Completely additive-free wine【Vin Nature Wine】

Did you know that there are other wine additives besides antioxidants (sulfites)?
More than 99% of the wines on the market are additive-containing wines, but some wines are completely additive-free that are just naturally grown grapes and natural yeast.

Contents

1. 1.Additives in wine
2. 2.Wine classification
1. Bio Wine
2. Organic Wine
3. Nature Wine / Vin Nature Wine
4. ※Vin Nature Wine / Completely additive-free Wine
3. 3.Wine to drink in Japan / Japanese Wine
4. 4.Where can we buy completely additive-free wine?
5. 5.Summary
1. Recommended Vin Nature Wine

I worked 6-7 years ago in a bistro that only sells completely additive-free wines from France.
During that time, I went to France twice to see the winery and talk to the producers.

1. Additives in wine

Did you know that there are other wine additives besides antioxidants (sulfites)?
First of all, it is a general wine, but I think that the label has grapes and "antioxidant (sulfite)" written on it.

"Sulfites" are considered to be the cause of headaches and nausea, and wines called "sulfite-free" are now popular, but wines originally have sulfites that occur naturally during brewing. So, in fact, there is no wine with completely zero sulfites.

I don't think there is a problem with naturally occurring sulfites.
The problem is non-naturally occurring sulfites.
It's a story that doesn't come to the surface very much, but the reason is that most of the sulfites added in various situations such as when grapes are harvested, brewed, and bottled are by-products of the petroleum industry.

In fact, there are many other additives, and wine contains many additives that don't need to be labeled, such as yeast, sugar, coloring agents, acidulants, flavors, vitamin C, and preservatives other than sulfites.

2. Wine classification

The rules and regulations for making wine vary from country to country.
While there are many overseas wines such as the traditional countries of Europe and Oceania of New World, Japanese wines are often seen these days, but Japanese wines are still young and have some sloppy rules. (Of course, there are a few people who make it properly!)

Bio Wine

Most of them use organically grown grapes, but there are no strict regulations such as organic JAS certification, and the addition of dried yeast is permitted, so they can freely call themself bio wine.

Organic Wine

A wine made from organically grown grapes that has passed strict standards and has been certified.
There is a stipulation that no chemical fertilizers or synthetic chemicals are used and no genetic manipulation is performed, and this stipulation must be continued for at least 3 years.
No addition of dried yeast is allowed and it is made with natural yeast.

Nature Wine / Vin Nature Wine

There are 2 type of farming method Biologic farming and Biodinami farming.

【Biologic farming】
It is an organic farming method that doesn't use pesticides or chemical fertilizers, doesn't undergo genetic modification, and can only use certified organic fertilizers.
Also this stipulation must be continued for at least 3 years.
No addition of dried yeast is allowed and it is made with natural yeast.

【Biodinami farming】
An organic farming method based on biologic farming that incorporates relationships with celestial bodies, plants, and ecosystems.
No addition of dried yeast is allowed and it is made with natural yeast.

※Vin Nature Wine / Completely additive-free Wine

The manufacturing method used by some producers.
There are many natural farms that do not use pesticides or fertilizers, rather than organic farms. Even watering was not allowed in France.
There are no strict regulations and it is costly, so many producers aren't certified by Nature Wine, so I think it is impossible for us to judge just by looking at the etiquette (label).

Sulfites aren't added during brewing and may be added during the final bottling. (Especially at the time of import)
※ Three of other than this wine have sulfites added.

3. Wine to drink in Japan / Japanese Wine

Overseas wine to drink in Japan

People often say, "Wine that you drink locally in France or Italy is better than wine that you drink in Japan." That's actually true, because the amount of antioxidant (sulfites) is different between local and Japanese wines, even for the same wine.

In most cases, sulfites must be added when exporting wine, or to prevent deterioration during long-distance travel.
Therefore, most wines are better to drink locally, regardless of the country of origin.

Japanese Wine

I said that Japanese wine has a short history, but there are some delicious wines that are well made.
I'm sorry I'm not familiar with it at all, but at the Curvedoch Winery in Niigata, there is only one winery that makes nature wine, and I got a delicious wine with a taste like nature. (Sulfite is added.)

By the way, this photo shows organic wine from France and Japanese antioxidant-free wine sold at supermarkets.

On the left is a wine that found the standards of European organic wines, but of course sulfites are added.
The grapes tasted good, but they still tasted like sulfites.

And on the right is the antioxidant-free Japanese wine that we've seen a lot over the last few years.
It is a wine that uses imported inexpensive concentrated, reduced, and frozen grapes, and is sterilized by heating, so it is a mechanism to make stable products without using antioxidants.
However, this is just called wine in Japan, and it is no longer recognized as wine in the world.
Moreover, when heated, the flavor and acidity of the grapes will be removed, so add that much.lol
It tastes like alcohol mixed with concentrated and reduced grape juice, so it's hard to say that it's wine.

4. Where can we buy completely additive-free wine?

As I mentioned above, it's quite difficult to find a completely additive-free wine.
I think the most reliable way is to buy it directly from the importer.

Reliable importer

Personally, I would like to introduce some importers that I found reliable.
In particular, the first 【Nibandori sake shop】and the second 【Marumata】 are importers who are very close to the producers, so I think you can buy very good wine.

However, please note that even if the same wine is produced by the same producer, the amount of sulfite added may differ depending on the importer, and the taste will also change!

Summary

Some people say that some additives and antioxidants are necessary for wines, and there are many natural wines that have antioxidants added.
However, although I couldn't drink wine originally, I could drink additive-free wine. Of course, I get drunk because it is alcohol, but my headache and vomiting have disappeared.
That's why I'm more sensitive to wines with additives, and even a little bit of it smells and feels strange.

For those who are not good at alcohol, please forcibly drink! I'm not saying that, but if you want the original taste of grapes and wine and its effects on your body, I would like you to try a completely additive-free wine!

Recommended Vin Nature Wine

I would like to introduce a few of my favorite wines.