Joan Àngel Lliberia with his parents, Pepita and Angel at Edetària
Organic Wine: Pure Grapes, No Synthetic Additives
Organic wine is made from organically grown grapes, meaning no synthetic pesticides, herbicides, or fertilisers have been used in their production. However, regulations differ between regions. In the USA, USDA-certified organic wine cannot contain added sulfites, while in the EU, organic wine can have limited added sulfites - a key distinction since sulfites help preserve wine in bottle. N.b., contrary to popular belief, sulfites are produced naturally through the fermentation process – so there’s no such thing as a ‘sulfite free’ wine!
Organic winemaking is particularly strong in France, Italy, and Spain, where centuries-old vineyards have long espoused ancestral farming techniques and where weather – particularly in the Mediterranean portions of these countries – favours viticultural practices that don’t rely on synthetic sprays. From our portfolio, look out for Château Pesquié (Ventoux), Michele Biancardi (Puglia), and Edetària (Terra Alta) as premier examples of organic producers from these countries – to name but a few! If you’re unsure, just look out for the EU Organic Farmling ‘Euroleaf’ or the French ‘AB - Agriculture Biologique’ stamps on the label of the bottle.
Gareth with a cow horn at Felton Road
Biodynamic Wine: The Cosmic Approach
Biodynamic wine takes organic farming to another level by following the principles of Austrian philosopher Rudolf Steiner. It treats the vineyard as a self-sustaining ecosystem, integrating lunar cycles, composting, and preparations like cow horn manure and quartz silica. This method might sound mystical, but many of the world’s top wineries swear by it, and even some non-biodynamic producers routinely employ biodynamic principles in their day-to-day operations such as aligning their viticultural and vinicultural procedures to Maria Thun’s ‘Biodynamic Calendar’.
JN producers Domaine Zind-Humbrecht (Alsace, France), Reyneke (Stellenbosch, South Africa) and Felton Road (Central Otago, New Zealand) are leading lights in the biodynamic movement today, crafting wines that many believe express the purest sense their terroirs alongside a certain je ne sais quoi. Biodynamic wines are certified by Demeter or Biodyvin and are growing in popularity, even in traditional regions more commonly associated with pandering to corporate affectations such as Bordeaux and Champagne, with famous names such as Châteaux Pontet-Canet, Palmer, and Smith Haut Lafitte in the former and even Louis Roederer’s Cristal in the latter all embracing the practice and achieving certification in recent years.
In the vineyard at Chateau Musar
Natural Wine: The Minimalist’s Choice
Natural wine is a loosely defined movement rather than an official certification. The idea is seemingly simple: minimal human intervention, wild yeast fermentation, no fining or filtration, and little to no added sulfites. The result? Unpredictable and sometimes cloudy wines with vibrant, funky, and unconventional flavours – though the best examples can be truly exciting, brimming with unbridled energy and a distinct sense of place.
Growers we work that have been associated with the natural wine movement to varying degrees include Château Musar (Bekaa Valley, Lebanon), Sybille Kuntz (Mosel, Germany), Olga Raffault (Chinon, France) and even Ridge Vineyards (Santa Cruz, California) albeit tangentially. Other producers such as Maison Ventenac in Cabardès, France, have been dubbed ‘new natural’, as they combine organic farming with cutting edge vinification techniques, employing ‘bioprotection’ with non-Saccharomyces yeasts prior to fermentation that eliminates spoilage microbes and allows them to vinify without sulfite additions.
Cow horns and worms at Reyneke
Which One Should You Choose?
If you’re looking for a wine that supports the environment while ensuring consistency, sustainable wine is a great choice. Prefer purity with no synthetic chemicals? Organic wine is your answer. If you want to experience wine as a product of cosmic harmony, biodynamic wine is worth exploring. And if you’re into less conventional flavours, natural wine might be for you.
At JN Wine, we are committed to working with diligent, environmentally conscious producers whatever their philosophy or certification. By choosing these wines, you are supporting responsible agriculture, authentic flavours, and a future for these special places and the people that farm them.
Next time you pick up a bottle, check the label - your choice might be supporting something bigger than just a delicious glass of wine. Cheers!
