45 products
- White Wine
- Pecorino
- Organic, Vegan-Friendly
- Dry
- Light Bodied
- 750ml
- 13% alc./vol
About the Winery
Azienda Agricola Jasci

Located on the hills that rise 250 meters above sea level from the Adriatic Sea just above the seaside resort town of Vasto in Abruzzo, here the Jasci family has been growing grapes and producing wine for three generations. Starting In the early 1960s, Pasquale and Maria turned the focus of their farm to producing estate wines.
In 1980, their son Giuseppe decided to convert the farm to organic, becoming one of the first ten wineries in all of Italy to be certified. Today led by grandson Donatello Jasci and his wife Piera, the family is the second largest single grower in all of the region. Donatello’s approach in the cellar is consistent with his farming: clean and simple. The wines see little or no oak and have a purity of flavor that is rare at the price. In addition to his duties at the winery, Donatello Jasci has served as President of the local Organic Growers’ Consortium.
Press Reviews
Wine Align
91 points - David Lawrason
Here's a lovely pecorino offering freshness, structure, subtlety and complexity. It has a very fine nose of intriguing caraway, starfruit, orange and lemon blossom and acacia. It is light to medium bodied, firm and fresh with some fruit sweetness, lovely acidity and impressive, excellent to flavour intensity and focus. Delivers beyond its price. Tasted January 2021
91 points - Sara D'Amato
A stunning pecorino that begins discretely but builds on the palate. Offering flavours of tender white peach, rosebud and elderflower and jasmine. Ethereal in texture, effusively aromatic with lingering notes of mint and wildflowers. Highly memorable. Tasted January 2021.
- Red Wine
- Grenache, Mourvèdre / Monastrell, Samso / Carignan, Syrah
- Sustainable, Vegan-Friendly
- Dry
- Medium Bodied
- 750ml
- 14.5% alc./vol
About the Winery
Domaine Andre Aubert
At the very heart of the Rhône Valley, at the northerly tip of the Southern Rhône, lie the vineyards of Grignan-Les-Adhémar. The chances are you haven’t heard the name before, few people have, but the wines are worth seeking out. It’s not a new wine region – vines have been planted here since around 500BC but it is a new name (formerly known as Côteaux-du-Tricastin). Domaine André Aubert, has been formed over decades and today comprises of more than 280 hectares spread from north to south of the prestigious Southern Rhone Valley on the appellations Côtes du Rhône, Côtes du Rhône villages, Visan, and Grignan-les-Adhémar.
Press Reviews
Wine Align
90 points - David Lawrason
This packs in all kinds of complexity and veracity for $17. It is not aromatically 'showy' or very long on the finish, but I really like the classic southern Rhone grenache, syrah and carignan nose with is blackberry/plum fruit, licorice, lavender and shrubby garrigue. It is medium-full bodied, fairly dense and tannic - so give it a year or two. The length is very good to excellent. Tasted June 2021
- Red Wine
- Carignan, Grenache, Syrah
- Natural, Organic, Vegan-Friendly
- Dry
- Full Bodied
- 750ml
- 14% alc./vol
About the Winery
Domaine Frédéric Brouca

Frédéric grew up in Normandy and met his Canadian wife Elaine at university in Lille, Northern France. They live a nomadic lifestyle (Canada, India, Singapore and USA) though Frédéric spends about half of his time in Faugères. Since early age, Frédéric had a calling for farming and the fierce desire to become a winegrower. After completing a Masters Degree in Finance in 2001, Frédéric went back to college for a Sommelier diploma and started his career as a Burgundy wine broker.
In late 2012, Frédéric and Elaine were fortunate to take over 25 acres of old vines in Faugères, organically farmed for twenty years and deeply rooted in schist soils.
2013 was the inaugural vintage for Domaine Frédéric Brouca. In his modest winery in the village of Laurens, Frédéric is creating a new vision for Faugères wines; fresh, vibrant and made without artifice. Nothing revolutionary, simply returning to our grandparent's ideology of farming and winemaking to craft 'Vins Vivants'. The Faugères Appellation is in the heart of Languedoc in the Hérault department. Here, winemaking dates back to the Greek times and was developed during the Roman Era. It wasn't until the early 1900's, however, that the wines became more widely known for its unique schist soils and moderate Mediterranean climate. These villages are heavily reliant on wine as an important part of their culture and economy.
The area is stunning with mountain views and close proximity to the Mediterranean Sea (20 miles / 30 kms). Faugères has a long history of responsible farming. It boasts the highest percentage of organic vineyards for any AOC in all of France with almost 50% of farmers making the choice.
Press Reviews
Wine Align
92 points - Sara d'Amato
Grenache is emphatic but still plays fairly with the syrah and carignan on the palate of this undeniably charming, organically produced blend from Frederic Brouca. Offering a little funk among the flavours of red fruit, liquorice and pepper on the palate. Energetic, authentic and sensitively made. Mid-weight and surprisingly juicy. Effortlessly enjoyable. Tasted May 2020.
- Sparkling Wine
- Chardonnay
- Sustainable, Vegan-Friendly
- Dry
- Medium Bodied
- 750ml
- 12% alc./vol
About the Winery
Domaine Baud Père et Fils

