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KEY: Spk: Sparkling | W: White | R: Red | Ro: Rose | Sw: Sweet
(Spk) Davenport Limney
In 1991 Will Davenport planted 5 acres of vines at Horsmonden in Kent, while simultaneously working for a Hampshire vineyard and, unintentionally, this became the beginning of a lifelong business as a wine producer. 26 years later the vineyards now make up 24 acres, grown on 5 parcels of land, 9 grape varietes and a multitude of soil types and micro-climates. The vineyards are mostly at Horsmonden in Kent, with a smaller vineyard next to the winery at Rotherfield, East Sussex. Will was always a keen supporter of organic farming and in 2000 he made the decision to convert all the vines and winery to organic systems, certified by the Soil Association. At the me this was a huge risk, but ultimately the vines are in great shape, the fruit quality is second to none, and the wines show a depth of character that we believe could not be achieved with the use of chemicals in the vineyard and winery.
(W) Chardonnay
(Spk) Blanc de Blanc
(Spk) Blanc de Noir
Ancre Hill Estate is located in the beautiful Welsh county of Monmouthshire. The 12 hectares of vineyard are perfectly positioned on the south facing slopes close to the border town of Monmouth and the Wye Valley. The Estate ethos is to deliver wines of the highest quality, utilising traditional Biodynamic and Organic Viticultural practices to produce the best possible fruits from carefully sourced and selected varieties with excellent heritage. The wines produced at Ancre Hill express the terroir of ancient mudstone and sandstone soils, giving the wines their character and natural flavours, with no external intervention or manipulation in the winemaking process.
(Spk) Pierre Garbais Cuvee Reserve
(Spk/Ro) Pierre Gerbais, Grains de celles rosé
The estate was founded in 1930 and is situated at Celles-sur-Ource in the Cote-des Bar – the southernmost p of Champagne. There are 18 hectares of vines in total and today the farm is run by 4th generation winemaker, Aurelien Gerbais. The estate converted to organic cultivation in 1996 and everything is done by hand. Aurelien and his father Pascal are pioneers in the use of Pinot Blanc in their house blends and the family is fiercely protective of its 4 hectares of this particular grape, including a plot established in 1904 that gives up the sought-after ‘l’Originale’.
(Spk) Cremant de Borgogne Brut Nature
(W) Macon Loche Cuvee de Clocher
All the Tripoz vineyards (11 hectares) are in or just outside of Loché in the Maconnais, where the cellar is located. With vines on eastern exposures rooted in deep clay loaded with limestone, the Céline and Laurent believe that the only way to express a sense of terroir is to work in the most natural manner. Having been completely free of herbicides and chemicals since 2001 they have been certified organic and biodynamic since 2006. Harvests are manual, followed by gentle pressing and selling of the juice and the wine is always fermented with nave yeasts for a long period in stainless vats with subsequent lees-ageing and a natural malolacc conversion. Gentle filtration, no fining and a very small quantity of sulphur is added before bottling. The Macon-Loché, Cuvée du Clocher (referencing the bell tower just opposite where they live) is a beautifully fluid, natural-tasting wine. Unimpeded by oak it still retains the textural element of lees-ageing with notes of lemon, white pepper, quinine and ginger.
(W) Domaine Goisot, Sauvignon Blanc
Domaine Goisot is made up of 32 hectares, located in Saint Bris le Vineux, neighboring the city of Chablis. The Domaine has Been existing since the 15th century. The Goisots believe that great wine begins in the vineyard, which means a tremendous respect for nature and the environment. The estate has worked organically since 1993 and is nowadays certified biodynamic. Their goal is to concentrate their efforts on the potential of this terroir.
(W) Domaine Guy Allion
The Domaine du Haut Perron has been passed on from father to son for more than 4 generations. Each has contributed to expanding it and improving the quality of its production. Unl the 1950s, my grandfather, Raymond Allion, cultivated the estate in polyculture like most farms in Touraine. A few hectares of vines, cereals, meadows to feed the horse and other farm animals. It was not until 1968 that my father Guy decided to devote himself gradually to viticulture, and succeeded in 1991. Cradled in this environment that I loved, I decided from my childhood to connue this activity. To be able to bring new impetus to the field, I completed the heritage of family knowhow with viticultural and oenological training at the Lycée de Beaune. This training allowed me to enrich my practical knowledge with that of the latest techniques. It will materialize through the modernization and development of the family property, upon my arrival on the Estate in 1999.
(Ro) Domaine Saint Nicolas, Gemmes d`Ete Rosé
It was in 1960 that Patrice Michon settled in Brem sur Mer, inheriting several acres of vines belonging to his father. Slowly but surely he bought more vines to increase the value of his wine heritage which is now over 32 hectares. In 1970 he moved to lle d`Olonne and built a winery. He was Joined in 1984 by his two sons Thierry and Eric who have broken with wine making tradition in Vendee and are now making their mark with these very special wines of Domaine Saint Nicolas.
(W) Chateau Tour des Gendres
Vincenzo de Con along with his wife & children settled down in South-West France in 1925. In 1956, his son Primo de Con took over the family agricultural business with his wife Michelle, who looked after a couple of horses, and with his brother Albert. Luc, the 3rd generation, settled down at the farm in the early 80s following his passion for horses. He inherited a number of old vines, and planted more plots later on, while his wife Marne started managing the receptive side of the business. His cousin Francis, with whom he grew up with in this large family, joined Luc, Marne & the business in 1990. He brought with him 20 hectares of vines planted in the Saint Julien d’Eymet and Grand Caillou areas and took charge of the vines.
