KASK Wine: What Is “Real Wine” and Why Should We All Give It A Go

Wine drinkers amongst you may have noticed the rise of a new kind of wine. Organic, Biodynamic and ‘Natural Wines’ now appear on wine lists all over the country. At KASK, we like to call this new kind of wine “Real Wine” - wine the way it is supposed to be.

If you are lucky, you may live close by to a dedicated wine shop or neighbourhood wine bar like KASK, which specialises in this exciting style of fermented grape juice.

It’s more of a movement really. A movement that has rejected conventional mass-produced wine making and focuses instead on championing small winemakers who respect the environment and make wine that actually tastes of where it is from. Real Wine should tell a story about the wonderful people that made it.

The problem with wine in the UK is that for many, wine (beyond the supermarket aisle) is still seen to be the preserve of stuffy, pretentious show-offs who wrap it up in pontification, ‘bourgeois bollocks’ and expert opinion. There is a lot to be said about wine. It is a subject that transcends history, geography, culture, agriculture and science, but ultimately it exists to quench our thirst. And the ‘Natural Wine’ movement is helping to break down barriers and make wine more appealing to a younger and broader audience.

This new generation of wine drinkers are more enthusiastic about sustainability and protecting the environment. Conventional wine is increasingly being scrutinised about its environmental credentials, its carbon footprint and its ingredients.

The ‘Natural Wine’ movement is not a new thing, but increased consumer pressure around the sustainability of what they are drinking, as with what we are eating has been key. People are becoming increasingly concerned with a wine’s environmental impact as well as the eye-catching craft beer style labels, artisan stories and rediscovered wine styles that are much more invigorating than your ordinary glass of overly confected Malbec!

Some “Real Wine” styles to try…

Orange Wine

Call it what you will, it’s not made of oranges! Perhaps the most talked about trend associated with Natural Wine is the rise of orange wines. Skin contact, amber or orange wines are made from white grapes that have been macerated on their skins (like when you make red wine). They come in a range of styles from light to golden to deep amber and orange depending on the grape variety and the length of maceration. They can be tropical, savoury and intense versions of their non-skin contact selves.

Indigenous Grape Varieties

Everyone has heard of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon. But there are over 1,300 grapes in commercial production and many more indigenous grape varieties that thrive in their specific part of the world and yet have been replaced and threatened with extinction because of the rise of international grape varieties. Ever heard of Mando, Saperavi, Sumoll or Teroldego? The movement for more authentic real wine also encompasses a campaign to protect lesser know grape varieties that can deliver exciting results.

Drink it Cloudy

Increasingly, drinkers of Natural Wines are looking for more substance in their glass, so unfiltered, slightly cloudy and lees-aged wines (keeping the wine in contact with its dead yeast cells) are highly in demand. Wine in its purest form will be cloudy. The dead yeast from the fermentation and sediment from the pressed grapes will all contribute to the haze. Industrial wine making over the years and consumer demand for a clear, clarified wine has led to increasing fining and filtration, which more often than not means your supermarket wine is probably not vegan! Fining and filtration also tends to strip out a lot of the natural components of the wine, which ultimately add to its flavour, texture and authenticity.

Written by Henry Poultney from KASK Wine

KASK is a Real Wine Bar, Deli + Shop on North Street in Bedminster.

For those of you that know wine, we serve organic, minimal intervention and sustainable. Whatever you call it, we call it Real.

For those who just want to enjoy it, we serve good wine. From the tap. By the glass. And in a bottle for you to take home.

We also serve cheese + charcuterie plates.

Our menu of 10 wines by the glass changes on a weekly basis and all of our wines come from winemakers who respect the environment and avoid the use of chemicals and pesticides in their winemaking. We call this Real Wine.

We also offer in-bar, virtual and DIY wine tastings on a weekly basis as well as a local and national delivery service.

Opening hours

Monday, Tuesday: Closed

Weds: 6-10

Thurs: 5-11

Fri: 5-11

Sat: 2-11

Sun: 4-9

KASK, 51 North Street, Bedminster, Bristol, BS3 1EN