What is Natural Wine?

• • In this blog:

    • • • How is natural wine made?

        • Why is natural wine often more expensive than regular wine?

        • Is there sulphite in natural wine?

        • How do I know if a wine is natural wine?

        • Dutch natural wine makers

        • Buy Dutch Natural Wine

How is natural wine made?

When making natural wine, interventions are kept to a minimum. This applies both in the vineyard and in the winery itself. There are many advantages to this way of making wine. For example, the wine often has more flavor, little to no sulphite and it is incredibly sustainable and a lot healthier! 

Although there are no official rules for making, there are a number of rules of thumb that are generally used:

• All grapes are at least organically grown

• The grapes are harvested and selected by hand

• Only naturally occurring yeasts are used

• Nothing is added to the must or wine

• The wine is not filtered

• No sulphite is added before or during fermentation

• All grapes are at least organically grown

• The grapes are harvested and selected by hand

• Only naturally occurring yeasts are used

• Nothing is added to the must or wine

• The wine is not filtered

• No sulphite is added before or during fermentation

Why is natural wine more expensive than regular wine?

There are more risks involved in making natural wine, in the vineyard, in the winery and even in the bottle!

No use of pesticides

Making natural wine is more vulnerable. Pesticides in the vineyard help against diseases and fungi. Natural wine makers do not use pesticides. This can be at the expense of the harvest and therefore the yield. The price of natural wine is often higher for this reason.

No rumbling in the winery: nothing to mask or filter out of the wines

In the process of making natural wine, virtually nothing is added or removed from the wine. To make a good natural wine, you must therefore work very hygienically and meticulously. Any errors in the wine cannot be disguised or filtered out of the wine.

No matter how carefully you work, it can always prevent bacteria from entering the wine tank. This can ruin an entire batch, so the natural wine maker must also factor this risk into his price.

Is there sulphite in natural wine?

Sulphite and its usefulness

Wine naturally contains sulphite. It is quite normal to add some sulphite to make the wine last longer. Sulfite also has disadvantages, it can cause headaches and nausea. That is why natural wine is often chosen not to add this at all or to a very minimal extent. For this reason, keep your natural wine cool, dark and, above all, not too long.

How do I know if a wine is 'Natural Wine'?

There is no quality mark for natural wine and therefore there are no rules. The term natural wine is not even recognized legally, because the CEEW (the party representing the wine industry in the EU) claims that all wine is natural. That is why you will not find the term 'Natural wine' on a label. Quite difficult! Do you want to be sure that you are buying a natural wine? Let your wine specialist advise you or ask the winemaker himself.

Dutch natural wine makers

These pioneering winemakers work as naturally as possible!

• Domain Aldenborgh, Eys – Limburg
• Vineyard VieVinVjenne, Vriezenveen – Overijssel
• Wijngoed Wolf, Sint-michielsgestel – North Brabant
• Vineyard Dassemus, Chaam – North Brabant
• The Wild Vineyard, Lelystad – Flevoland
• Minus Seven, Lelystad – Flevoland
• Wine estate Oude Waalstroom, Hurwenen – Gelderland

Vineyard VieVinVjenne

Vriezenveen, Twente, Overijssel

Winemaker Marcel Oude-Booijink has arranged his vineyard in such a way that the vines need as little help as possible. For example, he has built roadsides that stimulate biodiversity and his tendrils grow at a height of +-180cm. This helps against frost damage and against fungi. Also, the natural lawnmowers (sheep) run the vineyard all year round. After all, these cannot snack on the grapes, which hang much too high. Marcel also works as pure as possible in the winery. 

Buy Dutch Natural Wine

Which can naturally just with us!