Is there such a thing as a natural wine, often referred to as pure natural wine, without any additives or aids? There are few questions that are so often answered incorrectly or that many consumers do not realise that there is no wine that can be vinified completely without additives or aids. Such a wine would at least be impaired in terms of colour or taste or, in the worst case, spoil and become undrinkable within a short time.
Of course, many producers try to minimise the use of such additives in their wines, but certain additives are indispensable. For example, it is almost impossible to do without sulphur as the most important oxidation inhibitor. However, certain substances are prohibited (see also under flavouring and wine adulteration) or are not permitted or at least severely restricted in certain forms of cultivation such as organic viticulture and/or their use in the production of organic wines and natural wines.
Result of a survey
According to a 2022 survey conducted by market researchers from Wine Intelligence in ten countries, 40% of consumers surveyed rate wine as a natural product that is free from all additives. For organic wines, the figure is as high as 66%. The majority believe that high-quality wines contain no additives at all, while 25% suspect them in cheap wines. 42% believe that wines with additives are harmful to health. Consumers (with responses from 11,533 people) in France, Germany, Spain, Italy, the UK, Sweden, the USA, Russia, Australia and Japan who consume wine at least once a month were surveyed. The labelling of ingredients on wine labels has been mandatory since December 2023; however, this hardly influences the purchase decision.
Nutritional values, ingredients and allergenic substances
Since 8 December 2023, wines, sparkling wines, fruit wines and flavoured wines have been treated as foodstuffs. This means that they must be labelled with a list of nutritional values and ingredients. All wine labels must include detailed information on nutritional values, additives and allergens. See nutritional value.
Agents and processes
Various substances are used to eliminate wine faults or defects in wine and to increase shelf life through various forms of preservation. The following list is a gross catalogue, as naturally only a limited number are used in each case. This also depends on the condition of the grapes, the desired type of wine and the desired...
