Organic and Natural Wines: What You Need to Know

Organic and natural wines are trending, but what’s the difference? This guide will help you understand these unique wine styles and why they’re worth trying.

1. What Are Organic and Natural Wines?

Organic Wines: Made from organically grown grapes without synthetic pesticides or fertilizers. Certified by organizations like USDA Organic or the EU Organic Label.

Natural Wines: Minimal intervention wines with little to no additives. Typically fermented with wild yeasts or native yeasts (yeast found naturally in wine cellars) and unfiltered. Not all natural wines are certified organic, but many follow similar practices.

2. Sustainable Vineyard Practices Organic vineyards grow their vines without the use of synthetic herbisides, pesticides and fertilizers. Natural wines often farm their vineyards organic or biodynamic. In a short explanation, here is what biodynamic farming is: It is a holistic approach to agriculture that treats the farm as a living organism. It focuses on creating a self-sustaining ecosystem, using natural materials, and avoiding synthetic chemicals.

Biodynamic farmers believe in the interconnectedness of all living things, including the soil, plants, animals, and cosmic forces. They use a lunar calendar to guide their farming practices and prepare special compost and herbal sprays to nourish the soil and protect the vines.

By working in harmony with nature, biodynamic winemakers aim to produce wines that express the unique terroir of their vineyard and reflect the health of the ecosystem.

3. Taste and Style Differences

Organic wines usually taste fresher and cleaner, reflecting the purity of the grape. Organic wines thus has a more consistent and predictable taste. Regarding natural wines, expect unique, vibrant flavors. Natural wines often have a "wild" character and can be slightly cloudy due to minimal filtration. Natural wines can thus be more variable and sometimes funky.

4. Winemaking Techniques

Organic winemaking emphasizes natural approaches, but it may still involve some additives and processing techniques, such as fining agents and filtration. Like mentioned above, organic wines adhere to strict certification standards, ensuring that they meet specific guidelines for both vineyard and winery practices. Regarding natural wines, the philosophy of natural winemaking is to intervene as little as possible in the winemaking process. This means avoiding additives like sulfur dioxide, commercial yeasts, and fining agents. There are no strict regulations for natural wine, thus leading to a wide range of styles and flavors.

5. Top Regions and Winemakers Organic Wine Regions: Napa Valley, Loire Valley & Tuscany.

Natural Wine Hotspots: Jura, Piedmont & Galicia.

6. Pros and Cons

Here are a few pro's and con's for both organic and natural wines:

Organic Pro's

Environmental Benefits: Reduced use of harmful chemicals, better soil health.

Healthier Grapes: Lower levels of pesticide residues.

Consistent Quality: Adherence to strict regulations ensures consistent quality.

Con's

Higher Cost: Often more expensive due to the additional costs of organic farming.

Limited Availability: Not as widely available as conventional wines.

Natural Pro's

Minimal Intervention: Preserves the natural character of the grape.

Unique Flavors: Can offer unique and interesting flavor profiles.

Healthier Option: Lower in sulfites and other additives.

Con's

Inconsistent Quality: Can be less consistent in quality due to the lack of standardization.

Acquired Taste: Some natural wines can be funky or off-putting to those accustomed to conventional wines.

Shorter Shelf Life: Due to minimal intervention, natural wines may have a shorter shelf life.

7. Trends and the Future

Increasing demand from younger consumers focused on sustainability and artisanal products. More wine bars and events featuring natural wines, making it easier to explore new varieties. As climate change impacts vineyards, sustainable practices like organic, natural and biodynamic farming are likely to grow.

Organic and natural wines offer a fresh, exciting way to experience wine. Whether you’re looking for sustainable choices or unique flavors, these wines provide a great opportunity to discover something new!