“Where to sip and buy our go-to grapes”
As far as global drinking habits go, one specific type of beverage has arrested our attention more than any other over the last few years: natural wine. With more and more varieties and competitors flooding the market, natural or low intervention wine has become synonymous with refined taste and a willingness to dig deep when it comes to refreshment research. But low intervention wine (which is, in fact, not related to decreased effort at all, but simply describes a more straightforward fermentation process) isn’t a new and trendy option — some domaines specializing in this method of winemaking have been doing so for decades. Lucky for us, the uptick in interest means European brands are bringing their selections to the US’ natural wine fairs and spots to enjoy a glass are more plentiful than they were before.
Low intervention and natural wine are umbrella terms and it can be a bit tricky unless you’re a seasoned connoisseur to distinguish between their sub categories. Biodynamic wines rely on organic farming practices with particular soil supplements and often follow an astrologically-oriented planting calendar, organic wines (in the US) don’t use sulfur dioxide as part of the preservative process, while sustainable wines are made by winemakers focus on providing environmental, social, and economic benefits over their crops’ life cycle. Wines labeled with “no sulphur” boast no chemical additions and are the closest to the “natural wine” category. All this lingo to say that natural and low intervention wines often are easier on the palate, not as dehydrating, and allow for closer proximity with the crop that winemakers then ferment into a lovely bottle. To help you uncover hidden gems, we’ve asked passersby for their favorite low intervention wine bars (check out our complete guide to NYC’s best here) and shops in the city as well as what winemakers and importers to look out for. Want to know where to find them? Check out our passerby map for exact locations. And if this list turns out to not be exhaustive enough for you, head over to our #wine Discord channel to continue exchanging ideas with fellow passerby grape lovers.
spots to sip
Four Horsemen, Brooklyn
Recommended by Caitlin McMullen, Clémence polès & Anna Polonsky
A beloved Williamsburg restaurant and wine bar, Four Horsemen boasts an extensive all natural wine list updated daily with new selections while also presenting an impressive lunch and dinner menu. The food is meticulously fresh and pairs well with selections ranging from whites to pet-nats, skin contacts to deep reds — with the extent of their cellar, every palate is sure to find pleasure.
Moonflower, Manhattan
Recommended by Claire Brodka
Run by married couple Rowen McDermott and Rebecca Johnson, this beautiful space in the West Village is an extension of their wildly popular restaurant Frankie in Jersey City. Come for the enviable decor and stay for the delicious food and hand-picked selection of often hard-to-find low intervention wines from all over the world. As a nod to the name, why not linger until dark…?
Rhodora Wine Bar, Brooklyn
Recommended by erin allweiss and Rebecca Firkser
This zero-waste, carbon-neutral gem in Fort Greene is not only extremely easy on the eyes, but also serves up an impressive selection of low intervention wines alongside delicious, bite-sized food (canned fish is their specialty — calling all sardine lovers!). By highlighting small-farm winemakers, the conscious team partners with producers who share a similar respect for the land and environment.
Le Dive, Lower East Side
Recommended by Allison van der hoeven
Inspired by Parisian-style tabac stores, Le Dive beckons with its beautiful glass facade and vintage decor. Many of their low intervention wines are from France, too, and the menu features classics like steak tartare flavored with cornichons, capers and Dijon mustard.
Achilles Heel, Greenpoint
Recommended by Clémence polès, lexi cunningham, beverly nguyen, Claire Brodka
Don’t be fooled by the name: at this enviable corner location, the only weakness is that we can’t possibly try everything it has to offer in a single visit. There is no wine menu to choose from — instead, visitors are encouraged to have staff help them in picking the grapes that will most closely match their favorite flavors from the rotating selection on hand.
Parcelle, Lower East Side
recommended by Clémence polès
Upon googling Parcelle, you’d be forgiven for thinking we sent you to the wrong place. But the “Cool-Kid Wine Shop” decided to take things further with an incredibly stylish, very green, brick-and-mortar space in August 2022 that feels more like a living room than a bar. Take a seat on their comfy couches while perusing the 500 plus bottle wine list or sipping on one of their by-the-glass options.
Leo, Williamsburg
Recommended by Rebecca Firkser and Claire Dauge-Roth
On any given night this delicious and not too fancy Italian bistro is bustling with seasoned natural wine lovers and pizza experts alike. Their signature sourdough crust gives your glass of natural wine an effortlessly effervescent spin and brings out the saltiness and the coveted “funk”. On the corner of Grand and Havemeyer, Leo feels like high-quality neighborhood comfort, perfect for a long dinner with friends.
June Wine Bar, Cobble Hill
recommended by angie venezia, erin allweiss, Clémence polès
At June in Cobble Hill, it’s easy to lose track of time — you may very well find yourself transported to a different one altogether. The dreamy interiors match the small bar’s curated menu and their low intervention, small-farm wine list rivals Rhodora’s (its sister establishment). Make sure to check out their back yard in the warmer months!
