What is natural wine?
Concept
Natural wine is a type of wine made from organic or biodynamic grapes collected by hand, and with minimal intervention by the winery.
Overview
In the last twenty years, an increasing number of winemakers have not only switched to organic and biodynamic agriculture, but have also adopted a different approach to winemaking: natural winemaking. It should be noted that for some producers, natural winemaking has always been the only option: some of them have always made wine naturally.
Natural winemaking has become a revolution-like movement, a nemesis of the industrialization and homogenization of wine in the last three decades. Natural wine producers are at the forefront of this movement, rejecting industrial winemaking techniques and the excessive use of pesticides, fungicides, herbicides or fertilizers in the vineyard.
Natural winemakers also reject the homogenization of flavor and the dominance of international grape varieties, preferring instead indigenous varieties and focusing on the concept of terroir.
Natural wine remains somewhat of a mystery despite its recent surge in popularity. Here we will try to explain what natural wine is and comment on some misconceptions.
Main features
- Natural wines are made with minimal intervention in the winery during the winemaking process.
- Natural wines are made with natural yeast; no industrial yeast is added to trigger fermentation or add a particular flavor to the wine.
- The fermentation process is not controlled by chemicals or temperature control devices.
- Sulfur dioxide, always in minimal quantities, is the only substance added to natural wines, serving as a stabilizer and preservative.
- Natural wines are often bottled unclarified and unfiltered and, as a result, sediment accumulates at the bottom of the bottle.
- Natural wines are made with grapes grown organically or biodynamically, although, in some cases, they are not certified.
- Natural wine producers tend to work with indigenous grape varieties.
Conventional oenology versus natural oenology
To better understand what natural winemakers are against, it is essential to take a look at some of the most common substances and techniques used in conventional winemaking:
- Lab-grown yeasts
- Antimicrobials
- antioxidants
- Acidity regulators
- Filtering gelatins
- Clarifiers such as egg white, casein, fishtail
- Treatment of electric fields
- Gas injections to aerate the wine
- Reverse osmosis technique to control the alcohol-fruit juice ratio.
- Temperature control
Natural wine vs. Organic wine vs. Biodynamic wine
Not all organic or biodynamic wines are also natural wines, but instead all natural wines are made with grapes grown organically or biodynamically.
There is no shared definition or rule that establishes what a natural wine is, but there are well-defined regulations for what can be considered organic and / or biodynamic.
How does natural wine taste? How does it look like?
Natural wine can taste very different from other types of wine. In some cases, it has a level of acidity comparable to that of a Belgian-style bitter beer or even Kombucha. Natural wines are rarely aged in new oak and therefore tend to be less round and flexible; and they tend to have less alcohol.
Natural wine is usually unrefined or unfiltered and therefore can look cloudy, definitely more cloudy than standard wine (it is more appreciated in whites). For some people, natural wine is funky, wild, and unpredictable; for others, including us, it is precisely that, wine.
Why should you try natural wine?
Although it is true that natural wine may not be for all tastes, we believe that everyone should try it. And it is that natural wine can have a very different flavor to traditional wine and, in any case, it is a very interesting and potentially transformative experience.
As with other (non-natural) wines there are good and bad natural wines; Well made natural wines and other defective ones. However, natural wines are by definition more ethical. In Bebedistinto you will only find those natural wines that we have tasted, and that we firmly believe deserve to be known.
Is natural wine healthy?
Decades of scientific research tell us without a doubt that wine contains substances that, if ingested in moderation, have beneficial effects. However, it would be irresponsible and unscientific to claim that wine - natural or not - is good for health.
We are clear that, above all, we are talking about an alcoholic drink, and alcohol, especially in excess, is not good for health. We believe that it is a brutal drink, yes, but it should be consumed responsibly, in moderation, whenever possible with food, and of course with friends and family.
Is natural wine headache free?
Again, it would be irresponsible to make such a claim and for two very simple reasons:
- There is no scientific proof that sulfites cause headaches. Wine-related headaches are actually very subjective and can be caused by a wide range of factors, not just sulfites.
- Natural wines contain sulfites even if they are not added: sulfites are formed naturally during the winemaking process. There is no such thing as wine without sulphites.
However, it is true that natural wine has an incredibly low amount of sulfites and, therefore, for those who are very sensitive to sulfites, or even slightly intolerant, it is the best option on the market.
conclusion
Natural wine is probably the most fascinating wine on the market. He can be funky and wild, but not only is that not a bad thing, but also, he always shows a strong personality. But it is also that, with natural wine, each vintage is different, and has a different flavor, and that makes it even more exciting.
The non-interventionist approach to winemaking, together with the best organic and biodynamic practices in the vineyards, give wines of unique character.
