nature; naturel [nah-TEWR; nah-tew-REHL]
1. French words meaning “nature” and “natural,” referring to wine to which nothing (usually meaning sugar or alcohol) has been added. 2. On Champagne or sparkling wine labels, these terms typically refer to wines that don’t have liqueur d’expédition (dosage) added, which would contribute to sweetness. Such wines are sometimes called brut nature. 3. On some sparkling wine labels, naturel may mean that the wine is not totally dry but simply the driest style of that producer. 4. In the Champagne region, the terms vin nature or vin nature de la Champagne were once used when referring to still wines from this area. Since 1974, however, the côteaux champenois AC name appears on the labels of these wines.
The New Wine Lovers Companion, 2nd Edition, by Ron Herbst and Sharon Tyler Herbst. Copyright © (1) 2003, 1995 by Ron Herbst and Sharon Tyler Herbst. Reprinted by arrangement with Barron's Educational Series, Inc.