Wine Stories, People, Tastings & Scores

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South Africa's Single-Vineyard Wines: A Liquid Atlas

The story of provenance-driven, single-vineyard South African wines – especially from Chenin Blanc and Chardonnay – is comparatively recent...

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Wanted: Best Aspiring Bartender in the World

The World's 50 Best Bars is launching its first-ever scholarship for aspiring bartenders who fancy jetting off to work in two top-notch bars in London and New York.

Gérard Bertrand: The Future Belongs to Biodynamic Viticulture

Gérard Bertrand from Languedoc is one of the most important winemakers in the world. Falstaff spoke with the biodynamic pioneer about the future of viticulture.

Hamilton Russell Vineyards: Four Decades of South African Pinot Noir

Hamilton Russell Vineyards celebrated the 40th anniversary of their first vintage last year. To mark the occasion, the South African pioneer held a remarkable vertical tasting in London in 2022.

Prince Robert of Luxembourg Puts Private Cellar up for Auction

Sotheby’s will auction a rare selection of more than 4,000 bottles from the personal cellars of Prince Robert of Luxembourg in one of the biggest charity auctions of its kind.

Drink Pink: Diving into Hampton Water Rosé

Under the motto 'Drink Pink', US rock star Jon Bon Jovi and his son Jesse Bongiovi presented their rosé wine with top winemaker Gérard Bertrand in Paris.

Largest Moët & Chandon Champagne Bar in Europe to Open at Harrods

Moët & Chandon will open its biggest standalone Champagne bar in Europe at the end of June at Harrods in Knightsbridge, London.

Dry Extract Interview: Jacob Leadley, Black Chalk, Hampshire, England

In our Dry Extract mini-interview feature we ask top professionals in the world of wine, food and travel to answer 13 deceptively simple questions in a quick-fire fashion.

Penn Croft: New English Winery Debuts with Two Still Wines

The Hampshire-based winery has a novel approach when it comes to growing grapes. Their first two releases, a Bacchus and a Pinot Blanc, are a taste of what is yet to come.

Billecart-Salmon Releases Louis Salmon Blanc de Blancs 2008

Billecart-Salmon is best known for its elegant Brut Rosé Champagne, but a mini-vertical of prestige cuvée Louis Salmon showed their savoir-faire when it comes to Blanc de Blancs.

A Complete Guide to Champagne

Champagne has become a symbol of celebration as the corks pop and bubbles foam. It's time to savour the wine itself with our backgrounder on the finest bubbles from northern France.

Louis Roederer Salutes Camille with Second Vintage of Still Wines

This is the second vintage of Champagne house Louis Roederer's still wines, each made from a single parcel of vines and labelled under the Côteaux Champenois appellation.

What are Tequila & Mezcal?

The sale of agave spirits is booming. Here's our quick cheat's guide to Tequila and mezcal and how they differ.

Heineken to Invest £42m to Refresh 660 UK Pubs

The brewing giant Heineken is set to inject a massive £42 million/$53 million into 660 pubs across the UK this year.

Vamos Agave! All about Tequila & Mezcal

Agave spirits are an important part of Mexico's heritage. Tequila and mezcal are also booming in popularity internationally, giving rise to the desire for ever more authentic distillates.

Tyrrell’s Releases Latest Winemaker’s Selection

The name for this iconic Australian winery’s Winemaker’s Selection series was coined in the 1960s to mark out top casks that were to be bottled separately.

The Five Best Non-Fiction Books for Wine Lovers

From philosophy to memoir, scandal and forthright opinion, here are five non-fiction wine books to make you look at this drink, the world and yourself in a new light.

World's Largest Bottle of Scotch Set to be Auctioned

The Edinburgh-based auction house Lyon & Turnbull will sell a 311-litre bottle of 32-year-old Macallan single-malt called ‘The Intrepid’ on May 25.

First UK Sparkling Producer Nyetimber Launches Jubilee Bottle

Seven crowns adorn this special bottle design, symbolising each decade of the Queen’s reign in this special Jubilee edition of Nyetimber’s popular Classic Cuvée.

