Left or right?
One vineyard is organic, one is not, can you tell which? One side, one ecosystem is alive with an abundance of flora and fauna, and the other not reduced to vines and scorched earth.
There are many more reasons why you should consider going natural when it comes to wine...
- Soil health is key to a quality wine. Natural winemakers look after their soil, eschewing the use of man made chemicals.
- Wine made by people (like Michael pictured below), not large corporations.
- Quality. all natural wines are handmade. grapes are handpicked in most cases.
- Natural use of wild yeast, opposed to artificial commercial yeast.
- No and very low use of chemicals.
Organic Wine
1. Viticulture: Organic wines are made from grapes grown without synthetic pesticides, herbicides, or fertilizers. Instead, organic farming practices emphasize the use of natural products and techniques to maintain soil fertility and control pests.
2. Winemaking: The production process must also adhere to organic standards, which typically restrict the use of certain additives and processing aids. Organic certification varies by region but generally includes regulations on sulfite levels.
Biodynamic Wine
1. Viticulture: Biodynamic farming is a holistic, ecological, and ethical approach to farming, originally developed by Rudolf Steiner. It includes organic practices but goes further by incorporating a spiritual and cosmic dimension. Biodynamic farmers use specific compost preparations and follow a planting calendar that considers astrological influences.
2. Winemaking: Like organic wines, biodynamic wines are subject to stringent regulations on additives and processing. Biodynamic certification is provided by organizations like Demeter, which ensure adherence to these practices both in the vineyard and in the winery.
Natural Wine
1. Viticulture: Natural wines are made from grapes grown with minimal intervention, often using organic or biodynamic practices, but not necessarily certified. The focus is on allowing the vineyard’s natural ecosystem to thrive.
2.Winemaking: The winemaking process is where natural wines stand out. These wines are made with minimal intervention, avoiding additives like cultured yeast, sulfites, and other chemicals. Fermentation occurs naturally, and the wines are usually unfiltered and unfined.
Key Differences
- Certification: Organic and biodynamic wines often carry certification from recognized bodies, ensuring adherence to specific standards. Natural wines, on the other hand, may not be certified and rely more on the winemaker’s philosophy and practices.
- Farming Practices: While all three emphasize low-intervention farming, biodynamic farming includes specific spiritual and cosmic practices not found in organic or natural farming.
- Winemaking Practices: Natural winemaking is the least interventionist, often resulting in wines that are more variable and expressive of their terroir. Organic and biodynamic wines, while still emphasizing minimal intervention, may allow for more controlled winemaking processes.
Understanding these distinctions helps in appreciating the diversity and intentions behind each bottle of wine.
Below are some of the logos of farming bodies we recognise as upholding rigorous sensitive values and standards.
