There are many terms that describe wine that is kind to people and the environment, such as "natural wine," "organic wine," and "bio-wine." However, in reality, there are no clear standards or rules for each of these terms. The term "natural wine" in particular has an ambiguous definition, and its meaning can vary depending on who uses it.
Here, we will explain it as the Japanese translation of the French term "vin naturel" (the equivalent in English is "natural wine").
The aim of Vin Nature is to get as close as possible to nature and bring out the natural characteristics of the grapes. And efforts to bring out the power of nature must be carried out in both the "grape growing" and "wine brewing".
Many natural vins have the following characteristics:
- No pesticides or chemical fertilizers are used in grape cultivation.
- No chemical herbicides are used in the fields where the grapes grow.
- Use wild yeast (natural yeast) during fermentation
- No or minimal use of sulfites (antioxidants)
- No clarification or racking is done
Avoiding reliance on chemicals and using artificial substances as much as possible requires careful consideration and time and effort.
For example, not using pesticides increases the risk of grape disease. Also, fermentation with wild yeasts is difficult to control, which can lead to poor fermentation or variations in the taste of the final product. Not adding sulfites or not clarifying or racking the wine increases the risk of undesirable microorganisms becoming active in the wine.
However, natural vins made by managing these risks tend to be wines with a much more complex flavor than those that are not. The number of wineries producing natural vins in pursuit of such appealing flavors is increasing year by year.
However, as I mentioned the other day, if various risks are not properly managed, the wine may end up smelling defective or being contaminated.
The most common grape growing methods for natural wine are organic farming and biodynamic farming.
Organic farming primarily refers to farming methods that do not use pesticides or chemical fertilizers.
On the other hand, biodynamic farming is a unique natural farming method that uses a calendar based on the movement of celestial bodies and the relationship between the Earth and the universe, and incorporates special substances such as cow horns and crystal powder into agriculture.
Although still a minority in New Zealand, there are wines categorized as natural wines (vin naturel).
