What Is Natural Wine?

Natural wine is an up-and-coming trend in the wine community due to its potential health benefits and unique flavor profiles. The process of making natural wines differs from the process of making conventional and organic wines, creating a unique product that is growing in popularity amongst avid wine connoisseurs.

In this post, we will go over what natural wine is, how it is made, the benefits and challenges that come with natural wine, as well as how to choose the right natural wine for you, and how to properly store it.

What Is Natural Wine?

As of right now, natural wine is more of a concept than an official label with specific rules and regulations. It can also go by a few different names, including raw wine or low-intervention wine. Some even just call it fermented grape juice. Overall, the general concept is that natural wine is made with as little human intervention as possible to create as natural of a flavor as possible.

Definition of Natural Wine

Natural wine is usually made with grapes that are not sprayed with any pesticides or herbicides, or grapes grown as naturally as possible without human involvement. Natural winemakers also do not add any yeast to their grapes to ferment, they leave the picked grapes alone and wait for fermentation to begin on its own. They also do not add any additives to their wine like sugar or other flavors, leaving only the raw flavor of fermented grape juice. Conventional wines also follow strict guidelines and regulations as to what can be added and what each step of the process is, and natural wines do not have as strict of guidelines.

What Does Natural Wine Taste Like?

Due to the lack of additives such as sugar, natural wines have a distinct and all-natural flavor profile that comes from the types of grapes used and the process of fermentation. This creates a unique flavor profile that tends to lean more towards the sour and “funky” end of the spectrum. Natural wines tend to be cloudy due to the fact that it is unfiltered, which can lead to an organic and chemical-free flavor. Some natural wines can be on the sweeter side, tasting close to buzzed grape juice.

While conventional wines can vary in flavor depending on the steps taken to produce them and what flavors were added to them, the flavor profile of natural wines is limited to the type of grape that was used and what flavor it develops from the natural fermentation process. This leads to a limited range of flavors for natural wines.

How Natural Wine Is Made

What makes natural wine brands stand out from conventional wine brands? The factors in the winemaking process that make natural wine stand out from conventional wine include specific vineyard practices, techniques during the winemaking process, and elements of the aging and bottling process.

How The Natural Wine Movement Started

Many wine connoisseurs agree that the natural wine movement began in rural France sometime around the 1990s when a handful of winemakers began creating their wines with little to no intervention. From there, these wines began to make their way to the states in the early 2000s, with only a small handful of restaurants and stores having them in stock. As the years went by, natural wine changed from a niche product that you needed connections to purchase to a more mainstream beverage being served at more popular restaurants. Natural wines truly exploded into the common market around 2017 and have only continued to grow in popularity amongst avid wine drinkers as time goes on.

Vineyard Practices

Natural winemakers practice organic and biodynamic farming techniques. Like with organic wines, they create a hands-off process where the grapes are not treated with any chemical pesticides. They also only harvest the grapes by hand instead of with a machine, to keep the process as natural as possible.

Winemaking Techniques

Natural winemakers use minimal intervention when making natural wines, including using little to no additives in their wine. The only exception is the occasional use of sulfites. They also practice wild fermentation, where no yeast is added and the grapes are left to ferment naturally on their own.

Aging and Bottling

Natural wines do not go through any filtration or fining processes, leaving the final product in its natural state. Some brands of natural wine will use minimal amounts of sulfur, but that is the only additive put into most natural wines.

Benefits and Challenges of Natural Wine

Environmental Benefits of Natural Winemaking

• Natural wine uses a more sustainable farming style that has less of an impact on the environment than conventional winemaking.
• Natural wine helps contribute to biodiversity and improves the soil quality of the vineyards the grapes are grown in.

Health Benefits of Natural Wine

• There are fewer chemicals and additives in natural wine, making it a healthier alternative to conventional wines.
• Because natural wines have fewer additives, they may have a reduction in potential allergens. This makes natural wine a better alternative for connoisseurs who have more allergy concerns.

Challenges of Buying Natural Wine

• Because of the reliance on the natural fermentation process, there can be issues with consistency between bottles and brands.
• Natural wines can be harder to find and have a smaller selection of options than conventional wine.
• Natural wines may be more expensive than conventional wines.

Challenges of Storing Natural Wine

• Natural wines have a shorter shelf life than conventional wines.
• Natural wines are extra sensitive to light, temperature, and other environmental conditions.

How To Choose Natural Wine

Choosing a natural wine can depend on the flavor profile you are looking for and what brand or label you are interested in. Wondering where to buy natural wine? You can find natural wine brands in your local wine shops, certain restaurants and bars, and even online wine retailers such as The Wine Cellar Group. Our team of wine enthusiasts can help you find your perfect bottle. We carry a wide selection including some hand-picked natural, organic, and vegan wines, like this Amber Natural Vegan Wine and w/o Organic Frappato.

How To Store Natural Wine

You can store natural wines similarly to conventional wines, in a dimly-lit area that does not experience extreme temperature fluctuations. Unopened bottles can last for years in the right conditions, but their life span shortens drastically once you open the bottle. A good rule of thumb is to leave open bottles of natural wine in the fridge for a few days or at most a couple of weeks. Natural wine is essentially a living product that is very sensitive to its environment, and it can go bad quickly without the proper conditions.

Natural Wine FAQ

What makes a wine “natural”?

Natural wine is made with minimal human intervention both in the vineyard and the winery.

Is natural wine the same as organic wine?

No, organic wine follows specific certification standards, while natural wine emphasizes minimal intervention.

Does natural wine taste different from regular wine?

Yes, natural wine often has unique and varied flavors compared to conventional wines.

Is natural wine healthier than conventional wine?

Natural wine can be healthier due to fewer chemicals and additives, but the health benefits can vary depending on the wine.

Why is natural wine more expensive?

The production process is more labor-intensive and the yields are often lower than conventional wines.

Can natural wine age well?

While some natural wines can age well, many are meant to be enjoyed young due to their lower sulfur content.