Written on 11/10/2021
All the keys to understanding the differences
Today, there are a number of types of wine that are becoming increasingly important in the wine world: organic wine, vin nature and vin biologique. And with good reason: for several years now, the French (and the whole world) have been turning more and more to natural and organic products, so it's only natural that some winemakers have turned to this kind of production. But what's the difference, both in terms of composition and the winemaker's work? We explain it all to you!
Organic wine: Organic wine has been around since 2012. It is subject to very precise European specifications. Indeed, for a wine to be considered organic, no chemicals must have been used during the entire wine production process, either to treat the vines or in the soil to get rid of weeds. For fertilization, winemakers can use natural products such as composted sheep manure. However, certain products can also be added to the wine, particularly during the vinification process.
Biodynamic wine: Like organic wine, biodynamic wine is produced from untreated vines with no herbicides on the soil. Winegrowers use only 100% natural products or elements of nature to maintain the soil and vines, such as fauna, flora, the moon or plant-based infusions. There are no official certificates for wine to be recognized as biodynamic, but Demeter, Biodyvin and Ecocert are important certifiers for this kind of production.
Natural wine: Natural wine is produced from organic, untreated vines. The grapes are harvested by hand, and the wine is fermented in vats, with no other products than grapes, and no added sulfites (which are naturally present in the wine)! Naturally, the production of a natural wine has to be in keeping with respect for the environment and ecology, so it's a whole new production method for winemakers. Today, there are no official regulations for natural wine, which is why this type of production is always complicated to define.
