In Luján de Cuyo, the land echoes with the legacy of generations of vintners. Beyond Shadows emerged as a heartfelt homage to this storied past, artfully merging time-honored traditions with a spirit of renewal to create an authentically expressive Malbec.

Tasting Note

Deep, youthful colour and lifted aromas of ripe blackberries, plum and a touch of violet. The palate is smooth and generous, with juicy dark fruit wrapped in supple tannins. Subtle French oak adds gentle spice and warmth without overshadowing the fruit. Fresh acidity keeps everything lively, leading to a rounded, satisfying finish that balances richness with drinkability.

Producer

Doña Paula is a dynamic producer based in the heart of Mendoza. They acquired their first vineyard in 1997 in Ugarteche, Luján de Cuyo. This is prime Malbec country and Doña Paula set their sights on terroir expression from the outset. They have subsquently added a further 3 estates in different areas of the Uco Valley, setting themselves up for longevity and consistency. Each vineyard is situated at altitude, ranging between 950 and 1350m, with great attention paid to their specific terroir and creating wines true to their place of origin.

Production

Specifications

A vibrant and expressive Vermentino from Sicily's west coast, where many of the vineyards face the sea to benefit from light reflected from the waves. It's named after the delicate white flower of the lemon tree.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Ripe stone fruit aromas with preserved lemon characters and floral notes. 

Palate

The palate has apricot, citrus peel and grapefruit pith, an appealing texture and minerality, fresh acidity and a gently savoury finish.

Production

Vermentino thrives near the sea, such as on Sicily's west coast where these grapes are cultivated - also the source of some of the island's best Grillo. Fermentation is in temperature controlled stainless steel tanks followed by a short period on fine lees.

Producer

Established in 2003, Adria Vini is a winemaking venture jointly owned by Boutinot and Araldica Castelvero, the leading co-operative in the Monferrato hills of Piemonte. Our aim is to produce authentic, well-priced still and sparkling wines from local grape varieties. All aspects of production, from grape selection through to vinification, maturation, blending and bottling are meticulously overseen by Araldica's winemaking team of Claudio Manera and Lella Burdese - assisted by Boutinot's Tony Brown MW. We source from a range of private growers and cooperatives, with whom we have long term relationships, principally in Veneto, Friuli, Lombardy, Sicily, Puglia, Abruzzo and Sardinia.

Alan's Personal Tasting Note

"More expressive and attractive than I was expecting from a wee cheapie. Lovely citric and peach fruits - a wee touch of creaminess and a slight salinity on the finish.  Dry, medium bodied and very attractive for the price!"

"What 3 wine words? Dry, fruity, attractive"  September 2024

Specifications.

Indulgence with a wink ripe fruit, silky texture, effortless pleasure.

Tasting Notes

Medium bodied red with flavours of red berries, cherries and some hints of vanilla. The 
palate is smooth and fresh.

Vinification

Grapes are picked by hand in early morning and de-stemmed. nly free run juice is used. 
Juice is clarified by flotation and clean juice used for the fermentation. Selected yeast 
are used for a cold fermentation in stainless steel tank for 18 days. Wine is left on the 
lees for 3 months before racking. Stabilization and filtration before bottling.

Producer

Perdeberg Group is one of South Africas leading wine producers and exporters with its head office situated in the shadows of the Paardeberg Mountain in Paarl. Established in 1941, we offer customers a complete solution to meet the ever-changing needs of 
their consumers. The unique composition of our vineyards significantly contributes to the quality of our wines. These dry land bush vines create exceptional fruit concentration more than vines subjected to unnatural vineyard practices. The structure and complexity in these smaller berries bring intense colour, added body and bold flavours.

Alan's Personal Tasting Note

"This is the 2nd of the saltwind range that I’ve tasted, the 2025 Merlot, and it’s stunning! Medium, not FULL bodied, with very attractive damson & blackberry fruit, and the tiniest hint of spice in the back palate. But, like the Chenin, it’s the purity and freshness of fruit that is most amazing to me. You don’t generally get that freshness from South African fruit, it’s usually a lot fuller, jammy and richer than this fresh, smooth mouthful. Not a blockbuster, just an incredibly delicate, fruity wine that , in my opinion, must have been made by one of the new breed of SA female winemakers. A man couldn’t get this delicacy, beauty and softness from SA grapes, and a million miles away from the big, punchy styles of SA red we’ve seen over the last 20 years."  JUNE 2026

Specifications

A Romanian ray of light: crisp, juicy, Umbrele Chardonnay.

Tasting Notes

A wonderfully fresh and fruity Chardonnay with amazing fruit and power. Ripe and thick, with lots of mango and toasted oak--a Chardonnay showing all the attributes. There's a chewy buttery, intensely tropical side to this full-bodied wine.

Producer

Back in 1988, three families decided to invest in a winery in Romania, starting with 650 hectares of slightly unloved vineyards and a rusty, once state-owned winery.

Yet Englishman Philip Cox and his Romanian wife Elvira, have turned the Cramele Recas Estate into the most successful winery in Romania. Recas are now recognised globally for their impressive scale and breadth of fascinating wines, including natural and orange wine from organic grapes. Despite the scale the emphasis is on making good wines that over-deliver, and as a result they’ve struck on a magic formula that has seen sales and demand boom. Vineyards are a combination of evolved plantings from 1447 and more recent planting, whilst the winery has seen significant investment and boasts state of the art facilities where innovation thrives. Recas are in every way a modern, dynamic winery, whose open minded approach and quality sets them apart … a winery you really can’t ignore.

Production

Grown on a variety of soils, from cracking clays to limestone rich loams. All vineyards are non-irrigated. Trained to vertical shoot positioned trellis with 2 to 4 canes per vine with replacement spurs. Inter vine soil management by cultivation. Yields from 5 to 15 tonnes per hectare. 90% mechanical harvested.

Grapes are night harvested to arrive cool at the winery. Destemmed, lightly crushed and then chilled to 5° C and transferred to stainless steel temperature controlled maceration tanks, for 24 hours. Following this the grapes were lightly pressed, and the juice was fully decanted at low temperatures until completely clear before being inoculated with selected yeast, and fermented for 3 weeks at 15° C. Half of the wine was then aged for 3 months in oak with lees stirring to generate depth and complexity before being blended with the unoaked portion and prepared for bottling.

Alan's Personal Tasting Note

"This is delish. Made by an Englishman in under invested Romania it’s got lovely, fresh, mango n apricot/peach fruits, balanced by a delicious fresh acidity. Great length and balance and although 50% of the blend is matured in barrel the oak in no way overpowers the fruit, it’s just in perfect balance with it. Long, beautiful & moreish, this will be a sure fire winner." MAY 2026

Specifications

Classically bright and vibrant Marlborough Sauvignon.

Tasting Notes 

Perfumed with nettle & ripe tropical fruits which are also evident on the palate along with limey flavours and a rich minerality - classic Marlborough Sauvignon. The wine is sappy fresh, clean and delicious.

