 12°C to 20°C for red wines, with light-bodied reds being served at a cooler temperature and full-bodied and vintage reds at a warmer one.
- 6°C to 14°C for white wines, with crisp whites being served at a cooler temperature and aged whites being served at a warmer temperature.
- 4°C to 6°C for sparkling wines.
What makes a great quality natural wine?
There is no single thing that makes a great wine. I have always been taught and continue to believe that “great wines are made in the vineyard”. No matter how experienced a winemaker may be, if the grapes aren’t exceptional then you can’t make a great wine. This is especially true in natural winemaking, when there’s no way to change something that might be off-putting. Especially when it comes to a higher acidity or a lower concentration of sugars. But the enthusiasm of the winemaker is not to be underestimated. To get involved in natural winemaking you have to have a passion for wine. It requires a lot of manual labor and it’s not always a guaranteed way of making money. Something as simple as a heavy rain before the harvest can wash the indigenous yeasts of the grapes and destroy the yearly production. The result of being passionate about what you do can always be seen.
How to buy natural wines
An excellent first step is to go to a local natural wine bar and sample a variety of wines to find the best fit for you. Then you place an order for your chosen wine, either online or through a local wine shop. If you don’t live near a natural wine bar, the internet will be your best friend. There are hundreds of blogs and forums where wine connoisseurs and fans discuss various natty wines. Finally, you can always go to a wine shop and ask the employees for their ideas and/or thoughts. Most of them will be happy to guide you through this new world of natural wine.
Conclusion
While producing natural wine can be challenging, the end result is always unique and worth tasting, even if your palate finds it strange at first. Not only that, but natural winemaking is also a green technique because it avoids the use of pesticides, which pollute the environment. I hope this post has given you a better knowledge on natural wine. Arrange your own natural wine tasting session and share your thoughts with in the comments.
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