At DirtyVine, we believe that natural wine is pure. What this means is that every wine we offer begins with healthy, sustainably farmed grapes. All of our producers use organic practices, eliminating synthetic pesticides, fertilizers, and herbicides from their vineyards. Once the vinification process begins, our winemakers take a minimalist approach, embracing low-intervention methods. Most of our producers avoid fining or filtering, and sulfur use is kept to a minimum.What you'll find in these natural wines are true expressions of terroir—the unique character of the soil in which the vines are rooted—and a reflection of the season in which the grapes were grown.

Yes!

We source all our wines from like-minded distributors who share our passion for discovering exceptional bottles. These distributors seek out small, independent producers and share their stories with us. We have close relationships with our reps, who bring us only the wines they believe we’ll truly love. Some of our featured winemakers are even local, and we’ve been fortunate enough to meet them and fall in love with their wines straight from the source.

We’ve kept this explanation brief, but we could easily dive much deeper into biodynamic farming, as we have great respect and admiration for the producers who practice it. If you're truly curious, we encourage you to take the plunge and explore further.

Biodynamic farming is a holistic and ethical approach to agriculture. Rather than simply focusing on the vines, it’s about managing the entire ecosystem. Biodynamic farming creates a self-sustaining system in which everything needed is found within. What you take from the soil is eventually returned, leaving it better than when you found it.

On a biodynamic vineyard, you'll find a variety of plants and animals, each serving a specific purpose—often replacing the need for chemicals—to enhance both the crop and the soil. Many farmers follow a work plan based on lunar and celestial cycles. This method was developed in the early 1900s by Rudolf Steiner to promote natural processes that support soil health.

Why don't all vineyards farm this way? We’re not entirely sure, but we have some thoughts. It’s likely because biodynamic farming is an all-or-nothing commitment. If you decide to implement these practices, it’s a year-round, 365-day dedication. These self-sustaining ecosystems are nurtured with such passion that it's not absurd to say each vine is treated with individual care.

Pétillant Naturel, or "pet-nat," is a type of wine that is bottled while still fermenting. This means the wine undergoes a second fermentation in the bottle, unlike Champagne, which ferments in a tank. The sugar in the bottle is consumed by the yeast, creating CO2 and resulting in bubbles. Pet-nats have gentle bubbles and are often cloudy due to being unfiltered, with no fining process, so you may find some spent yeast cells floating inside—that's perfectly normal!

Pet-nats tend to be lower in alcohol, easy-drinking, and refreshing. They are usually sealed with a cap instead of a cork. While they may not be for everyone, at DirtyVine, we believe there's always a time and place for a good pet-nat.

Orange wines, also known as skin-contact wines, refer to a winemaking technique where white grapes ferment with their skins on. This process results in colors ranging from yellow to orange, and even deep amber tones. The longer the juice is in contact with the skins, the deeper the hue can become. White wines made with skin contact tend to be more tannic and complex in flavor compared to wines without skin contact.

Dry farming is a sustainable practice that minimizes water consumption by relying on rainfall and soil moisture. In organic and biodynamic vineyards, you'll find that our winemakers use techniques like tilling, which loosens the soil and helps retain water. They can also plant cover crops to protect the soil and improve water infiltration. Additionally, drip irrigation can be used to deliver water directly to the roots, conserving water compared to methods like sprinklers or flood irrigation.

It’s completely normal! Sediment in your wine is a natural by-product of the winemaking process. Typically, the sediment at the bottom of your glass or bottle is either yeast or tartrate crystals. Tartaric acid, found naturally in grapes, can form crystals, especially when fermenting at low temperatures. Yeast sediment can also appear if the winemaker chooses not to fine or filter the wine. These practices clarify the wine and remove sediment, but they can also alter the texture, so it’s ultimately up to the winemaker.

Both the crystals and yeast are safe to consume, but they are usually avoided because they can create an unpleasant texture. Importantly, sediment is NOT a sign of poor quality.

Yes, all wines, including natural wines, contain sulfites. Sulfites are a natural by-product of the fermentation process, and additional sulfites may be added at the winemaker's discretion. We offer a range of wines, with some winemakers choosing to add extremely small amounts of sulfites if they feel it's necessary, while others work in sulfite-free wineries. We trust our winemakers to make the best decisions for their craft, as they are the experts in creating the wine.

Many of our wines are meant to be enjoyed right away, but some in our collection can be aged—this will be noted in the product descriptions. Why do we love younger wines over aged ones? It’s a matter of personal preference. Wines meant to be enjoyed young tend to have brighter, fresher characteristics, but that doesn’t mean they’re simple. Young wines can still be quite complex. We’ll recommend aging a wine if we think it will become more interesting with time in the bottle. If we think it’s fantastic now, we want you to drink it!

As for storage, keep your wines in a space that works for you. If you have a wine cooler, that’s ideal, but if not, a refrigerator or closet (away from natural and artificial light) works just fine. For wines with corks, store them horizontally; for screw tops or bottle caps, they can stand upright. If you open a bottle and don’t finish it, most wines (red or white) can be stored for a couple of days. Just pop the cork back in and store it in the fridge overnight. For sparkling wines, you can invest in a champagne stopper and store it in the fridge. The next day or two, when you reopen it, taste it—if it still has enjoyable flavors, you're good to go!

Absolutely, you can change your plan anytime from your Account page. Because we pack each shipment by hand, we ask that you make any changes to your plan at least 1 week prior to your shipment date.

We ship to most states. However, due to local state regulations, we cannot ship to Mississippi, Kentucky, Utah, Arkansas, Alabama or any address outside of the United States.

Yes. Someone over the age of 21 will need to sign for the package.

We ship Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesday. Your wine will ship within 1-3 business days after your order. Shipping times vary, but are typically 2-5 business days depending on the location in the U.S. You will receive tracking information in your confirmation email after the label is printed. Please note that the delivery date is an estimate, and may change based on factors out of our control. Please remember that an adult over the age of 21 will need to be there to sign for the delivery.

Our shipping carrier will typically make up to three attempts to deliver the package. After three unsuccessful delivery attempts, the package will be sent back to our warehouse. Please note, if this occurs, you will not receive a refund for the original shipping charge and you will be recharged for shipping if you wish to have the items resent.

Neither Dirty Vine nor our shipping carriers accept liability for weather-related damage. Please let us know if you would like to delay shipment of your order during seasonal weather extremes. Please email us at hello@dirtyvine.com to organize a hold and arrange future shipment.

We are not accepting wine or product returns or exchanges at this time. If you are dissatisfied with your purchase or need help finding wines you'll enjoy, feel free to email us at hello@dirtyvine.com.

Absolutely! A club membership makes a great gift. You can gift a membership by selecting the box that says “this is a gift” during the checkout flow. Gift memberships will expire after 1 year by default, after which point your recipient can choose to opt in our out.

Yes! If you live in the SF Bay Area, you will have the option during checkout to pick up at Maison Nico located at 710 Montgomery Street in San Francisco. Pick ups will be available on the designated club pick up dates.

Absolutely, you can change your plan anytime from your Account page. Because we pack each shipment by hand, we ask that you make any changes to your plan at least one week prior to your shipment date.