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With warmer weather and outdoor dining in full swing, you might be reaching for chilled reds, fruity rosés, and crisp whites. But, if you’ve browsed a wine list lately, you’ve probably noticed that natural wine is suddenly everywhere. Restaurants, wine bars, and bottle shops are dedicating entire sections to these low-intervention wines.
If you’re curious about what makes natural wine different or simply want to find a bottle worth trying, we spoke with industry experts to break it down.
Lynn McKenzie, co-owner of Ox Wine Bar in Brooklyn, and Sofia Flannery, beverage director at Vinyl Steakhouse and Vinile Italian Chophouse in Manhattan, shared their tips for understanding and choosing natural wines.
What Is Natural Wine?
“Natural wine is made with minimal intervention, using native yeasts and little to no additives or sulfites,” says McKenzie. This differs from organic wine, which “comes from grapes grown without synthetic chemicals,” and biodynamic wine, which “takes it further with holistic, moon-phase-guided farming. These wines differ from conventional ones by prioritizing purity, sustainability, and a true expression of the vineyard.”
While organic and natural wines are not always served chilled, you’re most likely to find light reds and whites made with pinot noir, gamay, syrah, chenin blanc, and pet-nats, varietals with “fresh, vibrant flavors,” according to McKenzie.
If you’re shopping for a bottle or choosing a glass from a menu, McKenzie recommends asking about the wine’s body, acidity, sweetness, and fruitiness. Then, she says, be honest about what you prefer, and let the sommelier guide you in the right direction. Many of these wines pair well with light, simple dishes. Flannery says, “Natural wines are fantastic with salty and funky foods. Think artisanal aged hard cheeses. Or seafoods with salinity like calamari, shrimp, or mussels.” Expect to spend $20 to $30 on a great-tasting bottle.
And don’t be shy about drinking up—natural wines don’t necessarily improve with age. Store them upright in a cool, dark space and enjoy them within a year.
What Natural Wine Tastes Like
Natural wines can vary widely, but they’re often known for bright acidity, vibrant fruit, and slightly funky complexity. You’ll commonly see: light reds made from pinot noir or gamay, crisp whites like chenin blanc, pet-nats (naturally sparkling wines), and orange wines made with skin-contact white grapes. These styles tend to be refreshing and approachable, making them ideal for warm weather.
The Best Natural Wines to Try Right Now
Below are some of our favorite natural and organic wines to sip this season.
All Avaline wines are organic, and the rosé is a wonderfully light and refreshing sip for hot weather. With tasting notes of stone and tropical fruits with a peppery finish, this blended wine from France has zero grams of sugar per glass, which is hard to find in a sweet-tasting rosé.
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Kind of Wild sources and produces organic wines from around the world. Its rosé is produced by a third-generation winemaker in southern France. It has a fresh, juicy, and sweet flavor with notes of floral minerality.
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This natural wine is produced in the Mendoza appellation of Cuyo, Argentina. It’s an affordable bottle that offers great bang for your buck with its bold, red fruit notes and light, refreshing palate.
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This is a medium-bodied, dry and acidic pet-nat from the Finger Lakes region of upstate New York. It has a lovely effervescence with notes of berries. It has a dry, almost chalky finish.
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Natural Wine FAQs
What makes a wine “natural”?
Natural wine is made with minimal intervention during fermentation. It typically uses native yeasts and contains few or no additives.
Is natural wine the same as organic wine?
No. Organic wine refers to grapes grown without synthetic pesticides. Natural wine focuses on minimal processing during winemaking.
Why does natural wine sometimes taste different?
Because it uses native yeasts and fewer stabilizing additives, natural wine can have more unusual or complex flavor profiles.
How do I store natural wine?
Unlike many conventional wines, natural wines don’t necessarily improve with age. For best flavor, experts recommend storing bottles upright, keeping them in a cool and dark place, and drinking within about a year of purchase.
Is natural wine healthier?
Natural wines often contain fewer additives and lower sulfite levels, but they still contain alcohol and should be enjoyed in moderation.
How much should a good natural wine cost?
Most high-quality bottles fall between $20 and $30, though specialty wines can cost more.
Final Thoughts
Ready to give natural wines a try? McKenzie recommends starting “with a chilled gamay or a pet-nat—they're light, fun, and easy to enjoy. Look for wines labeled natural or organic from trusted shops or bars. And keep an open mind—they can taste different but in a good way!”
Why You Should Trust Us
At The Quality Edit, we research, review, and recommend products that elevate everyday experiences. For this guide, we spoke with wine professionals and sommeliers working in some of New York’s top wine-focused restaurants and bars. We also evaluated wines based on flavor, value, accessibility, and natural winemaking practices.
Curious about non-alcoholic beverages? Check out top picks for non-alcoholic wine options (aka wine without the hangover).
