“Natural Wines” are the most significant emerging trend of recent years in wine, with some seeing it as an evolution
and others as a step backwards. Following this trend, more and more Greek producers are adding a “natural” wine to the products they offer. But since there is neither a consensus nor an official definition, the subject is quite controversial.
Master of Wine Yiannis Karakasis recently released the first book in Greek on this subject and comments:
“Producing wines that are as natural as possible while at the same time being clean in their aromas requires a great deal of work, and not everyone can do it.”
The whole idea of Natural Wines is based on the principle of producing less processed products, which their producers argue express the authenticity of their place. “The subject is quite complex”, Yiannis notes, “and this is one of the reasons that pushed me to write the book on Natural Wines. Despite the obvious problems of terminology and the lack of certifications, Natural Wines made with care, meticulousness and professionalism are among the most fascinating wines one can taste.”
*Enjoyment Tips
What Natural Wines are: In very simple terms, it is a wine produced from organic or biodynamic grapes without added substances, placing emphasis on the ethics of the producer.
What Natural Wines taste like: In white wines the colour is often lemon to gold, with aromas reminiscent of nuts, honey, quince and orange peel. The palate stands out for its intensity, freshness and nerve, often with a mineral feel. The presence of tannins in the whites is noticeable. The red wines stand out for their earthy, ripe aromas and display great complexity.
How to pair Natural Wines: Their pairings are one of their very strong points, since the whites go with both fish and meat. Try them with intense, aged graviera cheeses, mezedes that traditionally match retsina, and mainly pork- or lamb-based dishes. They are also an excellent match with various ethnic dishes such as chicken curry, as well as with other spicy flavours. The red Natural Wines follow more expected pairings.
