Natural wine is the hottest trend in the wine world, but at the same time an ancient way of making wine. Do you want to offer something new and exciting at your next wine evening, or are you looking for an organic alternative without any additives to put on the dinner table? Then perhaps natural wines could be something for you to explore. But what does "natural wines" mean and what do you need to know to drink them?
What is natural wine?
There are no fixed criteria for what is required to call a wine a natural wine, and the terminology for these wines varies, but "natural wines" is the most common term. Natural wine is, briefly, wine that has been made with as little influence on the production process as possible.
This means that in principle no additives or sulfites are used in the production and that the wine ferments naturally. The result: Fermented grape juice! For thousands of years, humans have made fermented grape juice without additives - and that is exactly what natural wine is.
Many wines of this type are young wines and often unfiltered. A good idea may therefore be to decant the wine in a wine decanter, or to use a wine aerator when pouring the wine. To find the right method for aerating your wine, you can read our guide for aerating wine here. With us you will find several different vinluftare and also a vindekanter which is perfect for letting your wine breathe in.
How long does an opened bottle of wine last?
If you don't have time to drink everything in the bottle or want to save some for a later occasion, we recommend using a wine stopper. An opened wine bottle usually lasts for 3-4 days (6-7 days in the refrigerator) before the wine starts to lose its flavor, but this varies greatly from wine to wine. It is not dangerous to drink the wine even after that period, and it is always fine to smell and taste the wine.
Some natural wines can be more sensitive than traditional wines when it comes to storage after you have opened the bottle. One tip could be to check if your wine has any special instructions regarding storage.
A prerequisite for the wine to retain maximum flavor is that the bottle is sealed when stored. At Dorre, you can find several different wine stopper that helps you keep the wine in the best possible condition.
The perfect wine for your wine evening
Many natural wines stand out from regular wines due to the "juicy" character of the wine. The wines are often more on the fresh side and can offer exciting and distinctive flavors that often do not emerge in the more controlled manufacturing methods of traditional wines.
A wine that has grown in popularity in recent years is orange wine. The wine is often associated with natural wines or biodynamic wines due to the production process where the skins of the green grapes are left on during fermentation, which creates the dark color and contributes to the tannic and oxidative flavor.
There is a wide variety of wines that are classified as natural wines, and many of them do not differ significantly in taste from the traditional wines you are used to. So whether you want to challenge yourself and your friends with a more exciting wine, or if you want a drinkable companion wine, you can find a natural wine that suits your taste.
Matcha with the perfect charcuterie board eor why not put one together vinprovning with these new exciting wines.
Dorre recommends natural wine you can find at Systembolaget
In Systembolaget's stores, you can find a few wines that are classified as natural wine, and the ordering assortment has a wide range of natural wines that are ordered from importers who carefully select their wines in direct contact with the wine producers. You can also order wines directly to the nearest postal agent with cheap shipping through other importers around Europe.
We at Dorre recommend the following wines as a starting point for your exploration of natural wines (all available in Systembolaget's order assortment or regular assortment):
Redd natural wine Maison Robert Olivier
Medium-bodied, fruity wine with flavors of blackberries, black currants, fresh herbs, as well as blueberries and violets. Available in Systembolaget's stores.
White natural wine Meinklang naked
Fresh and fruity Austrian white natural wine with flavors of pear, apricot, green apples, white pepper, and grapefruit. Available in Systembolaget's stores.
Meckert 3 wines from Vin and Natur
A slightly more expensive variant that includes a white, an orange, and a red wine from Yannick Meckert. Available in Systembolaget's order assortment.