Production

Judiciously sourced from 3 vineyard sites between the Waihopai, Wairau and Awatere Valleys. Fruit for this wine comes from vineyards throughout Marlborough’s Wairau Valley. From the coastal vineyard of Rarangi (coastal pea gravels, sand and silts, cooler coastal site) up through the central (old river bed gravels with think fertile top soil) and southern valley vineyards (clay loams over silts and gravels, warm sheltered site ) to the Rapaura area vineyards (stoney river bed soils).

The vines are grown on the VSP trellis system to give optimal cropping to gain maximum flavour during the growing season. Grapes are picked and immediately pressed to tanks for clarification. The fruit was gently pressed, cold settled, racked and cool fermented with selected yeast strains to enhance the unique aromatics & flavours. Each individual parcel was then racked, before being blended together to create this generous full-textured style. The wine was then filtered, and bottled to retain & capture the remarkable freshness of Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc.

Producer

Boutinot's New Zealand wines are sourced from vineyards in each sub-regions of Marlborough - the Awatere, Waihopai and Wairau Valleys, as well as the breezier region of Waipara. These valleys have their own micro-climates and terroir which give a unique personality to the vineyards, grapes and finished wines.

Samantha Bailey brings her blending expertise and experienced palate to the fore in expressing the loveliest Boutinot wines from The Land of the Long White Cloud.

Awards

• 2016 Vintage - Bronze - Decanter World Wine Awards 2017

Alan's Personal Tasting Notes

"The flavours were very warm and ripe – taking any harsh edge off the acidity – and also giving a lovely, creamy mouthfeel. It is fairly weighty with good body rather different from the last vintage (2021) which was a lot leaner and more mineral/steely in style. As an everyday style, this hits all the right notes!" July 2023

Abruzzo’s Adriatic coast is famous for its incredible seafood, perfectly complemented by the local Pecorino wine.

Tasting Notes

Appealing aromas of stone fruit with citrus and grapefruit notes. The palate is crisp and zesty with layers of fresh peachy, tropical fruit characters. Lively and approachable, with texture and minerality giving depth, and backed by vibrant acidity.

Production

The Pecorino grapes are sourced from the district of Caparrone, in the hills west of Pescara. Fermented in stainless steel and aged for 2 months on lees.

Producers

Rocco Pasetti's superbly sited, 50 hectare, estate lies in the heart of the Collecorvino district in the hills northwest of Pescara, recognised as one of the best vineyard zones in Abruzzo.

Surrounding the winery, the south-facing slopes of clay-chalk soils, at around 250m altitude, are ideal for the cultivation of Montepulciano, with Pecorino grown on the lower slopes. The cellar was completed in 2004 - carved into the hillside. Rocco's son, Franco Pasetti, is also a winemaker and now works alongside him at the estate.

The Contesa wines are impeccably-made expressions of Abruzzo's local grapes - modern and easy to drink, yet wines of real substance.

Sustainability

Contesa is certified by VIVA, a Sustainability programme promoted by the Italian Ministry of Environment. This uses four key indicators - Air, Water, Vineyard and Territory - to assess environmental and social impact based on life cycle assessment standards and ISO-compliant methodologies (eg. ISO 14067 for carbon footprint). This has been in place at Contesa since 2025 (prior to that Contesa was certified Sustainable according to SQNPI). The winery is also in conversion to Organic - with all wines certified Organic from the 2025 vintage.

Specifications

A vibrant red blend of Mendoza's favourite red varieties, the label is equally animated, depicting Mendozancontempoary and classic culture.

Tasting Notes

With lifted aromatics and a bright, brambly palate this is a really appealling expression of a classic Mendozan blend. Bonarda is dark and juicy, freshened by the gently tart Cab with the aromatic lift of Malbec all making for a deliciously vibrant wine.

Production

This wine marries the best of Mendoza’s widely planted cultivars. Grapes such as Bonarda, Cabernet and Malbec have long been favored in the Barrancas region and have been well suited to the warm dry climate. Whilst Malbec stole the limelight, lots of these vineyards have become older and produce excellent fruit. These grapes are co fermented in stainless steel and then spend time in concrete where it’s tannin and acidity softens before the wines’ release.

Producers

Boutinot has been working with growers in Argentina for over 15 years, constantly sourcing the best value from vintage to vintage. Winemaker Eric Monnin has been working tirelessly over the last few years to secure the best long term contracts for these important wines sourced from specific old vine estates in Mendoza. Recent vintages have really started to show the results of this long-term vision with regards to quality and value.

Specifications

Tasting Notes 

Approachable, unoaked, young Rioja

Nose

On the nose, a young Rioja with lifted red berry fruit and hints of spice.

Palate

Bright red fruit with smooth tannins and a fresh finish

Production

The Tempranillo grapes are harvested in early October from vineyards in Rioja Alta. Vines on average 10-20 years old and the wine is unoaked.

Producer

Spanish wine has always played an important part in the Boutinot portfolio. We represent over 50 wineries that provide wines of great quality, value and interest from all corners of the country. For over 15 years we’ve worked in partnership with a handful of these wineries on ‘own label’ projects, combining their expertise and our passion for Spanish wines to bring our customers honest and eminently drinkable wines which we believe offer good value for money. 

Specifications

The inaugural Prosecco Rosé - Fontessa has an appealing balance of delicate berry fruit, bright acidity and a refreshing mousse.

Tasting Notes

A fresh and delicately fruity Prosecco Rosé with red berry and floral aromas. Lively on the palate with ripe strawberry and raspberry notes and a clean, refreshing finish.

Production

From selected parcels of Glera grapes grown northeast of Treviso, and with the addition on 10% Pinot Noir, also from the DOC region, to give colour and flavour. Hand-harvested at optimum ripeness to give the required balance between aromatics and good acidity. Gentle pneumatic pressing followed by slow, cool fermentation in stainless steel. Second fermentation takes place in pressure tanks, where the wine spends 2 months on lees.

Specifications

A fresh take on Malbec, from the reaches of the Pyrenees in the Languedoc, rather than the Andes of Argentina.

Tasting Notes 

Bright blueberry fruit that develops to reveal an intriguing bitter-sweet character of blackcurrant leaf. Fine red fruits fill the palate; with raspberries and a touch of dark chocolate on the finish. 

Production

Malbec has a long history in the Languedoc and has traditionally been used in blends. We have decided not to blend, but to offer this Malbec as a stand-alone, a wine to appreciate for its difference. One of the great advantages of the region is the ideal climatic conditions: long hot days followed by cool nights allow for longer, slower ripening of the grapes. Thereby providing lots of ripeness and soft tannins, but with necessary acidity. Here it has been allowed to shine, fermented on its own in stainless steel for maximum red and black fruit flavours.

Specifications

Tasting Notes

A juicy, fruity organic red from Utiel-Requena, showcasing the region's increasingly fashionable, indigenous, Bobal variety.

Nose

Vibrant aromas of blueberry and blackberry

Palate

The palate has juicy plum and spice notes wrapped in supple tannins, offering a smooth, harmonious finish.