The estate history dates back to 1742, but it wasn't until 1950 when René Baud, the 7th generation, rebuilt the vineyard which had suffered from the phylloxera crisis and two World Wars.
Starting with only 4 hectares, the vineyard progressively expanded to 20 hectares with the help of successive generations. Now, managed by siblings Clémentine and Bastien, the 9th generation, the estate continues to flourish and grow, with a strong commitment to sustainable viticulture and preserving the traditions and style that makes the wines of the Jura so unique and incredible.
The domaine holds a certificate in sustainability by Terra Vitis.
Press Reviews
Wine Align
92 points - David Lawrason
This is a very tasty, rich, golden hued, well aged chardonnay-based sparkler with an involved nose of cashew, baked apple, nougat and honey. It is almost creamy in texture with fine mousse and very good acidity providing counterpoint. There is pleasant nutty bitterness on the finish; length is excellent.
91 points - Michael Godel
Baud’s Crémant is made in true Blanc de Blancs style, from 100 per cent chardonnay and though faintly if beautifully oxidative, the cuvée pulses with great energy. The scents of fraying ginger batons, scraped orange skin and baking almond cookies are all a treat for the olfactory. Just enough but not too much sweetness fleshes the the body to get down to density in mouthfeel but never abandons its airy character. A terrific Champagne alternative that was disgorged in October of 2017. Drink 2018-2022. Tasted April 2018.
Treve Ring
91 points
This family estate dates back to 1742, but it wasn't until 1950 when René Baud, 7th generation, rebuilt the vineyards, expanding from 4 hectares into 20 hectares over the years. Today the estate is managed by siblings Clémentine and Bastien, 9th generation. This sustainably farmed chardonnay is rooted in the Jura's marl and limestone soils and was fermented in stainless before a year on lees before disgorgement and release. Green apple, white florals, oyster shells, meadow herbs, meringue run the bright, sleek palate, with a bed of creamy lees. There's a lovely streaming anise note that leads to a lengthy finish. Drinking beautifully now, but will hold over the next couple years easy.
- Red Wine
- Syrah
- Biodynamic, Organic, Vegan-Friendly
- Dry
- Full Bodied
- 750ml
- 15.6% alc./vol
About the Winery
Casa Los Frailes

Casa Los Frailes is located in the valley called “land of Alforins”, south west inland province of Valencia, with average altitude of 650-700 meters above sea level. The valley is located between two mountains range, on the east the Mediterranean Sea (50km) and on the west the main “plateau” of La Mancha. Casa Los Frailes (“Cals Frares” in old valencian local language) takes their name from the Jesuit Friars that used to live in the Estate over two centuries (XVII to XVIII). The Casa Los Frailes estate now belongs to the Velázquez family and has for over 250 years, today the 13th generation runs the winery.
Frontrunners in organic agriculture and biodynamics, the estate consists of 162 hectare with vineyards, Mediterranean forest, almond and olive trees and a unique terroir. The main variety was (and still is) the Monastrell, cultivated in bush vines. "As inheritors of such legacy, we believe our wines should be part and transmit the history of our estate, as this history is obviously unique. In today's interconnected world, wines are more and more uniform, but we are committed to elaborate authentic and different wines, loyal to our personality and our history."
Press Reviews
Wine Align
91 points - David Lawrason
This is a deeply coloured blend, with a lifted, strident nose of blueberry, cassis, rosemary and some meaty character. It is notably green and almost sappy on the palate. Quite full bodied, fairly rich yet the acidity is high, as is the alcohol (14%). Tannins are well integrated and firm. The length is excellent. Very distinctive and well done. Tasted October 2019
- Red Wine
- Corvina, Rondinella
- Sustainable, Vegan-Friendly
- Dry
- Full Bodied
- 750ml
- 13.5% alc./vol
About the Winery
Ca' del Monte

