Certification

Get Your Natural Wine Score, We Certify The Results.

As a natural winemaker, taking this free, 2 minute self-assessment survey to obtain your Natural Wine Score allows you to gain a standardized and internationally recognized assessment of your wine's "naturalness." It fosters transparency, informs your customers about your sustainable practices and encourages industry credibility by aligning with the core principles of the International Standard of natural winemaking.

Let us help spread the word about your natural wine! Embrace the opportunity to take our quick and easy self-assessment survey and discover how your crafted wine measures up to the global benchmark of pure naturality. Unravel the secrets behind its sustainable essence and showcase its adherence to the International Standard for genuine natural wines.

Why Get Certified?

Obtaining certification has economic advantages such as cost reductions, higher pricing, and increased margins. It also strengthen consumer trust, distinguishes you in the market and enhances your brand credibility. By addressing the demand for sustainable products, certified natural winemakers benefit financially while contributing positively to the environment.

Retail materials carrying our certification seal such as brochures, websites and packaging effectively communicate your low intervention production methods. Additionally, certification connects you with environmentally conscious distributors, retailers and restaurants, positioning you among a distinguished community of esteemed wine producers.

Here’s 12 Great Reasons:

  • Being certified as a natural wine producer builds consumer trust and loyalty as more people seek products that align with their values of environmental consciousness and health.

    Economic Benefits:

    Consumer trust translates into brand loyalty, repeat customers, and positive word-of-mouth advertising. Building a loyal customer base stabilizes sales and revenue, providing a solid economic foundation for growth.

  • Natural wine certification ensures that your brand is genuinely committed to sustainable and eco-friendly practices in winemaking, making a positive impact on the environment.

    Economic Benefits:

    Embracing sustainable practices reduces the need for expensive chemical inputs, resulting in lower production costs and increased profitability for the winemaker.

  • By obtaining natural wine certification, your entire winemaking process, from vineyards to production, adheres to natural and organic principles, promoting a holistic approach to sustainable viticulture.

    Economic Benefits:

    By adopting a holistic approach to sustainable viticulture, winemakers optimize their resource utilization. The result is improved efficiency, reduced waste, and ultimately, better financial performance.

  • Natural wine certification demonstrates your dedication to preserving biodiversity, soil health, and wildlife habitats, contributing to the overall conservation of natural resources.

    Economic Benefits:

    Emphasizing environmental conservation enhances your winery's reputation and attractiveness to consumers. This positive image drives customer loyalty, leading to increased sales and brand value.

  • Certification ensures that your winemaking process is free from synthetic pesticides, herbicides, and additives, reducing the environmental and health impacts associated with chemical use.

    Economic Benefits:

    Eliminating synthetic pesticides and herbicides not only reduces the cost of purchasing these chemicals but also mitigates potential health and environmental liabilities, safeguarding winemakers from future expenses.

  • Natural wine certification indicates that your wines are made without artificial additives or excessive manipulation, resulting in healthier and more authentic products for consumers.

    Economic Benefits:

    Natural wines' reputation for being healthier and more authentic command premium prices at market rate. Natural winemakers, working with the right distributors, then benefit from increased revenue and higher profit margins.

  • Natural wine certification emphasizes transparency and authenticity in winemaking, fostering stronger connections with consumers who value these ethical and sustainable practices.

    Economic Benefits:

    Transparent and authentic practices foster trust, attracting ethically conscious consumers willing to pay a premium for genuinely sustainable products. This premium pricing can bolster the winemaker's revenue and bottom line.

  • Certification sets your brand apart in a competitive wine market, attracting consumers who actively seek out natural and organic products with unique flavors and character.

    Economic Benefits:

    Standing out as a certified natural wine producer in a competitive market increases demand for your wines. This market differentiation leads to higher sales and potentially higher prices for your products.

  • Joining the Natural Wine Authority connects you with like-minded producers, enabling knowledge sharing and support for continuous improvement in sustainable winemaking practices.

    Economic Benefits:

    Collaborating with like-minded producers within the natural wine community leads to knowledge-sharing, cost-saving opportunities, and potential partnerships, resulting in improved economies of scale and profitability.

