With a degree in agricultural engineering and a passion for traditional dry cider, Victor Bouvy traveled to Normandy to better learn the intricacies of cider production. Upon his return in 2019 to Champagne he planted a new and complimentary mixture of apple varieties, ideal for cider production with the goal of creating a harmonious cider that would express an ideal balance of sweet, bitter and tart.
The wines of Domaine Vernay are the true representation of the soul of Condrieu, bottles that tell a complete and engaging story of this fabled appellation: its beginnings, its rebirth and its triumph as the ultimate expression of the northern Rhône’s native white grape, Viognier.
One of the more dynamic winemaking teams in the Anjou today is the partnership of Dominique Sirot and Alexis Soulas at Fief Noir. These are wines that are vivacious and pure, honest in their depiction of the true character of each grape and irresistible in their aromatic clarity and flavorful power.
The next generation of talent in the Côte Chalonnaise has arrived—and the name that’s causing a serious stir is Maxime Cottenceau. His exemplary wines are a delicious sign of the extraordinary potential of both the appellation of Montagny, and the Côte Chalonnaise overall.
“We go where the wind takes us,” was long the motto of Nathalie and Benjamin Boyer, two talented winemakers-for-hire, who for many years crafted wines for other domaines across France. After living in regions as diverse as Burgundy, Corsica and Monbazillac, the duo decided it was time to do their own thing and found a perfect piece of land in Fitou, Languedoc.
Charles Sparr represents the eighth generation of his family of negociants-vignerons to tend vines in Alsace; Amelie Sparr hails from the larger Barmès-Buecher winemaking clan, natives of Wettolsheim. Inheriting small parcels from both sides of the family, the young couple started their own domaine in 2017, the goal to create dry wines of terroir according to biodynamics.
The smoldering power of an ancient yet still active volcano, the native roots of unique grapes, and the passion of local talent eager to breathe new life into one of Campania’s most historic wine regions: Dionysus, god of the vine, would be most proud of the team at Cantine Olivella.
With many vines planted in 1924 and terroir that echoes Châteauneuf’s finest, winemakers Marilou Vacheron and her brother Axel are more than well-positioned to craft seriously compelling and character-rich southern blends.
We like to call Domaine Sauvète wines “stress-free” because what’s in the bottle comes not only with an iron-clad organic certification but also the know-how of four generations of artisan winemakers in Touraine.
Romain and Damien Bouchard founded their winemaking estate only in 2016, yet they are the fourth generation of their clan to toil the classic and chalky, Kimmeridgian soils of Chablis. For generations, the family provided other winemakers with peerless Chardonnay fruit, pulled from impressive holdings in grand cru and premier cru vineyards, planted carefully by family hands.