(W) Gewrztraminer Tradition Albert Mann
Since 2000, the estate’s wines have been organically certified by Ecocert. We began practising biodynamic viticulture in 1997 in three Grands Crus vineyards. Over the following years, we applied biodynamics across the entirety of our estate and since 2010, we have the biodynamic certification from Biodyvin. The viticultural practice is labour intensive and more costly but it gives the wine the purest reflection of its terroir and its own identity. In ploughing the vineyards, we manage to make the roots go down to a maximum depth to capture the minerals of the rock. The goal of the estate is to produce wine that is in harmony with nature. Wine is the memory of the grape and is capable of transmit the taste of the earth. Since 2000, the estate’s wine has been organically certified by Ecocert. We began practising biodynamic viticulture in 1997 in three Grands Crus vineyards. Over the following years,
(R) Chateau du Cedre, Heritge du Cedre
(R) Chateau du Cedre, Camille
Charles Verhaeghe and his wife MarieThérèse established a mixed farming operation and created the Cèdre vineyard by planting one hectare of vine per year on three plots. In 1973. Pascal and Jean-Marc belong to the second generation. Pascal, a motorcycle enthusiast, discovers or rather rediscovers the vineyard with a Burgundian friend Jean-Marie Guffens. We are in 1980 “On the Bol d’Or road, I wanted to make a simple stop at Jean-Marie’s… I stayed there for several days, my very first harvest. Eight years later, are studying wine with Mâcon Davayé, and experiences in Burgundy and Napa Valley in Saintsbury, he decided to take over the family estate with his brother JeanMarc, then a young wine graduate Tour Blanche in the Sauternes region.
(W) Henri Nordoc, Chardonnay
(Ro) Henri Nordoc, Cinsault
(R) Henri Nordoc, Merlot
(R) La Boussole, Pinot Noir
From the stables of Stephane Verdeau and Claude Serra who make wines in southern France under the names of Domaine Nordoc and Domaine La Boussole. Their vineyards stretch from the hot Mediterranean coast in southern France to the cooler Ardeche region of western Province (from where this particular wine comes). Low yields and a ruthless approach to quality control means that behind the label lies some of the best value wines in the region.
(R) Les Vignerons d`Estezargues, Les Oliviers
(R) Les Vignerons d`Estezargues, Cuvee des Galets Rouge
Les Vignerons D’ Estézargues takes a fundamentally different approach; start in 1995 the ten different growers in this co-op began to vinify their wine separately and make single cuvées from their best plots. On the heels of the single cuvée evolution Les Vignerons D’ Estézargues began to practice natural winemaking. Possibly one of the only co-ops in the world to do so, Les Vignerons D’ Estézargues uses no external yeasts, no filtering, no fining and no enzymes are employed on the grapes during the winemaking process. Michael Trebillon is one of the winemakers behind Les Vignerons D’ Estézargues, he grows the fruit for Domaine les Genestas, and Denis Deschamps makes the wine, where their collective efforts have been hailed by wine lovers and critics around the world.
(R) Domaine des Vigneaux
Grandfather Gilbert [72 years in 2019] built the cellar in 1979, having been at the Cave Cooperative of Valvignères, the wine sold to the merchant trade. Christophe joined the Domaine in 1994. Their son Paulin came on to the domain in his turn in late 2017. They are one of four organics independent domaines at Valvignères. The Comte’s work comprises 12 ha of vineyards, 7 ha near the domaine, and 5 ha 1 km away, on white stony limestone with white clay soils, with Grenache on mild slope grey marl soils. From late 2019 there are 3 hectares of cereal – barley, wheat, hay. They have been organic since 2001, worked with zero added SO2 since 2007, biodynamic since 2009.
(R) Daumas Gassac, Moulin de Gassac, Pinot Noir
Saint Benedict of Aniane, an adviser to Charlemagne, created a vineyard in the Gassac valley in the 780s. We have every reason to believe that Saint Benedict would have invited Charlemagne to sample the first wines produced in the valley. Mas de Daumas Gassac’s Grands Vins were thus born in the shadow of a prestigious abbey, like most famous great wines! 1970: Véronique and Aimé Guibert toured the countryside in the Hérault looking for a family house. At a bend in a road lined with pine trees, they fell under the charm of an old Mas (farmhouse) and an abandoned mill. Located in the heart of a beautiful wild valley through which flowed the Gassac river, the property belonged to the Daumas family.
(R) Chateau Toulouze
The Estate is located on the outskirts, to the North-East of Bordeaux, on 40 hectares that spread over the villages of Saint-Sulpice-et-Cameyrac, Izon and Vayres. The vineyard of Château Le Maine Marn is split up into several different parcels, whereas that of Château Toulouze is one single vineyard. The grape vine is traditionally a creeper with wide-spreading vegetation that needs to be tamed throughout the course of the year. The estate has chosen to treat their vineyard more as a small, arsenal farm rather than an agricultural estate, which implies immense respect for nature and the environment and the terroir itself. Traceability in the vineyard is nothing new to them. They have applied this principal for many generations as it is an essential factor in determining the quality of the grapes from the different parcels of the vineyard. Respecting winemaking traditions means concentrating all efforts to produce a good wine, preserving the richness of its own special character. This implies using as few chemicals as possible, by ploughing over the soil, rather than using weed killers. Also natural rather than chemical fertilizers are used in order to preserve the layer of humus around the vines which is in itself a source of life.
(R) Didier Desvignes, Morgon
Didier Desvignes, vine grower-winemaker to the soul, is carrying on the work undertaken by his family for over a century. It was at age just 11 that his passion was awakened. He was caught both pruning the vines and trying to name the different aromas in the wines at family tastings. Then, one day, his amused father challenged him to vinify the latest vintage in the cellar. For him, this was a real eye-opener; here were his first steps in making wine. And what a first attempt that turned out to be! Didier was already very keen on having his own vineyards to tend… So, in 1981, he purchased his first land in the Morgon appellation area, under the name of Domaine du Calvaire de Roche-Grès. Quite a striking name that is down to the thirteen monumental menhir-shaped in the vineyards that were erected at the beginning of the last century. From then on, his dedication to respect for the vine, his passion and his meticulousness all contributed to developing high quality.
