Skipton

Product List | July 2019 Stock subject to availability and prices subject to change. Skipton

Organic, Vegan and Biodynamic are very much in demand and are globally available on restaurant lists and on the lists of good wine merchants too. We hesitate to label them as ‘alternative wines’ - as they are not new, and are increasingly ‘mainstream'.

At the Wright Wine Company, we stock over 500 vegan, organic and biodynamic wines from across the globe. You may well regularly drink one of these wines as they are from many well known vineyards - however the wine industry seldom makes large statements on their labels to let you know the fact.

There's an upside and downside to this. The upside is that many people may be enjoying a vegan or organic wine without knowing. The human brain can often give you preconceptions just from a label, and some of these may be negative.

The downside is of course that many people who choose as a way of life, may feel they are limited in their wine choices. This isn't so. Just a flick through this list and you'll see that the options available are quite staggering.

Do organic/vegan/biodynamic wines taste differently?

That's a good question - and this debate could go on for more than we have space for. The best way to answer this is to try them and see for yourself. Unless you're an expert who regularly drinks wine and has the palate, and knowledge, to recognise subtle differences, we really don't think you would notice...

Read on to understand the process which define these wines - then take a look through our incredible range... Organic Wine preferring to let sediment settle naturally, and others preferring - a clay mineral, to clear their product. There are also some vineyards which will not filter their wine at all, as some Organic wine is made from grapes grown in accordance with the principles of organic farm- people prefer unfiltered and say it may effect the flavour. ing - that is, artificial chemical fertilisers, pesticides, fungicides and herbicides are not used. Instead, fertilisers of organic nature are used - compost manure, green manure and bone meal. Biodynamic Wine There are two core phases of wine making, so true organic wine would consider both Biodynamic farming is an ecological and sustainable approach to agriculture which increases elements in the process, however in some soil fertility without the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Using countries (UK included) just having the organic farming methods (see above) with the addition of soil supplements grapes grown organically will define the wine according to Rudolf Steiner’s (Austrian philosopher, social reformer, archi- as 'organic'. tect, economist, esotericist) formulas and following a planting calender which Ensuring the vineyard is maintained, and depends on astronomical configurations. This approach was first lectured by grapes grown, using organic principles is one thing - however in the fermentation and bottling Steiner in 1924. of the product there are still processes which need to be considered. An example here are addi- For a wine to be labelled as 'biodynamic' it has to meet the standards laid tives which support the preservation and stabilisation of the product, such as sulphites. Because down by the Demeter Association which is an internationally recognised many wines are at their best over a period of time, it's desirable for them to be preserved for certifying body. longer - and there is therefore much debate in the wine making community about what defines 2 an organic stabilisation/preservation age. Watch this space.. According to Fortune , many of the top estates in France, including the likes of Domaine Leroy in Burgundy, Château de la Roche-aux-Moines in the Loire, Maison Chapoutier in the Rhone Valley, and Domaine Zind-Humbrecht in Vegan Wine Alsace, now follow biodynamic viticulture.

1 The definition of Veganism is a way of living that seeks to exclude (as much as possible and Natural Wine practical) all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, animals for food, clothing and any other purpose. More commonly, this would mainly focus on a plant-based diet which avoids all meat, There has been something of a buzz surrounding “Natural Wine” in recent years and, unlike Or- including shellfish, fish and insects) diary, eggs, honey - and animal-derived products. ganic, Biodynamic and Vegan wine making principles, it is a rather nebulous term. At present Easier said than done. So where does wine come into this? there is no established certification body and the term has no legal status. Indeed “natural wine” It may come as a surprise to some, but in is more of a wine making philosophy of minimal intervention in the growing and wine making the wine making (and ) processes, processes than a scientific approach and, for this reason, opinions amongst “natural” wine mak- animal-derived products may be used to ers often differ in terms of what they consider to be an acceptable level of intervention. It is also remove organic impurities and therefore im- an approach that seems to divide consumer opinion. prove the clarity and in some cases, flavour. Isabelle Legeron MW is a staunch advocate of “Natural Wine” and defines it on her RAW Wine This organic matter, which may be website3 as: and , makes the wine cloudy and could "Natural Wine is farmed organically (biodynamically, using permaculture or the like) and made give the illusion of the wine being spoilt. Re- (or rather transformed) without adding or removing anything in the cellar. No additives or process- moving the particles results in a clear wine. ing aids are used, and ‘intervention’ in the naturally occurring fermentation process is kept to a Known as finings, this is an agent which is added to the top of a vat of wine. As it sinks through minimum. As such neither fining nor (tight) are used. The result is a living wine – whole- the liquid, organic particles adhere to it and are carried to the bottom where it can be removed. some and full of naturally occurring microbiology." This residue is not bottled and generally will not make it's way into the final product. The problem is that fining can be derived from , egg albumen and in some cases in the Mediterranean, bull’s blood (although this is not allowed in the US or EU due to BSE). Vegan wine of course uses nothing which has come from an animal, with some vineyards

References: References: 2. https://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/2004/08/09/377901/index.htm 1. The Vegan Society. https://www.vegansociety.com/go-vegan/definition-veganism 3. https://www.rawwine.com/the-wine/what-is-natural-wine/ Sparkling Wines Sparkling Wines - Champagne

ENGLAND Veg Org Bio ITALY Cont... Veg Org Bio Nyetimber, Classic Cuvée, ½ bottle 12.0% £19.00 • - - Prosecco, Brut, Spumante, Borgo Molino, Magnum 11.0% £29.00 • - - Nyetimber, Rosé, ½ bottle N.V. 12.0% £21.50 • - - Prosecco, Superiore, Valdobbiadene, Extra Dry, Borgo Molino Magnum 11.5% £41.00 • - - Nyetimber, Demi-Sec N.V. 12.0% £33.00 • - - Prosecco, Superiore, Valdobbiadene, Extra Dry, Borgo Molino Jeroboam 11.5% £85.00 • - - Nyetimber, Classic Cuvée N.V. 12.0% £33.00 • - -

Nyetimber, Rosé N.V. 13.0% £38.00 • - - New Zealand Veg Org Bio Nyetimber, Blanc de Blancs (Current Vintage!) 2013 13.0% £42.00 • - - Akarua, Brut, Rosé, Central Otago 12.0% £22.50 • - - Nyetimber, Tillington, Single Vineyard 2013 12.0% £95.00 • - -

Nyetimber, Blanc de Blancs, Library Vintage Magnum 1996 12.5% £130.00 • - - Spain Veg Org Bio Cava, Brut, Marquis de Lares 12.5% £9.10 • - -

FRANCE Veg Org Bio Ravent