Vegan, organic, natural or biodynamic wines… Can you explain me this?

Have you ever stopped to think about the difference between a vegan wine, an organic wine, a biodynamic wine, and a natural wine? 🍷

While it may seem at first glance that we’re talking about the same thing, each of these types of wine has very distinct characteristics.

What’s the difference between vegan, organic, natural, and biodynamic wine?

Vegan wines, as the name suggests, can be consumed by people who follow a vegan diet 🌱, as no animal-derived products are used in their production process. However, this doesn’t mean that the ingredients used are 100% natural. > Learn more about vegan wine

Organic wine, on the other hand, must be made using entirely natural processes. Starting with the vineyards, which must be sustainable and certified organic. 🌞

The CCPAE is the organization that issues the certification for Catalan wineries. Likewise, all products used must be organic (including in the clarification process), and the use of chemical fertilizers must be avoided. > Wineries with CCPAE certification

Natural wine is also organic. The grapes come from sustainable vineyards, and during the production process, only organic products are used, leaving out any chemicals.

However, the difference lies in the fact that natural wines are typically bottled without undergoing the clarification process, or the clarification is minimal, without significant alterations to the wine. Another feature of natural wine is that it is not filtered, or it’s filtered only by natural decanting.

Within the category of organic wines, there is also biodynamic wine. In this case, organic products of animal or plant origin are used, and the use of chemical preparations and unnatural practices is avoided.

The main characteristic of biodynamic wine is that its production process is tied to the lunar phases 🌙, a traditional practice that was once quite popular. The organization that certifies biodynamic agriculture is Demeter.

As you can see and deduce, many of these types of wine are often combined. Natural and biodynamic wines are always organic, and some biodynamic wines are also natural.

Additionally, vegan wines can also be included in both natural and organic wines. Ultimately, it all depends on the techniques and materials used by the wineries.

5 wineries with organic wines you can visit

Saó del Coster winery | DOQ Priorat
Saó del Coster winery is located in Gratallops. It follows the principles of minimal intervention, letting the natural cycles of the land guide the winemaking process.

Herència Altés winery | DO Terra Alta
Celler Herència Altés, with DO Terra Alta, is a family-owned winery in Gandesa. It currently has 50 hectares of organic vineyards.

Celler Can Marlès winery | DO Penedès
Celler Can Marlès is part of a 100% organic wine tourism complex, being the only winery with such characteristics in the El Montmell (Baix Penedès) area.

Gàbor Celler winery | DO Conca de Barberà
Gàbor Celler is located in Barberà de la Conca. All wine production is done by hand, from the vine to the bottle.

Clos Alkio winery | DOQ Priorat
Clos Alkio winery is also in Gratallops. Visitors can enjoy a sensory experience while tasting their organic wines.

5 wineries with vegan wines you can visit

Celler de Capçanes winery | DO Montsant | DO Catalunya
Celler de Capçanes winery produces wines with DO Montsant and DO Catalunya, including Kosher wines.

Vilalta Pere winery | DO Conca de Barberà
Vilalta Pere is a family-run winery located in Vilanova de Prades. It produces unique and special wines, with a very limited number of bottles.

Visendra winery | DO Catalunya
The family-run, young Celler Visendra is located near the Santes Creus Monastery. Their wines are certified vegan.

Celler Arrufí winery | DO Terra Alta
At Celler Arrufí winery, you can enjoy a range of wines from their own vineyards, which are organic, vegan, and full of personality.

Coca i Fitó winery | DO Montsant | DOQ Priorat | DO Terra Alta | DOP Siurana
Located in Masroig, Coca i Fitó winery is known for producing unique, organic, and vegan wines.

5 wineries with biodynamic wines you can visit

Ronadelles – Cap de Ruc winery | DO Montsant
Ronadelles winery produce wine, with DO Montsant, following the biodynamic calendar and respecting nature’s cycles.

Vins el Cep winery | DO Penedès | DO Cava
Celler Vins el Cep produces wines and cavas using both organic and biodynamic agriculture. You can taste the world’s first biodynamic cava, ‘Claror Paratge Qualificat Can Prats.’

Atavus Priorat winery | DO Montsant | DOQ Priorat
Celler Atavus Priorat, located in Gratallops, implements regenerative and biodynamic farming practices. Their wines are also organic and vegan.

Mas Blanc – Pinord Priorat winery | DOQ Priorat
On the road between Falset and Bellmunt del Priorat, you’ll find Celler Mas Blanc, a place where organic and biodynamic agriculture predominates.

Vinyes Domènech winery | DO Montsant
Celler Vinyes Domènech also promotes organic and biodynamic viticulture. This winery, with bioclimatic architecture, is located in Capçanes.

3 wineries with natural wines you can visit

Vins i Caves Cuscó Berga winery | DO Cava | Garraf-Penedès
Vins i Caves Cuscó Berga is a family-owned winery in Avinyonet del Penedès that practices artisan and organic viticulture. They offer a wide collection of natural wines and cavas.

Sumarroca winery | DO Penedès | DO Cava
At Sumarroca winery, they combine tradition and innovation in creating their wines and cavas, always with total respect for the land and the environment.

Cal Teixidor winery| DO Penedès | DO Cava
Celler Cal Teixidor, in the Penedès plain, is known for its natural wines derived from a winemaking tradition passed down through generations.