Producer

The 67 hectare Finca Fuenteseca estate lies in Utiel Requena, a high, rugged plateau, nearly 1,000 meters above sea level just inland from Valencia. The combination of hot, dry summers, cold nights and poor, limestone soil make the area relatively free of vine diseases and so ideal for organic farming. The entire estate is now dedicated to organic production and producing blends combining indigenous and international varieties.

Production Method

Vineyards are located in the north-west corner of Utiel Requena, 900 meters above sea level. Wines are made from organically grown grapes in vineyards cultivated using natural fertilisers, cover crops, biological control of pests and not using any chemical products that may damage the health of the environment. Grapes are cooled and undergo pre ferment whole bunch maceration before temperature-controlled tank fermentation.

A Note on Sustainability

Along with all its wines being certified organic and vegan, Sierra Norte is keenly involved in projects run by its D.O. that benefit local people and which defend the products of its region. In a wider environmental sense, Sierra Norte is developing a wastewater project by installing a treatment system plant to reuse water, as well as being involved in a photovoltaic solar panel installation project.

Specifications

Tasting Notes

Sumptuous organic Malbec!

Colour 

Deep ruby-red in colour

Nose

Vibrant aromas of redcurrant and blackberries, elegantly combined with mild notes of white pepper.

Palate

Medium-bodied on the palate with silky ripe tannins and a long, broad finish. An elegant wine that is easy to drink.

Production

The Rapel Valley lies with the Pacific Ocean to the West, to the east the Andes Mountains, and to the south the province of Colchagua. The climatic characteristics of this valley include frost-free springs and warm summers that allow the grapes to ripen well. Riverbed associated soils, deep alluvial clay loam. Clay provides water retention, which contributes to good grape ripening. 20% in French oak barrels for 6 months.

Producers

Voted by Wines of Chile as "Winery of the Year 2016", Emiliana is one of Chile's most exciting producers and pioneers in organic and biodynamic winemaking. Since 1998, this Chilean winery has been producing award-winning wines from almost 1,000 hectares of vineyards in prime sites including Casablanca, Maipo, Cachapoal, Colchagua and Bio Bio.

Its spectacular biodynamic vineyard and winery at Los Robles is a model that attracts visiting viticulturalists and winemakers from across the world. Emiliana's innovative and natural-leaning wines are made with great care and attention and the results are inspiring.

Sustainable

Emiliana began its conversion to organic production in 1998, and today 100% of its properties are organically managed. It is the world’s largest organic winery. It holds organic certifications in accordance with the standards of the United States, Canada (NOP), Brazil, Chile, Japan, South Korea, China, and Europe. In 2006, Emiliana was the first winery in Latin America to produce a wine with biodynamic certification. Since then, the use of biodynamic practices at its farms and cellars has been accredited and today 100% of its properties are certified. Emiliana received its Fairtrade and Fair For Life certifications in 2011 and 2017 and has been selling fair trade wines since 2012.

Emiliana was a pioneer in the implementation of the Wine of Chile Sustainability Code certification in 2012. This standard was developed for the Chilean wine sector to support the implementation of sustainable practices at a national level, as well as social and environmental responsibility at Emiliana.

Emiliana is certified to use the Vegan Society trademark, which attests that its wines are produced without any animal-derived products.

Emiliana also produces an annual sustainability report.

Awards

• Bronze - Sommelier Wine Awards 2017 (2016 vintage)

Specifications

The perfectly chilled fresh, crisp aperitif!

Tasting Notes

Specifications

Determined to craft the finest Côtes du Rhône Rosé, based on varieties naturally suited to this style: Grenache Noir for its body, Cinsault for its freshness, and a hint of spice from a touch of Syrah.

Tasting Notes

An elegant, truly gastronomic rosé from our home in the Rhône. A classic salmon pink rosé with delicate perfumed aromas of rosehip syrup, wild berry blossoms and cherries on the nose. Full flavoured, ripe and beautifully balanced with acidity, there’s elegant, textured, berry fruit on the palate with a twist of raspberry freshness to lift the finish. Deliciously balanced and moreish.

Producer

Boutinot’s love affair with the Southern Rhône spans thirty years of making wine in the region. In 2010, the relationship was sealed with the purchase of a winery and vineyards above the village of Cairanne. Domaine Boutinot’s seven vineyards are planted with classic southern Rhône grape varieties – old vine Grenache Noir and Syrah, Mourvèdre and Carignan Noir – and they all sit within the Cairanne Cru boundaries, sanctioned in 2016 when Cairanne was granted its own appellation status.

Working with our vigneron neighbours we are helping to revive traditional grape varieties such as Cinsault and Counoise, and in the cellar we prefer time-honoured winemaking methods such as a long cuvasion aided only by natural yeasts, gentle remontage, manual pigeage and patient maturation in a nursery of French oak barrels.

Production

Our hunt for specific plots that would deliver the best grapes with the right balance and flavour profile led us to the south of the Côtes du Rhône where we found ripeness and aroma to balance the freshness found in plots from northern villages of the Southern Rhône valley. As with previous vintages, Les Cerisiers is again made in the same way as the best rosés of Provence, uses the ‘rosé de presse’ method as soon as the grapes are picked. This very gentle pressing extracts as much aroma and flavour as possible with the least amount of tannins. The wine is both pressed and vinified at cool temperatures (of no more than 16Intent ) in stainless steel vats to preserve these delicate aroma, flavours and colour.

Sustainability

In July 2021 Domaine Boutinot Rhône achieved the Haute Valeur Environnementale (HVE 3) certification This certification recognises a high level of commitment to protecting and enriching the environment with the focus on biodiversity conservation, plant protection strategy, management of fertiliser use and management of water.

Specifications

Specifications

a

A well-balanced expression of French Viognier.

Tasting Notes

Honeysuckle on the nose; richly textured and nicely balanced with flavours of apricots and a satisfying delicate bitterness on the finish.

Production

Domaine de Vedilhan (pronounced 'Domaine de Ved-ee-ohn') is the estate of the Fayet family, based in the village of Moussan close to Narbonne. Uniquely, a brook runs around the estate which provides much-needed water in this very hot climate, giving the wines their freshness and appeal. Vines are managed using the 'lutte raisonnée' method and terroir is a combination of limestone, sand and sea shale, meaning the vines dig deep for their nutrients and thus produce excellent quality grapes. 50% of the production from this Domaine is used for Boutinot wines. Since 1999, our winemakers have been working closely with the Fayet’s on all aspects of the production, from when to harvest to the exact blend or style of wines. The Viognier was picked early and carefully selected and handled in the winery to maintain its acidity and fresh aromatics, and was vinified without oak.

Producer

Like all good stories, that of Boutinot France is both long and a little bit complicated! Boutinot began as a tiny importer in 1980, specialising in French wines. Paul Boutinot himself began by personally selecting the wines from France, back in the UK he would unload the trailer by hand. And deliver the crates of wines to customers himself. But good things grow and by the end of the decade we had become a bigger and better company. A company that not only sought out great wines but made them too. After 10 years later, Boutinot France started in January 1990. The first office was in the middle of the vines in Julienas; perfectly located to navigate the Beaujolais and Macon regions on the quest to make beautiful wines.