Gem Wine, Manhattan
Recommended by Claire Brodka
Steps away from their restaurant by the same name, Gem serves a selection of low intervention wines and curated small plates. Gem differentiates itself by the attention to detail, creating an immediate atmospheric shift that makes this bar feel more like drinking a glass in your (beautifully decorated) living room. Note there are no reservations, so the space lends itself to casual walk-ins or regulars seeking a moment of intimacy and repose.
If you’re in Brooklyn, swing by Rebecca Firkser’s other favourite spots like Vine Wine and Cherry on Top. Or visit Winona’s, Caitlin McMullen’s Brooklyn go-to. Another great place for a glass is Have & Meyer, recommended by Claire Dauge-Roth for catching up with friends. Venture into Manhattan for Leisir, another rec from Caitlin, or bounce between Claire Brodka’s other Lower East Side recs: Le Rock and The Ten Bells.
for bottles at home
People’s Wine Shop and Bar, Manhattan
Recommended by Claire Dauge-Roth
This wine shop — the gem of The Market Line at Essex Crossing — doubles as a tasting bar, making it easy to find a selection you love to bring home. Tucked in its cool design of encased bottles and recessed lights, this is the spot to go if you’re looking to expand your horizon in natural wine and experiment with your taste.
Henry’s Wine & Spirit, Brooklyn
Recommended by Clémence polès
Henry's opened in 2013. A place for Bushwick residents to buy wines from small and underrepresented producers, the shop has grown to have thousands of different wines and spirits with a strong focus on natural wines, mezcal and esoteric spirits. Make sure to check out their weekly tastings to learn more about different varieties and winemakers.
Stranger Wines, Brooklyn
Recommended by Rebecca Firkser and claire brodka
A favorite for Williamsburg and Greenpoint locals (check out the free neighborhood delivery) Stranger Wines is an incredibly accessible and fresh stop if you’re shopping for low intervention wines. Their website is useful to sort by methods of cultivation from biodynamic to without sulphur and as a bonus you can find bottles sure to impress at varying price points. Stranger Wines also hosts a wine club and sometimes offers blind tastings so you can get to know fellow wine lovers and bring friends, all while sipping from an excellent curation of low intervention wines.
Discovery Wines, Manhattan
Recommended by Angelina gualdoni and Clémence polès
Named one of “NYC’s Best Wine Shops” by the Village Voice, Discovery has something for everyone. You can order online for delivery or stop by in person (right around Katz’s in the East Village) to get advice from one of the well-informed staff members on what low intervention wine to pair with your next home-cooked dinner. Make sure to ask about their latest “Value Wines” — a curation of well-priced, above-dollar-tasty bottles.
Wine Therapy, Manhattan
Recommended by Clémence polès
Focused on organic & natural bottles, this shop in Nolita opened in 2005. A great stop for gifting, their picks focus on smaller scale winemakers who produce with a true love for the craft. Their monthly wine clubs are designed to educate and will help improve your palate — they can even be customized to a specific country, region or grape!
Spirit Animal, Brooklyn
Recommended by Claire Dauge-Roth
Dangerously close to Domino Park (dreaming of summer picnics…), Spirit Animal has been a go-to wine spot for South Williamsburg since 2019. With the interior set up like a bar, it’s easy to lose yourself in their low intervention range during one of the weekly wine tastings or chat for hours to the extremely knowledgeable staff about their favorite small-batch producers. If you’re shopping online, their unique “Search by Philosophy” dropdown menu narrows down the hunt for that extra-special bottle.
Chambers Street Wines, Manhattan
Recommended by rebecca firkser
Chamber Street Wines is an established pillar of the New York natural wine scene and perfect for anyone who wants to uncover unique bottles and eclectic tastes. Founded in 2001, everyone working in the shop is an incredible resource as bottles are sampled and selected by the team, all of whom are, of course, natural wine enthusiasts in their own right. Their focus is less on what brands are popular and more so on small, artisanally produced wines, so you’re sure to leave with something unique.
winemakers to look out for
Domaine Tessier
recommended by Clémence polès
Domaine Tessier was founded in 1961 by Roger Tessier, with his son Philippe taking the reins 20 years later. They are located in the heart of the Cheverny and Cour-Cheverny AOC’s and currently have 23 ha of vines. With their unique balance and freshness, their bottles are sure to be a hit with every dinner guest and according to Parcelle wineshop (which carries a wide selection), the whites in particular “have a perfect balance of rich nuttiness and bright citrus flavors.”
Leclerc Briant
recommended by Lindsey Tramuta
If you’re after bubbles, Lindsey has you covered with this estate that runs production out of a tiny vineyard next to a picturesque French countryside villa in Épernay: “I'm a HUGE fan of Champagne and this is low-intervention and biodynamic. They’re widely available in wine shops across France, but in the U.S. you'll probably need to look at specialty wine shops.” Each of their three available ranges offers a unique flavor profile and the house regularly experiments with principles such as long ageing in their chalk cellars, very low dosage addition and changing up the champagne’s ageing environments (sometimes underwater!).