Ca del Monte is situated on the hillsides overlooking the village of Negrar, in the heart of Valpolicella. It has belonged to the same family for generations, and is now run by brothers Umberto and Giuseppe Zaconte. There’s nothing fancy about this place. The house and winery are modest - and are attached to a 17th century monastery.
The estate is approximately 50 acres, and its 15-65 year old vines lie on gentle slopes at 800-900 meters. They grow on four soils including clay, limestone, red volcanic soil with red stones, and “Toar,” a green volcanic soil. The vineyards of Ca Del Monte are planted with 20-40 year old vines of Corvina, Rodinella and Molinara grapes that are planted in poor soils that stress the vines and nurture the fruit. All of the farming is done traditionally and non-certified organic.
Press Reviews
Wine Align
90 points - David Lawrason
This is everything I want in ripasso - some generosity and ripeness without jammy overripeness, excess alcohol or artifice. It shows fresh cherry fruit with equal parts herbs, fresh earth and old wood grain. It is medium weight, with firm acidity, some minerality and very good to excellent length. Tasted January 2021.
- White Wine
- Albarín
- Sustainable, Vegan-Friendly
- Dry
- Medium Bodied
- 750ml
- 13% alc./vol
About the Winery
Bodegas y Viñedos Pardevalles

The vineyards of Pardevalles are located between 750 and 820 metres above sea level, in an area with a Continental climate. They grow in poor, rocky alluvial soils which helps maintain the freshness in the wines. The philosophy of the Estate is grounded in making wines which express the character and identity of their origin, with a deep respect for the earth and the indigenous varieties of grape, combining tradition, innovation, and hard work.
- White Wine
- Grüner Veltliner, Gruner Veltliner
- Biodynamic, Natural, Organic, Vegan-Friendly
- Dry
- 750ml
- 11.5% alc./vol
About the Winery
Matthias Hager

The Hager Matthias winery is located in the small village of Mollands in the Kamptal area of Lower Austria. Matthias took over the 12-hectare land and the family business at an early age. He aims to produce the best quality wine possible and to focus on being in balance with nature. The lands are cultivated according to biodynamic principles and are certified Demeter. Matthias has a vast knowledge about plants and insects, and about keeping the flora and fauna in harmony with the vines. Matthias Hager is one of the most experimental winemakers in the Kamptal region, Austria. He understood early how to work with different soil types from loess to clay. He established different product lines to highlight these differences: the blue one representing fresh, lively wines including Grüner Veltliner and Sauvignon Blanc; and the brown line gravitating towards more earthy, flavourful produce and the red line stands for no sulphites!
Press Reviews
Wine Align
91 points - Michael Godel
From one of the globe’s biodynamic gurus, non-dogmatic, he farms like we breath. Really sharp and equally earthy grüner of reaction, action and depth. Citrus is variegated and texture is for real. Really, really long. Great intensity forever here. Drink 2019-2025. Tasted November 2019.
- Red Wine
- Carignan, Grenache, Syrah
- Biodynamic, Natural, Organic, Vegan-Friendly
- Dry
- Full Bodied
- 750ml
- 13% alc./vol
About the Winery
Mas des Agrunelles

Frédéric Porro was an aspiring Motorcross rider until an accident left him in a wheelchair. This led him to a new passion - wine - after his sister asked him to put together the wine list for a restaurant. From that moment on, he became devoted to the grape. Mas des Agrunelles came about from his collaboration with Stéphanie Ponson – owner of Mas Nicot – in 2005 near Murles in Languedoc. Stéphanie and Frédéric met in 1999 while studying enology in Montpellier. The name of the estate comes from tall the wild sloe trees that surround the vineyards and sloe is ‘Agrunelles’ in old occitan.
The couple make wine with the same diligance and passion as other biodynamic winemakers have before them, it all began with experimentation, trial and error- but they quickly moved from organic vines to a fully functioning biodynamique vineyard and winery. They are proud to produce natural wines of high quality. Located 20 km to the northwest of Montpellier in the communes of Argelliers and La Boissiere, at an average altitude of 200 m, influenced by a cold wind coming from the Cevennes via St Martin de Londres, where both Mistral and Tramontane reach top speeds.
- Red Wine
- Listán Negro
- Sustainable, Vegan-Friendly, Volcanic
- Dry
- Medium Bodied
- 750ml
- 13.5% alc./vol
About the Winery
Viñátigo