Samantha Bailey, who started as a wine enthusiast, was there at the beginning of this adventure. Since then, she has grown into our Master Blender and has key responsibilities: building long-standing relationships, tasting, understanding the terroir and appellations, and pushing the boundaries. She is at the heart of the whole process from blending to quality assessment, making sure there is always a Boutinot touch in every cuvée. We are proud to also count Guillaume Letang and Julien Dugas in our winemaking team. Guillaume oversees the South of France and Languedoc, whilst Julien looks after our property in Cairanne. Together they have the local knowledge to select and blend the very best wines from throughout. Eric Monnin oversees every aspect of production and makes sure everything our winemakers blend and source is top quality.

Alan's Tasting Notes

'This is a gem! A classically French Viognier, with delicious fresh apricot fruit.  Beautifully balanced with great texture.  Perfect for a summer's evening in the garden, astounding value for a real quality dry, white style.  Perfect on its own but will match really well with both Chicken and Pork.  Really love it!' June 2023

Specifications

A hugely popular Prosecco.

Tasting Notes

Fresh and gently fruity fizz from northeast Italy (Veneto) with citrus and green apple aromas. Delicate and lively on the palate with ripe, lightly grapey fruit, zesty acidity and a clean, refreshing finish.

Production Method

From selected parcels of Glera grapes grown northeast of Treviso. Hand harvested at optimum ripeness to give the required balance between aromatics and good acidity. Gentle pneumatic pressing followed by slow, cool fermentation in stainless steel. Second fermentation in pressure tanks, lasting 4 weeks.

Producer

Established in 2003, Adria Vini is a winemaking venture jointly owned by Boutinot and Araldica Castelvero, the leading co-operative in the Monferrato hills of Piemonte. The aim is to produce authentic, well-priced still and sparkling wines from local grape varieties. All aspects of production, from grape selection through to vinification, maturation, blending and bottling are meticulously overseen by Araldica's winemaking team of Claudio Manera and Lella Burdese - assisted by Boutinot's Tony Brown MW. They source from a range of private growers and cooperatives, with whom they have long-term relationships, principally in Veneto, Friuli, Lombardy, Sicily, Puglia, Abruzzo and Sardinia.

Specifications

Specifications

Nerello Mascalese is widely considered Sicily's premier red grape variety, contributing to many of its most acclaimed wines, especially those from Etna. It serves as an excellent introduction to the varietal, offering a lively, youthful red brimming with cherry flavors, presented in a juicier, more approachable style than the typically more structured Sicilian reds.

Tasting Notes

Bright aromas of redcurrants and cherry. The palate is soft and juicy with ripe plum, red berry and cherry flavours, gentle tannins, and fresh acidity on the finish.

Production

The Nerello Mascalese was sourced from a long-standing partner of Adria Vini in western Sicily and was vinified in stainless steel.

Producer

Established in 2003, Adria Vini is a winemaking venture jointly owned by Boutinot and Araldica Castelvero, the leading co-operative in the Monferrato hills of Piemonte. Our aim is to produce authentic, well-priced still and sparkling wines from local grape varieties. All aspects of production, from grape selection through to vinification, maturation, blending and bottling are meticulously overseen by Araldica's winemaking team of Claudio Manera and Lella Burdese - assisted by Boutinot's Tony Brown MW. We source from a range of private growers and cooperatives, with whom we have long term relationships, principally in Veneto, Friuli, Lombardy, Sicily, Puglia, Abruzzo and Sardinia.

Specifications

Only 7 miles along the road from Châteauneuf-du-Pape but not as well known globally so represents much better value!

Tasting Notes 

Tasting Notes

Production

The Nero d'Avola grapes are sourced from the area around Salemi (Province of Trapani) in the north-west tip of Sicily. The vines are Guyot-trained, and grown at around 250m altitude on a combination of soil types. The vineyards were converted to organic viticulture in 2007. The grapes are macerated on the skins for 8-12 days, then racked and allowed to complete malolactic fermentation.

Producer

Established in 2003, Adria Vini is a winemaking venture jointly owned by Boutinot and Araldica Castelvero, the leading co-operative in the Monferrato hills of Piemonte. Our aim is to produce authentic, well-priced still and sparkling wines from local grape varieties. All aspects of production, from grape selection through to vinification, maturation, blending and bottling are meticulously overseen by Araldica's winemaking team of Claudio Manera and Lella Burdese - assisted by Boutinot's Tony Brown MW. We source from a range of private growers and cooperatives, with whom we have long-term relationships, principally in Veneto, Friuli, Lombardy, Sicily, Puglia, Abruzzo and Sardinia.

Alan's Personal Tasting Note

"This wee beaut is destined to become one of our best sellers (cellars!) medium bodied with lots of juicy black fruits and a real easy drinking smoothness - absolutely no rough edges - a real crowd pleaser at a crowd-pleasing price. Watch this fly!" January 2024

Specifications

This label celebrates Chile’s farthest-flung outpost, Motu Nui, the tiny islet (or motu) just off the coast of Easter Island.

Adrift in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, and rich in Polynesian mythology, Motu Nui was the essential location for Easter Island’s legendary bird-man cult Tangata manu. Representatives from each island clan would wait for the visiting sooty terns to lay their first egg on Motu Nui, then swim across the shark-infested bay bearing that egg and climb the mainland cliffs of the Orongo volcano to claim rights of power and privilege for their clan for the following year. Many of the protagonists were devoured by sharks or fell to their deaths in this visceral trial of courage. These rituals have long since passed but their history is imprinted in the island’s history and archaeology. Today the sooty tern, depicted on our label, is protected and thrives peacefully on the island’s shore.

Tasting Notes 

The wine is sourced from grapes equally shaped by the Pacific Ocean that grow in the Aconcagua region’s coastal Leyda Valley, grapes that achieve a pungency and aromatic profile redolent of New Zealand’s Marlborough region on the other side of the Pacific Rim. Bright, aromatic and crisply textural. The Myth of Motu Nui is a delightfully aromatic Sauvignon Blanc as rich as the myths that inspire the name.

Production

The Sauvignon Blanc grapes are grown in three excellent sites across the Leyda and San Antonio D.O. The proximity of the vineyards to the Pacific Ocean (only 10km’s away) and its fresh coastal breezes ensures grapes ripen slowly. This allows the grapes to retain their natural citrus flavours and freshness but also to develop great aromatics. Sauvignon Blanc grapes in Leyda are some of the first to be harvested in Chile, and winemaking is simple to preserve this crunchy, bright fruit. Cool fermentation in stainless steel is followed by a couple of months on their fine lees which adds texture and depth. We bottle early to retain the primary characteristics, flavours and freshness of this enchanting fruit.

Producer

Our winemaking team has been building relationships across Chile over the past two decades, sourcing fruit and wine from across the Central Valleys. We work with a number of small family growers who pay particular attention to quality and ensure that our winemaking team has the best possible fruit to work with. Freshness and purity are the preferred hallmarks of Boutinot's Chilean wines.

Each vintage Boutinot winemaker Guillaume Letang travels the vineyards of our grower partners, blending that year's truest expression's of Chile's unique terroirs.

