Producers

Nikolas Juretic Gorizia, Friuli Venezia Giulia, Italy Nikolas Juretic was born in a family of winemakers. His ancestors used to cultivate a piece of land for the earls of San Floriano. Cultivating wines was a part of it and with the few grapes that were left over they used to make wines following rudimentary methods. Nikolas remembers well how his grandfather used to live, he would be considered a biodynamical guru nowadays but for his generation it was normal to live in harmony with animals and plants. This way of permaculture inspires Nikolas in his present work. Nikolas himself studied oenology and traveled the world to gain experience at various estates. He also spent some time working with Simon & Sirch, specialising in the pruning of vines. It was in 2018 that he started his own production of wine. He uses the grapes of his family vineyard. His parents, Elena and Robert, help him by tending to the vineyard while he kan focus on his work in the cellar. The vineyard spreads out over 2 hectares near the border with Slovenia. The soil is locally called Ponka or Flysch and consists of sandstone, marl and is rich in limestone. It allows the roots of the vines to grow deeply into the earth, making it very suited for viticulture. The vines are over 50 years old and grow mostly local varieties. The vineyards are great in biodiversity as wild grass is allowed to grow and animals and plants from the nearby forest all are welcome. Nikolas and his parents really walk alongside nature instead of trying to control it. The cellar is an interesting place for Nikolas. The climate is favourable for ripe grapes, which he likes. In order for the wines to be not only rich and complex but to also keep some freshness Nikolas uses whole bunch maceration. After a couple of days of maceration and spontaneous fermentation the must is transferred into wooden barrels or concrete tanks to ripen on the lees for a long time. They are then bottled without fining or filtering and with minimal amounts of sulphite. The wines are rich and complex, with notes of rip fruit. Yet they keep a surprising freshness. These wines need time to be drunk and also to be understood. Elegant, deep and never ordinary. The colourful labels are painted by Nikolas himself.

Mirco Mariotti Bosco Eliceo, Emilia Romagna, Italy Formerly a biologist, Mirco Mariotti inherited his father’s vineyards in 2009. The vines are located some 300 meters from the Adriatic Sea, west of Ferrara in Emilia Romagna. This region falls under the Bosco Eliceo DOC, the only DOC with a grand cru for the grape Fortana, which also grows in Mariotti’s vineyards. They have a long tradition of frizzante, made in the ancestral method from 100 year old vines. Some of them are even planted on the beach. This region is also known to be very laid-back, where locals are on the beach, eating piadina romagnola (grilled flatbreads), drinking frizzante and playing beach and card games. Mirco named his wines after these card games. Sèt e Mèz being some sort of Blackjack and Smarazen being a sort of Rummy game. Mariotti’s vines are planted in the Fortana grand cru area. They grow in sandy soils and are non-grafted, remaining on their original rootstock. Mariotti uses a technique of layering the new shoots, bending them under the ground for them to shoot up like new vines. Under his vineyard now lies a gnarly web of interconnected vines over one hundred years old. Healthy, organic, grapes are the foundation of Mariotti’s wines. These are hand-picked early October, providing a higher acidity content. The pressed must is left to macerate for a day or two after which fermentation lasts for about two weeks in stainless steel tanks. Then the wine is transferred into concrete tanks to wait until the botteling. During the botteling, some fresh must is added to the wine in order for a second fermentation to start in the bottle. These are wines with character, slighlty saline and savoury with notes of ripe fruit. Start dealing the cards!

Antonio Gismondi Cerreto Sannita, Benevento, Campania, Italy Anabel and Antonio Gismondi are established in the hills of Cerreto Sannita, a small village in Benevento, Northeast of Naples. Here Antonio’s family has been working the land for generations, mostly tending to vines, growing local grape varieties as Malvasia di Candia, Falanghina, Sangiovese and Freisa. Antonio’s parents used to sell most of the grapes to the local cooperative, only keeping a small amount to make their own wines for the family. Antonio himself used to run a restaurant in the Catalonian village of Bonastre. During this time he befriended Massimo Machiori and Antonella Gerosa, well known from Partida Creus. While visiting the Gismondi family, they enjoyed the family wines so much that they convinced them to start selling their wines. In 2019 Antonio took over ands started to make his own wines under the name Gismondi. The vineyards lie at an altitude of 350 to 380 meters and about 60 kilometers from the Tyrrhenian coast. The circumstances create an unique microclimate, cooler and with enough yearly rain, different to the surroundings. The maritime influences bring humid easterly winds in the harvest season while the vineyards are covered in fog during the cooler months. These conditions allow for the wines to display more delicacy and finesse than one might expect from this part of Italy. The two hectares are situated on hilly terrain with clayey and stoney soils. All the work in the vineyards is done organically, without any chemicals. Antonio follows his own common sense as well as the recipes of his ancestors. In the cellar the approach is also natural. Antonio ages his wines in stainless steel tanks, uses no additives or sulphites and fermentations occur spontaneously with indigenous yeasts. Because of the climate and Antonio’s approach the wines are fresh and delicate. The nearby sea and the soil give salinity and minerality. All wines are light with floral aromas and with notes of citrus, underlying saline and mineral characteristics. The labels show the silhouettes of the surrounding hills. Uplifting wines!