Juan Jesús is a proud native of Tenerife and the fourth generation of growers. During the thirty years that he's overseen Bodegas Viñátigo, he has considerably increased its holdings, planting varieties that he and his team recuperated from near extinction.
Driven by passion and love for his homeland, Juan decided to revive and work to save the native grape varieties that were brought to the Canary Islands by the conquers back in the 15th century and that had survived on the islands for centuries. He is a hero of contemporary Canarian viticulture. The wealth of knowledge that his work has created has helped underpin the significant expansion of wine styles that are now available throughout the archipelago, and his wines have achieved a calibre of class that many doubted the Canaries would ever produce again. (The Epic Wines of the Canary Islands, written by Santo Bains).
Press Reviews
Wine Align
91 points - David Lawrason
From pre-phylloxera vines grown at high altitude in volcanic soils, this is a mid-weight, quite smooth red with a generous nose that reminded me of smoke and tar, with wild chokecherry, pomegranate fruit and herbs. Flavours are a bit unusual and sour-edged yet the texture and tension are smooth and appealing. Tannins are quite mild; the length is excellent. Tasted December 2020.
91 points - Michael Godel
The volcanic midlands of Tenerife’s northwest section is THE place on the Canary Islands for growing and producing the highest quality of listán negro. The fourth and fifth generations of Juan Jesús’ family are the custodians of these pre-phylloxera vines at 500-1000m and the wines they gift. Just a kiss of oak does little to adulterate the precocious sentimentality and unknowable delight for a wine that you warm up to without knowing how or why. By now and with the 2019 vintage this unique red has come into its own at a perfect knife’s edge volatility and discreet if sumptuous behaviour. A must try and twice, each year for the next three to six. Drink 2020-2025. Tasted December 2020.
- White Wine
- Chenin Blanc
- Organic, Vegan-Friendly
- Dry
- Full Bodied
- 750ml
- 13.5% alc./vol
About the Winery
Château de Parnay

Château de Parnay is the flagship of the AOC Saumur Champigny. The property is located along the Loire river, classified as UNESCO World Heritage, on the most reputable clay and limestone terroirs of the appellation. The historic property was taken over by Mathias Levron & Régis Vincenot in 2006 with the aim of restoring the nobility of this special place.
Drawing their strength from the authenticity of their values, they now cultivate 50 hectares of vines with the aim of producing exceptional wines in a way that respects the environment. They have been certified organic since 2013 and are about to be certified biodynamic too.
The Clos of Chemin des Murs is the jewel of the property! Coming from the imagination of it's orginal owner, Antoine Cristal, this Clos was built, planted and cultivated according to an unprecedented technique. On this half hectare of Chenin Blanc, each vine was planted on the north face of a stone wall. Through a hole in the stone the vine crosses through the wall and allowing the grapes to grow facing the southern sunshine. The vine is said to have its 'foot in the cool and belly in the sun'.
Press Reviews
Wine Align
94 points - John Szabo
This leads with a terrific nose very much in the varietal/regional idiom, honeyed, floral, apple and lemon zest-scented, complex and exotic, not to mention stony. The palate displays a similar level of poise and composure, cool, transparent yet with a heavy freight of flavour , and terrific length. This is really quite extraordinary wine, delicious now, but surely capable of a decade or so in the cellar. Top notch. Tasted March 2019.
93 points - Michael Godel
The rare and elusive 100 per cent chenin blanc from Samur makes full use of clay-calcaire-tuffeau soils for this dry and piqued white wine. So crunchy and expressive with an expansive character that fills the mouth by making contact withy every nerve and pour. Benchmark and controlled explosive example, rare or otherwise. Drink 2020-2025. Tasted March 2020.
91 points - David Lawrason
It is rare to come across fine Saumur chenin, a central Loire Valley appellation overshadowed by Vouvray. This is mid-weight, dry and quite firm classic with a fairly generous nose of pear, spice, vague fresh herbs and wet stone. It becomes quite dry and somewhat grapefruity bitter on the finish, trailing solid minerality as well. Very good to excellent length. Tasted March 2020.
- Red Wine
- Cinsault, Syrah
- Sustainable, Vegan-Friendly
- Dry
- Light Bodied
- 750ml
- 12.5% alc./vol
About the Winery
Pearce Family Wines

In the early 2000's Nicholas Pearce was exposed to the garagiste movement in Bordeaux and was particularly inspired by négociants like Jean Luc Thunevin (Saint Emilion), James Sichel (Margaux) and Nicolas Potel (Beaune) from Burgundy.
After returning home to Ontario and starting his own wine company, he has had a hand in making 10+ wines in two hemispheres, 3 countries and 5 different appellations since the 2013 vintage.
Pearce Predhomme

