Translation missing: en.Italian Natural Wine Tasting Sat 3pm-6pm + Clos Cibonne + Poppelvej: Italian Natural Wine Tasting Sat 3pm-6pm + Clos Cibonne + Poppelvej
Italian Natural Wine Tasting
22nd June 3-6PM
Join us this Saturday for a tasting of two different natural Italian wine producers: Podere San Biagio and Valli Unite.
Podere San Biagio are located in the town of Controguerra which straddles the border Marche and Abruzzo. The influence of the sea and mountains create the perfect climate for them to work the indigenous grapes of the region and all of the wines are made with spontaneous fermentation, no fining or filtering and only the smallest splash of sulphur at bottling.
Valli Unite is one of Italy’s first natural wine cooperatives created in the 70’s based in southeast Piemonte. Vineyards lie amid beehives, farm animals, orchards, and truffle filled woodlands. The members of this co-op believe that natural vinification is a social responsibility and use soil humus, livestock manure, native yeasts, local grapes, time, and a healthy dose sulphur to manifest this philosophy. This is the lineup that we'll be pouring for you on Saturday:
Valli Unite Ciape 2022
Valli Terragno 2021
Valli Unite Rosatea 2021
Fiore San Biagio Sgarzella Pet Nat 2022
Fiore San Biagio Briscola e Tre Sette Montepulciano 2022
Fiore San Biagio Vino Cotto NV
Clos Cibonne
Clos Cibonne are without a doubt one of the top benchmark producers for high-quality rosé. The thing that sets this producer apart from the other landfill of Provencal rosé producers is that they use the native and notoriously difficult grape variety: Tibouren.
The vineyards are managed organically, though not certified, with all of the work being carried out by hand. The estate’s 15 hectares of vineyards are located a mere 800 metres from the coast and are surrounded by hillsides in the base of a bowl that faces the sea. This topography creates a beneficial air circulation which extends the growing period whilst cooling the vines.
We've recently received a dozen of each of the three wines listed below that also happens to cover 3 different price points. These would be a excellent purchase for anyone wanting to try a more "serious" rosé with savoury undertones. - Aaron C.Poppelvej
Poppelvej is one of the most exciting young guns making wines from Mclaren Vale and Adelaide Hills at the moment. What/who is Poppelvej? Poppelvej {pronounced pop - el - vei} is the name of the street in Denmark where the winemaker Uffe grew up. Vej is the Danish word for street and poppel træ is Danish for poplar tree. Uffe's wines are fun, energetic and wonderfully showcase the varietal character of each grape that some of the more extreme natural winemakers can often lose in the cellar.
Uffe works out of a tiny shed in Whites Valley, Mclaren Vale as you can see from the photo of him getting into his work above. Uffe sources all of the fruit for his wines from eco-sustainable vineyards and takes a minimal-intervention approach in the cellar to let the grapes do the talking. This minimal-intervention approach involves natural fermentation with native yeasts and no additives at all with the exception of a touch of sulphur at bottling and only the smallest amount necessary.
We recently bought a range of different wines from this producer after tasting through them and having a chat with Uffe himself. I really enjoyed these and didn't think there was a bad wine in the lineup, and I'm not necessarily into skin-contact or "natural" wines at all, but was thoroughly impressed with these. From the orange wines we have: OST Riesling, RA Greco and the Aeventyr Gewurztraminer. With all of these wine, just imagine the typical varietal notes with a hint of orange, mandarin and blossom on top as well as a result of the skin contact, all with great weight and acidity. From the reds we picked up: Lille Terodelgo, Rookie Grenache and the Blue Rose Cinsault. All of these wines were crisp, fresh and pretty. All of these wines fall into what I would call the "clean natural wine" category, meaning there is no funkiness or volatile acidity at all. These are just some fun, well-made wines that you don't see every day. What's not to love? - Aaron C.