‘Natural wines’ is a rather broad term. What does it mean? The best I can describe it is a wine that has been made with the least amount of human interference. 

This minimal human interference also may refer to the way the vineyard is looked after as well. Without a doubt, this means that organic and biodynamic wines are usually considered ‘natural wines’.

You can read more about natural wines here in ‘I always thought that wine was a ‘natural’ product ….’. (click here)

Or they might be wines that have had extensive skin contact, made in a traditional vessel such as a Qvevri or an Amphora. They may be wines that have little or no preservatives added. Or using a traditional method such as a sparkling made using the methode ancestral which is also known as ‘petillant natural’.

Here are five wines from around the world that you should start your ‘natural’ wine journey on. Are you on board?

First, if you want to know what a ‘natural wine’ is, please click here!

An Organic gem…

Reyneke Organic Chenin Blanc

This is an organic Chenin blanc from the Stellenbosch region in South Africa. It is vibrant still despite the extra dose of creaminess from 3 months on lees. There is a layer of spiced cream, with a snap of ginger underlying the fresh pear and apple fruit. A good drinking wine that finishes rather crisply with flavours that linger.    £11 | R97 

Click here to read a full review.

A biodynamic one …

Matsu El Viejo Toro DO

Matsu is a large Spanish family producer and this Toro is just one of their line up.  This wine is made from Tempranillo from century old, biodynamic vines. t is rich and full bodied bold red wine, yet still sits on the fruity side. Fresh plum, vanilla, cinnamon and smoked toastiness moves as a block of intense flavour to finish with a spiciness. UK £29 

Click here to read a full review.

Orange wine. Also known as Amber wine.

Winzer Krems Orange Gruner Veltliner

Winzer Krems is a large Austrian producer and they have made this ‘amber’ version of their native grape variety Gruner Veltliner. The skin time has added extra body and fleshiness to the wine. There is a low level of tannins shaping the wine along with the silkiness that comes with that ‘glossiness’. The long finish is some ripe nectarine flavours with a gingery spice profile.  UK £11 | €10  |USD$20 ++ 

Click here to read a full review.

An amber biodynamic wine

Cullen Amber 

Cullen is easily recognised as one of Australia’s best wine producers. They were an early adopter of biodynamic wine making, and not just in Australia. Their Amber is of course an Amber wine – that colour due to extended skin contact.  This vintage is rather herbal and nettley but there is a peachiness, pepperiness there too.  It certainly has that silky, slinky mouth feel that extended skin contact wines tend to have. As well as the fleshy body.

Click here to read a full review.

A Pet Nat fizz….

Delinquente Tuff Nutt Bianco Pet Nat

The Grigoriou family has, in turn, been passionate about growing grapes for wine in Australia’s Riverland region for decades. The Tuff Nutt is interesting not just because it is a Pet Nat. It is also made from a grape variety that is rather rare in Australia – Bianco d’Alessano .This is a drier, medium bodied wine with a light fizz.  It has some concentrated pretty floral and pear notes with a fresh picked nettley dimension that makes it quite refreshing.   UK £17 | AU$25

Click here to read a full review.

Want more?
Click here to see a video from Colette Bonnet as she discuses making organic Champagne.
and Macerao Naranjo Orange