What is Natural Wine?

Natural wine is no longer niche—it’s gone more mainstream. More diners are asking for it, bottle shops are stocking it, and sommeliers are championing its uniqueness and sustainable appeal.

So, what is natural wine?

Natural wine is a style of wine made with minimal intervention, both in the vineyard and winery. 

“Natural wine” is not regulated by an official definition. Master of Wine Isabelle Legeron and founder of RAW wine fair describes natural wines as “Made from sustainably farmed, organic (or biodynamic) grapes, with nothing removed or added during winemaking, bar at most a dash of sulfites.”

The process usually involves:

• Organic or biodynamic grapes, grown without synthetic pesticides or fertilizers
  
  
• Native yeast fermentation, rather than commercial strains
  
  
• Minimal intervention, less additives, ncluding sulfites (some may use very low amounts)
  
  
• Unfiltered and unfined, resulting in a more rustic, cloudy appearance
  
  
• Traditional winemaking practices, Pétillant-naturel (or pét-nat) is bottle-fermented without added sugars or yeasts—the second fermentation kicks off naturally, capturing bubbles the old-school way.

The result is variable, ranging from vibrant, unpredictable, and sometimes funky characteristics in the wines, reflecting the unique terroir and vintage more transparently than conventional wines. Natural wines can be polarizing—some love their raw expressiveness, others find them inconsistent.

For a list of Natural Wine Producers, please see below this article.

So, why are natural wines becoming popular? Stay tuned for Part 2!