With the increase in consumer interest and awareness in organic products, winemakers are starting to produce more natural and organic wines in an effort to appeal to new clients. So, what exactly are Natural and Organic wines? Is there a difference between the two? Are they as good as conventional wines? What about price? These are some of the most common questions when it comes to these trendy wines, and we’ll attempt to answer them in this post.
What are Natural and Organic wines? And is there a difference between the two?
To start off, yes, there is a difference, both natural and organic wines, are wines whose grapes have been grown and cultivated without chemical products, such as synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. However, the main difference occurs in the process of vinification, natural wines do not have any additives and generally include a lot less sulphites, while organic wines can include these (although at much lower amounts than conventional wines). The biggest factor after the harvest is the yeast used for the fermentation, natural wines only use “wild” or indigenous yeasts, while conventional winemakers will often add yeast either to speed up the fermentation process or to make it more consistent.
This means that you can (for the most part) assume all natural wines are organic wines, but not all organic wines are natural wines.
To identify a wine as organic look for the EU organic logo on the label of said wine, once you’ve confirmed it is an organic wine, check the label or back label for any mentions of the wine being made with natural processes or in a natural way. Currently there is no official way to authenticate natural wines, so focus on looking for certified organic wines.
Are Natural and Organic wines as good as conventional wines?
Natural wines are often described as funky, although this is not always the case, you can find organic and natural wines that taste similar to what you’d expect from a more conventional wine. Ultimately, it will come down to taste, and with a wide range of flavours and aromas you’re almost guaranteed to find one you like.
Where a difference does exist in comparison to more conventional wines is in aging. Due to the lack of, or fewer additives and sulphites, it is harder to make wines organically that age as well as their counterparts, but not impossible.
There are also some arguments that the lack of additives and sulphites makes natural wines healthier, this might be the case, but there is currently no evidence supporting this claim, and I’m not going to debate the health benefits of an alcoholic drink, it is also often claimed that hangovers are less potent with natural wines, but if you drink responsibly and stay hydrated there should not be any difference.
Are Natural and Organic wines more expensive?
Short answer: No.
Long answer: It depends on what you’re looking for, as you’ll undoubtedly know from going shopping for groceries, organic products are usually more expensive. There are several reasons for this, the obvious one is the lack of chemicals that you can use, such as fertilizers and pesticides, that force farmers and winemakers alike to be more careful with their product, often leading to smaller scale operations. Winemakers with experience in making natural/organic wines can get close to matching the production of conventional winemakers but it is very difficult. This means the products are usually more expensive, particularly in the lower price ranges. However, most of the top wines are not natural/organic and may require some additives/sulphites to properly age, and are already produced in smaller quantities, meaning that at higher price ranges the difference is either negligible or in some cases even the other way around.
Our Wines
If you’re curious about trying some natural and organic wines, then we’ve got quite a few on our website. You’ll find them in the BIO section of the menu “Our wines”. If you want some recommendations, try the following:
For an introduction: BIO Monte Cascas Colheita Red and White, both are a good starting point to get into organic wines, especially if you don’t want to immediately start with the funkier wines. The white is a blend of Syrah, Malvasia and Fonte Cal, with lemon like colour and notes pear, nectarine and yellow fruit, in the you’ll find a fresh, mineral wine with notes of honeysuckle in a lingering finish. For the red, a blend of Aragonez and Rufete, give the wine it’s deep red colour, on the nose you’ll find notes of raspberry, licorice and black cherry, the wine has a firm structure and persistent finish with notes of vanilla and black cherry.
For a natural wine: Cascale Curtimenta, a perfect example of newer trends this orange wine is a perfect balance of funkiness and more “conventional” flavours, it has an amberlike colour, you’ll find notes of dried fruits, cinnamon, fig jam and fennel, and a large volume of balanced mouth with very elegant acidity, velvety tannins, and a persistent and fresh finish.
The three wines we’ve talked about so far are all produced by Casca Wines, one of the best winemakers in Portugal. The wines are all from the 2021 harvest and from the Beira Interior DOC region. So, from the same region and producer you’ll be able to experience just how much you can do using organic methods and practices in winemaking.
Another option: Vila Santa Reserva Organic Red, from João Portugal Ramos, this Alentejo organic red wine is a blend of Aragonez, Touriga Nacional, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Alicante Bouschet, aged for nine months in oak barrels. It is a powerful, full-bodied wine, typical of the region, with an an aroma suggestive of very ripe black fruit, blending beautifully with the spices imparted by the barrels.
Top of the line: Quinta da Serradinha Regional 2012, one of the first natural wine producers in Portugal, Quinta da Serradinha, a family-owned winery located in the limestone slopes of Serra d´Aire, shows that natural wines not only have the capacity to age, but that they can thrive by doing so. This red wine uses grapes from two of the family vineyards, one of them planted in 1995 and the other all the way back in 1952. The wine is handpicked by seasoned pickers who are familiar with the family’s standard expected for this wine, the wine is fermented for 10 days and then aged for 24 months in old oak barrels. A dark red wine. It offers aromas of the forest, very ripe fruit, and subtle honey notes. The tannins are substantial and firm, with a smoothness imparted by barrel aging, but the wine remains complex due to the variety of the blend. The wine is well-suited for pairing with red meat or game.
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