This week we are trying some wines that lean into the idea of being "natural wines". Typically the idea starts in the vineyards where the grapes are grown before the winemaking process itself ever begins. Many of these wines are grown organically or biodynamically. This week we’ll talk about each of those terms and what it means for the finished product.

Let’s start with the term organic. In the vineyards this means, in general, that chemicals aren’t being used for things like pest and weed control and no artificial fertilizers are used in the vineyard. This is much easier in certain locations than it is for others. One of the biggest reasons that viticulturist use chemicals is to find fungi, these fungi love wet locations like Bordeaux, making organic grape growing a difficult endeavor. However, locations like Alsace or parts of Napa that are dry it is much easier to grow organic wines. So finding organic wines can be easy or difficult depending on what and from where you are looking for. Typically wines that are labeled organic have also gone through some sort of certification process that ensures that the people claiming this are actually what they say they are.

Biodynamic growing is another, more intense method of growing grapes. Think of it as organic plus. The only form of weed control done in these vineyards is down by hand/machine. The winemaker can’t use any additions in the winery, they also must use ambient yeast to start the fermentation process. All task in the vineyards are done based on a lunar calendar as to maximize their effectiveness. Biodynamic wineries may have a harder time getting a Biodynamic certification because there are fewer groups that certify, and frankly it is a very rigorous process!

So what difference does this make in the final wine? Well that is hard to tell. Some people like to drink wines made in one of these styles because they see it as having a lower carbon impact. Some think the wines are better for you. And some think the wine taste better. Our Director of Fine Wine, Luke, has actually worked in a Biodynamic vineyard and this is his take away:

"While I don’t know if some of the farming practices themselves make a difference to the wine I can tell you there are a lot more people in the vineyards working with the vines and looking for an issues that may pop up. Do I think they taste better? Well it is hard to tell because you can’t do a one to one comparison, what I can say is I think wines with a story taste better and these wines almost always have a good story behind them!"