Love Bordeaux Reds? Five Other Styles to Discover

Its blend of bright cassis, cedar and leather with fine-boned structure, has made red Bordeaux a firm favourite. Here are five other styles for Bordeaux fans to consider.

Wineries & Estates

Marchesi di Barolo

Barolo (CN), Italy

The Marchesi di Barolo Estate encompasses vineyards in the Langhe, Roero and Monferrato areas: some of the finest in Piedmont, recognized as UNESCO heritage site. The cellars are in the centre of the village of Barolo, right in front of that castle which was once home to the last Marquises Falletti of Barolo – Carlo and Juliette – founders of the winery who first vinified Nebbiolo grapes in a dry style. For this rich and precious grape, Marquise Juliette created magnificent wine cellars to facilitate its fermentation and aging process in large fine oak barrels: Barolo, as we know it today, was born here. When the Falletti dynasty came to an end in 1864 with Marquise Juliette’s death, the winery was donated to the Opera Pia Barolo – a Charity Administration created by Juliette herself – and then acquired in 1929 by the local wine producers Pietro Abbona. Since then, the estate has been under the direction of the Abbonas as their family business. After five generations in the wine business, the mission of the family – today represented by Anna and Ernesto, and their children Valentina and Davide – still consists in knowing how to marry "tradition and evolution”by combining ancient winemaking techniques with the ability to present Barolo in a contemporary way, according to the most authentic and sought-after trends of "Made in Italy" food and winemaking. The Abbonas, equipped with great human and winemaking experience, present themselves and their company “Marchesi di Barolo”, as faithful interpreters of the native grape varieties and their provenance, respecting them and rigorously preserving the typical qualities, focusing on the peculiarities of every single vineyard.

Tasca d’Almerita

Palermo (PA), Italy

A blueprint for the next two centuries For almost two centuries, Tasca d’Almerita, one of Italy’s oldest and most renowned wine-families, has been based at the Regaleali estate, in Sicily’s rural heartland. But its past is a dynamic one. Even before Tenuta Regaleali was recognized as a “model farm” in the 1854 Sicilian Agricultural Yearbook, Tasca d’Almerita was an innovator. In eight generations, the company has never ceased to challenge itself. Today, Alberto Tasca carries forward into the future their family’s dedication to quality and passion for innovation and research. They have extended and enriched this legacy with a focus on environmental sustainability, rooted in the company’s patient curatorship of the land. Tasca d'Almerita is one of the founding members SOStain, Sicily's Alliance for Sustainable Winegrowing and Winemaking. It commits its partners to sustainable policies and a series of environmental criteria which go well beyond the usual requirements of organic certification. Alberto also piloted Tasca d’Almerita’s expansion from its historic heart of Regaleali to other sites of Sicilian oenological excellence: from Tenuta Tascante on Mount Etna to Tenuta Capofaro on the Aeolian Islands, from Sallier de la Tour in the Monreale area to Tenuta Whitaker on the Phoenician island Mozia. On these five estates, sustainable practices are enacted via a mix of modern technology and the scientific application of age-old wisdom; photovoltaic cells produce over one third of energy consumed, hives of Sicilian Black bees pollinate the vines, hybrid vehicles ferry workers around the estates, etc. For Tasca d’Almerita this is all about a search for purity and a return to a more artisanal approach to winemaking, to a renewed focus on lightness, freshness and elegance in Sicilian wine culture.

