Natural Wines Beyond the Label: Defining Natural Wine and the "Living" Truth Under the Microscope

People often ask us what "Natural Wine" means. The simplest answer is that it’s wine made without additives. That means no added sulfur, yeast, tannins, vitamins, acid controllers, stabilisers, enzymes, or gelatines for clarification.

But there’s more to Natural Wine than just what it leaves out. It’s a way of life and a way of seeing the world. Making Natural Wine shows respect for nature and for those who drink it. Most of all, it’s about our responsibility to future generations. We choose to accept the grape as it is, rather than try to change it with chemicals.

A Connection Spanning Years: From Paris to London

Our connection to Natural Wine and its supporters goes back a long way, even before we planted our first vine in Samos.

When I owned my restaurant in Paris, which focused on fine food and had over 2,000 wines, I was already following the Natural Wine movement. I first heard about Isabelle Legeron MW (Master of Wine) in 2009, when she was named "Wine Woman of the Year" in Paris. But we truly met in 2012, when I traveled to London for the first RAW WINE Fair to meet her. That’s when I really understood her vision and saw how much we agreed about pure flavors and honest winemaking.

The Visit to Samos: The Confirmation

Years later, after I left Paris to start Philia Winery in Samos, we met again. Isabelle visited Greece at the invitation of Konstantinos Lazarakis MW. Before her workshop in Athens, she came to see us in Samos. She arrived not as a stranger, but as an old friend, wanting to see if the vision we talked about years ago had become real on this island.

We showed her the wild beauty of Samos. Together, we walked through the vineyards, where biodiversity is strong. We explained how we maintain a healthy environment so the grape juice can ferment on its own.

A Silent Recognition

Next, we took her to our facilities at UWC Samos. There, among the tanks and amphoras, she tasted our wines. Isabelle is a tough critic and doesn’t give praise easily. But her body language and the shine in her eyes were the best reward for us. Without saying much, she showed us that she found what she always looks for in Samos: energy and life.

The biggest honour came when she chose our wine, Octave, to present at her workshop in Athens. It was amazing to see our Muscat alongside famous names like Radikon, Gut Oggau, Matassa, Leon Barral, Pheasant’s Tears, and Domaine La Grange Tiphaine. She didn’t pick our wine by chance. It showed that Philia Winery isn’t just following trends, but making wine with a global identity.

The Microscope: The Image of Life

During the Masterclass, Legeron shared something meaningful. She showed microscope images comparing two different wines. full of additives. Under the microscope, it showed nothing. A "desert." A dead liquid.

• The second image was of a Natural Wine. It looked like a galaxy, full of life, microorganisms, and energy.

This is what we do at Philia. The winemaker doesn’t make the wine; he guides its transformation. As she said, "Not all Natural Wines are excellent. But certainly, only a Natural Wine can be truly excellent." We are proud that Isabelle Legeron believes we are on that path.