Specifications

 Crisp & zesty style, light & fresh with hints of rich, tropical fruit, plenty of body, some richness and some complexity. There's an awful lot to like here and it's pretty addictive!

Grillo grapes are grown in the top white grape producing area around Marsala.

Tasting Notes

Colour

Nose

Palate

Specifications

Garganega is the queen of white Veronese grape varieties, typical of Soave.

100% Garganega grapes, 20-30 year old vines from volcanic soil vineyards. Fermented in steel vats without skin contact. The same variety is used in the famous wines of nearby Soave.

Tasting Notes

Colour

Straw-yellow with greenish reflections.

Nose

Delicate floral and white peach aroma. 

Palate

Medium-bodied, fresh, dry palate. Stone fruits, peach/nectarine in abundance, typical bitter almond note with good acidity to finish. Unoaked.

Winery

The Cantina di Negrar brand is the soul of Cantina Valpolicella Negrar and pays homage to the philosophy of cooperative production while also recalling the territory’s historical vestiges: the effigy of St. Mark’s Lion standing tall on a column in the centre of Negrar is testimony of the Venetian Republic’s domination in the sixteenth century.

The Cantina di Negrar wines are rooted in the wine-making tradition of Valpolicella and the Veronese wine-growing areas, with a modern reinterpretation to guarantee the best price/quality ratio.

Label

The catchy and interesting label depicts Ulysses’ 10-year journey home from Troye to Ithaca. Every facet of his journey captivates the sense of discovery, self-discovery, and world discovery Ulysses experiences in those enchanted 10 years.

Specifications

A super fresh and zingy wine bursting with lively citrus acidity, notes of tropical fruits and a hint of minerality, which gives the wine a lovely balance.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Fresh citrus nose, vibrantly aromatic with lemon zest and tropical fruits.

Palate

The palate is bright with incisive citrus and stone fruit characters balanced by taut acidity - giving an appealing texture and clean, crisp finish. 

Production

PEMO Pecorino is normally fermented stored in stainless steel, which heightens the fruity palate of the wine. However, PEMO Pecorino spends four months ageing on its lees. This gives another element to the wine, making it more complex. Complexity in a wine is important, and is a sign of good quality.

Producers

The PEMO range of wines celebrates two grapes from Abruzzo – Pecorino (PE) and Montepulciano (MO). These two grapes have been growing in this region since 200 AD. The Pecorino grapes come from Chieti, the capital of the Abruzzo region and one of Italy’s most ancient cities.

• Pecorino is a native Italian grape variety from Abruzzo (not to be confused with cheese!)
• Eat seafood and white fish with PEMO Pecorino.
• Made in a modern way, while respecting local wine-making traditions.
• Originates from the rugged, mountainous Abruzzo region of central Italy.

Specifications

Tasting Notes

Unoaked, sunkissed Chardonnay made from organically grown grapes.

Colour 

A clear, bright pale yellow incolour.

Nose

Refreshing citrus aromas of grapefruit and lime that intermingle with subtle tropical fruit aromas, especially pineapple, and a touch of herbs. 

Palate

On the palate, it is a balanced, fresh and fruity wine, with velvety texture and a persistent, enjoyable finish.

Production

Casablanca Valley can be identified by its closeness to the Pacific Ocean, influenced by the coastal breeze, which moderates temperatures. The land is basically formed by hills that increase in height as it goes east towards the Coastal Mountain Range. It has an alluvial origin, with sandy textures of high permeability, poor and shallow, which causes the valley to have low yields, compared to others. The temperatures are colder and templates, causing a slower ripening in the fruit and, in consequence, great character in flavour and aroma, for white varieties like Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc.

The grapes come from vineyards that are approximately 12 years old in the Casablanca estate, trellised in simple vertical shoot position, with an average yield of 12 tons/ha. They were hand-picked into bins during the first week of March when they had reached the ideal state of ripeness. The grapes were transported to our Nancagua winery for vinification in stainless steel tanks at low temperatures with selected yeasts, pumpovers, and delicate lees stirring to reach the desired final result. Prior to bottling the wine was fined with adjusted doses of bentonite and cold stabilized to prevent tartaric precipitations in the bottle.

Producers

Voted by Wines of Chile as "Winery of the Year 2016", Emiliana is one of Chile's most exciting producers and pioneers in organic and biodynamic winemaking. Since 1998, this Chilean winery has been producing award-winning wines from almost 1,000 hectares of vineyards in prime sites including Casablanca, Maipo, Cachapoal, Colchagua and Bio Bio.

Its spectacular biodynamic vineyard and winery at Los Robles is a model that attracts visiting viticulturalists and winemakers from across the world. Emiliana's innovative and natural-leaning wines are made with great care and attention and the results are inspiring.

Sustainable

Emiliana began its conversion to organic production in 1998, and today 100% of its properties are organically managed. It is the world’s largest organic winery. It holds organic certifications in accordance with the standards of the United States, Canada (NOP), Brazil, Chile, Japan, South Korea, China, and Europe. In 2006, Emiliana was the first winery in Latin America to produce a wine with biodynamic certification. Since then, the use of biodynamic practices at its farms and cellars has been accredited and today 100% of its properties are certified. Emiliana received its Fairtrade and Fair For Life certifications in 2011 and 2017 and has been selling fair trade wines since 2012.

Emiliana was a pioneer in the implementation of the Wine of Chile Sustainability Code certification in 2012. This standard was developed for the Chilean wine sector to support the implementation of sustainable practices at a national level, as well as social and environmental responsibility at Emiliana.

Emiliana is certified to use the Vegan Society trademark, which attests that its wines are produced without any animal-derived products.

Emiliana also produces an annual sustainability report.

Awards

Specifications

A bold, fruit‑driven Pinot Noir with irresistible richness

Tasting Notes

Ruby red in colour. Gorgeous flavours, almost syrupy in its concentration. Dark, rich and potent, with layers of complex black cherry, raspberry and cinnamon. Deep, with pretty fruit cake and spicy aromatics.

Producer

Back in 1988, three families decided to invest in a winery in Romania, starting with 650 hectares of slightly unloved vineyards and a rusty, once state-owned winery.

Yet Englishman Philip Cox and his Romanian wife Elvira, have turned the Cramele Recas Estate into the most successful winery in Romania. Recas are now recognised globally for their impressive scale and breadth of fascinating wines, including natural and orange wine from organic grapes. Despite the scale the emphasis is on making good wines that over-deliver, and as a result they’ve struck on a magic formula that has seen sales and demand boom. Vineyards are a combination of evolved plantings from 1447 and more recent planting, whilst the winery has seen significant investment and boasts state of the art facilities where innovation thrives. Recas are in every way a modern, dynamic winery, whose open minded approach and quality sets them apart … a winery you really can’t ignore.

Production

100% estate grown grapes from the Dealul Uberland vineyard. The altitude here is around 250 m, with soil rich in iron oxide and loess on fractured limestone bedrock.

