Natural wine uncorks back to basics movement in the U.S.

Natural wine – wine produced with minimal chemical intervention – is growing increasingly popular in the United States. But critics say the lack of defined standards and certification means consumers don’t quite know what they’re getting when they uncork a bottle. It’s harvest time in California. Pickers are plucking grapes from the vines as quickly as they can. This vineyard is certified organic. Growers here say consumers want wines that reflect their lifestyle choices. “The farm-to-table movement in the United States really made people concerned about what they’re eating and what they’re putting into their bodies. And I think for a really long time, we were a little bit more focused on the food that we’re eating and the food that we’re purchasing and consuming. And I think now it’s also grown to encompass the wine that we’re drinking as well,” says David Rothchild, owner of Los Paisanos Vineyard Management Company. These grapes will not just end up in organic wines, the vineyard supplies several natural wine producers. Natural wine is a production philosophy that favors as little intervention as possible, typically fermented with no added water, yeast or flavor enhancers. Rothchild thinks it’s a good market to get into, at a time when overall wine consumption is falling. “There aren’t as many wine drinkers right now and the wine-drinking population is aging and they’re not attracting a younger audience,” he says. “I think that the younger audience is very attracted by natural wine. I think that it’s a different flavor. There has been a movement towards lower alcohol, higher acid wines, wines that are more refreshing.” Total Wine, which operates 257 stores in 28 U.S. states, says sales of natural wine have more than tripled from a year ago. “The natural wine movement is great for the consumer because it is providing an alternative to the mass-produced wine that may have a lot of chemicals in it or have vineyards that are farmed with pesticides or chemicals that have proven to be very bad for you,” says winemaker Pax Mahle. Analysts say natural wine is currently the fastest-growing segment of the U.S. wine industry. This article was provided by The Associated Press.