I feel like organic, biodynamic and natural wines are really having a moment. I hear these terms being thrown around everywhere. That and there aren’t many bars or restaurants that don’t have one of these on the menu. But what do all these terms actually mean?
I’ll admit that until writing this I didn’t know the difference. I also didn’t really know why they were having a moment. I mean, I am all for organic when it comes to my life. But I don’t find myself drawn to organic, biodynamic or natural wine. I’ve had a few truly awful ones that have turned me off.
There is a lot of research out there about whether it makes a difference. Some claim organic wines are just as bad, if not worse for the environment than non-organic. But the jury is still out on this! I hope that by learning more about the characteristics of each wine, you can choose with confidence! It is confusing and these classifications don’t help!
What is organic wine?
Organic wine is produced with organic grapes. This requires quite different management practices in the vineyard, including the use of all natural fertilisers, herbicides and pesticides, as well as no artificial chemicals. It also means any additives must be organic too.
In Australia, we have quite an intense process to be certified as organic. To gain organic certification, the vineyard must be tested extensively over a minimum of three years! Once certified they then need to continue to meet the requirements. The prize? Being able to use the Australian Certified Organic Logo.
Wines can also be produced using organic principles without being organic, especially as it is quite expensive and constraining to go after the accreditation. However, these wines cannot have the logo which means that those consumers looking for organic wines might miss them. You also can’t be sure if the practices used are organic.
Prior to 1847, all wines were organic as pesticides and chemicals had not been introduced into farming. To this day some of the oldest wineries in Europe are still operating organically. So it truly is nothing new to produce wine in this way!
Do organic wines have additives?
I am guilty of thinking that because organic wines are organic, they do not have any additives or preservatives. Preservatives have a reputation for hangovers, so I have some friends who buy organic to avoid the headache. However, organic wines are not additive free. They can still contain sulphur dioxide as a preservative, which will still give you a hangover. They are also not always vegan as the wines can still contain animal products as long as they are organic. This is the case in Australia, but in the US this is completely different. To be organic in the US, the wine must have no added sulphites.
So even though drinking organic wine may give you the warm fuzzies, you may still get a hangover! But at least there are no chemicals or hormones in what you’re drinking.
How to spot a good organic wine
Organic wine is making a serious comeback in Australia. The first thing you need to look out for is the certifications on the bottle. This will signal to you that the winery is following the strict rules.
Organic wines also claim to taste different, because you are tasting the natural grapes with no chemicals. This means you’ll get the true flavour and taste the terroir.
Biodynamic wine
Biodynamic wine is the next level up from organic wine and is often called ‘supercharged organic’. It takes a holistic approach to agriculture where animals, plants and the solar system are thought of as inter-related. This winemaking involves using the biodynamic calendar and its four categories. Each of these coincides with one of the four elements and tell you the best days for harvesting, pruning, watering and resting.
Most of the activities for biodynamic wine occur before the winemaking even happens. However, no chemicals or manufactured additions are allowed in biodynamic wine. Winemakers instead make natural compost to bolster their vineyards.
This natural compost is made up of many things. Something commonly used is cow horns stuffed with compost that are buried and reused. Apparently, this is because the cow horn is a symbol of abundance. There are nine other components that include everything from manure to stinging nettles. There isn’t any evidence of whether the cow horns make a difference, but it is interesting nonetheless.
What to look for in biodynamic wine
Whether you agree or disagree with the practices of biodynamic wines, many wineries use some of these practices today. Wines produced by biodynamic wineries apparently exhibit the taste of the terroir more than organic wines.
There are many wineries who use biodynamic practices, but they may not be labelled this way. This is because wine labelled biodynamic must have the approved recognition of the Demeter Association. It is quite costly to receive, so many wineries don’t worry about it. I’ve had many unlisted biodynamic wines in Australia. A fully certified biodynamic wine is hard to come by, with a little over 600 producers in the world.
But what about natural wines?
If you found biodynamic wines confusing, enter natural wines. They are having a real moment, and have really muddied the waters. This is because natural wines are largely unregulated. Because of this, a natural wine may not be an organic wine.
Where organic and biodynamic wines focus on farming techniques, natural wines focus on wine production. Natural wines are all about minimal intervention. This means that technically a natural wine could be produced using non-organic grapes, although this is quite uncommon.
To make natural wine the grapes are hand-picked and destemmed. The juice is not pumped, there is no mechanical separation, and nothing can be introduced other than wine must. This means that the alcohol content cannot be regulated by acid or sugar, and it can only be fermented by naturally occurring yeast.
If you are after no sulphites, natural wine is your go-to. They tend to have none added. This means you only have to deal with the naturally occurring ones. So you must drink these quickly.
What to look for
Natural wines tend to be unfiltered. This means you can usually pick them through their cloudiness and sediment. These wines often taste less refined and wilder. So make sure you decant them to remove any odours. You’ll also find naturally occurring flaws that are celebrated in the wine. So be prepared for some really unusual and funky tastes. Many are loving the unpredictability of these wines, which is why they’ve become so popular!
The final word
Whether you want to try organic, biodynamic, natural or just your everyday standard wine, there is something for everyone. There is a lot of difference between these different types of wines, from the soil to the bottle. That’s why it is interesting to learn a bit about the in’s and out’s. I feel with natural wines having such a moment it can be confusing to know what you’re drinking. However, if you don’t want to take a walk on the wild side, there are many organic and biodynamic wines that taste more traditional. Perhaps they are even better!
Have you tried many of these wines and do you have any recommendations? I’d love to hear of some of your favourites in the comments below.