Pearce Predhomme is a collaboration of like-minded individuals from around the globe. Founded with a mission to build and import wines from our favourite appellations while offering an unequaled value/quality ratio for the sommeliers & wine buyers in Ontario. This is a project between Toronto Sommelier and entrepreneur Will Predhomme and Ontario wine importer Nicholas Pearce they have partnered with Radford Dale in South Africa and NorthWest Wine Co in Oregon to create these special cuvées.
Press Reviews
Wine Align
91 points - Michael Godel
Having been a part of the tasting group that blended this vintage of the Pearce Predhomme Koffieklip cinsault/syrah I can confidently say that the experience shone revelatory light on the excellence of the vintage. The idea was to find the sweet spot between clarity and alacrity, a vanishing away from volatile point of perspective that is so very precise. That we did and this is the result, settled into its natural, wild fermentative and highly parochial skin. Two and half years later it is drinking as it should, firm and juicy, spirited, funky and knowingly perched at the aforementioned high-toned threshold. Resets at the edge of so many things, including restlessness and a reset of what grapes, winemaker (Jacques de Klerk) and place can conspire to want, wish and desire to be. Drink 2021-2024. Tasted January 2021.
90 points - David Lawrason
If you are fan of South African reds you will love this; if not you will be a step closer. It's a lively, engaging if idiosyncratic wine offering complexity, diversity and sheer drinkability. The nose is nicely lifted with a melange of wild blueberry, pomegranate fruit plus some meatiness, all kinds of herbality and Cape tar. It is medium bodied (only 12.5%) alcohol with crunchy acidity, a hint of sourness, fine soft tannin. Excellent length. Edgy but it works. Chill lightly. Tasted January 2021
- Sparkling Wine
- Chardonnay, Macabeo, Pinot Noir, Xarel-lo
- Organic, Vegan-Friendly
- Medium Bodied
- 750ml
- 12% alc./vol
About the Winery
Mas Codina

Until recently, the farm has always grown, and made a livelihood from, cereals, grapes, peaches and vegetables, as well as farm animals. Now, apart from century-old olive trees, all the land is devoted to vineyards.
Mas Codina has been in the same family for generations. They have adopted organic farming practices promoting natural processes and seeking a balanced ecosystem. All because of their love for land and tradition. There are currently 40 hectares of vineyards that are being organically farmed.
- Sparkling Wine
- Glera
- Sustainable, Vegan-Friendly
- Dry
- Light Bodied
- 750ml
- 11.5% alc./vol
About the Winery
Conti Riccati

Valperto Azzoni, his wife along and their four children are the direct descendants of the Riccati family and have the same enthusiasm and respect for the land, that their ancestors had in the past.
Conti Riccati grows mostly Glera, Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir though they are most known for their Prosecco.
The winemaker, Salvatore Lovo and the agronomist, Giovanni Pascarella take great pride in making the wines and tending the vineyards for the family. They practice sustainable viticulture and are currently in organic conversion.
- Red Wine
- Malbec
- Vegan-Friendly
- Dry
- Medium Bodied
- 750ml
- 14.5% alc./vol
About the Winery
Bodega Marco Zunino

The arid climate, rugged landscape coupled with the plane trees located along the country roads and weeping willows bordering its rivers that makes the area reminiscent of the midi region in the South of France.
The thirty-hectare vineyard boasts an exceptional site and an idyllic regional climate for wine producing. The low rainfall, vineyard altitude (670m) and high temperature variations are key to the diversity and quality of San Rafael’s terroir and offers the ideal setting for a truly exceptional quality of grape.
Press Reviews
Wine Align
90 points - Sara d'Amato
A bright and cheery malbec made with finesse. The palate is cut and refreshed with a salty component, zesty acidity and mildly sinewy tannins. Sleek with notes of earth, new leather and blackberry. Impressively complex with a memorable finish. Drink now or hold until 2023. Tasted July 2020.
- Rosé Wine
- Prieto Picudo
- Sustainable, Vegan-Friendly
- Dry
- Medium Bodied
- 750ml
- 13.5% alc./vol
About the Winery
Bodegas y Viñedos Pardevalles

The vineyards of Pardevalles are located between 750 and 820 metres above sea level, in an area with a Continental climate. They grow in poor, rocky alluvial soils which helps maintain the freshness in the wines. The philosophy of the Estate is grounded in making wines which express the character and identity of their origin, with a deep respect for the earth and the indigenous varieties of grape, combining tradition, innovation, and hard work.
Press Reviews
Wine Align
90 points - John Szabo
Lovely, fresh, crunchy, strawberry-cherry, and cherry yoghurt-flavoured rose here from Spain's rare picudo prieto variety. I love the succulent, saline, vibrant profile of this wine, the infinite drinkability, and yet also the deceptive complexity underlying it all. This is tasty wine. Tasted February 2021.
- Red Wine
- Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache, Merlot
- Sustainable, Vegan-Friendly
- Dry
- Full Bodied
- 750ml
- 14% alc./vol
About the Winery
Pago Aylés

Pago Aylés was founded by Federico Ramón, who in 2003 began his dream of classifying this unique land as the first Vino de Pago in the Aragon region. In the Spanish wine quality pyramid, the Pago stands as a top tier or grand cru winery. Just before Federico died, his dream came true in 2010, as Aylés became the 10th Vino de Pago in Spain.
Today his three children continue to produce wines from this special land. The vineyard site has a long history of winemaking, dating back to the 12th century by Spanish monks. Influenced by the River Huerva and the Monte San Pablo mountain, the soil is a mixture of clay, limestone and chalk – ideal for making high-quality wine. Caves, ravines and old river beds can be found all over the estate, which is brimming with wildlife.
- White Wine
- Marsanne
- Organic, Sustainable, Vegan-Friendly
- Dry
- Full Bodied
- 750ml
- 13.2% alc./vol
About the Winery
Mas Carlot

