Guide · Certifications
Organic, natural —
what’s the difference?
What each label really guarantees — and what "natural wine" means (and does not mean).
The essential, in one sentence
Organic, Demeter and vegan are audited certifications controlled by independent bodies; “natural wine” is an approach to winemaking with no official certification in Switzerland. All four can be combined — and on Helvitic, every wine page shows what the cellar declares.
The audited certifications
Organic
Grapes grown without synthetic pesticides or chemical fertilisers, limited cellar inputs. In Switzerland the best-known label is the Bud (Bio Suisse).
Certification checked every year by an independent body.
Demeter (biodynamics)
All organic requirements, plus running the estate as a living organism: natural preparations, biodiversity, even lower input thresholds.
International label, audited annually.
Vegan
No animal-based inputs, particularly for fining (clarification): no egg white, casein or fish glue.
Certified by dedicated labels — independent from organic.
And natural wine?
Natural — an approach, not a label
Natural wine takes the logic all the way: indigenous yeasts, no oenological additives, little or no added sulfites. But no official standard regulates it in Switzerland — only private charters exist (such as “Vin Méthode Nature”). On Helvitic, the “Natural” mention is therefore declared by the winemaker, as a description of how they work; audited certifications (organic, Demeter, vegan) remain the only commitment verified by a third party.
At a glance
| Mention | Official certification | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Organic | Yes (Bud, EU organic) | Grape growing + limited cellar inputs |
| Demeter | Yes | Organic + biodynamics (whole estate) |
| Vegan | Yes | Fining, without animal inputs |
| Natural | No — declared approach | Winemaking (yeasts, additives, sulfites) |
Frequently asked questions
Is a natural wine necessarily organic?
No, and vice versa. "Natural wine" describes a winemaking approach (indigenous yeasts, little or no added sulfites, no additives) with no official certification. Most natural winemakers work organically, but nothing legally requires it — hence the importance of checking the certifications displayed.
What is the difference between organic and biodynamic?
Biodynamics (Demeter label) includes all organic requirements and goes further: the estate is run as a living ecosystem, with natural preparations, respect for natural rhythms and even stricter limits on cellar inputs.
Why is an organic wine not always vegan?
Because clarification ("fining") can use animal-based products — egg white, casein, fish glue — even in organic wine. A vegan wine is fined with mineral or plant-based alternatives, or not fined at all.
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