The equivalent to natural in the sake world is referred to as pure sake. Now that the European-based Yoigokochi Sake portfolio has found a U.S. distributor, we now have more... read more →
Lacryma Christi is the DOP created for indigenous grapes grown around the imposing Vesuvius volcano. The piedirosso from the volcano’s southern foot is from own-rooted vines that are between 25... read more →
Panagiotis Dimitropoulos’ Peloponnese vineyards are certified organic with biodynamic sensibilities. His beautiful vineyard work comes through in this grape. And what a grape it is. I’ve never experienced santameriana before. Is... read more →
The two grapes are blended together and age for over a year in stainless. There is always some reduction in Merli's wines, but in this case, it merely indicates their... read more →
Here we have Hank’s typically perverse logic: leave the oak out of the zin and chardo, barrel ferment the rosé. The Suma Kaw fruit was barrel fermented in puncheons and... read more →
These ungrafted vines are rooted in the dry, poor, limestone rocky soil of the Ionian island of Lefkada, off the western coast of Greece. Managing editor Christy Frank insists that... read more →
This refresher gets a two month fermentation in stainless. It’s unusual with its touch of jasmine and pine forest—but no pine infusion here. Then there’s a long lingering mandarin and... read more →
Based in Eugene, Civic Winery is an urban operation working on a negoçe basis. Grapes come from organic or biodynamic vineyards. Bottlings are zero/zero when possible. This was an impressive... read more →
Why chardonnay? “Why not,” Hank said. It was time. He smiles. Was he being ironic? Nope. Well, not entirely. The fruit is from Matthew Rorick’s vineyards, whole cluster pressed, fermented... read more →
In his day job years back with a conventional producer, Hank vinified plenty of zinfandel, but this is the first he has made to his specific standards and aesthetics. This... read more →