Translation missing: en.Chiara Boschis + Mas de Libian tasting this Saturday + Last chance to book tickets for the Two Paddocks wine dinner!: Chiara Boschis + Mas de Libian tasting this Saturday + Last chance to book tickets for the Two Paddocks wine dinner!
E. Pira e Figli
Chiara Boschis
The Pira family has a history in winemaking that goes back to the 17th century, but it was the way the plots were tended across Cannubi, San Lorenzo and Via Nuova, that ensured a future for these great sites of Barolo. Gigi Pira believed that just as cows must graze in the best pastures to produce excellent milk, only the best vineyards should be chosen for wine. As his neighbours turned to the use of machine to aid their production, in the late 1970s, Gigi was one of the last remaining winemakers to carry out all work on the vineyard by hand, or by foot as it was in the case of the pressing of the grapes.
In 1981, the plots were sold to close family friends, Franco and Ida Boschis whose family, like the Pira family, had been producing wine in Barolo for more than 8 generations. Their young daughter Chiara had just graduated from an economics degree, but after learning the ins and outs of winemaking from her brothers, she was keen to get her hands dirty. By the end of the 1980s, Chiara was one of Barolo's first female winemakers.
Joined in the vineyards and the cellar by her brother Giorgio in 2010, the siblings have expanded their Barolo holdings to include Mosconi, Ravera and Gabutti. The legacy of Gigi Pira is continued with all labour remaining completely manual, and the sites being certified organically since 2014.
Since the beginning, Chiara has worked to tame the powerful beast that is the Nebbiolo of Barolo, resulting in wines that are approachable, lush, textural, aromatic and elegant, and her 2019 release is no different.
A true Queen of the King of Wine! - Peta W
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Mas de Libian
Tasting Saturday 5th August
3pm - 6pm
We often talk about the Côtes-du-Rhône as though it was one giant, homogenous region. In reality it is an area of land that encompasses many different climates, altitudes and soil types.
The Domaine of Mas de Libian is located in Saint-Marcel-d’Ardèche on the hilly western slopes of the Rhône, at the tip of the visually stunning gorge of the Ardèche. The vineyards grow high on top of an ancient river terrace that rises steeply behind the Domaine. Here the mature goblet vines of Grenache and Mourvèdre et al. bathe in the Rhône sunlight while simultaneously enjoying excellent drainage and root penetration. The altitude of the vineyards provides cool evenings, which when coupled with the rocky limestone terroir and the bracing Mistral, guarantees the wines vibrancy and freshness; traits for which this bohemian Domaine is highly respected.
The model at Mas de Libian sees the farm as a self-sustaining environment rather than a production unit. The vines are cultivated organically, hand-harvested, and the soils hoed by hand and horse in the spring. Vigneron Hélène Thibon, takes little credit for her farm's organic management, which she explains has been practiced here for generations. A continuation of this philosophy, and an important milestone for the Domaine, was becoming certified biodynamic in 2005. No chemicals are used, and even in generous vintages very low yields are the norm. As the Mas de Libian biotope has come to offer an incredibly healthy environment for grape growing, Hélène has little recourse for sulphur, which is often not used at all during the winemaking process. The wines are crafted in unlined concrete vats with – cuvée depending – a portion of each wine being aged in large old foudres or older demi-muids. There are no yeast additions and sulphur additions are kept to the barest minimum. The wines are never fined or filtered.
The hallmark of Mas de Libian is silky, low yield concentration parried by vibrancy and vitality of fruit; these are pure, brightly fruited and perfumed wines that clearly reflect an intuitive and honest dedication to the Domaine’s stony terroir and gnarled old goblet vines. All the factors outlined above, and the quality of the wines that arise, make Mas de Libian one of the most exciting addresses of the Southern Rhône.
Join us this Saturday as we taste the Buve Z'en Rosé, the Bout d'Z*n Rouge, and everyone's favourite ball-sporting wine, Vin de Pétanque! - Peta W
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It's that time of year again!
WINE FAIR TIME!
ANNANDALE CELLAR DOOR
The festival of all things vinous is back and this time we are bringing the winemakers to our own backyard in Annandale!
We've handpicked a whole bunch of our favourite producers and asked them to transport the Cellar Door experience to our own Annandale Cellar Door @ Annandale Cellars for the day!
From NSW, Victoria, Queensland and South Australia, the producers will be on hand to chat about their wines as they pour them for you themselves. A great chance to quiz them on their craft (something they all love to discuss), or just talk about the weather (also something they all love to discuss). Rain, hail or shine, it won't stop the winemakers, and it is certain to a great day out!
Tickets are just $30 and include a Riedel tasting glass, yours to take home.
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Book your tickets now to join us next week as we sit down to dinner at with Two Paddocks' winery manager Jacqui Murphy, as she discusses her love of her Central Otago home, and its phenomenal Pinot Noir.
Friday 4th August
7pm
Russo & Russo, 158 Enmore Rd, Enmore
Tickets $245
Please email us at shop@acellars.com.au with any dietary requirements, which we will do our best to accommodate.