(Spk) 1701 Saten
The brother and sister Federico and Silvia Stefini formally founded and guided the 1701 project and cellar today. Together With their collaborators, they take care of the eleven hectares of one of the most ancient vineyards of the area, 4 hectares surrounded by 11th century walls. Works on the basis of a choice shared with belief: the principles and methods of organic and biodynamic viticulture. This approach, away from any forcing and chemical intervention, is also a philosophy of life.
(Spk) Camillo Donati Lambrusco
(Spk/Ro) Camillo Donati, Malvasia Rosa
(Spk/Ro) Camillo Donati, Ribelle Rosa
Camillo Donati version is a happily serious like warbler from the land of Verdi. Camillo prunes the vines severely in order to acquire grapes with greater concentration, farms biodynamically and picks at full maturity. Vinification takes place with the maceration of the grapes on the skins to obtain a wine rich in colour and body. After a gentle pressing of the grapes the must is repeatedly pumped over to extract the most possible colour and body. The wine undergoes an entirely natural fermentation – no yeasts, no enzymes, no sugar added. It is then left to rest until December or January. This process allows the wine to filter naturally from impure substances. The resultant wine is then transferred to boles where it continues its fermentation.
(W) Madregale Bianco
(W) Madregale Pinot Grigio
(R) Madregale Rosso
Cantina Tollo was founded in 1960 from the initiative of a small group of people, who wanted to give value to an old tradition and try with enthusiasm, a new experience. Every choice, initiative, and innovation, have been made to achieve excellence in quality. Cantina Tollo’s wines have their roots in a territory with a vocation for grape growing in which the sun, gentle breezes from the Adriatic Sea and winds from the Maiella mountains create an ideal microclimate. Abruzzo, the so-called “green region” of Europe, offers the enotourist unique and spectacular itineraries enabling him to rediscover nature in enchanting places and experience the enogastronomical traditions of a territory with a thousand faces.
(Ro) Rosa Bianca, Pinot Grigio Rosato
Founded in 1928 by Carlo Botter, who set up the company Casa vinicola Botter in Fossalta di Piave, 30 Km East of Venice. In 1598 the second generation of the Botter family takes over the management of the estate, expansion of the company`s portfolio of products and of its distribution network.
(W) Soave Castelcerino
Filippi`s estate and vineyards are located in Castelcerino, in the highest part of the Soave DOC. The property was owned by a noble Tuscan family, the Con Alber, from the 1300’s to the beginning of the twentieth century. In the beginning of the 1900’s they sold the villa and canna to the Visco family. Filippo Filippi, who runs the estate, represents the current generation of the family. His mother’s maiden name is Visco so Filippo is related to both families – the Visco and the Con Alber.
(R) Antonio Camillo, Morellino di Scansano
After many years working for some of the most prestigious estates in Maremma, in 2006 Antonio Camillo took the chance to branch out by himself start with five hectares of vineyards purchased in his nave southern Tuscan locality, near the border with Lazio. His winery is nearby near the small town of Manciano. He cultivates his vines using traditional methods with minimal intervention and only organic products such as copper and sulphur.
(W) Ciu`Ciu`Oris
(W) Ciu`Ciu`Verdicchio
(R) Ciu` Ciu Bacchus
Ciù Ciù wines are the authentic expression of the company’s commitment and tradition, the result of research and quality in both the vineyard and in the cellar, but also of a natural winegrowing ecosystem of quality with a “terroir” (microclimate, soil and subsoil) that is unique and irreplaceable. In the farm, even if it is a family run business, works a technical group whose aim is to restore the wine and oenology inheritance of the wines of Region Marche.
(W) Fattoria San Lorenzo, Di Gino
Fattoria San Lorenzo is a family dedicated to the production of organic and biodynamic wines in the farm that Natalino Crognale inherited from his father Gino, who in his turn had inherited it from his father Enrico. Natalino, together with his mother, Vera Biondini, manages the vineyards which are situated in Montecarno where Natalino was born and raised, and in the nearby communes Ostra, Ostra Venere e Corinaldo. Natalino lives on the estate with his wife, son, mother and the numerous farm animals for which he names his wines. All the vineyards are organically and biodynamically farmed, and all the agricultural operations are made by human hands in order to preserve the plants, the soil, and the environment. Natalino is also in charge of the soil management.
(W) Enoz, La Monade
(W) Enoz, L`Attimo
(R) Enoz, Chaos
(Ro) Enoz, Il re Nudo
Roberto’s passion for the wine world has materialized with the Enoz Wine – Masseria Torricella company Enoz Wine, a small and newborn company in Sessa Aurunca, overlooking the Gulf of Gaeta in the province of Caserta, currently produces 8,000 bottles of Fiano, Primitivo, Falanghina and a Rosato di Primitivo.
(W) Tomei, Fertile
(W) Tomei, Bianco
(R) Tomei, Veniero
The Tomei farm was founded in 2017, from the tradition and farming experience of our family. The land, owned by our family for three generations, was mainly cultivated with vegetables and wheat with small portion of vineyards. Our winery sits in the municipality of Sezze, in the area of the ancient Arches of San Lidano: a bridge of Roman origin that connected the ancient Via Sena with the famous Appian Forum and which today represents and identifies our company logo. Our choice from the very beginning has been to plant exclusively native grapes vines: Bellone and Ottonese with white grapes, Cesanese and Abbuoto with black grapes.
(R) Iuli, Rossore
Fabrizio Iuli was born here and has always lived here. He likes to make wines in the Piedmontese tradition (using cement and oak). Based on the character white earth and the minerality of the soils I aim to make subtle wines. I like wines that are interesting, easy to drink, and hopefully elegant, fresh, crisp and vibrant. I am in the process of extending our range with new wines made from abandoned old Piedmontese varieties like Slarina and Baratuciat.
