Natural wine: The terroir in its purest form

With the days getting colder and shorter, people naturally gravitate to wines that pair well with slow-cooked meals. There’s no better time to discover another facet of natural wine, whose more complex texture pairs beautifully with comfort food. What’s more, it transports you to some other place, even when you’re cocooning at home.

Natural wine 101

Since it’s back-to-school season, let’s review some basics! What is natural wine, exactly? With traditional winemaking, chemical and technical methods are used to create more homogenous wines, which also dulls certain characteristics. On the other hand, natural wine is produced with minimal human intervention—little to no added sulfites, no industrial yeast, no artificial additives, and often no filtration. This process allows the natural aromas of the grapes and the characteristics of the terroir to come through completely, without being altered by additives. 

A reflection of the terroir

Misconceptions often give natural wine a bad name! One the most widespread beliefs is that it always tastes the same when in fact, the opposite is true. There’s no homogenization of flavour with natural wine—instead, its differences are magnified. By letting nature do its thing, it allows the terroir to truly shine in the wine. The different soils, microclimates and grape varieties are expressed with unparalleled clarity and authenticity. In other words, natural wine showcases the uniqueness of the terroir. 

Bon voyage: Check out these 6 natural wines

Here are some international wines that each embody the essence of their terroir and the philosophy of natural winemaking. 

Alsace

Alsace’s clay-limestone soils and colder climate allow its grapes to ripen slowly. This helps the wine to stand out through its remarkable vibrancy and freshness. Created by a community of producers dedicated to natural winemaking, this blend of varietals native to Alsace is a veritable tribute to the art. Rieslings, Sylvaners, Pinot Blancs, and Pinot Auxerrois come together in this bright, fruity and complex blend with notes of thyme and pineapple. 

Languedoc

The unique character of this natural red wine comes from the clay-limestone and schist soils of the Roussillon region. Grenache and Carignan grapes soak in the glorious sunshine to reach perfect ripeness, developing rich aromas of red fruit—strawberries, in this case—with hints of spice. A sulfite-free process helps to produce a delectable light red wine that captures the essence of the Catalan terroir. 

Southwest France

This wine is made entirely from Malbec grapes—a varietal that’s synonymous with the town of Cahors—grown on old vines. The clay-limestone soil, altitude and temperate climate impart intense aromas of red and black fruit like blackberries, blackcurrants and raspberries. A juicy and delicious product that will make you see Malbecs in a new light!

Loire

The lush landscapes and fresh breeze of the Loire are imprinted on this wine’s soul. Made mainly from local varietals like Chenin Blanc and Sauvignon Blanc, it features crisp notes of citrus, pear and white flowers. Its slightly salty finish recalls the rivers that shape the terroir. A no-frills white with plenty of panache!

Austria

This vibrant white is produced in Burgenland, a region with a long winemaking history. It’s known as the warmest region in the country, with an ideal climate for growing grapes. A wide variety of red and green grapes are cultivated there, including the Grüner Veltliners, Welschrieslings and Muscats that make up this blend. The wine’s dry and airy character is a faithful reflection of this one-of-a-kind terroir, with a complexity matched only by its freshness.

Spain

In Penedès, the warm, sunny climate tempered by the sea breeze creates the ideal conditions for growing Xarel-lo grapes. This varietal, typical to Catalonia, is grown in limestone soil, giving the wine a distinctive minerality and a delightful freshness. Though primarily used to produce cava, a sparkling wine from the region, in this case it’s used for a crowd-pleasing white wine. With bright aromas of apple, lemon and peach, as well as toasted notes, it evokes the energy and brightness of its Mediterranean terroir. 

Vast horizons

As the name suggests, natural wines allow you to discover the true character of the terroirs where the grapes are grown. Whether you’re curious about new products or a real connoisseur, there’s always something new to discover in this multifaceted, ever-changing category. 

Being a fan of natural wine isn’t about following trends—it’s about supporting a process that respects Mother Nature and values the integrity of the terroir and traditional know-how, while also being forward-thinking. And although each product is a proud reflection of its origins, authenticity is a key ingredient shared by all natural wines. 

So many new discoveries to be made against the beautiful autumn backdrop. 

In partnership with Oenopole, Fabien Jouves – Mas del Périé, Les Tètes, Domaine Meinklang et Celler Credo.