Natural Wine Fans Will Want To Know About New Documentary, Living Wine
White, red, rosé, sangria — most people have a preference when it comes to wines. If you consider yourself a wine connoisseur, you may have heard of natural wines. If you find yourself constantly seeking out unique flavors, you may even prefer them.
Natural wine is made by picking grapes from small-scale, sustainable vineyards, reports Wine Folly. It is then fermented without added yeast. Natural wine contains no sulfites nor additives during fermentation. To simply put, these vineyards do not use chemicals, filtration, or heavy machinery at any point during the winemaking process (per Bon Appétit).
Wine Folly states that natural wine may not even taste like wine, with some comparing it to sour beer. Typically, sweet wines may feature more sour notes after being made naturally while still maintaining a fruity base flavor. These unfamiliar flavors may have an unexpected appeal. And that is exactly what inspired Lori Miller to produce a documentary about natural wines.
Discover natural winemaking
"Living Wine" is a documentary that follows four Northern California winemakers, and features two experts, Elizabeth Candelario and Dr. Timothy LaSalle, according to a press release. Lori Miller produced and directed the documentary, after being inspired to pursue a deeper understanding of the production when she tasted natural wine for the first time in 2020.
The featured winemakers, Megan Bell of Margins Wine, Gideon Beinstock and Saron Rice of Clos Saron, and Darek Trowbridge of Old World Winery. It will share their processes of creating unique, natural wines as they reject traditional methods in favor of nuanced, sustainable methods. The press release states that this documentary will follow each of them during an intense wildfire season, as they combat shorter growing seasons, early harvesting, increased temperatures, and higher risks of wildfires, while trying to heal the very environment that is fighting against them.
"Living Wine" will premiere in select theaters July 15, 2022.