VinNatur Tasting: Celebrating 20 Years of Natural Wine

March 21, 2025 - 1 comments

VinNatur Tasting: Celebrating 20 Years of Natural Wine

In a world where wine fairs are multiplying almost as fast as the bottles they showcase, VinNatur Tasting stands out—not for grand marketing campaigns or star-studded panels, but for its unfiltered focus on winemakers and the wines they craft. It brings together 200 producers from across Europe for three days of tasting, conversation, and exploration.

Founded in 2006, the fair has evolved significantly over the years. "For the first 14 years, our flagship event was held in Villa Favorita—a beautiful Italian villa with trompe l'oeil on the walls and ceilings, and a garden outside for relaxing with a glass of wine," the VinNatur team explains. "But as the number of exhibitors grew, we needed a more practical space." In 2019, the event relocated to the Margraf Showroom, an industrial venue where huge slabs of marble serve as dividers between stands. This move, while perhaps less romantic, reflects the fair’s priority: to facilitate genuine interaction between winemakers and visitors.

Unlike conventional wine expos, VinNatur doesn’t simply invite producers who pay for a stand. Instead, every exhibitor is part of the VinNatur Association, which requires adherence to a strict protocol—no synthetic pesticides in the vineyard, minimal intervention in the cellar, and carefully limited sulfur levels. "All wines must respect our definition of natural wine," they explain. "That means nothing added or removed in the cellar, apart from SO2, which can be up to 50mg/l for whites and 30mg/l for reds."

The association itself operates as a not-for-profit, with funds from ticket sales supporting research into vineyard health, winemaking practices, and quality improvements. "Any money from ticket sales helps finance or subsidize research projects," the team shares. "We’re constantly looking for new methods to work in the vineyards and fight against the latest pathogens."

But beyond the technical aspects, VinNatur Tasting offers an experience that caters to different kinds of visitors. Casual drinkers can enjoy live music and a relaxed outdoor space, parents will find a dedicated children’s area, and serious wine lovers can dive into masterclasses on topics ranging from wine defects to the aging potential of natural wines. Importers and journalists have access to a quiet tasting room, where they can sample wines at their own pace. And for those who fall in love with a particular bottle, exhibitors can sell directly—or even ship wines home.

"It’s amazing to look back and see how much has changed," the team reflects. "Twenty years ago, there were very few natural wine fairs. Now, they’re everywhere. But VinNatur remains a key meeting point—not just for Italy, but for the broader natural wine community."

This year’s edition marks a milestone, not just for the event itself, but for the movement it has helped shape. Perhaps it’s the balance of rigor and openness, or the simple fact that it has remained focused on what matters most: letting winemakers tell their own stories, one glass at a time.

VinNatur Tasting

Saturday April 05 - Monday April 07
Margraf Showroom
Via Torri di Confine, 36053 Torri di Confine Italy
TICKETS: https://www.vinnatur.org/en/eventi/tasting-2025/