Hans Rottensteiner

Bozen (BZ), Italy

Winemaking on the red stone The history of the Rottensteiner family has always been closely linked to winegrowing in the city of Bolzano: the first records of winemaking on Rottensteiner lands go back to 1530. This is also reflected in the family name, which derives from the red-colored rock of the mountains around Bolzano, the porphyry. In 1956 Hans Rottensteiner founded the winery that bears his name, today run by the third generation in the person of his grandson, Hannes. “Interpreting the tradition of our winery in a modern way” is how Hannes describes the task that he and his wife Judith have set themselves for the coming years: their aim is to respect the achievements of the past and complement these with modern knowledge. Judith, who previously worked in the fields of classical music and culture and tourism marketing, tries in her own way to incorporate her experiences into her daily work at the winery. “We wish to follow our own clear path in running the winery and in producing our wine, remaining true to our own style without losing sight of the achievements of the past. We want to produce honest, down-to-earth South Tyrolean wines that have nothing to fear from international comparison. It is therefore vital that we all work as a team, complementing and comparing ourselves with each other, but never losing sight of our common goal.” The philosophy of the winery is to produce wines characterized by their clarity, elegance and freshness. The wines are intended for drinking pleasure and their typical nature should be clearly expressed, both in terms of variety and terroir. The range of varieties is wide and the majority of the wines from conviction mono-varietal, with a clear focus on the Schiava and Lagrein grapes that are so typical of the area. Minerally white wines are also gaining more and more in importance.

Di Giovanna

Sambuca Di Sicilia (AG), Italy

Celebrating 25 years (1997-2022) of certified organic viticulture & winemaking in Sicily. Often when we talk about Sicily, we think of long sunny stretches of seaside vineyards. This isn't the case at Di Giovanna, an oasis of biodiversity inside the mountains of the Monte Genuardo Nature Reserve. The family's viticulture tradition dates back five generations. In the 1980s, when the family vineyards were consolidated and replanted, Barbara and Aurelio Di Giovanna, with sons Gunther and Klaus, began their journey towards quality viticulture. Today the Di Giovanna brothers, adept and profoundly dedicated to their land, are assisted by Gianfranco Zito, who takes care of the winemaking operations. The five family vineyards are located in the small DOC’s of Contessa Entellina (Palermo) and Sambuca di Sicilia (Agrigento), in the heart of the Terre Sicane. The white varietals include: Grillo, Catarratto, Zibibbo, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc & Viognier and the red varietals: Nero d’Avola, Nerello Mascalese, Syrah, Merlot. The wine cellar, constructed in 2003, is home to the entire vinification process from the grape to the bottle. It's centrally located between the five family vineyards to ensure the highest quality control. Their white, rosè and red wines are united an expressive yet elegant character. They are crafted with an artisanal philosophy and preserves a strong identity of territory. All of Di Giovanna wines are 100% estate produced and bottled, certified organic. The annual production is 250,000 bottles.

Il Marroneto

Montalcino (SI), Italy

In 1974, Giuseppe Mori, Alessandro’s father – the current owner of the wine estate – fell in love with the medieval village of Montalcino, in the province of Siena (the city where the Mori family has its roots) and, in particular, with a small thirteenth-century ancient tower (where ‘marroni’, a special kind of chestnut, were dried, hence the name of the building). He bought the small farm, which offered a wide, sweeping view over the city of Siena and the entire Val d’Orcia. The holding is situated beneath the thirteenth-century church dedicated to the Madonna delle Grazie (Our Lady of Grace) – which gives its name to the small village where Giuseppe planted his first vineyard – on the north-facing side of the hamlet. It was a period of extensive vine growing and wine making had just started in Montalcino (the Wine Consortium had been established only seven years before), which is obviously very different from the vine-cloaked town that visitors see today. Giuseppe’s sons, Andrea and Alessandro, accompanied their father in this adventure and, despite the fact that they continue to follow in his footsteps in the legal profession, every weekend they work in the vineyard. The Mori family planted the first 3,000 square metres of vineyard in 1975, then a large area in 1979, followed by another 9,000 square metres in 1984. These were “trailblazing” years, as Alessandro – who at the time was still attending high school – likes to recall. “Our family did not come from the wine world and, initially, no one thought this ‘hobby’ would become the job of our lives.” explains Alessandro. But the meeting with an almost legendary duo of the Italian wine world, Mario Cortevesio and Giulio Gambelli, sparked off a unique passion in the Mori family and, in particular, in Alessandro. Right from the first meeting, Gambelli made it clear to the young Mori boys that wine is serious business, it’s not just a diversion, but rather a child you raise lovingly. Therefore, harvest after harvest, the passion for this world and the real love for Il Marroneto grew in the two youngsters, especially in Alessandro, who in the meantime graduated and started his professional career. He continues to follow the two activities, being a lawyer and a vigneron, but in the end, the latter prevails. From the first grape harvest in 1976, to the first wine bottling in 1980, right up to today, the history of Il Marroneto and Alessandro’s go hand in hand. Every vintage does not only represent a rainy summer or a windy, harsh winter, but it is also the indelible story of his life. Today, Alessandro, who continues to manage the wine estate’s entire production, is definitely an experienced vigneron, but, as he says, "With still a lot more to learn from my vineyards.", his daily teachers.

