The Complete Guide to Natural Wine

Walk into any good wine shop today and you'll spot the term "natural wine" on more and more labels. But what does it actually mean — and is it worth seeking out? This guide explains what natural wine is, how it's made, what to expect when you open a bottle, and how to pick one you'll genuinely enjoy.

What Is Natural Wine?

Natural wine doesn't have a single legal definition, but most producers and drinkers agree on the core idea: grapes grown without synthetic chemicals, harvested by hand, and turned into wine with as little intervention as possible. That means native (wild) yeasts instead of commercial cultured yeast, no fining or filtering, and little to no added sulphur dioxide.

In short, natural wine is about letting the grape and the place it grew — its terroir — speak for itself, rather than shaping the wine in the cellar with additives and processing aids.

Natural Wine vs Organic vs Biodynamic

These three terms get mixed up constantly, but they describe different (and often overlapping) things:

• Organic wine refers to how the grapes are farmed — no synthetic pesticides, herbicides or fertilisers. It's a certified, regulated term.
• Biodynamic wine takes organic farming further, treating the vineyard as a self-sustaining ecosystem and following a planting/harvesting calendar tied to lunar and seasonal cycles. Certifications like Demeter apply here.
• Natural wine is broader and less regulated. A natural wine is almost always made from organically or biodynamically farmed grapes, but the "natural" label specifically refers to what happens (or doesn't happen) once the grapes reach the winery.

If you're curious about the farming side of things, our organic wine collection is a great place to start.

How Natural Wine Is Made

The winemaking process is where natural wine really diverges from conventional production:

• Wild fermentation: instead of adding a commercial yeast strain to guarantee a predictable fermentation, natural winemakers let the wild yeasts already present on the grape skins and in the winery do the work.
• Minimal or no added sulphites: sulphur dioxide is the standard preservative in winemaking. Natural producers either skip it entirely or use only a small amount at bottling.
• No fining or filtering: conventional wines are often clarified using fining agents (sometimes animal-derived) and filtered for a bright, clear appearance. Natural wines are typically left unfined and unfiltered.
• No additives: things like acidity adjusters, tannin powders, colourants, and flavour enhancers are off the table.

What to Expect in the Glass

Because so little is done to "correct" the wine, natural wines can look and taste noticeably different from their conventional counterparts:

• Appearance: natural wines are often hazy or cloudy rather than crystal clear, since they're unfiltered. This is completely normal and not a fault.
• Aroma and flavour: expect more variation from bottle to bottle and vintage to vintage. Some natural wines show funky, farmyard, or cidery notes; others are bright, fresh and almost juice-like.
• Fizz: a slight, gentle prickle of carbon dioxide is common, even in still wines, as a result of minimal intervention.
• Colour: orange and amber wines — white wines made with extended skin contact — are particularly associated with the natural wine movement.

None of this means the wine is "wrong." It just means natural wine rewards an open mind and a willingness to embrace a bit of unpredictability.

Is Natural Wine Better for You?

Natural wine is often marketed as a healthier choice, largely because of lower sulphite levels and the absence of additives. It's true that some people who are sensitive to sulphites find natural wines easier to drink. However, natural wine still contains alcohol, and like any wine, it should be enjoyed in moderation. There's currently no strong scientific evidence that natural wine is meaningfully "healthier" than well-made conventional wine — the main differences are in production philosophy, flavour profile, and environmental impact rather than nutrition.

How to Choose a Natural Wine

If you're new to natural wine, a few tips will help you find bottles you'll love:

• Start with a producer you trust. Natural winemaking takes real skill — when it's done well, the results are vibrant and exciting; when it's rushed, faults can show through. Buying from a curated retailer helps filter out the latter.
• Try a lighter style first. A fresh, low-intervention white or a Pét-Nat sparkling wine (read our full guide to Pét-Nat) are approachable entry points.
• Don't be put off by sediment or haze. Give the bottle a gentle swirl and pour — it's part of the experience.
• Serve at the right temperature. Many natural reds benefit from a slight chill, which can tame any funkier notes and bring out fresh fruit character.

Food Pairing with Natural Wine

Natural wines tend to have brighter acidity and more textural complexity than heavily processed wines, which makes them excellent with food. Think simple, fresh dishes: charcuterie and cheese boards, grilled vegetables, oily fish, and dishes with a bit of acidity or fermentation of their own — pickles, kimchi, sourdough. The wine's own slightly funky or savoury notes often echo these flavours beautifully.

Ready to Explore?

Browse our hand-picked Natural Wines collection for bottles from small, low-intervention producers across Europe — delivered straight to your door in Ireland.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is natural wine the same as organic wine?

Not exactly. Organic wine refers to how the grapes are farmed, while natural wine refers to how the wine is made — typically with wild yeast fermentation, no fining or filtering, and minimal sulphites. Most natural wines are also made from organically farmed grapes, but the terms aren't interchangeable.

Why is my natural wine cloudy?

Most natural wines are unfiltered and unfined, so a hazy or cloudy appearance is normal and not a sign the wine has gone off. A gentle swirl before pouring is all that's needed.

Does natural wine contain sulphites?

Some sulphites occur naturally during fermentation in any wine. Natural winemakers typically add little to no extra sulphur dioxide, so levels are usually much lower than in conventional wine, though rarely zero.

Does natural wine give you less of a hangover?

There's no solid scientific evidence that natural wine causes fewer hangovers than conventional wine. Alcohol content, hydration, and how much you drink remain the biggest factors. Some people do report feeling better after lower-sulphite wines, but individual sensitivity varies.

How should I store natural wine?

Store natural wine the same way as any wine: lying down in a cool, dark place away from temperature fluctuations. Because many natural wines have lower or no added preservatives, it's worth drinking them sooner rather than cellaring for the long term, unless the producer specifically recommends ageing.