Natural wine


Probably one of the most debated topics of the last few years


But what is it?

GUY PALMER-BROWN

KISS OF WINE

It's hard to give a clear answer, mainly because there are no real definitions for natural wine. It's not regulated and it's not defined; in fact some of the winemakers who make natural wines love it this way! So how on earth do you get a clear picture of what makes a wine natural?


We think that the simplest way to define natural wine is to say it is wine made with nothing added and nothing taken away.


Let's break that down.


Nothing at all is being added to the wine. So it is simply grapes and their constituent parts. Some of the additions that are common (that natural winemakers do not add) are; on the vineyard -copper and sulphur and other preventative chemicals like weedkillers. In the winery - yeast, acid, tannin, sulphur.


Nothing is being taken away. It is the fermented grape juice in its natural form. Some examples of where parts are removed from the wine are filtering, fining or reverse osmosis.


It's worth noting that not all unfiltered or organic or unusual wines are natural. Just because the wine is hazy or is made from organic grapes, doesn't mean that everything is done naturally. It really needs all the conditions to be met.

FAQ


Natural wine process highlighted by organically grown grapes.

What does natural wine mean?

In the world of wine, where everything has a rule, natural wine is the odd one out, as it is unregulated and undefined. However it's commonly accepted that natural wine must be made from grapes grown organically, picked by hand, fermented with native yeasts and bottled without filtration and with no (or very little) preservatives.

Woman picking grapes by hand showing the slower process entailed in natural wines

Why are natural wines more expensive?

As an artisan, hand-made product, natural wines typically cost more. This is essentially down to a preference for doing things by hand as opposed to mechanically, so each step of the winemaking process takes longer, and costs more.

Couple enjoying their natural wine by the glass .

Does natural wine give you a hangover?

Sadly, yes, if you drink enough of it. Any alcoholic beverage, in sufficient quantity, will induce dehydration and the typical effects of a hangover. The lack of preservatives might help a little, but the alcohol will get you.

Zoomed in process of natural wine making  displaying the difference between natural and organic wine.

What is the difference between natural wine and organic wine?

Organic wine is only made fromorganically grown grapes, therefore in the winery these can be filtered and canhave preservatives added, whereas natural winemakers will choose to avoid bothof these.

The making of natural wine shown by its simplicity through hand made and no artificial preservatives.

How do you make natural wine?

The clue is in the name - it is meant to be as simple a process as possible, as natural as possible, with no artificial or mechanical intervention. Do everything by hand and try to avoid manipulation.

Tips on the best temperature to drink wine
Tips on the best temperature to drink wine Carly Merrett Kiss of wine Red, white and sparkling: What is the...
How long is wine drinkable once opened?
How long is wine drinkable once opened? Carly Merrett Kiss of wine An age-old question. We give you the simple...
Love Beer? Then check out these wine styles!
Love Beer? Then check out these wine styles! Carly Merrett Kiss of wine Five wine styles to convince your beer-drinking...