Weingut Hannes Reeh

Andau, Austria

"It has to be a passion, not a science", Hannes Reeh always likes to say when he talks about drinking wine. The vintner combines long-standing family tradition and the authenticity of a true Burgenländer with wine experience from the New World. The result of his work: accessible wines that convince both laymen and confirmed connoisseurs. It's good to live under the sun of Andau - as a person and as a vine. With around 2400 hours of sunshine per year, Andau is the sunniest place in Austria - at the same time, less than 500 millimeters of annual precipitation make it one of the places with the least rainfall in the country. The Pannonian climate is made for good wine, because under these circumstances extraordinarily ripe grapes grow, which produce wines of elegant power and fullness. As one would expect from the Pannonian steppe, the soils under Hannes Reeh's vineyards are for the most part poor and gravelly. A few things are true of all Hannes Reeh wines: they have no unnecessary ballast, are strong in character, and bring the flavor of the heath soil to the bottle. And yet each variety has its own special characteristics. The wines of the Andau vintner are divided into four groups: The "Haus und Hof" wines are single-varietal and offer completely uncomplicated drinking pleasure; they are simply the winery's classics. The wines under the title "Heideboden" combine aroma and dense body with fine freshness. The "Unplugged" wines, on the other hand, do without any frills, thus, without fining and cosmetics. And the new line "In Bloom" comes along intensively and complexly - just "in full bloom", like the Nirvana song.

Weingut Kurt und Beatrix Hummel

Niederschleinz, Austria

Step by step, Kurt and Beatrix Hummel have turned their small winery into a top operation. The small family-run estate is entirely focused on creating pure drinking pleasure for you, especially with their Grüner Veltliners. They now have also added a reserve line to their wine range. Their initial 3 hectares of vineyards have now grown to 9 hectares: this shows the family’s ambition for growth but still allows them to care for each vine individually. The humus-rich loess soils around tranquil Niederschleinz, together with the Pannonian climate, offer perfect conditions for viticulture. About 70 percent of their vineyards are planted to Grüner Veltliner, the rest is taken up by Pinot Blanc, Riesling, Chardonnay and Zweigelt. Kurt Hummel bottles his Grüner Veltliner at five different stages of maturation. He says: "From light, spicy and peppery to full-bodied and powerful – every Veltliner lover will find his style of wine with us!"  Kurt Hummel's flair for wine clearly runs in the family. Daughter Laura graduated from the college for Viticulture and Pomology in Klosterneuburg and has already left her first mark on her parents' business. The new "BIG FLIGHT Reserve Line" is her creation.

Weingut Sander

Mettenheim, Germany

The winery was farmed organically when this was still completely new territory; grandfather Ottoheinrich Sander is one of the pioneers of organic viticulture. His grandson submitted fascinating wines in every respect: Great white and red reserves. In addition, the winery cultivates old vines that were rediscovered only a decade ago such as Grünfränkisch, known since ancient times, and Fränkischer Burgunder, a local variety from the time of Charlemagne. A stunning debut in our guide: The rating starts with three stars and the fourth is not far away!

Weingut Friedrich Kiefer

Eichstetten, Germany

Helen and Martin Schmidt are currently celebrating an anniversary: ten years ago, they took over the historic Kiefer winery in Eichstetten. There was a lot of work to tackle in the winery, which was founded in 1851, but the Schmidts managed to preserve the best of the past - such as the stately wooden barrel cellar - and combine it with the most advanced modern technology, which is evident in the clear structure of their range. Terms like "tradition" and "three-star" are self-explanatory. The fact that the quality is also right is all the more remarkable given the size of the farm: 155 hectares!

