Why I Drink Clean Wine [Dry Farm Wines Review]

Raise your hand if you LOVE wine! Both of my hands are raised right now. I love wine. Adore. My family is a big Napa Cabernet family, so I’ve been able to drink some amazing bottles over the years. However, up until the past year I often didn’t think about what is INSIDE that bottle of wine. Alcohol? Yeah. Sugar? I guess. But I didn’t know there was so much more inside a bottle of wine (especially wines produced in the US) that can be so detrimental to our health.

Personally, I am of the mindset that wine (and alcohol in general) CAN be part of a healthy, balanced lifestyle. Can it become a problem and can it become habitual? Absolutely, but I am mainly speaking to the fact that I see no harm in myself having a glass or two of wine a couple nights a week. However, there have been many times in which 1-2 glasses of my favorite Napa Cabernet turns into 3-4, which the next day turns into a 12+ hour hangover (ya girl can’t hang like she used to). I began to learn my limits after college, but even more recently, I learned that gross additives are put in nearly ever bottle of commercially made wine, that can be a great contributor for said hangover.

Last year, I did a number of tests to check on the status of my gut health, as well as toxic mold exposure. I learned that I had candida and other bacterial overgrowths, as well as mycotoxin buildup in my system. Upon doing a deep dive in how to begin to heal my body, one thing kept popping up as something to avoid: fermented foods and beverages. This wine-lover was crushed. Knowing it was what my body needed to begin to heal, I underwent a month-long elimination diet, followed by an additional 8 weeks of rebuilding and rebalancing my gut. During that month-long period of zero alcohol, I felt amazing. But not only did I feel amazing, but my skin was brighter and my mind felt clearer. Upon reintroducing wine regularly at the start of the pandemic, my old symptoms returned.

Here is where Dry Farm Wines enters the picture: I wanted to find clean, organic wine that wouldn’t break the bank, but what I didn’t know that just because a wine is “organic” or “natural”, does not mean it is the healthiest wine on the market. I really struggled to find any great options locally (with the exception of this natural wine bar, which I still need to visit). My dietitian suggested I check out Dry Farm Wines, since they were the only mycotoxin-free, lab tested wine delivery service on the market.

Why I Chose Dry Farm Wines: I personally appreciate the promises that Dry Farm Wines ensures with each of their bottles.

1- DFW contains no additives: In the United States, winemakers can add over 70 additives such as “de-foaming agents, artificial coloring (virtually every red wine under $20 has the colorant “mega purple”), extra sugar, high fructose corn syrup, ammonia, and genetically modified bacteria and yeasts.*”. These additives make all of my favorite bottles sound less and less appealing by the second.

2- DFW are low-sugar and low-carb: Dry Farm Wines undergo a natural fermenting process. Their wines are lab-tested to ensure the wines have significantly less sugar than their commercially produced counterparts. This also means Dry Farm Wines are Keto, paleo or low-carb lifestyle friendly!

3- Low Alcohol Content: Because of the lower sugar content, DFW wines are lower in alcohol as a result. Low sugar, lower alcohol, fewer hangovers!

4- They’re Alive: Dry Farm Wines selections contain living beneficial bacteria and yeasts. These bacteria offer a complexity in flavor, but can also be associated with positive health benefits.

5- Support of Small, Biodynamic Farms: Dry Farm Wines bottles come from vineyards around the world that participate in biodynamic growing practices.

6- Sustainability: Sustainability is an important factor in wine making, and I appreciate the fact that DFW prioritizes it in their business practices.

7- Taste: Having consumed over a case of Dry Farm Wines, I can attest to this promise. Despite being unsure about some of the bottles (I judged some prematurely based on their color), every wine I’ve been sent has tasted incredible. This is obviously essential!

I also appreciate the fact that DFW are lower in sulfites. According to their website, Dry Farm Wines have on average a very low 39 parts per million. In the US, by law sulfites are allowed in amounts up to 350 parts per million (ppm) in wine. I get congested easily when drinking traditional, commercially-produced wines, and have noticed a significant decrease in this issue since switching to cleaner wine.

Who Is Dry Farm Wines For?: Honestly, anyone. But, I think it is particularly great for those who are conscious about their health. I personally started exclusively drinking Dry Farm Wines once I began the process of eliminating mold (mycotoxins) from my body. DFW lab-tests their wines for mycotoxins, which means these are great if you are also conscious of mold exposure in food and beverages.

Like I mentioned earlier, if you are conscious about your carb/sugar intake, Dry Farm Wines will be a great option for you. These wines are Keto and Paleo-friendly! I find carbs lead to bloat for me, so while it isn’t a main focus of mine personally, it is an added bonus.

Is it Worth the Price?: I think that answer is subjective, but in my opinion, yes. That said, Dry Farm Wines subscriptions are pricy. Their current pricing is for 6 bottles of wine for $159 or 12 bottles for $299. Initially, I was nervous about the fact that they select the wines for you based on your preferences (you take a quiz prior to starting your subscription which gives the folks at DFW a sense of your wine tastes). I do wish that you could select your own wines, and pay by the bottle. Maybe that will be an offering someday, but I do appreciate their satisfaction guarantee. In my first order, I had one bottle that immediately caused a histamine response (congestion) for me. I emailed them the next day and they sent a free replacement bottle right away. I appreciate the care of their customer service.

That said, yes it is expensive. I think the price is worth it since I cannot find these wines at local liquor stores, and I trust and appreciate their practices. Again, I just wish you could select your own bottles, but hopefully that is something they will offer down the road. Should you change your mind, you can cancel your subscription, or skip a month very easily! I bumped up my October order to arrive just in time for the election (eeeek!).

Do You Have A Code?: Unfortunately, no. BUT! If you order through this link, you can get an extra bottle for just 1 penny! I did this with my first order which was great! Highly recommend taking advantage of this deal if you’re interested!

*Source: Dry Farm Wines