Wild Folk Preservative Free Touriga: Tasting Notes

WINE STYLE → Spicy, Bright & Seriously Food-Friendly

A supple, spicy red that makes a strong case for Touriga Nacional outside Portugal. Intense berry fruit sits at the core, but what really defines the style is the lively acidity and savoury edge running underneath. It is medium-bodied, dry and beautifully drinkable, with enough fruit to feel generous and enough freshness to keep you coming back for another glass. There is a looseness and ease to it, but it still has real character in the glass.

Highlights

• Certified organic, certified biodynamic, vegan suitable and No Added Preservative
• Crafted by Wild Folk — a minimal-intervention natural wine range built around wild-fermented, unfined and unfiltered wines
• Intense berry fruit, savoury spice and cleansing acidity
• McLaren Vale Touriga Nacional showing a bright Mediterranean-style red profile
• Handpicked, open-fermented and bottled young in stainless steel with little added and no fining or filtration
• 13.5% ABV

Tasting Notes

This 2022 Touriga is medium-bodied and spice-led, with a core of intense berry fruit that keeps the wine generous without making it heavy. The fruit profile feels dark and vivid, but the defining feature is the cleansing acidity that pulls the palate into line and gives the wine its drink-now energy. There is a savoury edge to it too, which stops the berry fruit from reading as sweet and makes the wine especially food-friendly.

Winemaking

Wild Folk keeps the handling very simple here. The fruit was handpicked and sorted, then fermented in open fermenters with plunging. After fermentation it was moved to stainless steel and bottled shortly after with little added, and it was neither fined nor filtered. That approach keeps the fruit bright, the spice clear and the style fresh and direct.

Vineyard & Vintage

The 2022 McLaren Vale season was an outstanding one for both yield balance and wine quality. Conditions ran from cool to warm without any major heatwave stress. A cool, dry summer delayed the season, but a long Indian-style summer through autumn allowed slow ripening and strong flavour development. Sugar, tannin and flavour tracked together, which helps explain why this wine feels both generous and composed.

Why We Love It

This is one of those wines that feels a little different in a very good way. Touriga Nacional is not the most common red on the shelf, but here it makes complete sense: plenty of berry fruit, real spice, and enough acidity to make it lively with food. If you enjoy medium-bodied reds with brightness and savoury drive, it is a very smart bottle.

Food Pairing

The spice and cleansing acidity make this a natural match for charcuterie, smoky dishes and richer foods with a little oil or spice. It also works well with vegetarian dishes that have depth and seasoning. Try matching this wine with →

• Pan-fried chorizo — Find a Recipe
• Roasted eggplant with harissa — Find a Recipe
• Spanish-style baked meatballs — Find a Recipe

Mood or occasion to match this wine…

A very good bottle for tapas-style dinners, spiced sharing plates and nights when you want something a little different from the usual Shiraz or Grenache.

Cellaring

This is best enjoyed while the fruit and acidity still feel bright and energetic. Drink now and over the next few years for the most appealing expression of the style.

Producer

Wild Folk is a minimal-intervention natural wine range built around wines made without artifice. The wines are wild yeast fermented, no additions, preservative free, vegan friendly, unfined and unfiltered. That philosophy suits Touriga particularly well, because the grape already has enough natural perfume, fruit and structure to carry itself without much cellar shaping. In this McLaren Vale version, the result is a bright, spicy and highly drinkable red that feels both honest and distinctive.

Related Wines To Try →

If you enjoy this spicy, medium-bodied Mediterranean-style red, these are worth comparing:

• From the same producer, juicier savoury red with more herbal lift — Wild Folk Preservative Free Nero D’Avola
• Another medium-bodied, food-friendly red from a different producer — Tamburlaine Point 65 Tempranillo
• Same producer, fuller Barossa red with darker fruit and more depth — Wild Folk Preservative Free Shiraz

FAQ

What does Wild Folk Preservative Free Touriga taste like?

It shows intense berry fruit, savoury spice and a bright, cleansing line of acidity. The palate is medium-bodied, dry and supple, with plenty of energy and an easy food-friendly shape.

Is this wine dry?

Yes, it is a dry red wine. The specs list 0.1 g/L residual sugar, which sits firmly in the dry range and fits the way the acidity and savoury notes read on the palate.

What is Touriga Nacional?

Touriga Nacional is a Portuguese grape best known for its role in quality table wines and fortified wines. It often gives deeply coloured reds with strong berry fruit, spice and structure, and in a warm Australian region like McLaren Vale it can also show excellent brightness and drinkability.

How full-bodied is it?

This sits in the medium-bodied range. It has enough fruit to feel generous, but the acidity keeps it lifted and stops it from becoming heavy.

Does it need decanting?

It does not need a long decant. A quick pour into the glass is enough, and a little air will help the spice and berry notes open further.

What temperature and glassware work best?

Serve it at around 15–17°C in a medium red wine glass. That keeps the fruit bright and lets the acidity and spice stay in good balance.

Can this wine be cellared?

This is more of a drink-now style than a long-term cellar wine. Enjoy it over the next few years while the fruit stays vivid and the acidity fresh.

Does this wine contain preservatives or sulphites?

This is a No Added Preservative wine. The specs list total SO₂ at 2 ppm and free SO₂ at 2 ppm, which is consistent with naturally occurring sulphites only.

Is this wine vegan friendly?

Yes, it is listed as vegan suitable. It is also certified organic, certified biodynamic, and bottled unfined and unfiltered.

What food works best with this wine?

It works especially well with chorizo, spiced meatballs, charcuterie and roasted eggplant dishes. The spice and cleansing acidity make it a very strong food wine.

Who is this wine likely to suit?

It will suit drinkers who enjoy medium-bodied reds with spice, brightness and a savoury edge. If you like Tempranillo, Nero d’Avola or other Mediterranean-style reds, this is a strong fit.

(SKU: FO_Tou_CV)