Col Vetoraz

Valdobbiadene (TV), Italy

All the excellence of a unique territory, in a glass "The only way to obtain the balance and the natural harmony that the vine is able to offer, is to follow a strict process that preserves the expressive integrity of the fruit". This is the credo of Loris Dall'Acqua, Col Vetoraz C.E.O. and oenologist, based in Santo Stefano di Valdobbiadene (Treviso). Col Vetoraz follows every year the path marked by nature, fully respecting the perfection with which it gives birth to each grape contributing to this prestigious sparkling wine. Conegliano Valdobbiadene hills, now officially a UNESCO World Heritage Site, are an expression of excellence and undisputed uniqueness bearing immense cultural and historical value. The method of production aims for the highest quality, following the criteria of extreme respect towards the land. All this from the magnificent slopes of the Valdobbiadene DOCG area, where the harvest is strictly performed by hand. The result is that the wines of  Valdobbiadene DOCG are of the highest quality of the entire denomination, obtaining over the years numerous awards, nationally and internationally. The absolute guarantee of excellence goes from the very first to the very last bottle: Valdobbiadene DOCG Superiore di Cartizze, Valdobbiadene DOCG Dry Millesimato, Valdobbiadene DOCG Extra Brut Ø, Valdobbiadene DOCG Extra Dry, Valdobbiadene DOCG Brut, Valdobbiadene DOCG Cuvée 5 Extra Brut and Valdobbiadene DOCG Cuvée 13 Extra Dry, represent a single production line of the spectacular range of sparkling wines.

Bellavista

Erbusco (BS), Italy

The history of the Moretti family is intertwined with that of Erbusco and the Franciacorta area, as a 15th century correspondence testifies. In 1977, Vittorio Moretti decided to devote himself to the world of wine. He started a winery and built a home in the hamlet of Bellavista, after buying small plots of land from 30 different owners. A beautiful spot, as the name – Bella-vista, lovely view – suggests, and one that has also proven to be especially well suited for growing grapes. In 1981 Vittorio Moretti met oenologist Mattia Vezzola, who in that same year joined the company. He was a key figure in defining the Bellavista style. From the vineyards to the wine, every process was performed naturally, every decision was made in consideration of the rhythms dictated by nature and by the history of the Franciacorta area. Consequently, making Bellavista one of the leading names in sparkling wines domestically and internationally. Nowadays, the Bellavista brand stands for elegance and refinement. Each bottle tells the story of the winery, of the land where it is situated and of the style that charachterizes it.

Weingut Hiestand

Guntersblum, Germany

The Hiestand family has been producing wine in Guntersblum, Rheinhessen, since 1401. Today, Gunther Hiestand runs the family winery organically. ‘Organic farming allows the strength and vitality of our soils to unfold and come alive in the vines’, says the winemaker. On the hills and in the cellar, he gives the wine time. The style is classic: The wines are food-friendly, never too sweet, straightforward without any fuss. The Gewürztraminer is elegantly understated, and the Pinot Blanc captivates with subtle floral notes. Solid stuff!

Samus-Gallus

Deidesheim, Germany

This Wine of Friendship is created in Deidesheim located in the Palatinate right at the german wineroute. Being Friends from schooldays , Maike Heil and Hanns-Georg Hahn from the Deidesheimer Hof focus only on First-Class wines. Riesling deriving from the single layer „ Deidesheimer Herrgottsacker“ gives this First Class quality and connects winelovers all over the world .. This is why Samus-Gallus was also served in the Adlon for the Bundespresseball as well as with Lufthansa to celebrate special occasions. Fine notes of citrus blossom mingle with fruity apple and soft mineralic shades, and balanced freshness makes you enjoy life. We are looking forward to celebrating life with YOU!