La Grange De L'Oncle Charles
recommended by Caitlin McMullen
Owner Jérôme’s story is one of determination. Studying initially as a carpenter, he was so inspired by the work and stories of his uncle Charles that — at the age of 23 — he took over the family plot in France and started to produce his own wines. At harvest, the fruit is pressed off over a 9 hour period, strengthening the wine with hyperoxygenation and adding a little more complexity from a tiny amount of skin contact.
Domaine Matassa
recommended by Rachel Nguyen, Clémence polès, Caitlin McMullen
Run by South Africa-born, New Zealand-bred Tom Lubbe, this winery in the South of France shows off subtle and balanced old low intervention wines of a staggering variety. No matter if you choose from their orange wines which macerate the skins of white grapes, light pinks, or reds which are fermented in whole bunches with their stems still intact — all of them carry a special flavor profile driven by acidity and crunchy fruit.
Radikon
Recommended by Caitlin McMullen
A producer with a deeply entrenched local history, these narrowly planted Oslavian vines were originally planted in 1948 right on the border between Italy and Slovenia. Radikon has customized most aspects of the drinking experience, from the half or full liter bottles to the width of the cork to invite proper aeration. This family owned vineyard cultivates small batches from decade old vines and lives in relationship with the land, an intentionality that is felt when experiencing their natural wines.
Beck-Hartweg
Recommended by Ly Ngo
Florian and Mathilde Beck-Hartweg cultivate their eleven generation vineyard in Alsace, France surrounded by a medieval town and centuries-old tradition. The young couple, however, are passionate about keeping their biodynamic production vibrant and you can find their products most anywhere. Check out Chamber Street Wines, who they’ve been partnering with to export their delicious skin contact wines, like this bottle of “Tout Naturellement Macere”.
La Ginestra
Recommended by Clémence polès
Based in the Tuscany region of Italy, this worker-owned group of winemakers has been cultivating and preserving their land following the principles of biodynamic agriculture since 1989. Their wines “are an expression of the terroir and year of production, not dictated by the current taste trends or market demands, but a reflection of the bounty that nature has offered.” If you ever come across a bottle of their beautiful Lea, you’ll know what they mean.
Domaine Glinavos
Recommended by Rebecca Firkser
Reminding us why we love a pet-nat in the first place, passerby Rebecca confesses “whenever I see a bottle of Domaine Glinavos Paleokerisio, I buy it — it's smaller and perfect to split with a friend in the park.” Founded by one of the first professionally trained oenologists in Greece in 1978, this winery has committed themselves to the production of the highest quality possible wines by utilizing local varieties and honoring traditional techniques.
wine importers
Jenny & François Selections
recommended by Clémence polès
Founded by native New Yorker Jenny Lefcourt (who could be considered somewhat of a natural wine fairy godmother) Jenny & François focuses on importing “handmade wines in the truest sense from a group of passionate winemakers that go one step further than organic and biodynamic producers by using organic methods in the cellar as well as in the vineyard.” Jenny originally moved to Paris to study French film during her PhD at Harvard, but wound up touring wine bars and vineyards instead. Which basically makes us trust her instincts a hundred times over.
Zev Rovine Selections
recommended by Clémence polès
Upon landing on the Zev Rovine website, you’ll find a gallery of featured winemakers from a dizzying array of countries that are dedicated to the craft and put a strong focus on low intervention production. A number of bars listed earlier on carry their producers’ bottles, including Achille’s Heel and The Four Horsemen (a full list is available here) — if that’s not an endorsement, we’re not sure what is.
Vinotas Selections
recommended by Clémence polès
Vinotas declared mission: bringing “small farmer Organic, Biodynamic and Natural wines that taste more expensive than they actually are” to the US. A steady presence at wine festivals and always on the hunt for bottles that complement specific foods, this importer can be trusted to show off winemakers that are innovative and humble all at once.
Filomena Selections
recommended by Clémence polès & Claire Brodka
If you’re looking to hone down on a region, Filomena is for you: the small importer is dedicated to low intervention wines from Italy, and their website is easily accessible and a great resource if you want to learn more about up-and-coming winemakers. Aita (Claire’s favourite neighborhood Trattoria) carries a range of their bottles, all wonderful pairings for the delicious and fresh fare.
Louis/Dressner Selections
recommended by Clémence polès
According to their website, Denyse Louis and Joe Dressner were “two people who knew absolutely nothing about wine or its commerce” when they founded their company in 1988. Fast forward three and a half decades later, and they’ve established themselves as some of NYC’s finest importers. With a strong interest in low intervention production, Louis/Dressner can be relied upon for fresh picks and rare-to-find organic and biodynamic bottles from small farmers around the globe.
If you’re looking for spontaneity that delivers, Rachel Nguyen points out Dry Farm Wines memberships as a way to keep flavors fresh and avoid lugging home a case (or two). No matter the season, we take the encouragement for a pause and sharing in pleasure.
Words by Claire Dauge-Roth & Claire Brodka