🌳 Intro: the environmental impact
Did you know that in France, viticulture is responsible for 20% of all pesticides used in agriculture, yet vines only occupy 3.7% of the agricultural surface?! This catastrophic percentage sums up how essential viticulture is in our environment.
Natural wine encourages responsible vine cultivation, often organic and / or biodynamic without pesticides or additives.
Natural wine is also a locavore movement. Grapes are grown on small human-sized farms and distributed in small shops.
55% of natural wine producers are from France, making it the undisputed leader in the natural wine production market.
Other winemaking countries such as Italy, Spain, the USA, Australia, and more are following suit, and reducing the harsh effects of conventional farming on the environment.
🚀 The booming market: past, present, & future
The numbers of establishments and winemakers on the app have multiplied, parallel to the natural wine market's global trajectory.
Need to see it to believe it? Raisin is a great indication of the direction of the natural wine movement. While not an exhaustive list, the app is the go-to guide that references a large majority of natural wine venues (bars, restaurants, wine shops) and producers around the world. Let's take a look at how much Raisin has grown in nearly six years: In 2016 when the app was only a year old, Raisin had 1,000 recommended establishments. Now 6 years later, and 2021 has a lot more to offer on this map of natural wine: 5,000+ venues to be exact, and eminently growing.
The secret of these Raisin establishments is that there is much more to them than natural wine: these place are synonymous with authentic and quality food products that are equally as respectful of the planet. Where we drink well, we eat well, and that's the bottom line!
⚠️ Raisin only recommends venues with at least 30% natural wine in their offer. This minimum represents a commitment on the establishment's part to lead its customers to discovering natural wine.
🌍 Top natural wine countries:
| Establishments | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| France | 606 | 866 | 1097 | 1307 | 1498 | 1506 |
| Italy | 66 | 201 | 421 | 669 | 836 | 858 |
| USA | 129 | 177 | 285 | 439 | 522 | 526 |
| Japan | 142 | 200 | 324 | 330 | 333 | 333 |
| Belgium | 111 | 147 | 178 | 208 | 224 | 229 |
Top 5 countries:
With nearly twice as many venues as other leading countries, 🇫🇷 France's top ranking can be explained by 3 factors:
- Its history is closely linked to French pioneer winemakers such as Jules Chauvet, Marcel Lapierre, and Pierre Overnoy, who have inspired a whole new generation of French wine producers, sommeliers, chefs, and wine professionals.
- France's position in the gastronomy and wine tourism industry.
- Raisin is a French-born start-up!
🇮🇹 Italy has an indisputable place in culinary and wine tourism, with a strong relationship between producers and consumers that solidifies their second-place spot. Italians like to eat and drink locally, and the production is there to match this market demand. With such appreciation for the local products comes respect of terroir, which can explain Italy's green shift and rapid progress on sustainable food and wine. It's worth noting that Italy is the leading player in organic farming in Europe, based on its number of farms and area of agricultural land cultivated.
In third place is the United States 🇺🇸, whose rise in natural wine has been recently significant. The East Coast has the lead with more than 300 referenced establishments on Raisin, double that of the West Coast. Americans have taken initiative on eco-responsible bistronomy, and the numbers of natural wine venues and even winemakers are steadily progressing. The US's rapid expansion by volume and scale highlights Americans' thirst for natural wine, and can be contributed to a landscape that is less conventionally formatted for wine (in comparison to Italy and France).
🇯🇵 Next up is Japan, who has been given a lot of deserving credit for contributing to the natural wine movement. The Japanese have a very strong focus on doing things with precision, authenticity, and purity in mind. Hence the country's appreciation for natural wine! Note: Covid and travel restrictions have unfortunately slowed down Raisin's data in Japan, but will hopefully be back on track soon.
Last up is Belgium 🇧🇪, who contrary to popular belief, is not just a beer country - it also happens to be natural wine heaven and has the highest density of natural wine establishments in the world!