(R) Ottavio Rube Rosso
Just 10 km outside of the ancient town of Tortona in North West Piemonte lies the Agricultural Cooperative known as “Valli Unite” which has been operating for over twenty years, and is today managed by 12 partners. Ottavio Rube is one of the founders of this excellent organic cooperative which has become the backbone of the local economy. Having consolidated the family vineyards of the founding members, the cooperative began wine production in the early ages. In contrast to the post-war generation of their parents, the founders rejected ‘chemical’ agriculture, and went back to pre-industrial traditions of vine cultivation and winemaking, producing organic wines. With the environment in mind they also sought to limit the use of chemicals, including sulphur. Today the cooperative produces a range of wines including this juicy blend of Dolcetto and Merlot.
(R) Stefano Bellotti, Semplicemente Rosso
Stefano Bello understood farming and the language of nature at a fundamental level; He made wines that were wild, long-lived and spoken deeply of their origins. He was the spirit of real appellation and fought hard to maintain the integrity of that word, finding himself deeply at odds with bureaucracy. He was a kind of wine-poet and warrior-philosopher and inspired huge devotion amongst those who knew him intimately. Stefano produced fine wines respectfully of nature for more than forty years. His Cascina degli Ulivi was a true polyculture endeavour, a self-sufficient farm, growing vegetables and cereals, breeding animals for milk, meat and eggs, and making bread and cheese.
(Spk) Cantine Bernardi, for de Cassia, Frizzante Tappo
(Spk) Bio Spumante
On the Refrontolo hills arises the Canna Bernardi, born in 1960 by the initative of Mansueto, who has been able to impart the love for his land and wine to his sons, Pierluigi and Adriano, and to the grandsons, the third generation of vintners, who continue their work in the winery today. The wines of Canna Bernardi are born from the fine grapes, hand-picked in the vineyards of the most authentic area of Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore. The family-run business has now become a reference point for the production of high quality wines, produced with the latest technology but respecting traditional rules.
(R) Monte dell`Ora, Valpolicella Classico
The estate of Monte Dall’Ora is owned by Alessandra and Carlo Venturini and is located at Castelroo, in the hills outside Verona. The Venturinis are firm adherents to biodynamic principles and encourage the growth of biodiversity by planning herbs such as rosemary and lavender in the summer to react bees and by sowing cereals in the winter, the roots of which aerate the soil. In addition, indigenous grape varieties are employed wherever possible. Valpolicella Saseti is a blend of Corvina, Corvinone, Rondinella, Molinara and Oseleta and is fermented in stainless steel tanks using only natural local yeasts.
(R) Antica Enotria Rosso
Anca Enotria has 12 hectares of vines just outside the Puglian town of Cerignola and just a few kilometres from the Gulf of Manfredonia on the Adriatic coast. It’s run by Raffaele di Tuccio along with his wife Antonia and son Luigi. The enterprise started in 1985 when Raffaele bought a run-down 18th century farmhouse, or masseria, and, with Antonia and Luigi, spent the next few years bringing it back to life. In 1993 they set about covering the whole estate to sustainable and organic cultivation. Whilst organic winemaking is their main occupation they also grow fruit, vegetables and olives and along with wine they also sell their own organic tomatoes, preserves and olive oil. In the vineyards they grow traditional, indigenous Puglian varieties such as Nero di Troia, Primivo and Negroamaro as well as Aglianico, Falanghina, Montepulciano and Sangiovese. The di Tuccios are very much a part of their Puglian landscape and are completely committed to working in harmony with the land to grow honest and natural produce from it.
(W) Valentina Passalacqua, Calcarius Hellen
(W) Valentina Passalaqcua, Falanghina Pet Nat… 1Ltr
(W) Valentina Passalaqcua, Bombino Pet Nat…1Ltr
Valentina Passalacqua built her philosophy inspired by this land which encouraged me to tune in, listen and truly appreciate these many loving gigs. Her wines are dear to her, like children. She reflects on their different ideas and qualities, promoting them in their special harmony. And when these are ready, I share them with the world. She plays in the countryside under the warm sun of the Gargano, caressed by the salty winds of the sea. The vineyards preserve and renew these memories. Each vineyard has its own unique story that I have to be in tune with to truly represent the earth. Her philosophy is the joy of living in harmony with nature and savouring the smallest details of everyday life. It is a joy to express deep gratitude to Mother Earth and her many loving gigs. Peaceful life is our mission as natural wine producers. We want to share this philosophy with you and others, creating a chorus of empathy that can lay the foundation for a beer future.
(W) Andrea Pilar, Musaguzzo Pet Nat
(W) Andrea Pilar, Calaverna
(R) Andrea Pilar, Malvasia Nera
(R) Andrea Pilar, Pinot Nero
Andrea and Pilar, brother and sister, represent the next generation of the Gritti family. Following their studies and travels around the world, the two began their journey in the family business, deciding quickly to launch an original project, allowing them to invest their passion, skills and love for wine. Starting with some of the best vines from I Girasoli di Sant’Andrea and a clear, pure and radical philosophy, the siblings created new wines – and more interestingly – a new business idea. The conventional management of the company’s origins no longer exists: Andrea and Pilar have embraced clean agriculture and viticulture that is avenue to the wellbeing of the environment and the health of its fruits, fundamental grounds for arsenal wines that respect their land. An idea well rooted in the company’s new leaders, overseeing the vineyard and the canna, every step of the way.
(Ro) Masciarelli Cerasuolo d`Abruzzo Rosato
Masciarelli Tenute Agricole was established in 1981 from the entrepreneurial intuition of Gianni Masciarelli, a symbol of Italian wine and protagonist of the success of modern wine production in Abruzzo. The heart of the winery is in San Marno sulla Marrucina, in the province of Chie, and includes vineyards and olive groves, in all 4 provinces of Abruzzo. Wine production – while also having a small production of extra virgin olive oil – now has 18 labels and five product lines: Classic Line, Gianni Masciarelli, Villa Gemma, Castello di Semivicoli. In the constant and renewed work for innovation, but with respect for the environment and tradition, Castello di Semivicoli, a seventeenth-century baronial mansion, which is now a Relais de Charme in the vineyards, a driving force of wine tourism in the area. Strongly supported by Marina Cvec. Gianni Masciarelli line was born in 2014 as a dedication to his partner in life and professional challenges. Consisting of Montepulciano, Trebbiano, and Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo DOC, this line is produced with quality grapes from the vineyards of Loreto Apruno (Pescara), a particularly suitable area with excellent exposure and significant temperature difference.
