Massimiliano Croci’s lip-smacking frizzante wines have a hidden tannic kick which really works well – a tasty tradition from Emilia-Romagna. Simon reviews their 2016 Campedello.
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Earth, grapes and maceration – Claus Preisinger’s Edelgraben GV
Claus Preisinger shows that Burgenland’s Grüner Veltliner can really deliver, if it’s macerated for five months in a Georgia qvevri.
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A perfect blend of old and new – Vinarija Križ
Every week, Simon selects an orange wine (a white wine made with extended skin contact) that grabbed his attention. View the whole series here. Denis Bogoević Marušić and his father Mile are an impressive 42 years apart (Mile is 85 and Denis is 43). But as Denis’s wife Maja remarks, “Both are well preserved with natural wine” –
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Ancestral beauty from Viñátigo, Tenerife
Simon thought he knew what white/orange wines from the Canary islands taste like. Until he tries Viñátigo’s Elaboraciones Ancestrales Blanco 2016!
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Haywire is Okanagan’s free form gem
Haywire produce some of Canada’s very best orange wines, not bad for what started as a retirement project.
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Really wild wines from Giorgi Natenadze
Some wines really are unique. Giorgi Natenadze’s are made from wild vines growing in mountain forests, some up to 400 years old. They taste quite otherwordly.
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Sterling stuff from Sperling & Southbrook vineyards
Simon discovers two very fine orange wines made by Canadian winegrower Ann Sperling, who also happens to have spearheaded one of the world’s first official quality classifications for orange wine.
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Simply Portuguese – Simplesmente Vinho 2018
Anyone who thinks Portugal is just about fortified wine and heavy, oaky reds should get themselves over to Simplesmente Vinho, an alternative wine fair held in Porto at the end of February. It’s one the best and most inspiring celebrations of the huge diversity, quality and vitality that is Portuguese wine right now. I come
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Craven prove that Clairette needs skin
Mick & Jeanine Craven are leading the charge for experimentation in Stellenbosch, and their efforts are paying off with some superb skin fermented Clairette and Pinot Gris.
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The Hermit Ram – wild beast of Canterbury
Theo Coles makes naked, stripped down wines in Canterbury, New Zealand which use skin fermentation to achieve magical ends.