Il Farneto | "Rio Rocca New Player in Town" | Trebbiano Pet-Nat | Emilia Romagna | 2021
Il Farneto is a small biodynamic estate nestled in the hills of Emilia-Romagna-- Italy's gastronomy capital responsible for sharing Prosciutto di Parma, Balsamico di Modena, Mortadella, Bolognese, and more gluttonous perfection with the rest of the world.
The wines, most famously Lambrusco, are meant to wash down mountains of formaggi e salumi.
Il Farneto farms 8 hectares of local indigenous varieties, Spergola (white) and Marzemino (red). They also work with other regional grapes like Lambrusco and Trebbiano.
Flavio Restani employs ancient techniques, prioritizing the long-term health of the soils, tending to the farm by hand and intuition.
- 🧑🤝🧑 Pair with: Fried foods, shellfish, serve as an aperitif, drink on it’s own and quench your thirst!
- 🍇 Grape Variety: Trebbiano
- 🌱 Farming: Biodynamic
- 🍾 Winemaking: native yeast fermentation, method ancestral, unfined, unfiltered, minimal added sulfites
- 🧑🏼🌾 Winemaker: Flavio Restani
- 🌎 Region: Emilia Romagna, Italy
- 🌡 Serve: Cold
Domaine Felix | Sauvignon Blanc | Saint Bris, Côte d’Auxerre, France | 2022
A 10-minute drive outside of Chablis (one of our favorite, limestone-rich regions) lies the unheard-of, overlooked appellation of Côte d’Auxerre. Here we still find Kimmeridgian Era limestone– ancient seabed dating back to dinosaurs walking this earth. This prized soil type is responsible for the beautiful, mineral-driven wines of Chablis and Sancerre.
While the two regions grow completely different varieties (Chablis = Chardonnay, Sancerre = Sauv Blanc), the cool climates and extremely similar soils create remarkable wines of very similar styles.
So it is no surprise that Domaine Felix grows stunning Chardonnay AND Sauvignon Blanc laden with rich, beautiful minerality!
The family has been farming in this northern Burgundian region since 1690! At the current site of the family farmstead, Father Hervé, his wife Marie-Claire, and son Olivier farm mineral and stoney slopes in the Côte d’Auxerre.
- 🧑🤝🧑 Pair with: oysters! White fish, green beans, herbaceous dishes
- 🍇 Grape Variety: Sauvignon Blanc
- 🌱 Farming: Organic
- 🍾 Winemaking: stainless steel fermentation to preserve freshness, minimal added sulfites at bottling
- 🧑🏼🌾 Winemaker: Hervé, Marie-Claire, and Olivier Felix
- 🌎 Region: Saint Bris, Côte d’Auxerre, France
- 🌡 Serve: Cold
Château de Rougeon | "Ozanon" | Pinot Noir | Bourgogne Rouge, Cote Chalonnaise, France | 2020
In another underdog region of Burgundy, the Côte Chalonnaise, we find Château de Rougeon– a polycultural estate that has been in the Ozanon-Bouchard family since 1839.
Charles Ozanon, the son of the domain’s founder, was a renowned botanist and innovative farmer. When phylloxera hit, he was one of the principal botanists to study and promote grafting on American rootstock.
The estate is beyond an organic farm, implementing biodynamic principles– growing cereals and raising cows and sheep. Today, Rougeon pursues ongoing organic certification efforts, surrounded by pastures, forests, and plans for a dairy farm. The unique blend of location, altitude, geology, and biodiversity makes Rougeon a truly distinctive Burgundian treasure.
- 🧑🤝🧑 Pair with: Beef Bourgogne, roasts, stews, turkey
- 🍇 Grape Variety: Pinot Noir
- 🌱 Farming: Organic, Practicing Biodynamic
- 🍾 Winemaking: Vinification/ageing in stainless steel tank. Bottling after 6 to 12 months of élevage.
- 🧑🏼🌾 Winemaker: Bouchard Family- Isabelle, Joseph, and Florence
- 🌎 Region: Bissey sous Cruchaud, Côte Chalonnaise, Burgundy, France
- 🌡 Serve: Room Temperature; decanting NOT recommended
Chateau Plaisance Penavayre | “Fronton Rouge” | Negrette Blend | Fronton, SW France | 2020
We’re taking a trip to the lesser-known Fronton AOP in southwestern France, where a rich history of unmanicured vineyards dates back to the Crusades.
Château Plaisance is currently in the capable hands of Marc Penavayre. Since 1991, Marc has expanded his father's property, cultivating organic and biodynamic vineyards since 2005 as well as replanting with massal selections.
The star of Château Plaisance is Négrette, affectionately known as "the little black grape," with roots traced back to Cyprus' Mavro grape. Marc infuses this local gem with Syrah and a touch of Cab Franc, creating Fronton Rouge—a deep, herbal, and plush wine. Inky richness perfect for winter comfort!
To read (legendary importer) Becky Wasserman’s personal account of discovering Marc’s wines, CLICK HERE.
- 🧑🤝🧑 Pair with: hearty stews, succulent meats, and roasted veggies
- 🍇 Grape Variety: 65% Negrette, 20% Syrah, 10% Cabernet Franc
- 🌱 Farming: Organic, Practicing Biodynamic
- 🍾 Winemaking: Berries are de-stemmed. Native yeast fermentation in stainless steel tanks. Aged for ~18 months in a combo of cement, stainless steel, and used barrels. No fining or filtration. Minimal SO2.
- 🧑🏼🌾 Winemaker: Marc Penavayre
- 🌎 Region: Fronton, France
- 🌡 Serve: Room Temperature; decanting recommended