(W) C.O.S. Zibibbo Pithos
(W) C.O.S. Rami IGP
(R) C.O.S. Frappato IGP
Three friends founded Azienda Agricola COS, in 1980: Giambattista Cilia, Cirino Strano and
Giusto Occhipinti. The acronym of their last names is where the name for the winery – COS –
comes from. In 1980, they were the youngest wine producers in Italy. They received an old
family winery from Giambattista Cilia’s father Giuseppe Cilia and the nearby vineyard of bush
trained vines, a total of 3.60.40 hectares in the famed town of Bastonaca. in October 5, 1980
they harvested their first vintage and made 1,470 bottles. COS began its adventure that
would one day lead to the transformation of Cerasuolo di Vittoria. The winery follows the
principles of biodynamic faming in order to help the vines find and maintain a balance with
nature in order to be able to express their true character and that of their terroir. For
vinification, they decided to use terracotta vases that left no traces or aromas on the wine but
were completely neutral vessels. In 2000, Pithos was born, a Cerasuolo di Vittoria that
ferments and ages in amphora.
(W) Ciello Cataratto
(R) Ciello Nero d`Avola
The dynamic Vesco family took over the Cantine Rallo winery 10 years ago and have since revolutionised the viticultural practices and invested heavily in cutting edge technology for the winery and bottling line. Their hundred hectares of organic vineyards are located high up in the hills above Alcamo. The wines are all planted on a south-east facing slopes on sandy soils 150 – 300m above sea level. The climate is clearly suited for producing the best quality grapes. The results of their excellent work are evident in the fragrant crisp Catarratto that they produce an outstanding value.
(W) Renosu Bianco
(R) Renosu Rosso
We are a family of sheepherders and farmers who have been making authentic, distinctive, terroir-expressive wine since the early 1900s. The wines were always sold in demijohns, until 1981, when Paolo began bottling a portion of the production. Tenute Dettori is located in the extreme north-west corner of Sardinia, in the Romangia del Logudoro area, the “golden place” between Sassari and Castelsardo, where we are meticulous stewards of the “Badde Nigolosu” cru. This historic hinterland is the classic home of the Cannonau grape, where it flourishes on the high hillslopes that form a natural theatre facing the Gulf of Asinara at only 4 kilometres from the sea.
(R) Pirineos Montesierra
(R) Pirineos Moristel
(Ro) Pirineos 3404
Bodegas Pirineos belongs to the Bodegas Barbadillo group. Authentic varieties of great oenological value such as macabeo, moristel or parraleta coexist perfectly with the foreign merlot, cabernet sauvignon or chardonnay in the vineyards of this winery. A miscegenation that brings its unique character to its wines. It comes from the emblemed vineyards of the Sierra de la Candelera at the foot of the Sierra de Guara.
(R) Celler Comunica, Vidal Mas
The non-conformist project in Montsant DO Tarragona Celler Comunica is the work of the mercurial viticulturists Pep Aguilar and Patri Morillo. Having worked as consultants in nearly every wine region on the Mediterranean coast, they’ve selected in an old farmhouse estate, known as Mas d’en Cosme, in the town of Falset on the border of Priorat and Montsant. The estate comprises seven hectares of old Garnacha and Carignan vines, and a lile chunk of Syrah, all planted on a soil of decomposed granic sands shot with myriad types of slate. Celler Comunica wines are almost the opposite of what’s become typical across the border in Priorat. Pep and Patri use no oak at all; they prize freshness and bright clean fruit over dry extract and high alcohol. The wines are immensely sluggable and thirst quenching and provide a fascinating insight a terroir that’s too often hidden behind alcohol and oak. Based in the town of Falset on the border of Priorat and Montsant, Celler Comunica comprises seven hectares of old Garnacha and Carignan vines, and a lile chunk of Syrah. Mercurial culturists Pep Aguilar and Patri Morillo produce wine that’s almost the opposite of what’s become typical across the border in Priorat. They use no oak at all, and prize freshness and bright clean fruit over dry extract and high alcohol.
(Spk) Pago de Tharsys, Brut Nature
A family Bodega with with 13 hectares. Founded 1999 by Vincente Garcia although the family had produced wine since 1808. Pago de Tharsys are widely recognized as one of the very top producers of Cava. In fact, owner Vicente Garcia, is considered “ The Godfather of Valencian Cava”.
(W) Pedro Olivares, Muscat d`Argila
This project in Murcia is coordinated by Pedro Olivares and aims to develop organic natural wines from vines between 50-104 years of age. Whilst all the vineyards are at high altitude, they have also planted the highest vineyard in Europe at 1700 metres above sea level. Work is founded on the principle of biodynamic agriculture, although Pedro has been taken this one step further, the project having been described as multi dynamic agriculture.
(W) Alta Alella, Vora la Mar
“Vora la Mar” is 100% Pansa Blanca grapes (A.K.A. Xarel.lo) sourced from a long-established organic estate, Alta Alella. The vineyard is located 2 km from the Mediterranean sea. Part of the wine is aged on its fine lees, with regular springs which gives it extra body and mouthfeel, and also a strong expression of the vintage and the ability of ageing. Full of floral and citrus aromas, with mineral notes and a slight saline touch that distinguishes it. Wonderfully fresh, precise and vibrant. “WINE IS SOCIAL”, Barcelona, Vora La Mar is a collaboration between Wine is Social, a group of young wine professional and Eric Narioo of Vino di Anna (Sicily). The idea is to make wine, from organic grape wine minimal intervention in the winery and offering them at fair price.
