![]() ![]() Instead of spending hours researching companies, I can subscribe to a monthly or bi-monthly subscription to get a variety of high-quality red, white, and rosé wines delivered straight to my door. As a company, they are committed to partnering with winemakers from all over the world that fall in line with specific standards they have set for natural wine. This is why I source all of my wine from Dry Farm Wines. Looking at it this way, sulfites can naturally occur in wine up to 30ppm (parts per million) per bottle, whereas conventional wines typically have between 150-300ppm per bottle. Since natural wines don’t add in additional sulfites during the fermentation process, it results in wines that only contain low-levels of naturally occurring sulfites. Many people have a sensitivity to sulfites which can contribute to side effects such as swelling, digestive pain, and headaches. Because of this, these wines can also be considered paleo and keto-friendly. ![]() In fact, a lot of natural wines can be considered “sugar-free” at less than 1g per bottle. Instead of adding in extra sulfites, natural winemakers allow the yeast to eat all of the sugar resulting in wines much lower in sugar. Natural wines are also fully fermented wines. Instead of relying on irrigation, natural wine farmers let the vines find their natural water source, a process known as “dry farming.” Not only does it produce a more nutrient-dense grape, dry farming saves millions of gallons of water each year. Most people don’t need a super high alcohol content to still enjoy a glass of wine and a little buzz without waking up the next day with a headache or residual brain fog. But studies have shown that large amounts of alcohol can affect your cognitive function. Wait, wouldn’t you want your wine to give you a little bit of a buzz? Most people do at least. While good for business, these aren’t the best for our health. Most conventional wines rely on GMO, lab-made yeasts for fermentation because of their low costs which allow for mass production. Additionally, a lot of brands add more sugar into the wine to achieve a particular flavor or sweetness to attract different consumers. Conventional wine makers typically add in additional sulfites (these also occur naturally at low amounts due to the fermentation process) which kill off the yeast early before it has the chance to eat all of the sugar - leaving residual sugar in the final product. ![]() This produces alcohol and carbon dioxide. To make wine, you ferment grape juice by adding yeast which eats the sugar in the juice. And since part of the benefit of red wine is its antioxidant polyphenol content, we want to keep these as high as possible. While it may produce more grapes overall, irrigation isn’t ideal for the vine and lowers the nutrient density of the grapes themselves. Irrigation is a common practice in farming as it lowers the overall cost for wine companies while also increasing the fruit yield. So, let’s take a look at the differences between the two and why you should be purchasing natural wine for your enjoyment and optimal health. It all boils down to the growing, fermentation, and production of each bottle. In fact, most people don’t know that there are two different types of wine - conventional and natural. Even the way wine is grown can make a difference on how you feel the next morning. Most of us don’t consider what is in the wine we are consuming and how those ingredients can impact our health. ![]() With anything, especially alcohol, moderation is key, but it goes far beyond the alcohol itself. But have you ever woke up the next morning feeling less-than-optimal and dehydrated after just one glass? It certainly makes you question whether that drink was worth it.Īs a functional medicine practitioner, my patients ask me all the time how they can enjoy wine without harming their health. Red wine has even been shown to help lower inflammatory markers like CRP. A glass of wine after dinner or on the weekend with friends is a fun way to socialize and unwind. ![]()
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