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
This is key to a quality wine. Natural winemakers look after their soil, eschewing the use of man made chemicals.
PEOPLE
Wine made by people (like Michael pictured below), not large corporations. Farmers, not factories.
QUALITY
All natural wines are handmade. Grapes are handpicked in most cases.
TERROIR
Wines made naturally use wild yeast, the yeast from the vineyard on the skins of the fuit. Mass-made wines are fermented with artificial commercial yeast.
NO CHEMICALS
Wines made naturally are created using no or very little use of chemicals.
ORGANIC WINE
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.
BIODYNAMIC WINE
Biodynamics is at its core an energy management system. An 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.
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
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.
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.
- 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.
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.
