Ever been at a dinner party where everyone's talking about natural wine, but you're not quite sure what makes it different from organic or biodynamic options? 🍷

You're not alone!

The confusion is understandable - unlike organic wines, natural wines have no legal definition, leading to misconceptions about what you're actually drinking.

Let's clarify things!

Organic wines come from grapes grown without artificial fertilisers or harmful chemicals, but here's the catch—they can still contain plenty of additives during winemaking.

Biodynamic wines (born in the 1920s) take things further by treating the vineyard as a complete ecosystem and following a specific astronomical calendar.

Natural wines combine the best of both worlds - they start with organically or biodynamically grown grapes but then take a hands-off approach during vinification.

✅ Lower sulfites - EU organic wines can have up to 150 mg/L. Natural wines typically contain little to no added sulfites, making them perfect if you're sensitive to these preservatives.

✅ Pure and clean—The zero-zero approach (zero added, zero removed) means you're drinking wine as nature intended—better for your body and the planet!

✅ No more wine headaches - Many customers report fewer headaches and side effects than conventional wines.

I'm thrilled that all our wines are natural, supporting small-scale sustainable farming and delivering authentic flavours without the nasty after-effects of conventional wines. In this guide, I'll walk you through the key differences between these wine types so you can make the best choice for your health, the environment, and your taste buds! 😊

Understanding the Basics: What Each Wine Type Means

"To me low intervention is really about getting back to nature and letting nature play a primary role in how wine is made." — Anton Von Klopper, Founder of Lucy Margaux Vineyards, prominent natural wine producer

Image Source: Winerabble

Confused about the difference between organic, biodynamic, and natural wines? 🤔

Let's break it down!

The key differences come from what happens in the vineyard and during winemaking. Understanding these distinctions helps you make better choices for your health, taste buds, and the planet.

What is organic wine, and what makes wine organic?

Organic wine isn't just a trendy label—it's certified to meet specific legal standards. These standards cover everything from pesticide use to preservation methods.

The basics: Organic wine starts with grapes grown without synthetic fertilisers, pesticides, or herbicides.

But here's where it gets interesting - certification standards vary by region:

In the United States, USDA organic wines must be made from certified organic grapes with no added sulfites (though naturally occurring ones are permitted) [18]

European Union organic wines can contain up to 100 parts per million of sulfites for red wines and 150 parts per million for white and rosé wines [19]

The best part? Organic farming creates healthier vineyard ecosystems! By working with nature rather than against it, these vineyards become havens for wildlife, with an average of 50% more bees, birds, and butterflies [20]. Plus, organic farming prioritises soil health, encouraging strong root structures and living soil that directly influences how your wine tastes.

What is biodynamic wine, and how is it different?

Biodynamic wine takes organic principles and turns them up to 11! 💪

This approach views the vineyard as a complete, self-sustaining ecosystem. Developed by Rudolf Steiner in the 1920s, biodynamic viticulture follows a specific astronomical calendar that dictates when to plant, prune, harvest, and bottle [3].

Some fascinating aspects of biodynamic winemaking:

Days are divided into four categories—Fruit, Root, Flower, and Leaf days—each corresponding to classical elements of Earth, Fire, Air, and Water [3]

Biodynamic practitioners use special preparations (numbered 500-508), such as cow horns filled with manure that are buried in the vineyard to stimulate microbial activity [4]

Looking for biodynamic wine? Certified bottles display the Demeter or Biodyvin logo and permit up to 100 parts per million of sulfites [19], though some limit this to 70-90 parts per million [5].

What is natural wine, and how is it made?

Natural wine is the purest expression of winemaking—essentially fermented grape juice with minimal human intervention. Natural wines have no legal definition or certification, unlike organic or biodynamic wines, yet they follow stricter practices than both!

What makes natural wine special?

