Donkey & Goat

Recorded answer text · Google AI Overviews · 4 October 2026

!What You're Still Getting Wrong About Natural Wine - InsideHook For beginners in America looking to explore natural wine, approachable and cleanly made options from reliable domestic producers like Broc Cellars, Donkey & Goat, and Joe Swick offer a great starting point.

### Great American Natural Wine Producers for Beginners

- Broc Cellars (California): Based in Berkeley, they make fresh, low-intervention, food-friendly wines using classic grapes like Valdiguié or Carignan that taste vibrant without the "funky" or mousey faults that can turn off new drinkers. - Donkey & Goat (California): Pioneers in Berkeley/Nesta crafting clean, bright pet-nats (petillant naturel, a lightly sparkling natural wine) and skin-contact whites that are easy to enjoy and well-made. - Joe Swick / Swick Wines (Oregon): Known for fun, experimental, yet clean Pacific Northwest bottlings like chilled red blends that bridge the gap between conventional and natural styles. - Martha Stroumen (California): Focuses on heritage California grape varieties farmed organically, resulting in highly aromatic, balanced, and approachable wines.

### Tips for Natural Wine Beginners

- Start with chilled reds or light whites: Lighter styles or pet-nats mask fewer flaws and feel refreshing, similar to what beginner wine drinkers enjoy in conventional pours. - Visit a local bottle shop: Talk to staff at a dedicated natural wine store or bar rather than buying blindly online. Tell them you are new and prefer "clean, fruit-forward" styles to avoid overly funky or volatile bottles.

If you want to narrow this down, tell me:

- Do you usually prefer red, white, or sparkling wine? - What are some conventional wines or flavors you already like?

I can give you a specific bottle recommendation based on your taste.

Recorded answer text · ChatGPT · 4 October 2026

If by “natural wine brands in America” you mean U.S. producers making low-intervention/natural wine, these are the names I'd put at the top of the list. “Natural wine” has no single legal definition, so I'm prioritizing producers associated with organic farming, native fermentation, minimal intervention, and low/no added sulfur. www.theamericanvine.com

### 🇺🇸 Best American natural-wine producers

1. Broc Cellars - California One of the essential American natural-wine names. Great for bright, fresh reds, Carignan, Valdiguié and pét-nat. theamericanvine.com

2. Martha Stoumen Wines - California Excellent if you want natural wine that's clean, elegant and easy to drink rather than aggressively funky. Her Post Flirtation and Honeymoon wines are particularly well known. thegrapereset.comtheamericanvine.com

3. Donkey & Goat - California A pioneer of the American natural-wine movement, with organically farmed grapes and a strong reputation for pét-nat and skin-contact wines. thegrapereset.comtheamericanvine.com

4. Arnot-Roberts - California More polished and terroir-driven. A great choice if you're transitioning from conventional fine wine into natural/low-intervention bottles. Their Trousseau Gris and Ribolla Gialla are especially interesting. thegrapereset.comtheamericanvine.com

5. Jolie-Laide - California Fun, distinctive wines built around less-common varieties such as Trousseau Gris, Gamay and Carignan. theamericanvine.com

6. Bow & Arrow - Oregon One of the American producers I'd recommend for people who want natural wine without excessive funk. Particularly good for Gamay and Melon de Bourgogne. theamericanvine.com

7. Teutonic Wine Company - Oregon Especially worth trying if you like aromatic whites-Riesling, Gewürztraminer and Pinot Gris-with a low-intervention approach. theamericanvine.com

8. Kelley Fox Wines - Oregon Excellent Pinot Noir and other terroir-focused wines; a more elegant side of natural/low-intervention Oregon wine. theamericanvine.com

9. Bloomer Creek - New York A standout from the Finger Lakes, particularly for Riesling and Cabernet Franc. theamericanvine.com

10. Tinto Amorio - California Particularly interesting if you want natural reds and orange wines with a more contemporary, approachable style. drinktinto.com

### 🥂 My top 5 to start with

| Producer | Best for | Style | |---|---|---| | Broc Cellars | Overall | Fresh, lively, funky-but-balanced | | Martha Stoumen | Beginners | Clean, juicy, elegant | | Donkey & Goat | Pét-nat/orange | Experimental, energetic | | Arnot-Roberts | Fine-wine drinkers | Refined, terroir-driven | | Bow & Arrow | Oregon | Light, fresh, food-friendly |

There are currently dozens of natural-wine producers across the U.S.; one database lists 78 verified U.S. natural winemakers, with activity extending well beyond California into Oregon, New York, Texas, Michigan and other states. www.raisin.digital

If you're actually looking for natural wine brands/bottles you can buy in America (rather than American-made wine), I can give you a top 20 list by price - $15-25, $25-40, and premium - with specific bottles to look for.

Recorded answer text · Perplexity · 4 October 2026

The best American wineries to order from online depend on whether you want natural wine, classic Napa prestige, small-production bottles, or good value. Strong starting points include:

- Broc Cellars - Berkeley, California: Excellent low-intervention wines, especially Carignan, Chenin Blanc, and Rhône varieties. - Donkey & Goat - Berkeley, California: Organic and natural-leaning wines with expressive California character. - Bow & Arrow Wines - Portland, Oregon: A leading source for elegant, cool-climate Oregon Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. - Franchere Wine Company - Willamette Valley, Oregon: Small-production Oregon wines, particularly Pinot Noir. - Macari Vineyards - North Fork, New York: A reliable choice for Long Island Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Chardonnay. - Old Westminster Winery - Westminster, Maryland: Notable East Coast natural and experimental wines. - Southold Farm + Cellar - Fredericksburg, Texas: Interesting Texas wines made with a distinctive, less traditional approach. - Madson Wines - Santa Cruz, California: Recommended for vibrant, site-driven California wines. - Maître de Chai - Napa Valley, California: Small-production Napa wines with a fresher, more restrained style than many conventional Napa bottlings. - Opus One - Napa Valley, California: A splurge-worthy, classic Napa choice; availability is generally more limited and prices are high.

Best overall shortlist: Broc Cellars for adventurous wines, Bow & Arrow for Oregon Pinot Noir, Macari for East Coast wines, and Maître de Chai for refined California bottles.

Before ordering, check state shipping eligibility, adult-signature requirements, and whether the winery ships directly or through a wine retailer; rules and delivery availability vary by state.