I am asked this question constantly…and it is so confusing for most people. I mean, isnlt all wine “natural” because it is made from grapes?
At my recent event we experienced different wines – natural, organic, biodynamic and sustainable, and talked about what the terms mean and how to identify these wines by the label markings. Here’s what you missed:
The definition of natural wine is often misunderstood by trade and consumers alike. The wine industry often lumps all wines that are Organic, Biodynamic, and “sustainable” under the umbrella of “natural wine”.
Natural wine
No official or legal classification or standard set of operating procedures defines the natural wine category and there are no organizations that can certify that a wine is natural. Because “natural” is an unregulated term, there is no official oversight and no guarantees as to what the wine may contain. These wines are often referred to as “low intervsantion”, meaning that the winemaker does not take the steps that many commercial winemakers do to create the wine. They can be considered more artisanal, often using ancient local practices or indigenous grapes.
Unofficial definitions of natural wines include the primary practices mandated for Organic and Biodynamic winemakers plus:
- Use of indigenous, wild yeast vs. yeast purchased to instill specific characteristics
- Use of non-chemical additives such as enzymes, acid or tannins to alter the final wine is discouraged.
- Often unfiltered, the wines are often cloudy in appearance.
Sustainable
Sustainable wines are produced according to criteria set by regional industry associations and are permitted to apply chemicals when needed. There are no consistent standards or certification agencies for sustainable wines.
“Sustainable” refers to the farming and winemaking practices that winegrowers follow. To be certified sustainable, wineries and vineyards must have an independent third party evaluate their farming practices and see if they meet certain eco-friendly standards. These standards run the gamut of composting waste to make fertilizer, conserving water, and reducing energy consumption and pesticide use. Each region or country has their own set of standards and certifying organization.
Organic
In the U.S., all wines labeled and sold as Made with Organic Grapes must contain 100% organically grown grapes and can add a minimal amount of sulfites, up to 100ppm. Wines labeled as Organic have No Sulfites Added (NSA) and can carry the USDA organic seal. Even these wines may contain a very minute amount of sulfites (up to 10ppm) as grapes themselves naturally produce sulfites.
Biodynamic
Biodynamic certification is granted by the Demeter Association. the requirements for certification are the same the world over. All Biodynamic wines are also organically grown, are produced with minimal intervention and with an eye toward regenerating the soil of the vineyard
Like biodynamic agriculture in general, biodynamic viticulture stems from the ideas and suggestions of Rudolf Steiner (1861–1925), who gave his now famous Agriculture Course in 1924, predating most of the organic movement. The principles and practices of biodynamics are based on his spiritual/practical philosophy, called anthroposophy, which includes understanding the ecological, the energetic, and the spiritual in nature.
Biodynamic winemakers claim to have noted stronger, clearer, more vibrant tastes, as well as wines that remain drinkable longer. Biodynamic producers also note that their methods tend to result in better balance in growth, where the sugar production in the grapes coincides with physiological ripeness, resulting in a wine with the correct balance of flavor and alcohol content, even with changing climate conditions.
In a blind tasting of 10 pairs of biodynamic and conventionally made wines, conducted by Fortune and judged by seven wine experts including a Master of Wine and head sommeliers, nine of the biodynamic wines were judged superior to their conventional counterpart.The biodynamic wines “were found to have better expressions of terroir, the way in which a wine can represent its specific place of origin in its aroma, flavor, and texture.
Both Organic and Biodynamic producers must adhere to strict standards that include:
- Grown and produced without most conventional pesticides, synthetic fertilizers and ingredients, genetic engineering, ionizing radiation, or sewage sludge.
- Produced without the use of chemical additives.
Both Organic and Biodynamic producers must adhere to strict standards that include:
- Grown and produced without most conventional pesticides, synthetic fertilizers and ingredients, genetic engineering, ionizing radiation, or sewage sludge.
- Produced without the use of chemical additives.
Now that you know what these terms mean, it’s time to try some wines!
Cheers,
Anne