25% of the grapes were transfered directly into 1000 Kg bins without being destemmed then sealed and put through a carbonic macceration fermentation for 10 days in order to produce the strawberry fruit part of the blend. The remaining 75%was destemmed lightly crushed and then macerated and fermented normally at 25°C in stainless steel automated fermenters. Both wines were then seperately pressed and the noncarbonic maceration wine was lightly oaked for 2 months before blending.

Specifications

Bright, textural stuff from old, unirrigated bush vines in the Coastal region grown on sandy soils over granite bedrock.

Tasting Notes

Ripe peach and tropical fruit on the nose with fresh citrus notes. Honeyed and textured on the palate with crisp acidity and hints of mandarin and lychee leading to a bright, juicy finish.

 

A fine example of South Africa's signature grape variety.

Tasting Notes

Nose

The nose is both savoury with stone fruits, pear,  notes of the local fynbos and a distinct note of oregano. 

Palate

On the palate it is delightful to find notes of wild honey often true to naturally fermented Chenin Blanc.

Production

The grapes for Peacock Wild Ferment Chenin Blanc are sourced from The Helderberg Ward on the coastal outreaches of Stellenbosch. Old bushvine vineyards (20 - 50 years old), planted in Chenin-friendly soils, have over time found their natural balance and it definitely shows in the wine. The Helderberg and Schapenberg are also known for the large expanses of indigenous flora (fynbos and proteas) and fauna such as caracal, bat-eared foxes, leopards and of course, peacocks.

In fact, four of South Africa's twenty WWF Biodiversity & Wine Initiative Champions (which includes Waterkloof amongst their number) are located on the Schapenberg and Helderberg alone. In addition to sourcing fruit from neighbouring vineyards, there is also a portion of wine from Waterkloof's biodynamic vineyard used in the Peacock Wild Ferment range.

Made by Waterkloof's talented young Cellarmaster Nadia Barnard. Balanced grapes are hand-harvested, then whole-bunch pressed in a horizontal basket press for only the finest juice. Fermentation takes place spontaneously with wild yeast in a combination of old 600litre barrels and concrete eggs. The wine then spends a minimum of 6 months on lees before bottling. No additions other than sulphur. Vegan friendly wine.

Specifications

An impressive addition to the Wild House range, predominantly from Elgin grown fruit, a coastal region renowned for high quality, cool climate Sauvignon Blanc.

Tasting Notes

A vibrant cool climate style of Sauvignon with intense citrus and crushed nettle aromas. Ripe, concentrated fruit is offset by a grapefruit tang and leafy characters. Taut and mineral with a long, textural finish.

 

A vibrant, yet delicate Rose

Tasting Notes

This wine boasts a delicate salmon hue, capturing the essence of the Vinho Verde region with its gentle red berry aroma and lively acidity, making it a refreshingly appealing and versatile choice for pairing with food.

Production

The previously selected grapes were de-stemmed and lightly pressed. The extracted juice is decanted by gravity. It then fermented in stainless steel vats with temperature control over two weeks. Before bottling the wine was filtered and stabilized.

Producer

Founded in 1917 in the Vinho Verde region, Calçada Wines is one of the oldest producers in the region focused especially on the production of still white and rosé wines and sparkling wines and is now the 3rd generation of the family to lead the business. In addition to producing high quality wines, Calçada brand is also synonymous with the art of hospitality - Casa da Calçada is a XVI palace converted into a luxurious hotel - it is a reference in hospitality and within the property we still proudly have what is considered the oldest vineyard in the region.

Specifications

A wine that celebrates Australia’s best-loved variety, Broken Record is juicy and bright and plays long on the palate.

Tasting Notes

Broken Record captures Southeast Australia’s essential joy. Soft and juicy plummy fruit flavours are balanced by smooth, savoury tannins.

Production

The creation of this wine was a judicious blending exercise to marry aromatics and lift with a generous, velveteen palate. Grapes are sourced from vineyards across Southeast Australia. They are picked at night to avoid high daytime temperatures and crushed immediately after picking. Temperature-controlled fermentation avoids extraction of harsh tannins and maintains the juicy fruit flavours.

Producer

Quintessentially Australian, this range offers consistent quality, hugely appealing, commercial wine styles that have gained a loyal following. Reflecting our skill and experience in seeking out the very best of Australia, our wines capture ideal climatic conditions and pure varietal definition.

Boutinot's Samantha Bailey brings her signature palate and decades of experience to finessing our components into the loveliest Boutinot expressions of Oz.

Alan's Personal Tasting Notes

"Everything it should be - a bright, juicy attractive blended Shiraz. Soft enough but just some tiny rough edges that could be softened out by blending in some wines from warmer vineyard sites. But sure about complexity or length (both could be better) but it really does deliver a soft, easy drinking red. I suggest Soldiers Block Shiraz has a better structure, more complexity and length - but it’s a very good simple, easy drinking Shiraz - and a bit cheaper - so choice is yours. If you like your Shiraz simple, soft 'n smooth then Broken Record is your choice - but if you like your entry Shiraz with a little more bite & spice then it’s Soldiers Block for you!" May 2024

Specifications

A textbook fruity southern French Grenache; rich and dark with no hard edges.

Tasting Notes

This Grenache Noir from the deeps south of France is steeped in texture and character. Rich black fruit and sweet spice on the nose with more intense berry fruit and liquorice on the palate.

Production Method

In the south western part of the Languedoc, Boutinot’s Guillaume Létang found this parcel of well tended 40 year-old Grenache Noir. Cordon trained (in an area where bush vines are more common) these old vines thrive on silt and sand, their roots buring deep into the soils in search of water. Fully ripened by the Mediterranean sun, once harvested the grapes are destemmed and macerated at cool temperatures prior to fermentation. To fully expresss the ripe black / red fruit flavours of this 100% Grenache Noir the wine was vinified without the use of oak.

Producer

Like all good stories, that of Boutinot France is both long and a little bit complicated! Boutinot began as a tiny importer in 1980, specialising in French wines. Paul Boutinot himself began by personally selecting the wines from France, back in the UK he would unload the trailer by hand. And deliver the crates of wines to customers himself. But good things grow and by the end of the decade we had become a bigger and better company. A company that not only sought out great wines but made them too. After 10 years later, Boutinot France started in January 1990. The first office was in the middle of the vines in Julienas; perfectly located to navigate the Beaujolais and Macon regions on the quest to make beautiful wines.

Samantha Bailey, who started as a wine enthusiast, was there at the beginning of this adventure. Since then, she has grown into our Master Blender and has key responsibilities: building long-standing relationships, tasting, understanding the terroir and appellations, and pushing the boundaries. She is at the heart of the whole process from blending to quality assessment, making sure there is always a Boutinot touch in every cuvée. We are proud to also count Guillaume Letang and Julien Dugas in our winemaking team. Guillaume oversees the South of France and Languedoc, whilst Julien looks after our property in Cairanne. Together they have the local knowledge to select and blend the very best wines from throughout. Eric Monnin oversees every aspect of production and makes sure everything our winemakers blend and source is top quality.

Specifications

A lipsmacking house wine that is great with food.