Angelo Sega San Giacomo di Teglio, Valtellina, Lombardy, Italy In the north of Lombardia lies Valtellina. Leonardo da Vinci described this valley as a “valley surrounded by tall and fearsome mountains” in which “heady and strong” wines are produced. This region has been growing Nebbiolo, known best from Barolos and Barbarescos from Piemonte, since medieval times under the name Chiavennasca. Valtellina’s Chiavennasca is known as leaner and more delicate than its counterparts from Piemonte. Chiavennasca’s most delicate and elegant expression is said to be found in Valgella, in the eastern sub-region of the valley. It is here, in San Giacomo di Teglio, on the steep terraced slopes, that Angelo Sega and his sons Luca and Matteo make wine under the label of Barbacàn. The family is nicknamed Barbacàn, after the local name for the buttresses present in the terraces. Their seven hectares of vineyards are located between 300 and 800 metres of altitude. The soil consists of sandy and loamy granites, rich in silica which perfectly absorbs the daytime heat. The conditions make it impossible to work the land with any machinery. Thus the family does everything by hand, just like their ancestors. Tradition and cultural identity are deeply rooted in the practices of Angelo and his sons. They work hard to keep local and often forgotten grape varieties as well as local agricultural tradition and practices alive. This all results in wines that uniquely reflect the terroir and each vintage with elegance and finesse. In the cellar, Antonio, Luca and Matteo guide the wines, without imposing themselves on or intervening in the process too much. The fermentation is spontaneous, with native yeasts, and takes place in open vats of steel and concrete without any temperature control. The ripening is done in big wooden barrels. Before bottling the wines are not filtered and only sulphured minimally. The bottles emphasise the deep connection between the wines and their historic identity as the labels are inspired by neolithic drawings found in caves on the cliffs of Teglio. Very pure, living and bright wines. Firm and mineral in a reflection of the granite soil and the cool mountain wind. The burning passion of the winemakers together with the energy from ancient roots shine through. In short, really special wines from the Italian Alps with great aging potential. A showcase of local identity and tradition.

Edoardo Sacchetto Veneto, Italy Edoardo Sacchetto draws inspiration out of different people and ideas from different countries and cultures. Hinduism, biodynamics and his studies in alternative technologies inspire and influence the way Edoardo cares for his vineyards, vines and wines. This results in an open-minded way of winemaking where ideas from all over the world are combined with local tradition. Back in 2016 Edoardo decided to start Az. Agricola Ananda. He rented some vineyards in the Euganean Hills and, with the help of his father, planted his first vines. While the vines grew, he worked in a bistro in Padua and it was there that he got introduced to natural wine as well as several producers. These producers, such as the well known Daniel Sage, gave him the opportunity to learn this way of winemaking. It was in 2020 that he released the first cuvées under his own name. His vineyards are situated at an altitude of 200 meters and the soil contains clay, limestone and mineral volcanic rock. Sacchetto mainly grows Garganega, Merlot, Moscato Giallo, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir together with some indigenous grapes that are co-planted in certain plots. Edoardo tends to his vineyards with the greatest care, doing everything manually and not allowing any chemicals onto his plots as well as following the principles of biodynamics and the natural rhythms of the earth. It should not come as a surprise that Edoardo follows similar principles in his cellar, working with great precision and care. Fermentation happens spontaneously through natural yeasts and the whole process is dictated by biodynamic principles. Different techniques are used according to the type of wine Edoardo Sacchetto wants to make, although he always lets the grape and terroir determine the trajectory. The wines are intens, energetic and concentrated. Nevertheless Edoardo manages to also keep them fresh and juicy. Very limited!!