✅ Begins with organically or biodynamically grown grapes that are hand-harvested [6]

✅ Fermentation occurs spontaneously with native yeasts found naturally on grape skins—no commercial yeasts added [7]

✅ Contains little to no added sulfites (typically 0-30 mg/L compared to the 350 mg/L allowed in conventional wines) [7]

The result? A wine that's alive with beneficial bacteria, authentic flavours, and fewer additives that can cause those nasty headaches or allergic reactions many of us experience with conventional wines.

Natural wines support small-scale sustainable farming and directly connect to the terroir. That's exactly why all our wines are natural—better for your health and better for the planet. 🌍

Farming and Winemaking Practices Compared

Ever wondered what happens between the vineyard and your wine glass? 🤔

The journey from grape to glass reveals huge differences between conventional, organic, biodynamic, and natural wines - differences that directly impact your health and our planet!

Use of chemicals: None vs limited vs allowed

Let's face it - conventional wines are swimming in chemicals! 😩

They rely heavily on synthetic pesticides, herbicides, and fertilisers to maximise yields. Organic winemaking takes a better approach by prohibiting these chemicals, instead using natural alternatives like compost and beneficial insects to control pests.

Biodynamic farming goes even further, viewing the vineyard as a complete ecosystem and applying special preparations to enhance soil life.

Natural wine represents the purest approach - no chemical interventions throughout the process. Your body will thank you for that!

Fermentation: Native yeast vs commercial yeast

Here's where things get interesting! The fermentation process is what truly separates natural wines from the rest.

Commercial wines typically use selected cultured yeasts (fancy lab-created strains) for predictable results. These laboratory yeasts offer consistency but sacrifice uniqueness - like choosing a factory-made sourdough over a handcrafted one.

Natural wines? They rely exclusively on indigenous yeasts naturally present on grape skins. This wild fermentation creates more complex flavours that express the vineyard's terroir. It might be less predictable, but that's exactly what makes each bottle special! 💪

Sulfite levels: No added vs low vs allowed up to 100 mg/L

The sulfite story matters a lot if you've ever experienced wine headaches:

• Conventional wines: Up to 350 mg/L permitted (yikes!)
• EU organic red wines: Maximum 100 mg/L
• EU organic white/rosé wines: Maximum 150 mg/L
• Natural wines: Either zero or minimal added sulfites (typically under 30 mg/L)

For sensitive drinkers, these differences are HUGE. Many customers who couldn't enjoy wine before have found they can drink our natural wines without the nasty side effects! 🙌

Certifications: Demeter, VinNatur and others

How do I identify these different wine types?

Demeter certification is the gold standard for biodynamic practices, requiring adherence to strict ecological standards. It's the world's oldest environmental certification, founded back in 1928!

VinNatur certifies natural wines, ensuring they're made without additives or interventions.

Unlike organic or biodynamic wines, natural wine lacks standardised certification, although France's recent "Vin Méthode Nature" category aims to formalise standards.

All our wines follow natural winemaking principles - we're committed to supporting your health and our environment. Because why compromise when you can have wine that's good for both? 🍷

References

[1] - https://www.usda.gov/about-usda/news/blog/organic-101-organic-wine
[2] - https://www.atelierduvin.com/en/a-guide-to-organic-wine-everything-you-need-to-know/?srsltid=AfmBOoqn-hXH3quYKv8IsKffw-bBrDEo2-95X1G2i27PzSnExaJDFPEE
[3] - https://www.soilassociation.org/take-action/organic-living/what-is-organic/organic-wine/
[4] - https://winefolly.com/deep-dive/biodynamic-wine-guide/
[5] - https://www.wineandmore.com/guide-to-biodynamic-wine/
[6] - https://www.wienscellars.com/biodynamic-wines-explained-philosophy-and-techniques/?srsltid=AfmBOorGb9tnD8uksTsAYWkkDFgD7z9LSS7kvx0zi2_x5kILVjAG__nY
[7] - https://www.plonkwineclub.com/blogs/stories/the-science-behind-natural-wines?srsltid=AfmBOor4D9biS9XXWgyET1PhbQ9XILVbvFO_cJ0LC67EouaAi8uEWpm7
[8] - https://www.foodandwine.com/wine/what-is-natural-wine