Tasting Notes

A fresh, pretty and youthful red wine that will mellow as it develops in the bottle. Supple yet with underlying structure, it is quite lifted on the nose with raspberry and floral notes. Packed full of ripe, crunchy red berry fruit backed up with a hint of liquorice and touch of spice. Fresh, elegant and pleasingly simple. Lovely.

Production

Based in the southwest of the Languedoc, where the 40 year-old cordon-trained vines thrive on silt and sand. Grenache grapes are destemmed and macerated at cool temperatures prior to fermentation in order to gain the juicy fruit flavours.

Producer

Like all good stories, that of Boutinot France is both long and a little bit complicated! Boutinot began as a tiny importer in 1980, specialising in French wines. Paul Boutinot himself began by personally selecting the wines from France, back in the UK he would unload the trailer by hand. And deliver the crates of wines to customers himself. But good things grow and by the end of the decade we had become a bigger and better company. A company that not only sought out great wines but made them too. After 10 years later, Boutinot France started in January 1990. The first office was in the middle of the vines in Julienas; perfectly located to navigate the Beaujolais and Macon regions on the quest to make beautiful wines.

Samantha Bailey, who started as a wine enthusiast, was there at the beginning of this adventure. Since then, she has grown into our Master Blender and has key responsibilities: building long-standing relationships, tasting, understanding the terroir and appellations, and pushing the boundaries. She is at the heart of the whole process from blending to quality assessment, making sure there is always a Boutinot touch in every cuvée. We are proud to also count Guillaume Letang and Julien Dugas in our winemaking team. Guillaume oversees the South of France and Languedoc, whilst Julien looks after our property in Cairanne. Together they have the local knowledge to select and blend the very best wines from throughout. Eric Monnin oversees every aspect of production and makes sure everything our winemakers blend and source is top quality. 

Alan's Personal Notes

Specifications

A fine example of the Verdicchio grape from one of the region's pioneering producers. From estate-grown grapes, a fresh and juicy style with lovely concentration of flavour.

Tasting Notes

Fresh zesty nose with apricot and orchard fruit aromas, and a hint of white flower and citrus. The palate has minerality and texture with ripe stone fruit and grapefruit characters, refreshing lemon citrus acidity, a touch of salinity, and a crisp finish.

Production

The grapes are sourced from Monte Schiavo's own vineyards situated in the communes of Maiolati Spontini, Montecarotto, Poggio S. Marcello and Rosora - at an altitude of 180-360 metres above sea level. Vinified in stainless steel at controlled temperatures to retain fresh fruit characters and aromas.

Producer

Since establishing their winery in Marche in 1976, the Pieralisi family have striven to create the very best from their vineyards. The family’s background was in olive oil manufacturing equipment, but they began to invest in agriculture and also purchased vineyards from the local co-operative. The 350-hectare estate now consists of around 103 ha of prime vineyard in and around Maiolati Spontini, Ancona, the heart of the classic production area of Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi – along with 48 ha of olive groves, 24 ha of walnut trees, and other agricultural land. The winery itself is set amongst some of their most prized plots, notably the 20 ha Colle del Sole vineyard.

Under the supervision of Gennaro Pieralisi and his son Andrea, production has progressed from its initial focus on the Verdicchio grape, to include a range of red wines from their own estate fruit (with the exception of their Rosso Conero, which is produced in collaboration with Alberto Serenelli). The success of their manufacturing business has allowed the family to invest heavily in the estate, providing state-of-the-art technology, and they have striven to improve quality and reduce yields.

The appointment of talented young winemaker Simone Schiaffino, and collaboration with renowned Italian winemaking consultant Carlo Ferrini since the 2015 vintage, has added a new depth and complexity to their portfolio. Carlo Ferrini has worked as a consultant with some of Italy’s top estates – to optimise clones, rootstocks, vine density and pruning – in order to create wines that are a true expression of the vineyard. At the same time Simone has revitalised the cellar and added an extra layer of vibrancy and expression to the wines, establishing Monte Schiavo as a producer of top quality, authentic wines.

The ‘Tenute Pieralisi’ range of wines represents the culmination of their project - a top tier of premium wines asserting the individuality of indigenous varieties Verdicchio and Montepulciano.

Sustainability

Tenute Pieralisi are committed to the environment, and to using non-invasive procedures on their land. They believe that the diversified agricultural production on the estate helps to preserve the great local varietal heritage of flora and fauna. This has led to a conversion to organic farming and to the careful use of resources in the winery: introducing low-energy LED lighting and a photovoltaic system to generate electricity from solar energy. They also use environmentally-friendly vehicles for local deliveries, reducing pollutants from emissions.

They are one of the first companies in Italy to have obtained both BRC Global Standard for Food Safety certification (AA grade) and to be registered on the EU Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS).

Furthermore, as of the 2019 vintage the estate and wines are certified as organic, and the wines are labelled accordingly.

Specifications

This is a brand new single varietal from this co-operative, located in the heart of the Valpolicella Classico area, just a few kilometres from Verona. Corvina is usually blended with Molinara and Rondinella, but an increasing number of producers are making 100% Corvina wines. The result is light and fragrant with floral notes and some blackcurrant. It has an elegant structure.

Tasting Notes

Colour

Ruby red with garnet reflections

Nose

Spicy nose with notes of vanilla and hints of cherry and black cherry

Palate

Soft and round palate with sweet tannins that blend well with the wine's texture. The finish is long ending with spicy tones.

Winery

The Cantina di Negrar brand is the soul of Cantina Valpolicella Negrar and pays homage to the philosophy of cooperative production while also recalling the territory’s historical vestiges: the effigy of St. Mark’s Lion standing tall on a column in the centre of Negrar is testimony of the Venetian Republic’s domination in the sixteenth century.

The Cantina di Negrar wines are rooted in the wine-making tradition of Valpolicella and the Veronese wine-growing areas, with a modern reinterpretation to guarantee the best price/quality ratio.

Label

The catchy and interesting label depicts Ulysses’ 10-year journey home from Troye to Ithaca. Every facet of his journey captivates the sense of discovery, self-discovery, and world discovery Ulysses experiences in those enchanted 10 years.

Specifications

Vibrant and fruity Merlot from the Languedoc region.

Tasting Notes 

Strong varietal French Merlot, deep garnet colour with vibrant plummy and blackberry fruit. Soft and supple on the palate with good intensity of fruit and a lovely juicy finish.

Production

This fruit-forward, easy-drinking Merlot is made from grapes sourced from sun-drenched Languedoc vineyards, vinified to showcase their fruit and varietal characteristics. By fermenting at lower temperatures than most reds to preserve primary fruit characters. The wine receives twice daily remontage to extract colour and tannins. Meticulous blending produced the ultimate approachable and fruit-driven style, which was bottled early to capture vibrant red fruit.

Producer

Like all good stories, that of Boutinot France is both long and a little bit complicated! Boutinot began as a tiny importer in 1980, specialising in French wines. Paul Boutinot himself began by personally selecting the wines from France, back in the UK he would unload the trailer by hand. And deliver the crates of wines to customers himself. But good things grow and by the end of the decade, we had become a bigger and better company. A company that not only sought out great wines but made them too. After 10 years later, Boutinot France started in January 1990. The first office was in the middle of the vines in Julienas; perfectly located to navigate the Beaujolais and Macon regions on the quest to make beautiful wines.