Gianluca, Gregorio & Gino Nizza Monferrato, Piemonte, Italy SETTE consists of Gino and Gianluca, with 5,5 hectares of vines aged between 20 and 75 years in Nizza Monferrato. They grow mostly Barbera but also some Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Moscato. The vineyards used to be exhausted from years of mass production but due to the work of these winemakers the vines have been allowed to slowly recover. Other crops and fruit trees were planted in the vineyards to bring back diversity. Everything is done from a biodynamic approach. From liter bottles to share to deep and rich Barbera for diner, all the wines are mineral and clean, for everyone to enjoy. Step into a restaurant in Italy and everyone knows Gino della Porta. This is because he works for the import company Kippis since forever. Gino knows wine and everybody knows Gino. Now, he is focussed more on Sette and travels all over the world to sell his wines. Special wines from Piemonte, as the Nizza is a kind of Barbera you haven’t had before. Classic but definitely with it’s own style. Don’t miss out on the amazing Grignolino and Rosato if you want to taste something special and rare. But if you want to make everyone on the table happy, pour some elegant Barbera d’Asti.

Francesco Pozzobon Nizza Monferrato, Asti, Piedmont, Italy Tenuta Foresto lies in the hills of Nizza Monferrato, in the heart of Asti (Piemonte), Italy. During the winter of 2016/17 Francesco Pozzobon used this place to realise his dream of setting up a vineyard and producing wine. He took over a semi-abandoned farmhouse with a vineyard where for years nothing had been grown intensively. It met the exact conditions he had in mind as it is surrounded by woods, preventing chemicals used on neighbouring conventional vineyards of blowing over onto their vines. Francesco strives to have as little influence as possibile on the natural ecosystem. By listening to the seasons they have managed to recover the fertility of the land and give their vines a fruitful place. Their cellar is a well insulated place that follows the temperatures of the different seasons without burdening the wines. The harvested grapes are placed in 35-50 hl tanks made of concrete or wood. In these tanks the fermentation takes place spontaneously together with the maceration. The ripening lasts about 12 months in oak barrels, without filtration, fining or addition of sulphites whatsoever. The wine is then bottled and let to ripen another 3 months in the bottle. Francesco predominantly uses local grape varieties such as Barbera, Moscato, Cortese and Dolcetto. The vines are all between 10 and 70 years of age and are planted in soils of limestone mixed with some clay and chalk, a terroir typical of the Nizza Monferrato region. Francesco really aims for his wines to be an honest representation of this terroir. The wines are straightforward, fruity, elegant but rich and for every wine drinker, natural lovers or not. La ideale is the perfect by the glass Barbera, whilst Paupau is the lighter happy fruity wine and Acru is his grand cru Barbera, a must.

Alessandro Martelli Suvereto, Tuscany, Italy Incontri lies in the municipaliry of Suvereto in Tuscany and was founded in 1967 by Martellino Martelli, the grandfather of the current wine maker Alessandro Martelli. The estate was transformed into a winery in the 80's by Alessandro’s parents, Renzo and Marcella, before being taken over by Alessandro in 2000. After taking over Alessandro planted new vineyards, restored the olive groves and built the current cellar. The estate comprises 12 hectares, 6 of which are vineyards, 2 are olive groves, 3 are farming fields and 1 is uncultivated land. Incontri translates to encounter, to which Alessandro says: “When smelling the soil and the air, you smell the essence of the land, full of rosemary, camomile and dandelions, this is the land of scents and that land is my wine”. Alessandro is an ambitious winemaker. He looks at his land with tenderness and openness. He practices permaculture on the estate, which furthermore has zero carbon footprint. The soil consists of equal parts sand, clay and silt allowing for a great potential of growth. Varieties that are planted are typical to the region: Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Vermentino and Trebbiano. Incontri wines are certified organic, vegan and without added sulphites. The wines are only released when they are really ready. Hence the older vintages.

Valentina Passalacqua Puglia, Italy Valentina Passalacqua owns a large biodynamic farm with agricultural land and vineyards and has been the largest biodynamic producer of Puglia since the year 2000. Although being large, the enterprise seeks to look after their terroir, products and labour with passion. Valentina produces wine under her own name and label as well as under the Progetto Calcarius label, a project she started together with Danilo Marcucci a few years ago. Passalacqua felt the need to isolate a few of her parcels that are characterised by soils of the Kimmeridgien type, rich in lime. Thus a new line was born. Wines, originating from mineral terroirs, without compromise and only made of the native varieties Nero di Troia, Bombino, Greco, Falanghina and Negroamaro. No intervention whatsoever occurs in the cellar. Many of her wines are delivered in very drinkable 1 liter bottles, perfect for summery weather and to be shared between friends. This is natural wine that drinks as “juice for adults”. The numbers 20 and 40.08 are placed on the label. This is a representation of the chemical element Calcium (Ca). 20 represents the atomic number of calcium while 40,08 represents its atomic weight. NEW in from the Calcarius line are the orange and white key kegs, they come in 20 liter and are a great way to pour stable, juicy wines by the glass!