When it comes to natural wine, there is a lot of debate as to where one draws the line on what is technically a natural wine versus one that is simply low-intervention (there is still to this day no official definition that is accepted worldwide). A general consensus is that the farming aspect of the production is non-negotiable, needing to be as pure and free of synthetic agricultural products as possible.
One of the more profound and timeless pieces of literature on the topic of natural farming is One Straw Revolution by Masanobu Fukuoka, a Japanese rice and citrus farmer who pioneered natural farming in the 70s. For him, nature exists in perfect harmony, established over millions of years. Plants, insects and animals all have their place, and as such, farming should never disturb the natural rhythms of the ecosystem. The damage that modern agriculture is having on our planet is undeniable, and yet Fukuoka's suggestions, although radical in theory, are not that extreme in practice. It's rather that we as humans are faced with the difficult task of changing the status quo of the methods employed by farmers that poses the real challenge.
Undoubtedly, this would have been a crucial piece of literature for many of the early naural winemakers who dared to defy the norm, and will continue to be a very important guideline for these principles for the next generation joining the ranks. This book is part-farming handbook, part-philosophical essay, but is a fascinating read about this very niche yet revolutionary idea.