Weingut Kopp

Sinzheim, Germany

Things are really on the move at Johannes Kopp‘s winery! The construction of a new building that will house the winery and its own eatery is progressing, with completion scheduled for September 2022. At the same time, the conversion to biodynamic farming is underway too and the winemaker is planning to breed Scottish Highland cattle. How marvellous that the wine has not been neglected. On the contrary: The 2018 Felsenstück Spätburgunder is outstanding, and the basic 2018 Spätburgunder is captivating with a sensational price-performance ratio. Congratulations on the fourth star!

Weingut Josef & Philipp Bründlmayer

Grunddorf, Austria

Passion and love for the craft are still the best pre-requisites for quality. This is especially true for the production of products that people should and are allowed to enjoy - such as wine. Philipp Bründlmayer carries this passion and love in his DNA. His wines are therefore the stuff of bliss: varietal, pure, straightforward and of unmistakable provenance. In Grunddorf, in the furthest corner of the Kamptal, they are stored and matured in steel tanks and large wooden barrels. However, they originate from the mighty loess terraces of Gedersdorf and Rohrendorf and thus bear the Kremstal hallmark . A beautiful spot of earth, created for winegrowing. Here, climatic conditions prevail that are essential for the aroma formation and character of the wine. In addition to knowledge, craftsmanship and climate, the condition of the soil is a decisive factor in the creation of great wines. In the Kremstal, loess and conglomerate form the ideal terroir for the typically dry wines for which Austria, as a wine country, is so highly regarded. Philipp and Josef Bründlmayer practice viticulture with a down-to-earth approach and an understanding of tradition. The vineyards that the winery cultivates could not fit better within this philosophy: They are unruly, impassable and want to be worked by hand. But they are also - if left to their own devices and approached properly - an ideal place for those varieties for which this region is so well-known and loved. At Philipp Bründlmayer, wines are allowed to show, in unadorned fashion, where they grew up - without frills and bows and whistles. On 25 hectares, his winery cultivates over 100 different vineyards with a wide variety of microclimates. He does not only bottle wines that are representative of their kind, but also bear his unmistakable signature. With no more than one gram of residual sugar, all wines are particularly dry and thus ambassadors of their region - pure Kremstal.

Carpineta Fontalpino

Castelnuovo Berardenga (SI), Italy

Carpineta Fontalpino is a winery and farm located in the heart of Tuscany, near the splendid town of Siena. Not far from the winery’s land, the historic Montaperti hill welcomes us in the municipality of Castelnuovo Berardenga, southern outpost of the Chianti Classico denomination. The land we own extends for about 90 hectares (222 acres) that we cultivate with certified organic practices: we grow vines and “Senatore Cappelli” wheat. The vineyards cover an area of 30 hectares (74 acres), with parcels specialized in Sangiovese, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon – as well as other selected varietals, such as Petit Verdot and Alicante. Since we are blessed with a strategic position, near the border of different wine areas, we are able to produce both Chianti Classico and Chianti Colli Senesi DOCG, in addition to our Supertuscan IGT. The winery has been in the hands of the Cresti family since the 1960s. Traces of wine-making roots in the area date back up to the 19th century, but it was in 1967 that Italo Cresti, Gioia and Filippo’s father, decided to follow his vocation and turn it into a business, run with love and devotion. Nowadays, Gioia is the enologist of the winery, she takes care of all the aspects of wine-making, from harvest to maturation. She makes the most important choices, and you can find her personal touch on every phase of production. Her brother Filippo manages sales, communication and marketing.