🏙 Top natural wine cities:
Top 30 cities where to drink natural wine (by type of establishment):
| Natural wine Establishments | Bars | Wine Shops | Restaurants | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paris | 157 | 169 | 282 | 440 |
| New York | 50 | 38 | 98 | 151 |
| London | 52 | 44 | 69 | 98 |
| Copenhagen | 32 | 27 | 41 | 68 |
| Roma | 44 | 32 | 44 | 67 |
| Lyon | 22 | 21 | 35 | 57 |
| Montreal | 18 | 0 | 43 | 55 |
| Amsterdam | 19 | 18 | 34 | 54 |
| Barcelona | 24 | 12 | 33 | 48 |
| Los Angeles | 15 | 12 | 25 | 44 |
| Tokyo | 11 | 9 | 31 | 43 |
| Osaka | 8 | 6 | 31 | 45 |
| Bruxelles | 12 | 11 | 21 | 35 |
| Milan | 20 | 18 | 21 | 35 |
| Toulouse | 11 | 12 | 25 | 34 |
| Berlin | 13 | 14 | 16 | 34 |
📝 The noteworthy natural wine consumption within cities!
Paris is the undisputed leader, aligned with France as the #1 in countries. However, the rest of the ranking highlights cities trending in natural wine venues, who are ahead of the game compared to their respective countries. New York and London stand out from big cities in Italy and Spain, while the US and the UK are not nearly as geared towards production.
Why? The answer boils down to an economic reality: On average, over 70% of natural wine is exported. This dynamic is linked to a whole new generation of specialized importers and exporters committed to an international clientele, who don't hesitate to pay more for artisan wine. In short, the value is recognized and capitalized on in these key cities, who also happen to be those trending in gastronomy. Therefore, it's not surprising to see Copenhagen in fourth place, a city who perfectly embodies a dedication to the locavore mentality, and who is very up and coming in the world of natural wine consumption.
Unlike traditional guides where subjectivity often trumps the facts, the Raisin map of establishments is based off the course of the market, using natural wine as an objectively telling factor. Natural wine runs parallel to high standards and craftsmanship, and allows the Raisin app to serve as an all encompassing guide that tracks this progressive movement around the world.
🥖 Paris, the world capital of natural wine
With 3 times as many establishments as New York, and 4 times as many as London, Paris is truly a trailblazer for natural wine. Paris is a must-see for any natural wine lover, with a dense selection that is rich and representative of some of the world's best. We can even locate the epicenter in the 11th arrondissement, who has 91 venues alone - beating out Brooklyn's 86 and Manhattan's 70.
| Arrondissement (Paris) | Number of Establishments | Arrondissement (Paris) | Number of Establishments |
|---|---|---|---|
| 75001 | 17 | 75002 | 18 |
| 75003 | 32 | 75004 | 8 |
| 75005 | 18 | 75006 | 20 |
| 75007 | 7 | 75008 | 4 |
| 75009 | 30 | 75010 | 35 |
| 75011 | 91 | 75012 | 22 |
| 75013 | 11 | 75014 | 14 |
| 75015 | 7 | 75016 | 6 |
| 75017 | 21 | 75018 | 35 |
| 75019 | 21 | 75020 | 32 |
| Borough (NYC) | Number of Establishments |
|---|---|
| Brooklyn | 86 |
| Manhattan | 70 |
| Queens | 4 |
| Staten Island | 1 |
| Bronx | 0 |
👖 It's trendy, but a timeless fashion
It's no coincidence that some of the top tourist destinations of the world happen to be flowing with natural wine: it's trendy, but a timeless fashion. In fact, it's been an underrated style since the beginning of wine and is deep rooted in the history of winemaking led by pioneers.
Around the 80's when mass production became an economic sensation, sadly the norm quickly became covering wine with make-up and compromising its true terroir. But as consumers are becoming more conscious and the environment is being put into focus, the real stuff (natural wine) is prevailing!
Which brings us right back to the underlying theme of natural wine and the places who serve it - they go hand in hand with local, seasonal, and organic production that makes all the difference. That's why we are confident that these 5,000+ venues on Raisin are the best of the best when it comes to quality. A champion of natural wine does not compromise on anything!
The numbers of establishments and winemakers on the app have multiplied, parallel to the natural wine market's global trajectory.
Need to see it to believe it? Raisin is a great indication of the direction of the natural wine movement. While not an exhaustive list, the app is the go-to guide that references a large majority of natural wine venues (bars, restaurants, wine shops) and producers around the world. Let's take a look at how much Raisin has grown in nearly 6 years: In 2016 when the app was only a year old, Raisin had 1,000 recommended establishments. Now 6 years later, and 2021 has a lot more to offer on this map of natural wine: 5,000+ venues to be exact, and eminently growing.
The secret of these Raisin establishments is that there is much more to them than natural wine: these place are synonymous with authentic and quality food products that are equally as respectful of the planet. We eat well where we drink well, and that's the bottom line!
Artworks & Animations : Jules Maillard
