Firstly, you might be wondering what raw wine actually is. Think of it like raw or cru cheese made with minimal intervention and full of natural character. These wines are crafted from organically or biodynamically grown grapes, fermented with native yeasts, and produced with little to no additives or sulfites.

With governments worldwide warning about the effects of alcohol, I’ve been exploring healthier options from mindful mocktail spirits and alternative drinks like Kava Heaven and Moment, to wines that are more naturally distilled and low in chemicals. At Best Kept MTL, moderation is one of our lifestyle pillars, so discovering purer, low-intervention wines feels right at home with our ethos.

Orange Wine anyone?

🍇 What Are Raw Wines?

Raw wines are wines made as naturally as possible — a return to the way wine was made for centuries, before industrial techniques took over. They are also called low-intervention, natural, or living wines because the winemaker lets nature do most of the work.

🧭 Key Principles

• Organic or biodynamic farming: Grapes are grown without synthetic pesticides, herbicides, or fertilizers.

• Native yeasts: Fermentation happens naturally using the yeasts that live on the grapes, not lab-cultured ones.

• Minimal additives: No artificial color, flavor, or stabilizers; only a touch of sulfur (or none at all) for preservation.

• No heavy filtering or fining: The wines are often slightly cloudy or “alive,” with sediments that carry character and texture.

• Handcrafted: Small producers make each bottle in limited quantities, focusing on craftsmanship and transparency.

As someone who loves hunting for wines that speak of place, people and passion, I was thrilled to taste a lineup of raw, low-intervention wines that truly live up to their terroir. Even better: many of these bottles (and the producers behind them) are part of the upcoming RAW WINE Montreal fair is happening November 15 & 16 2025 at the Grand Quai du Port de Montréal (200 rue de la Commune Ouest, Montréal QC H2Y 4B2). (rawwine.com). It is open to visitors between 12pm and 6pm.

If you’re looking to explore natural, biodynamic and organic wines, this is the moment, and the wines below give you a taste of what awaits.

1. Achillée ‘Hahnenberg’ 2021 – Alsace, France

From the family estate of Achillée (organic since 1999, biodynamic since 2003), this grand Riesling from the sandstone-rich Hahnenberg vineyard (literally “Rooster Mountain”) is a masterclass in mineral-driven elegance. You’ll sense persimmon, honey, kumquat and Sicilian lemon on the nose, while the palate is crisp yet ripe, showing early-sunrise energy from the easternmost slopes of the Alsatian foothills. The vineyard’s extra daylight hours translate into greater grape maturity and you can taste that in the long-lived finish.

In short: A Riesling for lovers of purity, complexity and terroir with a purpose.

2. Weingut Freitag ‘Naked Friday Pet Nat Rosé’ – Rheinhessen, Germany

This is fun. Weingut Freitag (which reclaimed their family winery in 2016) offers this pet-nat rosé that is refreshingly full-bodied for its style. Think grapefruit, redcurrant, pomegranate juice and a hint of florality. This is a wine you’ll crack open as an aperitif, or while preparing a meal, light in emotion, but serious in craftsmanship.

If you’re heading to RAW WINE this year, this one will likely bring the smiles.

3. Weingut Krutzler ‘Mash-Up’ 2024 – Burgenland, Austria

Under the radar yet impressively focused: young winemaker Krutzler working out of his family farm in southern Burgenland has created something unusual and elegant. A 50/50 blend of Blaufränkisch (red) and Welschriesling (white), with only one day of skin contact resulting in a light red with cherries, ripe quetsche, cinnamon and soft tannins. Balanced and subtle, this wine challenges convention and rewards curiosity.

It’s one I’d recommend sipping while reflecting on how blend, skin contact and youth can deliver real personality.

4. Terra Vita Vinum ‘Rouge de Schiste’ – Loire, France

This biodynamic Loire Gamay is crunchy, mineral, spicy and light-hearted — a wine that nods to the Beaujolais Nouveau spirit but with real structure. Notes of black and red pepper, violets and soft but crunchy tannins give it an appealing bite. It’s approachable, expressive, and a reminder that natural wines can be both serious and immediate.

Perfect for the casual wine drinker looking to broaden their horizon.

5. Ottomani ‘Anfora Sangiovese’ 2023 – Tuscany, Italy

Finally, for Sangiovese lovers: this one from Ottomani (founded by four friends in 2006) flips the script on rustic Tuscan stereotypes. No heavy oak, no austerity, this is fresh, elegant, fruit-driven with morello cherry, clear vibrant fruit notes from hands-off maceration and amphora ageing, and silky tannins. It’s a modern take on a classic variety, executed with grace and confidence.

If you want a red wine that feels elevated and relaxed at once, this is your bottle.

Why RAW WINE Montreal is the place to be

This year’s fair, RAW WINE Montreal 2025, is all about the craft, the story and the community behind the glass. The ethos: natural, biodynamic and low-intervention wines, pure, respectful to the planet, and transparent about what’s in your glass. (rawwine.com)

For any wine lover who wants to move beyond the familiar and explore something more alive, this is the event.

🗓 Dates: Saturday 15 November & Sunday 16 November 2025 (12:00–18:00 each day)
🎟 Tickets: Buy ticket here – be sure to get yours early!

Final Thoughts

These wines exemplify why the natural wine movement is worth your attention: authenticity, place and personality. Whether you’re drawn to the mineral intensity of the Alsace Riesling, the playful fizz of a German pet nat, the crossover novelty of an Austrian skin-contact red, the lively crunch of a Loire Gamay, or the modern elegance of a Tuscan Sangiovese — there’s something here for every curious palate.

If you’ll be in Montréal this November, mark your calendar for RAW WINE Montreal 2025. And if you can’t make it in person, seek out these wines, they’re exceptional. Santé! 🍷 Eager to taste wines and spirits before the Raw Wine fair? See you at La grande Dégustation!