Roxanich Winery & Restaurant

Motovun, Croatia

Roxanich is specialized in rare, long aged, natural wines from ancient Venetian lands. The spectacular winery is located in the medieval town of Motovun in Istria. Every Roxanich wine is a reflection of the magical place where it was created, and the strict natural, organic philosophy behind it. Freedom by Nature: Nestled between the heartland of Istrian winemaking and the Venetian coasts, in one of the world’s most picturesque viticultural landscapes, Mladen Rožanić and his six daughters - the eponymous Sorelle - continue not only to produce strictly limited quantities of wines with heritages stretching back hundreds of years, but also to evolve new varieties, producing authentic wines in harmony with nature. This rich history permeates everything they do: from the careful control of their deliberately small-scale production, to their strict adherence to organic, natural winemaking. Today, the Roxanich selection of 20 organic labels, ranges from crisp whites to honeysuckle rosés, to long aged and macerated white, orange and deep, dark and rich reds, divided into three distinct collections: PHILOSOPHY, SORELLE and FIRST ROSES. No winemaker has shaped the natural wine scene like Mladen Rožanić in recent years. With a maximum of knowledge, he brings wines to bottles with a minimum of intervention. This thinking created Mladen’s ultimate vision of vinifying and ageing international and indigenous varietals - such as Teran, Merlot, Borgonja Istriana, Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot Noir, as expressed in his premium, signatory “Philosophy” range. In the vineyard - only natural elements like copper and sulphur are admitted in minimal quantities. Grapes are vinified in specially shaped barrels - wooden vats of 55 to 75 hl capacity - where fermentation and maceration take place. After pressing and first decanting, the wine is reracked in these same vats as well as 36 hl casks, where it is kept to age and mature for years. The wines are characterized by long skin contact which varies from vintage to vintage – 4 to 8 weeks for the reds, and for the whites from a day up to six months. More than 26 hectares of own, single estate vineyards, from Croatia’s most dramatic and coveted wine-growing region, ‘Red Istria’, supply Roxanich with grapes already bursting with flavour, untarnished by pesticides or any forms of artificial enrichment. Named for its striking red, iron-rich limestone soil, its neutral acidity and high minerality make it perfect for growing many of the region’s signature varietals. Roxanich’s eclectic, contemporary winery, featuring a sublime zero-kilometer cuisine and 32 rooms design hotel, rests perched on a hillside beneath the gentle shadow of Motovun, overlooking the dreamlike scenery of the Mirna River valley. Swanky and sophisticated, the rooms and suites are an ideal home away from home, while you explore Istria.

Weingut Stefan Zehetbauer

Schützen am Gebirge, Austria

The Zwird Winery is run by Stefan Zehetbauer who is the the tenth generation. It is located in Schützen am Gebirge, in the middle of the Leithaberg region. The vineyards are located on and around the Schützner Stein and are characterised by the slate and limestone-rich soils of the region. Stefan Zehetbauer's aim is to produce wines with depth, a distinctive minerality and good ageing potential. The vineyards have top priority for the winemaker, because that is where the foundation for the quality is laid. The interventions in the cellar, on the other hand, are reduced to a necessary minimum. Selected yeasts and enzymes are not used, fermentation is spontaneous and the wines remain on the lees for a long time. The white reserves and all red wines do not require fining. The terroir concept always comes first. The Leithaberg varieties Blaufränkisch, Pinot Blanc and Chardonnay make up the majority of the range. The top wines come from the Steinberg vineyard, which with its barren mica slate is one of the best sites in this region. However, the family has always thought outside the box. They have meanwhile made a name for themselves with their unique Cabernet Franc from Steinberg - which the Zehetbauers pioneered in Austria at the end of the 1980s.

Komjanc Alessio

San Floriano del Collio (GO), Italy

Wine Craft, a family tradition The Komjanc winery is located on the Collio hills in a panoramic position. The hilly amphitheater protects Collio from the northern fall winds and proximity to the Adriatic coast ensures a mild microclimate. Climate and soil of sandstone and marl, called "ponca", make this area an ideal place for viticulture and olive growing. The family-run winery was founded by Alessio, whose grandparents were already producing wine in Collio at the end of the 18th century. Today Alessio has four of his sons at his side: Beniamin, Roberto, Patrik and Ivan. They are united by the values of tradition with the aim of producing high quality wine and oil in harmony with nature. The Komjanc vineyards cover 24 hectares. Only the highest quality grapes are processed and express the care that is applied every day in the vineyards. Collio is a vineyard area for excellent wthite wines, especially for the authocthonous Ribolla Gialla, Friulano, Malvasia, Picolit as well as for international varieties Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon and Traminer Aromatico. Characterful red wines such as Schioppettino, Pinot Noir, Merlot and Cabernet Franc are also produced. In 2015 started the important collaboration with the oenologist Gianni Menotti, who has signed the last vintages of the company.  

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