Samantha Bailey, who started as a wine enthusiast, was there at the beginning of this adventure. Since then, she has grown into our Master Blender and has key responsibilities: building long-standing relationships, tasting, understanding the terroir and appellations, and pushing the boundaries. She is at the heart of the whole process from blending to quality assessment, making sure there is always a Boutinot touch in every cuvée. We are proud to also count Guillaume Letang and Julien Dugas in our winemaking team. Guillaume oversees the South of France and Languedoc, whilst Julien looks after our property in Cairanne. Together they have the local knowledge to select and blend the very best wines from throughout. Eric Monnin oversees every aspect of production and makes sure everything our winemakers blend and source is top quality.

Specifications

An elegant, non-alcoholic sparkling wine, perfect as an aperitif.

Tasting Notes 

A crisp and refreshing non-alcoholic sparkling white wine made with 100% Chardonnay grapes from sandy and calcareous soils in southern Spain. Crisp acidity & strong effervescence with hints of green apples & citrus peel accompanied with a floral aroma.

Notes of Green Apple, Biscuit and Jasmine Flowers.

What makes us different? From the Producer...

Award Winning

Both of our wines reached the very top in this years International Wine & Spirits Competition (IWSC 2022). Our Rosé is the highest rated non-alcoholic wine ever with 98/100 points.

Organic

We're proud to say that ALT. Chardonnay & Rosé are both certified Organic, meaning that we've gone through rigirous quality control and supply chain checks to ensure that our grapes are sourced from 100% organic wine growers.

Dry

Our wines have an extremely low sugar level. We do not need to add a lot of sugar to bring out a good taste, since we focus on raw materials with high quality and an uncompromising production process.

Vegan

ALT. is filtered using cross-flow filtration where as it's commonplace in the wine industry to use egg white. After filtration the liquid then goes through patenteded aroma recovery so that the finished wine is complex & delicious.

Specifications

Juicy, organic Merlot with fruit and freshness in abundance.

Tasting Notes

Colour 

Bright ruby-red colour

Nose

Plum and red cherry aromas and subtle black pepper notes.

Palate

The palate is juicy with ample fruit character. Supported by gently wooded influence giving good structure and rounded tannins. It has a soft palate and a fruity finish.

Production

Rapel Valley is located on the 6th Region, 160 kms south to Santiago. This zone has good drainage, excellent fertility and great characteristics for agriculture, especially for red varieties like Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenère and Merlot. This valley has a Mediterranean climate, it has coastal influence because it limits with the Cordillera de la Costa, which is low. There’s a great concentration of rain during winter (710 mm average) and in summer this valley receives southern winds with morning mist. Summers are very hot and have big temperature fluctuation. The grapes were manually harvested in mid April. Vinification begins with a prefermentation cold soak at 8°C for a week in order to extract the fruit. Alcoholic fermentation takes place between 25°C and 28°C with a pumpover program determined by daily tasting. Malolactic fermentation takes place naturally in stainless steel tanks and 20% of the wine was aged in barrels for 6 months; after this the wine blended in order to obtain a more complex character.

Producers

Voted by Wines of Chile as "Winery of the Year 2016", Emiliana is one of Chile's most exciting producers and pioneers in organic and biodynamic winemaking. Since 1998, this Chilean winery has been producing award-winning wines from almost 1,000 hectares of vineyards in prime sites including Casablanca, Maipo, Cachapoal, Colchagua and Bio Bio.

Its spectacular biodynamic vineyard and winery at Los Robles is a model that attracts visiting viticulturalists and winemakers from across the world. Emiliana's innovative and natural-leaning wines are made with great care and attention and the results are inspiring.

Sustainable

Emiliana began its conversion to organic production in 1998, and today 100% of its properties are organically managed. It is the world’s largest organic winery. It holds organic certifications in accordance with the standards of the United States, Canada (NOP), Brazil, Chile, Japan, South Korea, China, and Europe. In 2006, Emiliana was the first winery in Latin America to produce a wine with biodynamic certification. Since then, the use of biodynamic practices at its farms and cellars has been accredited and today 100% of its properties are certified. Emiliana received its Fairtrade and Fair For Life certifications in 2011 and 2017, and has been selling fair trade wines since 2012.

Emiliana was a pioneer in the implementation of the Wine of Chile Sustainability Code certification in 2012. This standard was developed for the Chilean wine sector to support the implementation of sustainable practices at a national level, as well as social and environmental responsibility at Emiliana.

Emiliana is certified to use the Vegan Society trademark, which attests that its wines are produced without any animal-derived products.

Emiliana also produces an annual sustainability report.

Specifications

Great tasting, modern Vinho Verde from the super reliable Vila Nova estate.

Tasting Notes

Floral, citrus and gentle tropical aromas lead on to a palate that is deliciously off-dry with flavours of ripe melon and sherbet lemon acidity. The finish is refreshing with a classic spritz. 

Production

Casa de Vila Nova is located in the sub region of Sousa, the Vinho Verde Demarcated Region, in the North of Portugal. The vinho verde vineyards are exposed to the Atlantic Ocean winds and influence. Soils, microclimate, grape varieties and the unique characteristics of the wine culture, distinguish it from all other wine regions of the world. The grapes are harvested by hand in 20 kg boxes that are quickly transported to the winery where they are destemmed and soft pressed and temperature-controlled fermentation.

Producer

Casa de Vila Nova is owned by the Lencastre family, of aristocratic Portuguese lineage (one of their ancestors became the first Baron of Varzea do Douro in the 1800s). This land has been in their family since the 12th century - the ivy clad tower that still remains from that time is now surrounded by Vila Nova (new house) that was built in the 1700s, and the property was gradually extended over the centuries.

The estate is near the town of Penafiel, close to the eastern border of Portugal's vinho verde wine region, around a 30 minute drive east from Oporto. In the late 1970s the family planted vines over 12 hectares - mainly local Portuguese varieties. In 2008 Bernardo Lencastre and his brothers took over the running of the property, revitalised the vineyards and began making vinho verde and bottling their own wines - the first generation to do so. They now have around 42 hectares of vineyard.

Here, in the Entre-Douro-e-Minho sub-region of Sousa, their vineyards are influenced by winds from the Atlantic Ocean - creating the perfect climate to ripen varieties such as Avesso, Loureiro and Alvarinho.

Awards

• 2019 Vintage - Sommelier Wine Awards 2020 Gold
  
• 2019 Vintage - Sommelier Wine Awards 2020 Trophy
• 2016 Vintage - Simmerlier Wine Awards 2017 Silver

Alan's Personal Notes

"I can’t remember the last time I drank Vino Verde - probably sometime in the Eighties - but I don’t know why - as this is delightful! Off-dry with ripe fruits offset by a citric minerality making this an extremely enjoyable glass with great flavour and balance. Perfect for the spring/summer weather that’s about to happen- so I’ll be drinking VV a lot more over the next few months!" March 2022

Specifications