  • Natural wine certification boosts your brand's reputation as an ethical and responsible producer, earning recognition from critics, influencers, and environmentally conscious organizations.

    Economic Benefits:

    A positive reputation as an ethical and responsible producer attracts investments and partnerships, facilitating business expansion or access to funding for winery improvements.

  • As sustainability becomes an evermore prominent trend in the wine industry, natural wine certification positions your brand at the forefront of this movement, appealing to a growing segment of eco-conscious consumers.

    Economic Benefits:

    Staying ahead of sustainable trends positions you as an innovator in the wine industry, appealing to eco-conscious consumers who are often willing to pay higher prices for environmentally friendly products.

  • By adopting natural winemaking practices and obtaining certification, your winery actively contributes to a healthier ecosystem and a more sustainable future for the wine industry.

    Economic Benefits:

    Supporting the environment and adopting sustainable practices improve your public image and may lead to incentives or grants from government or environmental organizations, providing financial support for sustainability initiatives.

Certification Process

The Natural Wine Authority offers third-party validation to eligible applicants adhering to the International Standard of Natural Winemaking. Successful chain of custody inspection allows candidates to display the Certified Natural Wine seal on packaging, websites and marketing materials.

Applicants begin with a brief, two-minute self-assessment survey which generates a Natural Wine Score for each wine submitted. Customized, wine-specific survey results are offered without charge, and guidance is provided to show winemakers specifically how to improve their scores. If eligible, applicants are invited to apply for certification through the Natural Wine Certification Committee. Once an application is submitted, applicants undergo a chain of custody audit for self-assessment score validation. During the audit, one of our accredited inspectors verifies the Natural Wine Score and reports their findings back to the Natural Wine Certification Committee.

The Natural Wine Certification Committee

The Natural Wine Certification Committee (NWCC) rigorously assesses each wine's commitment to natural winemaking principles, including organic practices, spontaneous fermentation, and minimal intervention. Verified scores lead to consumer-friendly certification, indicating the wine's natural qualities.

Our Role

  • We consistently evolve and collectively vote upon Natural Wine Score criteria

  • We oversee the certification programs to guarantee equitability and integrity

  • We determine if applicant wines should be certified when they fully adhere to the established Natural Wine Score guidelines

  • We examine the findings of inspectors and decide whether the wines submitted by applicants meet the certification standards

  • We evaluate and make decisions on applicant appeals

  • We assess special appeals from applicants

  • We grant approval for accredited inspectors to carry out assessments

Our Members

  • The NWCC is composed of 5 to 7 members

  • Each member serves for a 3-year term, with the possibility of extending for up to 3 terms

  • At least one member from the Council of GEMS is included in the team

  • Our selection process is a collaboration between the NWCC and Council of GEMS and and receives final approval from the Board of Directors

  • We uphold and respect all confidentiality agreements with each vineyard

  • In cases of conflicts, we ensure impartiality throughout the certification process by openly disclosing conflicts and refraining from related voting

Our Methodology

  • We interact and cast votes through in-person meetings, online platforms, or telephone discussions

  • A majority consensus among our members is essential for making decisions

  • Our meetings occur 2 to 3 times annually, complemented by video conferences and exchanges through email

Why Certification Matters

Natural wines are a true expression of the grape and the land from which it comes. They’re crafted with minimal intervention, showcasing the raw beauty of nature in each bottle. Unlike conventional wines, natural wines are made using traditional practices, upholding organic or biodynamic farming methods. These wines are a testament to the winemaker's dedication to preserving the integrity of the grapes and the environment.

Our mission is to create the gold standard for natural wine production practices. Through our certification process, we are committed to curating a selection of exceptional natural wines from around the world, showcasing the unique craftsmanship that these wines offer. We work closely with small, independent winemakers who share our passion for sustainability, authenticity, and uncompromising quality.

Whether you are an established wine producer or a seasoned natural wine enthusiast, we invite you to join us on this exciting journey. Discover the nuances of terroir, taste the purity of nature, and experience the incredible diversity that natural wines have to offer.