Collection of buzzwords and keywords indicating minimal intervention by the winemaker during the entirety of the vinification process.
“Natural wine is not new; it is what wine always was, and yet, somehow today it has become a rarity. It is a tiny drop in a big ocean, but, oh my, what a drop.” -- Isabelle Legeron
The natural wine movement is the progeny of organic and biodynamic winemaking, and is a current trend in the wine industry where nothing should be added or taken away from the wine, letting it speak for itself. The goal is to produce wines that reflect the unique terroir of the vineyard, with a focus on natural flavors and aromas. There are no national or industry guides to what it is or isn't, however, making definitions and descriptions nebulous at best and meaningless at worst. Yet, it is its own category. The most natural wine one might experience is if one were to stumble upon a puddle of fermented grapes and their juices underneath a grapevine, as no human hands were probably involved, which probably won't happen.
Whereas wine can (and has1) been defined as;
An infallible antidote to commonsense and seriousness; an excuse for deeds otherwise unforgivable,
an introductory definition of natural wine might be:
Wine made with little to no additives, either in field or bottle, to include avoiding the use of synthetic pesticides and herbicides, artificial colors, flavors, yeast, or preservatives, as well as having nothing removed, such as sediment and proteins.
So how does one know? Look for any of the following (including variants and combinations) on the label, the more there are the better (in this instance!): spontaneous fermentation, native yeast, indigenous varietals, organic, biodynamic, biovegan, unfiltered, unfined, traditional, unoaked, pre-phylloxera, natural winemaking techniques. Or, take the time to know your favorite wine merchant and staff, ask questions, and rely on their expertise.
Again, it's important to note that there is no official definition of natural wine, and the term can be used loosely or strictly depending on the producer. Some winemakers may claim to make natural wine even if they use certain additives or interventions.
In general, natural wine is characterized by its complexity, diversity, and (often) a lower alcohol content compared to conventional wines. Remember: Nothing says "natural" like steel tank fermented wine in can!
1The Roycroft Dictionary by Elbert Hubbard, 1914.
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