(W) Bodegas Angel Rodriquez, Martinsancho
Angel Rodriguez farms 25 hectares in Rueda in the Calla y Leon department of northwest Spain and is said to produce the best wines in the region. The estate has been in the family since 1794 and Angel is credited with the single-handed revival of the indigenous Verdejo grape which has been grown in the area since the 11th century but became almost extinct in the 1970’s. Martinsancho is a single-vineyard that was planted with Verdejo in 1976, the vines taken from a one-acre site of prephylloxera vines which has been cultivated since the 17th century. Today, the origins of most of the Verdejo vineyards in Rueda can be traced back to Martinsancho for his work Angel was recently honoured by King Juan Carlos of Spain.
(W) Terra Gaudas, Abadia de San Campio
Rias Baixas is the only exclusively white wine appellation in Spain and is located in the northwest region of Galicia. Because of its cool, oceanic climate, the Albarino grape from which most of the region’s whites are made, thrives to produce light and fresh wines. Founded in 1990 and situated in the O Rosal valley near the River Mino, Bodegas Terras Gauda is the leading producer in the region and is notable for owning 85% of its own vineyards, the remainder of the grapes are provided under strict quality control agreements with other local growers. Abadia de San Campio is 100% Albarino from high elevation vineyards in southern O Rosal and is aromac and intense.
(W) Jane Ventura, Vinyes Blanques
(R) Jane ventura, Vinyes Negres
Under the guidance of current owner Gerard Jané this excellent winery near the Catalonian coast between Barcelona and Tarragona has been making some excellent wines and have long been at the forefront of modern winemaking in the region. This, their delicious red blend is made from Syrah and Tempranillo grown on the richer soils of their inland vineyards while the other varieties are grown on sandy, coastal terrain. After fermentation the wine is aged in French oak for 8 months prior to bottling. The resulting wine is full of red berry and bramble aromas along with some spicy and dusty, herby notes. It’s rich and intense with flavours of black fruits, cassis, black pepper and vanilla. There’s a good layer of grippy tannins, firm structure and a long, fresh finish. A very well made wine.
(R) Finca Casa Balaguer, ‘Tragolargo’ Monastrel
At Casa Balaguer we are the third generation of vine growers. We continue the hard work started by our grandparents over 65 years ago. As the first generation to make bottled wine our philosophy is to produce high quality wines with as little human intervention in the winery as possible. In order to achieve this the work that takes place in our fields is fundamental. Everything is done to favour the best quality grapes produced under the strict principles of organic and biodynamic agriculture.
(R) Primeros Pasos
In every sense a garage winery based in the industrial town of Villena, inland Alicante. For the last 10 years this young dynamic team lead by winemakers Andres Carull and Marta Ribera have been championing local varieties with the focus on maximum expression and minimum intervention. Building from the ground up the winery has gone from strength to strength and is today one most highly regarded producers in D.O. Alicante.
(R) Vina Albergada, Caminante Tempranillo
A traditional, family run Bodega based in Lanciego, a quality wine village in Rioja Alaversa( the Basque area of the Rioja wine region). Blanca and Jesus Rodriguez farm over 50 hectares of vineyards, as well as fruit and nut trees. The region produces high quality Tempranillo with plenty of fruit which is perfect for making “Joven” or younger style wines with minimal use of oak. Albergada prefer to use their best fruit for these younger wines, unlike many Rioja wineries who use their youngest vines?lower quality fruit for the production of Joven.
(W) Tajinaste, Listan blanco Afrutado
Named for the beautiful flower that grows on Tenerife (which is also depicted on the labels), Tajinaste is run by the indefatigable Agustin García Farris. He works alongside his parents, Cecila (“Chilla”) and Agusn Snr., who are both seventy years old going on thirty. The bodega was started by Agustin’s grandfather. They own three hectares in the Valle de la Orotava, and their oldest vines were planted in 1914. Many are trained on the very traditional method of ‘cordon trenzado’ or “braided cordon” a method of training vines where their branches intertwine with each other creating a sprawling plant that grows on the ground. Historically vines were trained like that so that they could easily be moved and rearranged in order to allow other crops to be planted in the same plot. Having trained in Bordeaux, Agustin is a precise winemaker. He vinifies each parcel separately, which has allowed him to get to know the character of each vineyard so well that he can masterfully blend extremely consistent and beguiling wines year to year.
(W) Aphros Louriero
Born in Lisbon with an inclination for metaphysics, Vasco thought of being an astrologer in his teens, then decided to become an architect. In his twenties he discovered Steiner’s philosophy, and went on to study pedagogy and sculpture in England, where he also discovered an interest in woodworking and furniture design. On his return to Portugal, he led the Waldorf movement for many years alongside his own furniture design company. In his thirties he had a life changing encounter with a Buddhist monk, where a bole of wine was shared. This event, taken by Vasco as a personal meeting with Dionysus, led him in 2003 to start a wine project in Casal do Paço, a semi abandoned property belonging to his family since the 17th century.
(R) Casa de Cello, Quinta de Vegia, Solo Franco
To achieve its objectives, from the beginning it followed a very different path from what was usual for the production of Vinho Verde: refusing, for example, to introduce CO2 in wine, which was what at the me defined the style of Vinho Verde or the accept the concept defined for the sub-region of Amarante, without previously studying the behaviour of the varieties in its “terroir”. Thus, it has in production since 1996 the Terroir Mineral Green Wine, from the Loureiro and Avesso grape varieties, with a crystalline and deep profile, which allows it to evolve in the bowl and improve with age. Located in the Dão Region, next to the village of Penalva do Castelo, it currently has 20 hectares of vineyards. Its variety followed a careful choice of grape variees – Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz, Tinta Amarela, Alfrocheiro and Tinto Cão, Encruzado and Bical – in order to create Quinta da Vegia wines. On the Quinta de Vegia, Casa de Cello has always been concerned with environmental responsibility. Thus, for all cultural decisions, as well as for the protection of its vineyards, Casa de Cello practices “sustainable farming” in order to produce healthy and quality grapes, in order to fully guarantee the expression of its “terroirs” ”In the wines it produces. As an independent winegrower, at Casa de Cello you control every step of the process, from the vineyard to the commercialization of the wines: cultivate the vineyard, harvest, vinify, stage, age and bole the wines that you are proud to make known.
