There is nothing new about organic wine. The concepts behind them date back to the pre – industrial production of wine – no artificial chemicals, pesticides and minimal preservatives. The obvious benefits to looking after the land and environment are now mainstream with the movement in Australia being led by many of the best wine makers. Now the conversation is about sustainable viticulture and following the French ideal of terroir – letting the wine be a reflection of the site and the season. Biodynamic wines are organic but are farmed using soil preparations according to supplements prepared according to Rudolf Steiners formulas, following a planting calendar that depends upon astronomical configurations, and treating the earth as a living organism.
Natural wines follow many of these principles and also rely on fermentation of the wine by yeasts that occur in the vineyard or winery with little intervention by the wine maker. They are unfiltered and unfined and have minimal sulphur. This leads to textural wines that vary from year to year and barrel to barrel.
All wines contain some sulphur as a by-product of fermentation but preservative free wines have none added. This means they need to be drunk fresh as shelf life is limited. We have a great range of organic, natural and preservative free wines at XO Cellars and we can help you discover some great Australian examples. Happy Chinese New Year!
Photo – Cobaw Ridge – certified organic / biodynamic premium Australian wine.
