A 100% Viognier. A silky melange with notes of white flowered fruit, citrus and apricots
This family run domaine came to being in the early 1970s, when Odette and René Bastide spotted the potential of the Ventoux region and took over an area of rundown vineyards. In 1985 Edith and Paul Chaudière took control and created one of the first independent wineries of the AOC, in an area which had previously been dominated by cooperatives.
In 2003, Paul and Edith handed over the running of the estate to their two sons, Alexandre and Frédéric, who have since set about converting the domaine to organic farming. They are blessed with vineyards in an enviable location, ideally situated at the crossroads between the Alpine and Mediterranean worlds. An average altitude of the vineyards of more than 300 metres and the wide variation of temperatures between days and nights create an excellent physiological balance in the vines, adding colour, concentration and balance to their wines.
A refreshing blend of Sémillon, Sauvignon Blanc and Chenin bursting with citrus character and underlying minerality.
Les Equilibristes is the brain child of this Francois de Moval and Florent Girou, who aim to produce one of a kind, quirky cuvees from small estates all across France. Most importantly, their central ideal is to fashion wines that possess the équilibre ('balance').
Each year, they visit their grower friends and purchase a select amount of grapes from which they produce terroirs-driven, organic cuvees that express a clear identity and sense of place. The results are simply stunning, as Florent (the winemaker) uses little to no added sulphites and other minimal intervention techniques to allow the grapes to truly speak for themselves.
One of the all time best selling natural wine producers returns with a brand new wine to add to the iconic Gran Cerdo stable. The 2021 Rosado is a blend of Tempranillo, Garnacha and a little sprinkle of a mysterious variety. Pink neon in colour with candy shop vibes on the nose moving into a strawberry and cherry party on the palate.
Gonzalo Gonzalo Grijalba was born in Logroño, Spain and grew up among the vineyards that their parents cultivated in Fuenmayor. After several years of training in various parts of the wine-making world, they returned to start his own project.
Fiercely protective of the terroir of their family vineyards Gonzalo rejects market driven fashions, formulae, chemical treatments and conformism. Instead they have sought out their own methods with respect for the land, their vineyards, and the traditions of their forefathers. They balance this respect with formal training in the latest oenological techniques and methods.
This red is made from 100% Bobal and shows hints of cherries and ripe red berries, with slight balsamic hints of aromatic herbs before a juicy, balanced palate with smooth, mature tannins.
Located in the unheralded region of Utiel Requena, Pago de Tharsys is an old estate which dates back to 1805. It was purchased by the Garcia family in 1981 and they began adding plots of vines in the early 1990s. Therefore, despite the fact it is an estate steeped in history, it is very much a modern project that remains in progress. Known as “The Godfather of Valencian Cava” for his work to grow the reputation of D.O. Cava wines in this area, Vicente Garcia has always strived to find harmony between traditional and modern winemaking techniques in order to bring out the best of the indigenous varieties of Valencia - particularly Bobal.
Their Academia de Nocturnos range is an homage to the mythical 'Nocturnal Academy' of 16th century Valencia, where well-known artists and novelists used to meet - always with a glass of wine in hand!
A biodynamic blend of Zweigelt (90%) and St Laurent. Dark ruby in colour, and quite opaque it has something of a dense appearance. The body, however, is medium weight and silky smooth with a refreshing hint of minerality. The soft and dark juicy fruit flavours are well balanced by the subtle earthy and spicy notes making an altogether very characterful and very drinkable wine.
Previously a mixed farm on the edge of Lake Neusiedlersee, the Beck winery began to take shape in the mid 1970s, when Matthias took the decision to grow the area of planted vines from 5 to 15 hectares. The next stage of their growth was the construction of their own winery, in 2005, before their conversion to full biodynamic production 2 years later. It was around this time that Judith took over from her father, having studied at Austrian viticultural college before gaining experience with stints in France (at Cos d'Estournel in Bordeaux), Italy and Chile. She now has total control of proceedings from vine to bottle, with Matthias still lending a hand in his treasured vineyards.
With zero dosage and sealed under crown gap, Prosecco 'Col Fondo' is characterized by the deposit of the yeasts on the bottom: it is made according to the ancestral method, used since ancient times where the second fermentation is in the bottle without disgorgement. Low in alcohol, this slightly cloudy fizz will always hit the spot
In 1974, Guido Fidora took the decision to convert his family vineyard from conventional to organic viticulture. Behind his decision was a desire to strive towards two key principles - the avoidance of chemicals and the promotion of biodiversity. By the mid 70s, it was widely accepted that using chemicals was the most innovative way to grow crops. Guido noticed that young farmers in the region no longer had access to books, research or teachers who advocated any other form of agriculture other than that which was chemically driven.
At the time of this conversion, Guido was clear that his move to organics should not be seen as a regression or a nostalgic throwback to a bygone era. Rather, in his eyes, it was a leap forward in terms of quality, health, sustainability and, most importantly, environmental responsibility.
Nowadays, the philosophy of the estate, now controlled by Emilio Fidora, continues to revolve around the importance of biodiversity, and they are extremely proud that their vineyards are home to a burgeoning population of hares, foxes, pheasants and countless species of bird. They see the presence of animals as a key indication that their land is healthy, thus allowing them to produce wines that are truly reflective of their natural surroundings.