(W) Anna & Anna Andorfer, Handcrafted
Martin and Anna Arndorfer are open-minded, curious, and committed to nature: these qualities have established them as some of the most sensitive and forward-thinking of winemakers in northern Austria. Both Martin and Anna come from a long line of vignerons (Anna is from the Steininger family), and their travels before taking over Martin’s family winery were formative, introducing them to progressive ideas on farming and vinification. Their personal experiences and family backgrounds, paired with their strong and creative personalities, caused the duo to break sharply with Kamptal tradition when they returned home to forge their own path. Now, in a short span of years, Arndorfer is one of the brightest stars in the natural wine world and a reference point for the new generation of Austrian winemakers.
(W) Clos Henri, Petit Clos
Henri Bourgeois, now one of the most established winemakers in Sancerre, and his sons were inspired to explore outside of the borders of what has already been done before. After 12 years of research, they discovered the ideal land in Marlborough, New Zealand and as a result set up the Clos Henri Vineyard there.
Grapes are grown across three sites: Greywacke river stone, 85 metres above sea level and comprising of 80% river outwash gravel with a fertile top soil. Large stones absorb heat during the day and release it slowly during the night allowing the grapevines to stay warmer for longer. 120-150 meters above sea level this is the highest point of the vineyard. These soils have a thick and dense layer of loess from the Wairau plains which cover a layer of clay-bound Greywacke stone.
(W) Los Vinateros Bravos, Pipeno Blanco
Leonardo Erazo created “A Los Vinateros Bravos” winery in the heart of the Itata region (south of Chile). The vines of Itata thrive in a steep hills landscape without irrigation. Bush vines are very old in this region and finding 100 years old vines is common here. The volcanic and granic soil provide an extraordinary environment for root growth resulting in very healthy vineyards. Leonardo doesn’t interfere with the terroir to bring a strong sense of place into the bowl. Winemaking is simple, using only nave yeast and cement tanks for fermentation and ageing. Authentic wine, full of life, vibrancy, tension, and freshness.
(W) La Patagua. Vinos Inacayal
(R) La Cueva, Vinos Inacayal
(R) Metic, Carmenere
The Metic wines are made by a French/English/Spanish expat, who consults for many wineries in Chile and has his own business sourcing grapes from sustainable and in many cases organic vineyards. They make the wines with less manipulation than one would expect at this level. Metic was the term used in Ancient Greece for a foreigner living in Athens that contributed to the cultural and economic life but did not have the same rights as a true citizen. This wine was inspired by the famous song ‘Le Métèque’ by Georges Moustaki and led Luca to call this wine Metic.
(W) Estación Yumbel Tinaja Moscatel
(R) Estacion Yumbel Pipeño Secano
Mauricio arguably produces the most honest and authentic expression of Pipeño in a remote section of the already rural Biobío. While in recent years Pipeño has been cooped and used as a marketing tool to describe and sell a variety of different wines, it is at it’s essence a country Chile/ farmer wine made from 100% País that ferments and ages in pipas. Pipas are old vertical large barrels made from Raulí, the native beechwood that’s both dense and finely grained and takes many decades to mature.
(W) Villa Vejia, Viogner
Founded by Alberto Zuccardi in 1963 and located at Maipu in Argenna’s Mendoza Valley. Today the business is run by Alberto’s son, Jose-Alberto Zuccardi, who has transformed the estate into one of the leading producers in South America. Mendoza is defined as high desert (rainfall hardly ever exceeds 200mm.annum) so irrigation is vital and is provided when the snow caps of Andes mountains melt in springtime. This brings unique and piacular characterizes to the vineyards such as a wide temperature range, marked seasons, great luminosity and a lengthy period of maturation.
(W) Radford Dale, Vinum
(R) Radford Dale Thirst, Cinsault
Radford Dale was founded in 1998 when Ben Radford and Alex Dale first made wines together. We believe in combining innovation with a healthy respect for tradition. In other words, our approach is old plus new, and the best of both worlds. We specialise in the mountainous viticultural sub-regions of the Helderberg area in Stellenbosch, Elgin, and the Perderberg area in Swartland. This is a fancy way of saying that we work with grapes from all of these areas – the right grapes for the right wines (rather than growing all the fruit on our property). Radford Dale is a business. But it’s also much more than that. Our “business” is also a way of life, a team, a common ethic and a set of values. As much as we avoid competitions, medals, trophies and the craving for status that seems to drive many egos in our industry, we do want official recognition for other aspects of our daily interaction with the land, its people and the planet.
(Sw) Domaine Ancienne Cure Jour de Fruit Monbazillac
Christian Roche has an impressive family connection to Monbazillac. His grandfather was part of a group that bought Château du Monbazillac to form the local co-operative. In 1946 Christian’s parents purchased and began restoring the nearby ancient rectory and finally le the co-operative in 1968 to produce the first vintage of their own Domaine de l’Ancienne Cure. Christian now directs this estate just a few kilometres from Bergerac, producing a full range of dry-to-sweet red and white wines. Beyond his adoption of biodynamic viticulture principles, Roche demands careful hand-harvesting of the Botrysed affected grapes to ensure the consistent concentring and complexity of Domaine De L’Ancienne Cure. Monbazillac has a long history (known as early as the 14th century) and is one of the world’s great sweet wines. Christian Roche has emerged in the last five years as one of the best growers in this appellation. The vineyard on Monbazillac hill is positioned on limestone interbedded with molasses sands and marl and the special micro-climate of its position on the north-facing slopes is particularly conducive to those autumnal mists which harbour the microscopic fungoid growth called botrys cinerea.
(Sw) Clos du Gravillas, Douce Providence
Clos du Gravillas is based in the village of Saint-Jean de Minervois in the shadow of the Montagne Noir in the Minervois region of Languedoc-Roussillon. The 6-hectare estate is owned and run by American John Bojanowski and his wife Nicole who hails from Narbonne. They began in 1999 with just 1 hectare of ancient Carignan and Grenache Gris vines and over the past few years have acquired more land and planted more vines including Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Mourvedre. The estate is run strictly along organic lines and today produces some of the finest wines of the region. This 100% Muscadet de Saint Jean de Minervois is from vines grown at 300m above sea level. Yields are eye wateringly low and the resulting wine is aged in stainless steel tanks.
(Sw R) Domaine De Valcros, Banyuls Rimage
Clos des Paulilles is based in a small prey Mediterranean seaside village just north of the Franco-Spanish border. The vineyard was established in 1800 and acquired by Cazes in 2012. Collioure is considered to have some of the finest wines in the south of France, an unsurprising fact when you realise that its yields are some of the lowest in France. The soils are a schist, on very steep terraces and rolling hills, totalling 90 hectares. The estate works with biodynamic viticulture, aiming for natural balance through biodiversity and minimal intervention.
(Sw) Domaine Ogereau, Saint Lambert
Vincent and Catherine Ogereau are currently considered among the outstanding producers from the dynamic Anjou region of the Loire Valley. The 20-hectare estate has been in the family since 1890 and is situated on the banks of the Coteaux du Layon tributary of the River Loire, near the medieval city of Angers. Everything is organic at the farm and quality control is vigorous both in the field and cellar. This luscious and rich sweet is made from 100% botrysed Chenin. The estate was originally purchased by the Ogereau family in the 1890s, yet over me their emphasis has rarely changed, with the current winemakers maintaining a focus on the importance of grape quality. Apparently, Vincent Ogereau plays music to his wines whilst they are maturing in cask – the results are certainly worth it!
(Sw) Vittorio Bera & Figli
The Bera family farm is in Piedmont, in the Langhe area between Alba and As on the road from Barbaresco and Neive that climbs up towards Neviglie. Here, countryside life is ed to a tradition that knows no boundaries. The basic philosophy is always to maintain utmost respect to the tradition of the territory and to every manufacturing practice. With a great passion and a great desire to make high quality wines, all phases of the work are followed directly, from the cultivation and crushing of the grapes, to the boiling. It is because of this hard work and passion that the winery has received important national and international awards. The family produces Moscato for the producon of As and Moscato d’As, and Nebbiolo to make Barbaresco, Nebbiolo Langhe and the amazing Sassisto. But Valter and his two sons also look ahead. So while they continue to produce Dolceo and Barbera to stay true to their territorial wines, they also produce Chardonnay and Pinot Nero for their unique and intriguing Alta Langa Bera Brut metodo classico.
NV Dow`s Ruby
NV Dow`s Tawny
2016 Dow`s LBV
Andrew James Symington, a Scotsman, travelled to Oporto in 1882 at the age of 18 to work for the Grahams, another Scottish family long established in Portugal. Not long after, ‘AJS’ left to work on his own in the Port trade, where he gradually built up a reputation as an expert taster. In 1894 he conducted the famous Burnay Port sale on behalf of the Portuguese Government. By 1905 he had become a partner in Warre & Co, the first and oldest British Port company established in Portugal, and in a few years he became the company’s sole owner. Curiously, at this time the Warre family, who were the principal owners of Dow’s, had no remaining interest in the company that bore its name. In 1912, Dow’s senior partner, George A. Warre decided to return to England and invited AJS to manage the Douro Valley vineyards of Dow, its lodges and stocks in Gaia. In the same year, a share swap took place whereby AJS took a 30% stake in Dow’s and ‘GAW’ took, in return, shares in Warre & Co. The successful partnership between the Symingtons as Port producers in the Douro and Gaia and the Warre’s in London looking after sales, lasted for half a century until 1961 when the Symingtons finally became the sole owners of Dow’s.
Dow’s continues to make some of its Port by treading in stone ‘lagares’ (shallow treading tanks). The Upper Douro is one of the last places in the world where traditional treading has been maintained. This is not done to entertain visitors but quite simply because it continues to produce some of the best Ports. However, the old lagares require manpower, an increasingly scarce resource in the Upper Douro and temperature control is difficult. In order to address these problems, Dow’s winemaking team developed the world’s first purpose built automated treading machine.
Hildago, Pedro Ximénez
Emilio Hidalgo has some very famous soleras of PEDRO XIMENEZ; highlighting especially among these some foundational items dating from 1861 and that under the name of Santa Ana makes available to the public in limited quantity.
They are wines from very ripe grapes whose pressing is carried out after exposure to the sun for several days. In this way, musts with higher concentrations of sugars are obtained that, subjected to partial fermentation, result in a wine with a velvety texture; mahogany colour more or less dark.
Bodegas Cesar Florido, Fino
Bodegas Cesar Florido, Cruz del Mar Cream Bodegas Cesar Florido, Mascatel Dorado 1⁄2 Bottle
The legend of this distinguished family of winemaking tradition begins back in the eighteenth century and to date has been happening from father to children. It is the oldest winery in Chipiona, and without a doubt one of the oldest wineries in Jerez.
Currently, the César Florido winery is a craft company, located in Chipiona, that markets the internal market and exports in small batches the entire range of wines from the area such as Finos, Manzanillas, Cream, Olorosos, Amontillados and on all Muscat. We keep intact the elaboration system of our muscat that has been happening from generation to generation, making the quality of the product unbeatable in the most natural way possible.
All wines of exceptional quality and craftsmanship where we boast of pampering them “from the winery to the bar.”