People are asking me about natural, biodynamic and organic wines as well as where they can find top restaurants serving these wines, as they say they feel healthier drinking them.
It seems the natural wine trend is on the rise. Cellarmasters reports sales of organic wines have increased by almost 400 percent in the last 12 months.
According to the Australian Organic industry, there’s been a sixty-two percent increase in people of the western world adopting a more planet loving diet.
So I’ve been on the hunt for natural wines and ways to find the best bars & restaurants serving them, especially when travelling.
Our love affair of all things natural and organic is a movement that is growing fast. Whether it’s beauty, food or wine, the world is getting ever more natural and organic.
The Clean-Eating trend shows no signs of waning with organic, gluten-free and low sugar food moving into not only mainstream eateries but into some of the most exclusive bars and restaurants around the world.
More and more Michelin Star restaurants in Europe are offering vegan degustations.
Countries that have typically shied away from adopting new food trends are also jumping on board.
At worst, many upmarket restaurants have a selection of natural and/or organic wines.
It is important to recognise the natural wine trend isn’t actually a trend at all.
In Australia in the 1960s and 1970s, there was no scientific intervention into wine, it was ALL natural. Then along came technological and scientific advances – with chemicals – and everything changed. Chemicals became cool (I am exaggerating but you know what I mean).
So really we are simply going back to basics with natural wines.
So what are the differences between natural and organic wines?
Today’s natural wines usually have no added sulphates, and are made from a single ingredient – grapes.
Organic wines are made using grapes that haven’t had any contact with chemical fertilisers, pesticides, fungicides and herbicides either in the vineyard or wine making process.
They also have no added preservatives.
The use of chemicals is avoided both in the vines and in the cellar.
Raisin is the app you need to find the best natural wines in the best venues across the globe.
It’s the global natural wine app that has compiled a list of 1500 wine makers producing natural wines all over the world. (A wine maker is considered a natural wine maker if 50% of their wines are made with grapes only).
The app is creating a community of natural wine lovers who all post about new venues serving great natural wines.
The app also lists natural wine fairs, tastings and news. Its’ fabulous an constantly being updated.
Delectable is another wine app encouraging their community to download the wines they try and to rate them – and there are a lot of natural wines and reviewers.
Most restaurants have their wine lists online, so you can check their natural and organic wines before you book.
The jury is still out on whether or not natural or organic wines are actually better for you, but many people say their hangovers are largely reduced when drinking natural wines.