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The Hager Matthias winery is located in the small village of Mollands in the Kamptal area of Lower Austria. Matthias took over the 12-hectare land and the family business at an early age. He aims to produce the best quality wine possible and to focus on being in balance with nature. The lands are cultivated according to biodynamic principles and are certified Demeter.
Matthias has a vast knowledge about plants and insects, and about keeping the flora and fauna in harmony with the vines. Matthias Hager is one of the most experimental winemakers in the Kamptal region, Austria. He understood early how to work with different soil types from loess to clay. He established different product lines to highlight these differences: the blue one representing fresh, lively wines including Grüner Veltliner and Sauvignon Blanc; and the brown line gravitating towards more earthy, flavourful produce and the red line stands for no sulphites!
Cut above energy and buzz from the Hager Matthias grüner veltliner, once again pumping up the aromatic volume, even more CO2 varietal buzz and kinetic, if this time frenetic energy. Subtlety be darned, caution to the wind and thrown out the window for an Austrian white with serious game. Vllages-level grüner veltliner from Mollands in the northern, higher-altitude part the Kamptal gets no more noticeable than this. Might be unusual for some. Drink 2026-2028. Tasted February 2026.
This is a fruitier iteration of grüner veltliner than many, brimming with sweet green apples, nectarines, and oranges, with only subtle undertones of herbs and toast. I like the glassy palate, energised by acidity and dissolved carbon dioxide, as also the long, crisp finish. Balanced, correct, and appealingly clean and clear, this grüner veltliner will pair well with seafood - perhaps a cilantro-topped ceviche? Tasted February 2026.
The Tessari family have Soave in their blood. For three generations they have been extracting delectable wine from the well cared for vines of their Monteforte d’Alpone vineyards. With only a little over a hectare of Garganega grapes in the prestigious volcanic solis of Soave Classico, Antonio Tessari hand dug his cellar back in 1933 and started the legacy that continues today with his grandchildren: Germano, Antonio and Cornelia.
From vineyard to bottle, these three siblings oversee it all; with unwavering respect for tradition, quality and passion for the art of winemaking. The volcanic soils of the hillside are rich with basaltic rocks and clays, which guarantees the health of the plant and the promotes the mineral and floral aromas that are characteristic of the Garganega grape. Truly artisanal wine making at it’s best.
This shows the vivid yellow colour I expect from good Soave. It also shows the complex, detailed nose honeysuckle, lemon blossom, camomile and almost tropical peach/mango fruit. It is mid-weight, rich and viscous yet shows some enlivening freshness, spritz and tenderness at the same time. Slightly bitter and lemony on the finish. The length is excellent. Tasted January 2023.
The latest volcanically driven garganega from the Tessari family is a child of a promising vintage full of sun, fun and support. The sky is the limit for just how well this will drink and please. It is in fact bottled salty and fruit crunchy deliciousness and why shouldn’t it be? Made simply with tradition in mind, basalt in pocket and all the modern facility made available. Citrus and nectarine, basil and Maldon salt. Lime all over the finish. Spot on. Drink 2023-2025. Tasted January 2023.
Nervy and salty with a dash of elderflower and pear, this stylish Soave Classico is a favourite of restauranteurs. Richly textured with notes of apple and lemon zest, salt and lime. Quite chalky and dry, with a pleasant degree of roundness despite the moderate level of alcohol. Nicely balanced with a pleasant finish of good length. Drink now. Tasted January 2023.
Maison Idiart is a wine négociant based in Bordeaux and established in 2013. Nicolas Idiart, winemaker and founder of Maison Idiart, grew up with a passion for wine, something that he shared with his father and grandfather.
He graduated from Bordeaux winemaking school in Blanquefort at 19 years old. Nicolas' love for Loire wines took him to work in Chinon, Touraine and Muscadet. He also had experiences in Australia and New Zealand. After several years travelling the world, he decided to shift his work in the industry and work in sales, focusing in North America.
At 33 years old, after 7 years working in sales, he decided to go back to winemaking with an artisan approach, making small batches of handcrafted wines.
Cordero San Giorgio is a new beginning in Oltrépo-Pavese for three siblings who grew up surrounded by their family’s vines at the legendary Vietti Estate in Castiglione Falletto in Barolo. The siblings Francesco, Lorenzo, and Caterina Cordero, are grandchildren of Luciana Vietti & Alfredo Currado, one of the pioneers of the first Barolo crus and considered the “father of Arneis.” Their father is Mario Cordero, Alfredo and Luciana’s son-in-law, who was the company’s co-owner from the beginning of the ‘80s until 2016 when it was sold.
Cordero San Giorgio is located in Santa Giuletta, a village sitting on the first hilly belt of the territory, an area made up of valleys that fan out over the Po Valley with steep slopes and thick ridges. The composition of the soil makes their site particularly suitable for the production of Pinot Nero, making it possible to obtain wines with maximum varietal expression and a strong territorial identity.
The Oltrepò Pavese is a hilly triangle of land in Lombardy, embraced by Piedmont, Liguria, and Emilia-Romagna. A territory dedicated to the cultivation of vines and the culture of wine for centuries: a land of both cultural and gastronomic encounter and exchange. Cordero San Giorgio is in the town of Santa Giuletta, and focuses on working with Pinot Nero, Pinot Grigio and Chardonnay.
