Natural Wine, Organic Wines, Sustainable wine….what are best choices, and what are the differences?
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Natural wine, Sustainable wine and Organic Wine are rapidly changing the current wine landscape. Today the wine industry is experiencing several noteworthy trends that are shaping both consumer preferences and winemaking practices. Let’s explore the significant trends to understand the differences and learn who is leading the way in this changing arena.
Natural Wine
In tandem with the sustainable wine movement, natural wines have surged in popularity among consumers. These wines appeal to thoe seeking authentic, unadulterated expressions of terroir. Natural winemaking prioritizes minimal intervention in the vineyard and cellar, allowing grapes to ferment spontaneously with indigenous yeasts and without additives or manipulation. These wines often exhibit vibrant acidity, distinct aromatics, and a sense of place reflective of their terroir.
Sustainable Wine
Sustainable wine viticulture encompasses a range of practices aimed at reducing environmental impact, conserving natural resources, and promoting long-term vineyard health. As a result, Wineries committed to sustainability prioritize energy efficiency, water conservation, and waste reduction throughout the winemaking process. They often employ techniques such as dry farming, renewable energy use, and habitat preservation to minimize their ecological footprint while producing high-quality wines.
Organic Wine
There is a noticeable surge in the emphasis on sustainability and organic practices in winemaking. This reflects a broader societal shift towards environmental consciousness. Consumers are increasingly drawn to wines crafted with environmentally friendly methods prioritizing the health of the land, vineyards, and surrounding ecosystems. Wineries are embracing organic wine practices that eliminate the use of synthetic pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers, opting instead for natural alternatives. By avoiding synthetic chemicals, organic vineyards help maintain soil health, preserve water quality, and support biodiversity. Certification bodies such as USDA Organic verify compliance with strict organic standards, ensuring transparency and trust for consumers.
Biodynamic Wine
Biodynamic viticulture takes organic farming principles a step further. The vineyard as a holistic ecosystem interconnected with cosmic rhythms. Bio farmers follow a strict set of principles outlined by the Demeter Biodynamic certification. They incorporate practices like composting, cover cropping, and lunar cycle-based planting and harvesting. Consequently, by fostering biodiversity and enhancing soil vitality, biodynamic vineyards strive to achieve a harmonious balance between nature and agriculture.
Certifications such as USDA Organic and Demeter Biodynamic provide consumers with assurance that specific environmental standards have been met in the production of organic wines and biodynamic wines, respectively. These certifications require adherence to rigorous criteria regarding farming practices, vineyard management, and winemaking processes. This ensures transparency and accountability within the industry.
Beyond vineyard practices, the wine industry is also addressing the environmental impact of packaging and transportation. Wineries are exploring eco-friendly packaging options. These may include lightweight glass bottles, recycled materials, and alternative packaging formats like cans and bag-in-box. Additionally, initiatives to reduce carbon emissions from transportation are gaining traction. Some wineries are prioritizing local distribution networks and investing in carbon offset programs to minimize their carbon footprint.
There are many leaders in Sustainable Wine, Natural Wine and organic Wine farming practices but some of the more prominent include:
Robert Mondavi Winery(Napa Valley,USA).
Notable for it’s commitment to organic wines and sustainability, Robert Mondavi Winery is a Napa Green Certified winery. They partner with the Napa County Resource Conservation District, as well as the Napa Sustainable Winegrowing Group. Annually, they offer several workshops on topics such as water conservation, quality improvement, cover cropping, erosion control and pest management. Robert Mondavi was the first winery to receive an Innovator Award from California’s Environmental Protection Agency.
Frog’s Leap Winery (Napa Valley, USA)
Frog’s Leap is committed to organic farming practices, dry farming, and sustainable viticulture. Frog’s Leap produces acclaimed wines while prioritizing environmental stewardship and ecological sustainability. (Napa Valley, USA)
Domaine Zind-Humbrecht (Alsace, France)
A leader in biodynamic viticulture, Domaine Zind-Humbrecht focuses on nurturing healthy vineyards through biodynamic practices, producing terroir-driven wines with exceptional purity and expression.
Famille Perrin (Rhône Valley, France)
Famille Perrin, known for their iconic Château de Beaucastel, practices organic and biodynamic farming across their vineyard holdings in the Rhône Valley. They prioritize biodiversity by planting hedgerows and cover crops, and they incorporate biodynamic preparations to enhance soil fertility and grape quality.
Château Maris (Languedoc-Roussillon, France)
A Certified B-Corp, dedicated to biodynamic farming and sustainable winemaking, Chateau Maris is recognized as being one of the 5 most environmentally friendly wineries in the world. The winery produces organic and biodynamic wines that showcase the unique terroir of the region while minimizing environmental impact.
Wineries are becoming more aware of the environmental impact of their decisions. Consumers are also become increasingly mindful of the power of their purchasing decisions. Wineries embracing biodynamic, sustainable, natural and organic wine production are poised to thrive in the evolving wine market landscape.
Other Sustainable Consumer Savvy options:
Plonk Wine Club founded by Etty Klein provides monthly wine club shipments to it’s membership. Each shipment features natural wines that are grown using organic and biodynamic methods. No pesticides or commercial additives such as colorants, acidifiers, artificial sugars, alcohol enhancements, or chemicals of any kind are found in these wines You can select from a variety of options including, red, white or mixed. It’s a wonderful way to try boutique wine producers that do not have large distribution.
Alternatively, BOXT Wine gives you the option to choose between receiving your wine box every month or every two months. You have the flexibility to tailor your subscription to your personal preferences. Their tasteful wooden boxes contain individual wine bladders from a variety of different grapes (Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon Etc.) Plus, their service offers you the freedom to skip a shipment, redirect it to a different address, or even cancel anytime ensuring a hassle-free and personalized wine experience. All of this with sustainability (and beautiful packaging) at the forefront.
These trends underscore a fundamental shift towards more environmentally conscious winemaking practices. They reflect a collective effort to preserve the planet’s natural resources and promote sustainable agriculture for future generations.
Next time you are wine shopping seek out some of these wonderful sustainable, Natural or Organic wines and know you are also making a positive social impact. Cheers! In the meantime you my article on “Better for you wines” is available here.
