What is Natural Wine Anyway? Natural Wine Explained

The natural wine movement has emerged as a powerful force within the global wine industry, championing sustainable viticulture and minimal intervention in the winemaking process. This movement emphasizes organic and biodynamic farming practices, avoiding synthetic chemicals in favor of natural alternatives. In the cellar, natural winemakers rely on indigenous yeasts for fermentation and shun additives like sulfites, creating wines that authentically reflect their terroir. The rise of natural wine is driven by a growing consumer demand for transparency, environmental responsibility, and authenticity in winemaking, challenging conventional practices and reshaping the landscape of modern wine culture. In this exploration, we delve into the origins, key figures, and defining characteristics of natural wines.


Table of Contents

  1. The Snapshot
  2. Overview
  3. Main Characteristics
  4. Natural Winemaking vs. Conventional Winemaking
  5. Natural Wine vs. Organic Wine vs. Biodynamic Wine
  6. How Does Natural Wine Taste? How Does It Look?
  7. Why Should I Try Natural Wine?
  8. Is Natural Wine Healthier than Regular Wine?
  9. Is Natural Wine Headache-Free?


Natural Wine: The Snapshot

Natural wine is crafted in small batches from hand-harvested organic or biodynamic grapes, with minimal intervention in the cellar. Here are the key characteristics of natural wine:


The Significance of Natural Wine

Over the past twenty years, an increasing number of wine producers have not only embraced organic and biodynamic farming but have also adopted a natural winemaking approach. For some producers, natural winemaking has always been the norm.

This movement represents a significant shift, countering the industrialization and homogenization of wine that has occurred over the past three decades. Natural wine producers lead this revolution, rejecting industrial techniques and the excessive use of pesticides, fungicides, herbicides, or fertilizers in the vineyard.

These winemakers also oppose the homogenization of taste and the dominance of international grape varieties, instead choosing indigenous varietals and emphasizing the concept of terroir—the much-debated "taste of place."

Despite its growing popularity, natural wine remains somewhat mysterious to mainstream audiences. Here, we aim to clarify what natural wine is and dispel common misconceptions.


Main Characteristics of Natural Wine

  • Natural wines are made with minimal intervention in the cellar during the winemaking process.
  • Natural wines ferment with natural yeast; no industrial yeast is added to initiate fermentation or influence flavor.
  • The fermentation process is free from chemical additives or temperature control devices.
  • Sulfur dioxide is used sparingly, serving only as a stabilizer and preservative.
  • Natural wines are often bottled unfined and unfiltered, leading to sediment at the bottom of the bottle.
  • Grapes are organically or biodynamically farmed, even if the wine is not certified. Learn more about organic wine and biodynamic wine.
  • Producers focus on indigenous grape varietals, including many long-forgotten ones.
  • Natural wine production adheres to fair and ethical labor practices throughout the harvest, farm work, and cellar operations. Authentic natural wine cannot be made at the expense of human rights.


Natural Winemaking vs. Conventional Winemaking

To understand what natural winemakers oppose, it's important to look at the common substances and techniques used in conventional winemaking:

  • Lab-grown yeasts
  • Antimicrobials
  • Antioxidants
  • Acidity regulators
  • Filtering gelatins
  • Fining agents like egg white, casein, isinglass
  • Electrical field treatments
  • Gas injections to aerate the wine
  • Reverse osmosis to control the alcohol-to-juice ratio
  • Temperature control


Natural Wine vs. Organic Wine vs. Biodynamic Wine

Natural wines result from a winemaking approach that may or may not be used in producing organic or biodynamic wines. Not all organic or biodynamic wines are natural, but all natural wines are made with grapes farmed organically or biodynamically.

Unlike organic and biodynamic wines, which are regulated by certifying bodies like USDA and Demeter USA, there is no standardized definition or protocol for natural wine.

It is not uncommon for organic or biodynamic wines to be made using conventional winemaking methods. This does not mean they are of inferior quality or less "pure."

Conventional winemaking can be fine, provided chemical substances and techniques are not overused, leading to an adulterated product. However, at Primal Wine, we believe natural wine represents the purest and most authentic form of wine available.


How Does Natural Wine Taste? How Does It Look?

Natural wine can taste significantly different from other types of wine. Sometimes, natural wine exhibits a level of acidity similar to a Belgian-style sour beer or Kombucha. Natural wines are rarely aged in new oak, making them less round and supple, with lower alcohol content due to less extraction.

Natural wine is usually unfined and unfiltered, giving it a cloudy appearance, particularly in white wines. To some, natural wine is funky, wild, and unpredictable; to others, including us, it's exactly how wine should taste.


Why Should I Try Natural Wine?

At Primal Wine, we emphasize a few key points:

  • Natural wine might not suit everyone, but everyone should try it. Its distinct taste offers an interesting and potentially life-changing experience.
  • As with other wines, there are well-made and flawed natural wines. However, natural wines are inherently more ethical. At Primal Wine, we ensure that all our wines are the best natural wines available.
  • We may not claim that natural wine is the best or healthiest option, but we strongly believe that synthetic pesticides and herbicides are harmful. Science agrees.


Is Natural Wine Healthier than Regular Wine?

Decades of research indicate that wine contains substances that, when consumed in moderation, have beneficial effects. However, it would be irresponsible to claim that natural wine is inherently good for your health—or any wine, for that matter.

At Primal Wine, we stress one key point: wine contains alcohol, and excessive consumption is harmful. We advocate for responsible consumption, ideally paired with food and shared with friends and family.

We care too much about wine to make misleading claims about natural wine's supposed health benefits.


Is Natural Wine Headache-Free?

Making such a claim would be irresponsible for two reasons:

  • No scientific evidence links sulfites to headaches. Wine-related headaches are subjective and can be caused by many factors, not just sulfites.
  • Natural wines contain sulfites, though in very low amounts. Sulfites form naturally during winemaking. There's no such thing as sulfite-free wine.
  • However, natural wine's low sulfite content makes it a good option for those sensitive to sulfites.