Where aesthetic met awareness came the perfect time and place for the natural wine movement to take off. Comparable to contentions around what constitutes "craft" beer, the definitions around this trendy beverage remain hazy. While most wine is manipulated with chemicals and technology to taste a particular way to please the masses, essentially, natural wine is fermented grape juice without additives and with nothing removed in the manufacturing process.
The global craze, mouthwatering and funky at once, makes its way to the Denver-Boulder area Monday, April 17 through Saturday, April 22 for the fourth annual Colorado Natural Wine Week.
Established in 2014 by four local wine distributors: Harvest Wine Company, Natural Wine Company, Local Merchants of Colorado and Volio Vino, the six-day celebration encompasses a series of tastings, dinners, pop-ups, and meet-the-maker opportunities where guests can discover and sample the organic, biodynamic and sustainable wines from around the world.
Kickoff starts with Movie Night at Proof Wine & Spirits, for a screening of Senza Trucco, a documentary that explores the organic and biodynamic winemaking of four Italian women wine makers. Guests can expect to taste the same flavors featured in the film.
The signature Grand Showcase, open to the public, takes place Wednesday, April 19 at Space Gallery, featuring more than a dozen winemakers and importers serving roughly 200 wines.
Throughout the rest of the week, a varied series tasting events, restaurant takeovers and meet-the-makers gatherings invite industry members and enthusiasts alike.