Mas Carlot is situated in the south of the Rhône Valley, extending across 76 hectares of pebbly land southeast of Nîmes. Originally a 17th century farm, this beautiful estate was resurrected in the 1960's by the Blanc family—it is currently run Cyril Mares of the neighbouring and equally reputable property, Mas Bressades.
The appellation of Costières de Nîmes used to be considered part of eastern Languedoc but the climate, soil, topography and wine are far closer to those just over the river in the Southern Côtes du Rhône. It is now a region very much on the up and is widely recognized as a great source of excellent value wine.
- White Wine
- Sylvaner
- Biodynamic, Organic, Vegan-Friendly
- Dry
- Light Bodied
- 750ml
- 12.5% alc./vol
About the Winery
Domaine Muré

The Muré family have been winegrowers in the region of Rouffach since 1650. In 1935, Alfred Muré, René’s grandfather, bought Clos St Landelin, a 32 acre family-monopole vineyard. Nowadays it is Alfred’s grandson René, together with his children Véronique and Thomas, the 11th and 12th generations of the family, who are responsible for running this exceptional, wholly-owned vineyard and its neighbouring terroirs, using biodynamic methods. To express the “terroir” in the wines and to preserve the heritage is the Muré family’s credo. Their wines are known for power, elegance and age worthiness.
Press Reviews
Wine Align
92 points - Sara d'Amato
Oily, mineral and offering great intensity - an unusually characterful sylvaner that should be a hit with Alsatian wine fanatics. Transparent, dry, vinous and notable complex. Stoney and refreshing with hints of dried herbal and a great deal of citrus. Mouth-filling with petrol and wet stone lingering on the finish of excellent length. Tasted September 2020.
90 points - David Lawrason
Sylvaner is not the showiest of varieties in Alsace but it has an almost riesling-like acid grip that makes it a very food friendly choice. This shows generous lychee, vaguely garlicked and perfumed saffron aromas. Intriguing. It is medium bodied, fairly firm and dry with a lemony and nutty finish. The length is excellent.
Vinous
90 points - Ian d'Agata
Very pale, crystal-clear straw-green. Delicate aromas and flavors of quince, green apple and minerals. Finishes long and clean with refined perfume. The name Originel refers to “in the beginning” because in the 1960s and 1970s, Sylvaner was the donminant grape variety in the valley (the Zinnkoepflé Grand Cru, for example, was almost entirely planted to Sylvaner and Gewürz). Lovely, above-average aperitif wine here; or try it with shellfish and asparagus dishes.
- White Wine
- Sauvignon Blanc
- Sustainable, Vegan-Friendly
- Dry
- Light Bodied
- 750ml
- 13.5% alc./vol
About the Winery
Domaine de Mauperthuis

A family estate created by Marie-Noëlle & Laurent Ternynck, Domaine de Mauperthuis is located in Prehy, near the town of Chablis. Their wines express the terroir of this amazing region and the vineyards are currently undergoing the transition to organic. Domaine de Mauperthuis covers around twenty hectares of vineyards around Chablis. The estate, in the Burgundy appellation, is planted in Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Sauvignon and César, on land facing south, benefiting from exceptional sunshine.
- White Wine
- Pinot Grigio
- Sustainable, Vegan-Friendly
- Dry
- Light Bodied
- 750ml
- 13% alc./vol
About the Winery
Vitas

The Vitas Winery has been in the family since 1935, for four generations. It is located in the wine-producing area of DOC Friuli Aquileia, on a clayey-marly and sandy-calcareous soil (the so-called Magredi), one of the ingredients which, together with the influence of the sea and a friendly sun, create a perfect microclimate for vine-growing. A lot of importance is placed on conserving the environment and they use methods that protect their natural resources and the surrounding environment
- Red Wine
- Sangiovese
- Organic, Vegan-Friendly
- Dry
- Medium Bodied
- 750ml
- 13% alc./vol
About the Winery
Villa Calcinaia

