![]() “Natural winemaking is so wildly detached from the world of industrialized production that it nearly feels like an act of rebellion, which is in my opinion very much a part of it,” says Austin, noting that although winemaking is based on a fairly intuitive premise that they should taste of place, pressures of demand and consistency have often led others to shift their focus away from this foundation. For those looking to dive into the world of ‘orange wine,’ this is a great start. The wine’s bright acid and energetic fruit-forwardness lead to a pleasantly grippy yet refreshing finish. This cloudy, skin-contact wine is loaded with flavors of apricot, blood orange, watermelon, and grapefruit rind. This outspoken, Alsace-based vigneron has been preaching the gospel of hands-off winemaking for nearly ten years, though his family’s roots in the region date back to 1770. Region: Alsace, France | ABV: 13% | Tasting Notes: Apricot, Blood orange, Grapefruit rindĬhristian Binner is no stranger to the art of natural winemaking. “There is everything to love about natural wines, as they are made in a way that not only respects but enriches the ecosystem in which they are grown, as well as act as a portal through which vigneron and we as enthusiasts may rediscover our symbiotic relationship with nature,” says Zach Austin of Windmill Wines & Spirits, a natural wine-focused shop based in Saugerties, New York.īuy on Drizly Buy on Sip chilled with classic French bistro favorites. Vibrant flavors of red fruits, raspberries, damp earth, pepper, and a touch of funk lead to a smooth and refreshing finish. ![]() Fruit for “Trinch!” comes from a 5-hectare plot of organic/biodynamic cabernet franc rooted in gravelly soils. ![]() “Trinch!” is their answer to accessible, easy-drinking cabernet franc. Based in the Loire Valley, these “real life bon vivants” (as per their importer, Kermit Lynch), craft their lineup of natural cuvées from a variety of appellations, including vouvray, chinon, and bourgeuil. Region: Loire Valley, France | ABV: 12.5% | Tasting Notes: Raspberries, Damp earth, PepperĬatherine and Pierre Bréton are some of France’s OG natural winemaking legends. Looking to taste some of the best natural wines that the industry has to offer? While this ever-expanding category can be an overwhelming one, we're here to help! We've gathered our current favorite natural wines to drink right now. The largest debates around natural wine center around the use of sulfites and fining/filtration. In short, the easiest way to define natural wine is wine produced from organically-farmed fruit, with nothing added (yeasts, chemicals, etc.) and nothing taken away. “If something goes awry in conventional winemaking, a host of manipulations can be used to get the desired results,” she says. “Making natural wine is much less efficient, as every fermentation looked after with care, as all of the work is done on a much smaller scale than in conventional wine,” she explains, noting that if something goes wrong somewhere during the vinification process, there are very limited tools to “fix” it in natural winemaking. “That said, the natural wines that I enjoy most have good acidity and a juice-like quality.”īell also notes that while many use terms like ‘no intervention’ and ‘hands-off,’ natural winemaking often involves a lot more attention than conventional winemaking. “It's all a matter of each individual's taste,” she says. “I think any wine that was made with organically-farmed grapes and without any additives (except a little bit of SO2) is a good of natural wine,” she explains, clarifying that wine-whether natural or not-cannot in itself be ranked as “good or bad” from a flavor standpoint, as tasting is entirely subjective. Santa Cruz-based natural winemaker Megan Bell gives us her insights. While the intricacies can get a bit debatable, these principles are relatively absolute. Although its definition is a bit wavering, there are a few key points that are widely agreed upon: fruit must come from organically-farmed vineyards, and no additions/takeaways are permitted. If you’re into wine, you’ve likely heard the term natural wine thrown around once or twice before.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Details
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |