False Bay Chenin Blanc
$21.99
after South Africa’s most iconic bay, which frames much of the country’s premium winelands, False Bay Vineyards was borne out of a desire to make ‘real’ wine affordable.
Back in 1994, long before founding Waterkloof (his biodynamic vineyard overlooking False Bay), Paul Boutinot came to the Western Cape to seek out and rescue grapes from old, balanced and under-appreciated vineyards. These treasures were otherwise destined to be lost in the large cooperative blends that were dominating South Africa’s wine industry back then.
Unusually for that time, Paul transformed those Cape gems into wines with a minimum of intervention: Wild yeast ferments, no acid additions…you know the drill. A familiar story to many ‘real wine’ lovers now, but back then he was swimming against the tide. Even today, making wine this way at the price level is almost unheard of.
Today the ingredients remain the same for Waterkloof’s Cellar Master Nadia Barnard: Fantastic coastal fruit, old vines and wild yeast abound, with additions avoided.
Armand Heitz Meursault
$169.99
Armand Heitz, the grandson of Armand Lochardet, obtained his oenologist diploma after his studies at the Changins engineering school in Switzerland and then took over the reins of the Domaine. In 2012, Armand began growing vines on a plot of Burgundy Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.After this experience, the estate decided to expand in order to offer a more diversified range of appellations: the adventure was launched! Armand Heitz continues his search for autonomy and circularity by embarking on livestock farming The contributions of cattle farming are very interesting in polyculture to nourish the soil and strengthen biodiversity. Animals give back to the Earth what it offers them in the form of manure. The meat and vegetables produced are offered on a short circuit to professionals and individuals.
El Enemigo Semillon
$40.99
Adrianna Catena is the youngest daughter of Nicolás Catena Zapata, the most famous name in Argentinean viticulture. She has lived and breathed wine since childhood. Today, Adrianna blends her experience in academia with her passion for viticulture and winemaking, dividing her time between El Enemigo Wines and Catena Zapata. She lives between London and Mendoza, and California (she is also an ER doctor at San Fransisco's busiest hospital). Alejandro Vigil has been Chief Winemaker of Bodega Catena Zapata since 2002, receiving the first 100-point score awarded to a South American wine by Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate (CZ River Stones 2016), and the highest rating ever given to a pure Cabernet Franc (Gran Enemigo Gualtallary 2013). He also holds the first 100-point score for an Argentine Chardonnay from James Suckling (CZ White Bones 2018). This is El Enemigo.
Orofino Clone 239 Riesling
$33.99
Owners John and Virginia Weber both grew up in Southern Saskatchewan. Virginia worked as a nurse and John taught High School. Life settled and things were good until they met the Similkameen Valley in 2001. The desire to try something new, their love of wine and the beauty of the Similkameen convinced them to purchase a vineyard and move from Saskatchewan to Cawston. They quickly fell in love with the area and its burgeoning wine industry. Today they have 19 years of experience making wine in the region and produce some of the valley's best.
Swartland Bush Vine Chenin Blanc
$34.99
Swartland Winery is situated about 70km north of Cape Town and 3km outside the town of Malmesbury on the road to Paarl.
In the heart of the Swartland, and the winery harvests its grapes from wine farms spread out on the hills around Malmesbury.
The vineyards benefit from the constant cool breezes that blow off the Atlantic Ocean, effectively sustaining the many microclimates, while the proximity to mountain ranges adds its own dimension to the physical character of the grapes.
Olivier Riviere Mirando Rioja Blanc
$124.99
Cognac-born consultant winemaker and viticulturist Olivier Rivière was lured to Spain in 2004 by Telmo Rodriguez to convert his vineyards to biodynamics. He ended up falling in love with the traditions and grapes of the country, and now farms 25 hectares of owned and contracted vineyards in Rioja Alta, Rioja Baja, Rioja Alavesa, and the up-and-coming DO of Arlanza. He served as a winemaker at Domaine Leroy in Burgundy and his wines show great elegance and power
Mirando al Sur comes from his own vineyards cultivated using organic principles in the village of Labastida. These are old vines aged over 50 years old and planted in gravel and pebble soils at more than 500 metres above sea level.
D.B. Schmidt Riesling
$33.99
Bianka and Daniel Schmidt took over the Weingut Schmitt in 2012 as the fourth generation to lead the winery. They are based in Wonnegau in the south Rheinhessen, centered in Flörsheim-Dalsheim. All of the vineyards are in Flörsheim-Dalsheim and neighbour villages Monsheim and Kriegsheim. Bianka and Daniel have been working their 16 hectares biodynamically for over a decade and are one of only 80 producers in Germany to be Demeter certified. They work with amphorae as well as used oak barrels and release a ‘Natur’ line that contains no added sulphur.
Veronica Ortega La Llorona
$63.99
Veronica Ortega is a dynamic youg winemaker producing excellent red and white wines in Galacia. She was was raised in Cádiz, Andalusia. After finishing her studies, se traveled all around the world and made wine for some of the greatest names on the wine planet. She is a proud pupil of Raúl Pérez, who passed to her his love of the Mencía grape. Since 2012, she has been running her own, very small estate, also in Valtuille de Ab
French Door Sauvignon Blanc
$58.99
French Door Estate Winery is a family-owned and operated winery and vineyard. Founded in 2019, we are located on the beautiful Black Sage Bench, South of the town of Oliver.
This winery was established with a passion for quality wine. The 10-acre property is planted with 100% vinifera vines on beautiful, expressive soils that have resulted in rich, lush, and character-driven wines. The goal of the winery is to create honest, low-intervention wine, from sustainably grown grapes, in a classic old-world French style. All of their wines are produced in their barrel room, which is where you can find three Tonneau French oak vats and French oak barrels. The barrel room as well at the tasting room, have been designed to resemble the look and feel of a French farmhouse.