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13 March 2013

Natural Wine Ranges: How to pick a winner?

Many people are unfamiliar with natural wine. Those that are, may not necessarily know the best types to go for and how to store and drink them properly. Depending on your preferences, you may want to start drinking natural wine ranges over the ‘standard’ wine, as it has a variation of benefits and differences that could mean the wine tastes nicer and is better for your health.

The natural wine movement would view wine in a unique way that would say that the standard wine is too processed for its own good. Too many producers of standard wine are using too many tools, additives and chemicals to produce cheap wine to make maximum profit. Many producers that make wine simply for financial reasons are afraid to take the risk in the wine making process, where they could risk wasting resources and of course, sales in the shop. Natural wine producers believe that the standard producers won’t bother with the right amount of acidity, tannin or sugar, so will simply add tartaric acid, powdered tannins or concentrated grape juice. Can’t afford an oak barrel? They’ll just chuck oak chips into the vat!

Natural wine makers create beautiful wines with minimum intervention, aiming to not only create a fantastic natural and wonderful tasting wine, but also give it a sense of place. They farm their vineyards organically or biodynamically, preferring wild, naturally present yeasts, rather than bought in, cultivated strains, they use very little or no sulphur dioxide – what you taste is what you get.

The natural wine movement dates back to the 1970s, where French regions including Loire and Beaujolais, Landuedoc-Roussillon, along with parts of Italy became highly involved. Over the past few decades, it has spread across the world, where amounts of natural wine are now produced all over the world. Although it has not taken the world by storm, it has slowly built its reputation and continues to push forward. The perceived health benefits of natural wine have helped play a part in converting wine drinkers, as well as its benefits for those with sulphite allergies and asthmatics that may react badly to standard wine.

Choosing a good wine is not always easy. Whether you go for the standard wine or natural wine, it’s important that you have something that you will enjoy, perfect for whatever occasion you may be buying for. Good Wine Online stock a range of wines, from red, white and rose, to natural, sulphite free and organic wines. Check out their store for some fantastic wines, delivered straight to your door!