At this decisive time as our planet faces climate change, our relationship with the world around us and moving to sustainable agriculture is critical. In France, one of the world's largest wine producers, 30% of pesticides are concentrated into only 3% of the agricultural surface. Conversely, producing natural wine benefits the ecosystem in a humanistic way. The natural wine app aims to support these gardeners of the vines (aka winemakers), and allow them to be paid off for their hard, honest work. Meanwhile, the average price of a bottle of wine in Europe was 1.7€ in 2017 (and increases up to 10€ for importing countries). Such low prices imply the use of mass production methods, which do not respect the environment and do not provide the necessary means for producers. If tomorrow the vineyards were made of up winemakers all working in this eco-friendly fashion, it would create a world of difference with beautiful biodiversity and a balance in our environment.
A natural wine is made only with grapes grown without the use of synthetic products and sometimes a bit of sulfite. What's the difference with other types of wine? The vast majority of wines produced around the world are not just fermented grapes, and sulfites are far from the only additives that can enter their composition. Similarly, unlike other wines, natural wines undergo minimal intervention during vinification.
Since its creation, Raisin has aimed to make the natural wine world more easily accessible and understandable for everyone. To do so, the app shows our users where they can find this type of wine. With the new label scanning feature, we are taking it a step further to offer transparency as to how your wine is made. Imagine going into an establishment, scanning a label, and being confident that the wine in your glass is one that is purely fermented grapes! This feature is not intended to replace the expertise of a sommelier or a wine merchant, rather to serve as a complementary and practical tool.
Raisin desires to embrace the natural wine movement in all its diversity, which of course includes its rebellious side that rejects any fixed definition. However, our team is loyal to certain criteria that we have borrowed from the Association of Natural Wine’s Cahier des charges (AVN) original charter, and this is something that we promise to our users! The wines we validate must be made without pesticides or the use of additives, with the exception of the occasional small amount of sulfur added (30 mg/L for reds and 40 mg/L for whites maximum). Therefore, we validate wines based on the work done by the winemakers themselves, because that’s what it all comes down to! For a winemaker to be considered natural on Raisin, 50% of their wine must fit this natural philosophy.
➜ We also recommend you read this article: 5,0000 Venues Where to Drink Natural Wine in The World!
We consider winemakers to be natural when they produce their wines in the following way:
With our title being “The Natural Wine App,” our goal is to create a complete list of all wines produced naturally, with as much detail as possible regarding how they were crafted, and the artisans who made them. On the other hand, we have no interest in listing all of the conventional wines out there, nor those that are already certified (AB, Ecocert, Demeter, Biodyvin, etc).
Instead, we strive to highlight true initiatives for natural winemaking, and avoid any confusion from deceiving advertisement on labels. So with the label scanner, wine search features, and rich database of winemakers, we aim to guarantee those that you can trust.
Instead, we strive to highlight true initiatives for natural winemaking, and avoid any confusion from deceiving advertisement on labels. That is why each wine posted on Raisin is reviewed according to these three categories:
WINE MADE BY A NATURAL WINEMAKER: made only with grapes and sometimes a little sulfites, in the respect of the Nature and the Men.
THIS WINE IS ORGANIC AND/OR BIODYNAMIC: which has one of these certifications, but is not vinified in a natural way.
IS NOT MADE BY A NATURAL WINEMAKER: could be confused with the work of a natural winemaker, produced conventionally.
NOT SURE ABOUT THIS WINE...: without the necessary information about this winemaker, we are not in a position to categorize.There are a multitude of associations and organizations around the world who work to provide the framework for a better understanding of what natural wine really is. While the requirements on different criteria may vary, the commonality is that they want to help consumers IDENTIFY WHAT IS NOT NATURAL WINE. All these approaches converge towards a better idea of how a wine is made, whether in the vineyard or in the cellar. Below is a list of the main organizations that exist to date:
Vin Méthode Nature is the name of the first label dedicated to natural wine. Their goal is to provide a more concrete guarantees to consumers, (for example) by conducting random control procedures. The presence of 2 different logos on the back label makes it possible to identify if it is a natural wine (without added sulfur) or a natural wine (with a volume of sulfur lower than 30mg/L in total). The specifications:
Number of member winemakers : 200 - September 2021.
This Italian association is a collection of more than 170 producers from 10 different countries, each with their own unique story but with a common goal: to produce natural wine.
Number of member winegrowers: 170
Born on January 11, 2021, the Association Suisse Vin Nature (ASVN) aims to defend the promotion of Vin Nature. Its aim is to support and advise producers in vinifying this type of wine, and to highlight the great diversity of natural wines, in terms of their taste, smell, appearance, as well as their creative expression.
In Switzerland, a natural wine is an organic or biodynamic grape, pressed and fermented without any additives. The expression of wine in its purest form!
Number of member winegrowers: not provided
The Swiss Natural Wine Association Regulations (full document)
The Association is a union of winegrowers and winemakers committed exclusively to organic or biodynamic viticulture and natural winemaking in Georgia. The Natural Wine Association was founded in 2017 in Tbilisi by Georgian winegrowers and winemakers.
Natural wine means that the winegrower:
Number of member winegrowers: not provided
More information on Vitis Batardus Liberata coming soon.
Previous event: Hybrid wine fair: Vitis Batardus Liberata
The charter has evolved over the years, and now does not accept any inputs or additives. Here are the main elements of their specifications:
Number of member winegrowers: not provided
The winemakers of the Association des Vins S.A.I.N.S. produce healthy, living wines (without inputs or added sulfites) across 100% of the winemaking process. The main elements of their criteria include:
Number of member winegrowers: not provided
You are dying to learn more about wine?
Are you eager to learn more about wine? Explore the diverse world of natural wines, where authenticity and tradition meet innovation. From the lively fruitiness of Beaujolais Nouveau to the sparkling charm of natural Champagne and pét-nat, these wines truly reflect their origins. Discover the refreshing piquette, the versatility of rosé, and the bold character of orange wines, and also techniques like carbonic maceration. Join the movement that honour's flavour, creativity, and sustainable practices!
Let's delve into the world of wine faults!
This extensive topic often leads to spirited debates. Our goal is to unravel the complexities of some of the most significant wine faults, including Brettanomyces, Cork Taint, Volatile Acidity, and everything in between. We hope this is an insightful exploration of these intricacies!
