Natural wine remains 'marginal' in the UK, but organisers of the UK's first artisan wine fair still aim to attract 1500 people to the inaugural event.
More than 150 natural wine producers have already signed up for RAW including the Loire’s Nicolas Joly and Alsace’s Josmeyer.
The London trade and consumer event takes place in May, and its creator, Isabelle Legeron MW, has plans to take the concept to other countries.
However, the UK’s natural wine scene is embryonic, with London-based natural wine specialist Artisan & Vine recently closing its doors. Legeron admits, ‘It’s not become widespread in the UK yet. It is still marginal.”
‘But for me, calling a wine biodynamic or organic is not enough because the control in the cellar is not great. You can have a biodynamic wine and add aromatic yeasts in some countries. Reverse osmosis and cryoextraction are allowed in organic which is why there is the need to have this category,’ she explained.
‘I’m not campaigning for all wines to be natural. I want people to be aware of what’s going on so they can choose knowingly.’
RAW takes place at the Old Truman Brewery on 20 and 21 May.
Written by Rebecca Gibb
