What is “Natural” Wine anyway?

Natural wine, sometimes called real wine or raw wine, starts with ethical labor and clean farming, growing grapes organically and naturally fermented with careful, but minimal intervention in the cellar. No artificial herbicides or pesticides are used in the vineyard. Fermentation happens with indigenous/wild yeast (no commercial yeasts). Minimal or no added sulfur, (though use of sulfur is of secondary importance after mindful, organic farming). No additives or refining agents, and no new oak. The natural wine movement has been gaining exposure in the past few decades, but the practice itself is centuries-old and in many ways a return to the way wine used to be made.

Crocodile Wine sources wines that meet this standard. All our growers work orfganically in the vineyard. Some, but not all, practice an even more rigorous holistic farming technique called biodynamics. All the farmer/producers we work with practice clean farming so that their vineyards are part of a sustainable eco-system. They use only minimal intervention in the cellar in order to let the “natural” qualities of the climate, soil, vine and grape shine through in the wine.

We believe wine made transparently invites the drinker to experience the wine fully: the sense of place, the emotion and energy contained within. It allows us to check in with nature, like a hike in a dense forest, a swallow of cold mountain air, or a dunk in a salty ocean. Some of the wines taste a little wild, others are elegant, some are mysterious, and some are just light and fun. Drink these wines whenever and however you want, but try to pair them with friends.

Check out A Beginner’s Guide to Natural Wine (GQ) and So, What Exactly is Natural Wine? (Bon Appetit) to dive deeper!