Villa Calcinaia is situated in the centre of Chianti Classico near the town of Greve-in-Chianti. This historic estate has been home to the Counts Capponi since 1524, and is maintained by Sebastiano Capponi and his brother Niccolo. In 1992, Count Sebastiano Capponi became the first in the history of the family to manage the winery personally, giving a new life to the vineyards and the cellar.
The family owns 200 hectares of land planted with olive trees, vines and pine trees. Organic farming is the standard at Villa Calcinaia where 75 acres of vineyard are planted with Sangiovese, Merlot, Canaiolo, Grechetto, Vernaccia, Trebbiano, and Malvasia. Through every vintage, the wines are crafted with food in mind. They are balanced, elegant, perfumed, and savoury yet refreshing with restrained vigour and intensity that ensures longevity.
Press Reviews
Wine Align
92 points - Michael Godel
A reminder that this Greve in Chianti left banker (of the Greve River) comes from the calcareous side, part Alberese and part Pietraforte soils. As such and in a famous vintage the Calcinaia Annata is a "crispy" sangiovese and though generally so, very much speaks to this Montefioralle bank of the Greve commune. Classic and held with great Capponi class. Last tasted April 2021.
The estate Annata, composed of 90 per cent sangiovese and (10) canaiolo. Grapes are hand-harvested and macerated in stainless steel tanks, followed by 20 months aging in wood casks. Yes there is some deep tradition in Sebastiano Capponi’s 2016 from the most excellent vintage and there is also some forward thinking, neo-modernist’s approach to making Chianti Classico. Coming into the zone just about now but there is a grip here to indicate 10 years of developing structure. The sculpturing and the timelessness are wholly deserving of representing the Capponi crest. Drink 2021-2028. Tasted May 2020.
- Rosé Wine
- Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir
- Sustainable, Vegan-Friendly
- Dry
- Light Bodied
- 750ml
- 12.5% alc./vol
About the Winery
Leaning Post

A leaning post is what you find at the beginning of a row of grapes, anchoring the wires that are the frame-work for growing grapevines. It is the beginning of an obsession to translate a time and place into liquid. Leaning Post wines take you to that beginning by finding small, unique plots of land in Niagara and putting them in bottle. Because after stripping away all the fancy buildings and high-tech equipment you are left with a place on this earth that grows wine unlike any other. When you taste that in a glass you just know it. Nadia and Ilya have had to rely on the support of family, friends and financial institutions to make the dream of owning a winery a reality. Leaning Post began as a virtual winery and is so proud to now have the quaint tasting room at 1491 Hwy 8 on their home property in Winona, Ontario.
Ilya and Nadia are the brains and passion behind Leaning Post Wines. It started with a dream to take unique, interesting single vineyard blocks in Niagara and turn them into distinctive, terroir driven wines. Nadia and Ilya first met in their hometown of Winnipeg, MB where their passion for wine and each other was born.
Ilya has been a winemaker in the Niagara Region for the last 17 vintages working at Daniel Lenko Estate Winery, Foreign Affair and now at Leaning Post Wines. Ilya is also a consulting winemaker at the Good Earth Winery. Ilya’s true passion in life is to make world renowned wines from Niagara that really showcase the distinct terroir that Niagara offers.
- Red Wine
- Listán Negro
- Natural, Vegan-Friendly, Volcanic
- Dry
- 750ml
- 12.5% alc./vol
About the Winery
Suertes del Marqués

The Canary Islands, located off the coast of Morocco, but technically a part of Spain, form a backdrop for some of the most unlikely yet wondrous vineyards for producing fine wines in the entire world.
In a valley facing North and North east on the cooler, ocean-influenced North-facing part of the Island is the Valle de la Orotava DO and home to the vineyards of Suertes Del Marques. The vineyards are on very steep hillsides rising up from the sea, between 400 and 700 meters elevation. This part of the island is often 15-20 degrees cooler than the much hotter and sunnier south side of the island. Like the extreme Sonoma Coast in CA, this area is often under cloud cover which protect the grapes from the powerful sun rays. In fact, Tenerife is at the same latitude as Central Florida, and well out of the 30-50 latitude range that is often considered the 'rule' for making fine wines.
Visiting the vineyards of Suertes del Marques is like going back in time. The area is Phylloxera free and so the vines are pie franco (own rooted) and extremely old, with some potentially over 200 years! Many of the vines are trained using a unique method to this area called Cordon Trenzado where the vines spread out in long braids of wood, some up to 15-20 feet from the mother trunk! The varietal mix here is like a treasury of lost and little know grapes: Listan Negro and Blanco, Malvasia Rosado, Vijariego, Baboso Negro and more, about 80% red and 20% white.
Given the extremely special nature of what Suertes del Marques possesses, proprietor Jonatan Garcia Lima works all his vineyards organically and all by hand and with the utmost care and respect for nature and the history. And from these amazing and unique vineyards, he endeavors to make fresh, tensile and mineral driven wines that showcase the volcanic soils and the native varieties. To achieve his objective, through years of experimentation and refinement, he has divided up the slope into parcels to achieve a hierarchy (much like a slope in Burgundy) as well as a unique vineyard signature to each of his top Cru wines. These various parcels have names like El Ciruelo, El Chibirique, El Esquilon and La Solana. The parcel wines are also grouped by soil type, with gold capsules indicating more "sandy" soils and silver capsules more clay over the bedrock of volcanic subsoils.
To achieve the utmost purity and refinement to the wines, all work in the cellar is done with a minimum of interference. This includes all indigenous yeast fermentations, use of neutral large oak barrels with minimal racking and added sulphur during the élévage. He also is a believer of using a decent percentage of whole clusters in fermentation for these native varietals, having been inspired by tasting and visiting in areas like Burgundy and the Rhone Valley. At bottling, there is also a minimum of filtration with the wines just passing through a large screen to remove any unwanted remnants, stems, grape skins, etc.
The resulting wines are super pure, and without artifice. They most certainly reflect the terroir from which they come. On both the reds and whites, they are fresh and bright with a strong underlying volcanic minerality, which Jonatan says can sometimes be misconstrued as reduction. Nonetheless,the wines themselves can sometimes be a little reduced, particularly in the months after bottling given the minimal racking and low SO2. If so, he recommends a nice decant before serving. He says. "if I wanted to make simple, fruity wines, without this pronounced 'Volcanic' character, I would have to use artificial yeast and new oak!" Obviously, not the kind of wines he or we are looking for from this unique terroir! All in all, these are extremely versatile wines and can pair beautifully with a range of foods.
- Red Wine
- Biodynamic, Natural, Sustainable, Vegan-Friendly
- Dry
- Light Bodied
- 750ml
- 12% alc./vol
About the Winery
Abbia Nòva

