Britain could soon become home to the world’s first natural wine appellation, with Welsh winemakers pushing for an innovative protected geographical indication scheme that would recognise and protect terroir-led Welsh wine.
The proposed Natural Wine of Wales PGI rules would exclude the use of synthetic chemicals, processing aids, additives and industrial yeasts in wine production.
Sulphur inputs would be limited in quantity and permitted only at bottling. Wines would be made in Wales from spontaneously fermented grapes grown in Wales under organic practices on certified organic, regenerative or biodynamic estates.
Paul Rolt, winemaker and owner of Hebron Vineyard in Carmarthenshire, said Welsh natural winemakers wanted to set environmental standards as part of their battle against greenwashing and ultra-processed wine.
“For consumers, enjoying a Natural Wine of Wales will mean they know they are drinking a raw, fermented grape product, providing an honest and healthy representation of each vineyard, a taste of that place, unadulterated by synthetic chemicals either in the vineyard or in the winery.”
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