Winemaker Éric Louis can follow his roots in Sancerre as far back as 1860, when his great-grandmother Pauline was an early pioneer by tending vines and bottling her own wines. Sauvignon Blanc has remained the family’s passion, with hillside vineyards to the southeast of Sancerre in Vinon.
While so much of Bordeaux is dominated by grand estates that demand equally grand prices, we cherish small estates that build on the traditions of the region, artisans who strive for wines that reflect the best of Bordeaux: rich ripe fruit, silky tannins, soulful spice.
In the heart of the breathtaking Isarco Valley in Alto Adige, just south of Bressanone, you’ll find the organic family estate of Azienda Agricola Garlider. Winemaker Christian Kerschbaumer and his wife, Veronika, not only care for native regional grapes like Grüner Veltliner, Müller-Thurgau and Sylvaner but also cultivate the only Pinot Nero vines in the valley.
The family estate of Piero Busso is a leading name in Barbaresco for its dedication in capturing the natural elegance of Nebbiolo from Neive. Piero Busso’s father planted in 1948 by hand the Nebbiolo vines that today wrap around the family’s house and cellar in cru ‘Albesani.’
In northern Italy, it is the playful Ostro, a south wind that travels from the Adriatic Sea with its fresh, sea-salty tang, that encourages the lively flavors and vibrant citrus tones of Friuli’s native grapes. We looked far and wide for a Prosecco that would impress, and found it here in its native land!
Winemaker Sylvain Gauthier is one artisan who already has found more than solid footing here in the Saint-Joseph appellation. He started his micro-domaine in 2007, the name “pierres séches” inspired by the many hand-built stone walls that support vineyard terraces in the region.
The village of Chitry is starting to make waves among the somm and restaurant set, as a source of top-notch Burgundian Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, and the name on everyone’s lips is Olivier Morin. His are wines that transcend appellation with their resonant flavors and stunning complexity, and what’s more, they offer outstanding value.
This family farm is one of Montalcino’s smallest, located near Tavernelle in the appellation’s southwest, with just over seven acres of land planted (by family hands) to Sangiovese vines. If you want the true soul of Montalcino, look no further.
While so much of Montalcino has become consumed by large estates and flashy conglomerates, it is a breath of fresh air to find a true family winery like Pietroso with deep roots in the region and an honest belief in the potential of Sangiovese from its native soils.
With Richard Petit’s attention to detail in the fields and Véronique Bajan’s tasting prowess in the cellar, the small-batch, grand cru wines of Petit & Bajan are very much the voice of Champagne’s new generation. Like their neighbor and mentor in Avize, Anselme Selosse, Richard and Véronique start by harvesting perfectly ripe grapes. At every step in the winemaking process, no detail is too small to be further perfected.