Located in the town of Pilio, about thirty miles east of Rome, Abbia Nova is the project of cousins Daniele and Pierluca Proietti. They farm 7 hectares of vines, mostly inherited from Daniele’s father, with many of the vines being indigenous varietals to the area. Some of these vines are at least eighty years old.
The cousins follow a combination of natural and traditional methods both in the vineyards and in the cellar, starting with organic and then moving to biodynamic principles. They avoid treatments like sulphur and copper and instead use natural resistance methods that they produce themselves. Their wines are vegan-friendly and organic certified from vintage 2020 on.
Press Reviews
Jancis Robinson
17 points
100% Passerina from a 50-year-old vineyard at 550 m above sea level. Plant density is 3,000 vines/ha. Biodynamically and homeopathically tended. Spontaneous fermentation in stainless steel and aged on the fine lees until the following spring. Aged for two months in 54-litre glass demijohns. Total production 7,000 bottles. The technical sheet says: 'Simple but not common, like when you have a curcka moment at the mchanic's or at the laundromat. Flashes that emit light.'
Pale coppery yellow. The modest Passerina, around for 500 years in the are, showing it has more strings to its bow. Savoury, saline, apricot, bruised apple, orange blossom, iron and lees note. Hint of dry vermouth. Opens up on ht epalate with notes of sweet apricot and peach and savoury salty notes on the finish. Gorgeous lightness and loads of character, but nothing for purists, I suspect. Drink 2020 - 2022.
- White Wine
- Pinot Bianco, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir
- Biodynamic, Natural, Organic, Sustainable, Vegan-Friendly
- Dry
- Residual Sugar: 2.7 g/l
- Medium Bodied
- 750ml
- 13.5% alc./vol
About the Winery
Vignoble du Reveur

Vignoble du Reveur (The Dreamer’s Vineyard) is a domaine founded by the immensely talented Mathieu Deiss (of Domaine Marcel Deiss) and his partner Emmanuelle Milan. While working with his father Jean Michel Deiss at the family domaine, Mathieu received an inheritance of vines from his uncle in the commune of Bennwihr, just outside the valley of Kaysersberg in Alsace. While continuing to work at Domaine Marcel Deiss, Mathieu and Emmanuelle saw the opportunity to use these 7 ha of vines as a home to experiment, push boundaries, and explore a new path for biodynamic viticulture and their winemaking dreams.
As with all things Deiss, it starts in the vineyards and their natural environment. After taking on the vines in 2011, they converted the domaine to biodynamics (it had been previously organically farmed before his uncle’s health problems) and received Demeter certification in 2013. Mathieu and Emmanuelle employ the same co-planting philosophy as the one at Domaine Marcel Deiss. As Mathieu explains, “We’ve chosen not to accentuate any particular grape, but rather the texture, consistency, depth, and minerality of the wine”. The wines in the stunning lineup show what this talented couple is capable of; from direct-pressed, co-planted Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, and Pinot Blanc to skin macerated whites that set a new standard for the “orange wine” category. Mathieu and Emmanuelle’s intellectual curiosity pushes them to continue to experiment with new techniques in the cellar, including the remarkable “Rien en Bouge” cuvée, which is made with whole bunches of Pinot Noir macerated in direct-pressed Pinot Gris/Pinot Blanc juice. Trailblazing is in the Deiss DNA, and in the future, we can expect many more paradigm-shifting innovations from this dynamic duo.