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18 September 2019

The Health Benefits of Drinking Natural Wine

Natural wine is a much-discussed and debated topic within the world of wine and beyond. When most people hear the term “natural wine”, they tend to think, “but isn’t all wine natural?”. This is where the debate can begin. Much of the conventional wine we drink today would not be considered natural. Unlike other food and beverages we consume, winemakers aren’t required to label the bottle with all the ingredients.
At the highest level of natural wine authenticity, wine is made with nothing added or removed during the winemaking process. Here are some of the health benefits of natural wine to help you understand the main differences between conventional wine and the natural stuff.

Natural Wine is Additive-Free
Consumers are becoming more aware and vigilant about what they’re actually putting into their bodies - from trying to reduce corn syrup in cereals, monitoring the levels of trans fats in frozen foods and steering clear of anything with ingredients that we can’t even pronounce. Why treat your wine any differently? There is a long list of almost 70 approved wine additives including; aluminosilicates, citric acid, sugar, fish albumin and more. If you want to apply your desire for a lack of additives, natural wine is the only way to go.

Natural Wine is Usually Organic
The definitions of natural wine can vary, but that being said, it’s pretty commonly agreed-upon by industry professionals that natural wine is made through processes with as little intervention as possible (that goes for the vineyard and in the cellar). Conventionally grown grapes often use a concoction of different pesticides, herbicides and fungicides in the growing process.
Meanwhile, many natural winemakers adhere to at least some biodynamic principles which encourage practices like cover crops, natural pest avoidance and other methods which reduce or eliminate reliance on chemical compounds.

Natural Wine is Lower in Sulphites
Sulphites or Sulphur Dioxide (SO2) are typically added to wines to act as a preservative. They’re common in many of the foods we eat on a daily basis (and shockingly, they are legally required to be present in wines sold to the American market).
Sulphites can be problematic for between 3-10% of the population this is because sulphites can cause allergies. It’s also rumoured that consuming wine with a higher sulphite content can lead to worse hangovers the next day.

There are many different reasons why people are making a switch from conventional wines to natural alternatives. The unique taste, the story behind each bottle, and the people who make up the industry. These health benefits are great reasons for health-conscious people to consider trying out natural wines - low sulphite content, organic winemaking and no additives.