When it comes to trends in alcohol, be it fancy cocktails, beer spritzers, or drinking rosé all-day, our tastes are changing and evolving to the market. So, how does wine fit into the mix? With a focus on the eco-conscious and support of the independent producers, natural wines have become a growing trend amongst wine drinkers. But what exactly is natural wine?

Natural Wine: The Basics

Natural wine is more or less an unfiltered wine with no additives incorporated into the fermentation process. This changes the taste of wine as we know it. But natural wine is more than this stripped-down drink. It actually has a bigger impact on the industry.

There are a few basic elements that make natural wine. The first is how the wine is actually sourced. Typically, the grapes used are grown by independent producers and hand-picked from organic vineyards or through holistic, biodynamic vineyards.

From there, the wine is fermented with no added yeast and no extra additives in the fermentation process. This includes little to no additional sulfites, too. Some call this type of wine, “living wine” as it is full of naturally occurring microbiology.

While natural or raw wine may seem like a new trend, the reality isn’t so. The process of just fermenting grape juice has been around since ancient times. What we think of as the normal wine process is actually a newer trend.

So what does Natural Wine Taste Like?

If you’re used to drinking sweet, fruity wine, you may be shocked when you sip on a glass of natural wine as it tends to have a yeasty taste similar to sour beer or according to some, kombucha.

Though some may have a naturally sweet taste, remember you’re drinking a wine made from a different process, so naturally, the tastes and appearance will vary.

Some of the wines are made in a similar style to our typical wines. For example, orange wine is made in a similar way to red wines where the skins and seeds stay on during the fermentation process. The resulting taste is tangy, almost beer-like in some cases. However, this depends on the types of grapes used.

The Benefits of Natural Wine

We’ve all heard that there can be health benefits to drinking a glass of red wine. But what are the unique benefits of drinking natural wine?

Well, this is actually greatly debated. Since no sulfites are added to these wines, many think this makes the wine better for you. But, that may not be true. There is still a lack of concrete evidence that wine sulfites actually cause the ever-common wine headache.

The issue is also in the unfiltered process as living microbes and proteins remain in each bottle you uncork along with biogenic amines which have actually been proven to cause headaches.

There is also the issue of transport as these natural wines are more fragile in terms of shelf life. That’s why it’s best to buy from local retailers and drink within a year as well as keeping it away from light.

The Bottom of the Natural Wine Bottle.

While there are benefits to drinking natural wine (like supporting your independent producers and getting a locally sourced product) there are also elements to consider like the taste and short shelf-life. But whether you are down with the natural wine trend or would rather stick to your prosecco, you might as well uncork the good life.