We immediately clarify that there is no univocal definition of “natural wine”. Moreover, the name given to this kind of wines does not exclude the characteristic of “naturalness” of organic and biodynamic wines, but refers, in our opinion, to the producers who do not necessarily undergo a certification and at the same time refuse to use chemical products of synthesis and to intervene in the work of the cellar with invasive oenological practices.
The intent of these producers is to create wines that are as much as possible “children” of the territory and of the culture from which they come, respectful of the cycles of nature.
On vino-bio.com website you will find, among others, some wineries belonging to three associations of producers that in Italy are carrying out the idea of a more ecological viticulture: Vini Veri, VinNatur, Renaissance des Appellations. Let’s see a brief description, hinting at the criteria that are given to define their concept of naturalness.
Vini Veri
The purpose of the ViniVeri association, as stated on the institutional website www.viniveri.net, is to “obtain a wine in the absence of acceleration and stabilization, recovering the best balance between the action of man and the cycles of nature“. The rule that the group imposes is very clear and requires, among other things:
- cultivation of native vines;
- manual harvesting;
- exclusive use of indigenous yeasts present on grapes and in the cellar;
- fermentation without temperature control;
- exclusion of any clarifying action and filtration that alters the biological and natural balance of wines.
For a complete view of the disciplinary, please refer to the specific association web page.
VinNatur
According to the VinNatur association manifesto (website: www.vinnatur.org) “producing wine in a natural way means acting in full respect of the territory, of the vine and of natural cycles, limiting through experimentation the use of invasive and toxic agents of a chemical and technological nature in general, first in vineyard and subsequently in the cellar”.
The association invests a lot on research, on experimentation and on the exchange of experiences between winemakers to promote vineyard and winery practices oriented to the utmost respect for the environment. To this end, he promotes a meeting every year Villa Favorita (close to Vicenza).
You can view the statute of the association to deepen its methodology.
Renaissance des Appellations Italia
Renaissance des Appellations is an international association of winemakers created by Nicolas Joly in 2001. The Italian section currently includes about thirty producers, inspired by the principles of biodynamic agriculture.
The Quality Charter of the association is very detailed and is focused on the care of the land and the exclusion of each variety of additives.