Buy your tickets now: the first Manila Natural Wine Fiesta on April 16

BOMBVINOS

Founded by Paolo Monasterio and Joey Osmeña, Bombvinos is among the first distributors to seriously champion natural wines in the Philippines. Winemakers such as Meinklang (Austria), Milan Nestarec (Czech Republic), and Konpira Maru (Australia) have become familiar labels among the natural wine-curious thanks to their staunch efforts and friendly demeanour.

However, the duo confesses that they are partly responsible for the mistaken, widespread belief that all-natural wines taste like kombucha, or are necessarily funky. “We have brought in some cuvées in the past that were on the more interesting end of the flavour spectrum,” the Bombvinos founders admit. “Since then we’ve re-oriented our portfolio around a collection of wines that are way more approachable and pleasant-tasting while retaining that natural edge that makes the wines so uniquely delicious in the first place.” While robust, radical bottles remain a proud feature of the brand (try out Milan Nestarec’s Umami or Danger 380 Volts for unexpected crowd favourites), you’ll now find more easy-drinking, affordable selections at Bombvinos, too. 

More about Bombvinos: My Wine Epiphany: Bombvinos co-founder Paolo Monasterio on his passion for natural wines

GOOD MORNING WINES

With minimal intervention practices free of any additives and cultured yeasts, natural wine is a remarkable product of skilled, quality artistry, free of any smoke and mirrors—a value deeply engrained in Japanese culture. Thus, it comes as no surprise that Japan is home to some incredible natural wines, and that’s exactly what Good Morning Wines brings to the Philippine market. “Japanese natural wines have a distinct profile, expressing refined subtleties and a quality that can only come from Japanese craftsmanship,” explain Micah Cabral and Dimitri Roleda, the couple behind the Japanese-focused brand.

Furthermore, Cabral and Roleda hope to show that natural wines deserve a spot alongside your favourites, rather than try to replace them. “Natural wine is not a replacement for conventional wine, but a complementary and enriching addition to the wine world,” they declare. “Both types of wine have their own merits, and consumers simply now have more to choose from.”

Read more: Kanpai! Read why Japan is the newest “it” region for wines

GRAN HACIENDA WINES

Like most other vendors, Butz Tenchavez, co-founder and president of Gran Hacienda Wines is first and foremost motivated by his love for natural wine. “Since the beginning, we only imported wines that we have personally tasted and enjoyed,” he professes. “We bring in wines we drink, believe in, and enjoy.” Expounding on his fascination with the drink, he says: “Natural wines provide a new sensation to the palate with its brightness, raw quality, and fresh acidity. It also creates conversation, is a food-friendly beverage, and is drinkable all day long.”

It doesn’t hurt that natural wines boast environmental benefits, either. By employing a low-intervention approach like avoiding the use of harmful additives, natural winemaking promotes regenerative soil, which in turn encourages biodiversity and resilient vines. Not only does this result in a healthier planet, but it also means more wine of greater quality and wider diversity. “Natural wine is the most earth-loving method for grape viticulture and cellar management,” Tenchavez declares. “We want high quality-price-ratio wines in the portfolio from family-run producers and winemakers who do organic farming and low intervention in the cellar.”

See also: Tim Mondavi shares life lessons and why heartbreak led to a winemaking philosophy of better not more

SOME LOVE

For Justin Apolonio and Vanessa Abat-Apolonio, founders of Some Love, wine is all about bringing people together. “My wife and I see love in wine: in the meaningful and joyful experiences it helps create, and the way it helps build our relationships with ourselves, each other, and the people we connect with,” Apolonio reveals. “We learned over time that the wines we enjoyed turned out to be quality, low-intervention, natural wines that show the true and immense craftsmanship put into them—with diverse stories, characters, and flavours that are brimming with life, realness, and deliciousness.”

In fact, the Some Love team believes that the boom of natural wine stems, in large part, from a growing collective consciousness that appreciates “realness, connection, charity, and quality,”, especially in the experiences we can share with others. “Well-crafted, independently-made natural wines are a great fit for what people are looking for more [out of life],” Apolonio expounds. While sceptics suggest that this is just a passing trend, the pair strongly disagrees, proclaiming “We feel that these are things many of us want at our core, and will want for a very long time.”

In case you missed it: What inspired top mixologists' creations at Philippine Cocktail Festival 2023?

SUPERNATURAL WINE

Spearheaded by Kai Yulo and Rashid Delgado, Supernatural Wine seeks to celebrate the quirky, creative nuances that make natural wines so special, connecting with a new generation of open-minded Filipino wine drinkers “who aren’t tied to any preconceived notions of how wine is supposed to taste.” “Natural wine has so much character,” Yulo and Delgado contend. “This character is expressed in many forms, from the creative labels to the stories behind each vintage. The world of natural wine offers new, bold flavours that break the mould of the traditional, and that’s precisely what makes it more fun, approachable, and enjoyable.”

Nonetheless, the tandem recognises the early apprehensions many have with natural wine. “There’s a bit of learning, exploring, and understanding that comes with drinking it—especially in contrast to conventional wine, which is made to taste a certain way,” the two observe. “But once you overcome this initial barrier, there’s a whole new world to discover. Each bottle captures the spirit of a time and place, along with the love that each winemaker pours into it.” Plus, natural wine pairs beautifully with Asian cuisines, especially food rich in sour and fermented flavours like our own. Yulo and Delgado hope many Filipinos fall in love with the drink, sharing that “natural wine is a great fit for the newer chef-driven concepts that are more conscious about sourcing wholesome ingredients and products.”

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