Is Natural Wine funky??

There is a subsection of Natural Wine nicknamed “natty” that has earned a reputation for tasting funky, mousey, and unpalatable. Those are not wines we choose to source. All of our producers are very clean and intentional in their winemaking process and do not release bottlings with off flavors in pursuit of just making $$$. Those that care about their art do not want the wine consumed if they do happen to have a bretty barrel or too much VA in that ferment.

Many wines we carry do have an almost electric vibrancy. These don't have flavors of oak, may be low in tannin and higher in acidity. Think sauvignon blanc-ish but made from red grapes. Or could be made from white grapes, look orange, but feel like a red wine.

Other wines we carry will structurally seem just like “normal” wines. They’ll have oak character, bold tannin structure, grape typicity. Some may even be producers you already know and love. Most wines were made in the Natural style of production before the 80s. Some never stopped and just don’t advertise it because they don’t want to be confused with “natty” wines.

All wine isn’t made from just grapes?

Wine can be made from grapes and over 200 legal additives. These are not additives that are harmful to most and the absence of them does not make Natural Wine superior.

The issue we have with wine made from more than grapes+yeast+a little sulfur is not knowing what we’re putting in our bodies in addition to those wines having adjustments that alter their truest sense of place and time.

Wine bottles don’t have to list their ingredients which leads to a false notion that all giggle juice is made the same. Some producers will throw a lot of stuff (including animal products and dyes) in their wines to make them more consistent and lower the cost of production. We don’t carry those wines. Those wines are not bad for you (although one of those additions may not align with what you choose to normally consume). They’re just not what we’re passionate about.

Isn’t all wine vegan?

Vegan wine is produced without the use of animal-derived products at any stage of the winemaking process. While wine is primarily produced from grapes, some winemaking techniques such as fining often uses animal products which makes some wines unsuitable for vegans.

Look for our vegan sticker for bottles we know for 100% certainty are vegan. If the specific production information is missing in our research or we do not find a vegan certification, we are not labeling it vegan in our shop. Even though it very well could be. You’ll see these grow in the shop over time as we reach out to confirm these details for further accuracy.

Why is my bottle cloudy?

You’ll notice some of the wines in the shop are a bit hazy. Most of our wines are unfined and unfiltered. These yeast sediments that gather at the bottom of your bottle are harmless. If you want your wine to feel a little more crisp, allow your bottle to settle by leaving it upright for about 24 hours. If you want it a bit softer, swirl your bottle before opening to bring it all together.

The amount of sediment in the bottle varies and most don't contain enough to really feel the difference but some do.

This Gamay isn’t red, it’s white!

Take a moment to break free from any preconceived notions about grape varieties; these wines can surprise you!

One of our favorite things about Natural Wine is its lack of typicity. 

Example: Not every grape is going to present the way you may be used to and that’s part of the fun! How boring would it be if you had to wear the same outfit every day?? 

Natural Winemakers often see their wines more like living, drinkable art than a product they stock shelves with. They also bend their own will to what each vintage gives them. So if they decide to make a wine with a grape and it doesn’t taste or look like it typically would, that’s okay. We’re always here to help you find a wine in the style you prefer even if the grape and region is new to you!