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Soft & Peppery

Stéphane Aviron can be considered a pioneer is his approach to winemaking in Beaujolais, however he would just tell you that he’s simply returning to the traditional practices that have always made fantastic Gamay wines. Sustainable viticulture, extremely old vines and classic Burgundian techniques.

The Stéphane Aviron Chénas is produced very vines that average over 100 years old, ranging in plantation from 1900 to 1923. Stéphane Aviron has been producing wines from this incredible 13.6-acre parcel since 1993. The soil is light and made up mostly of sand and small pebbles over a layer of clay and quartz. The old vines and poor soils combine for incredibly low yields and highly concentrated grapes.

Stéphane Aviron strives for a style that is elegant and fine in the Chénas without too much concentration. The wine is very drinkable. With his subtle approach to winemaking, the terroir is able to express itself very clearly and precisely. Dark black cherry colour with purple. Deep, ripe aromas of black cherry with a hint of black pepper. Very good weight; fleshy and round, very soft and harmonious. Delicious now or could be aged for several years.

Ripe & Fruity

Pardevalles is recognized for being one of the driving forces behind the D.O Tierra de León, betting on the development of the indigenous grape varieties Prieto Picudo and Albarín Blanco.

This 100% Prieto Picudo rosé is intense and fresh on the nose.  Rich and hypnotizing aromas of raspberry, strawberry, herbs, citrus and red rose petals jump out of the glass.  These flavours follow through on the palate, which is both powerful and flavourful, while maintaining great freshness.

Enjoy this one on its own while basking in the sun.

Deep & Earthy

Garage Wine Co. is an artisanal winery in the Maule in Southern Chile dedicated to reviving old-growth vineyards in marginalised rural communities.

'Revival' is a project that started during lockdown, and focuses on producing wine from previously-neglected old vines of Paisin the Maule, while at the same time supporting local farming communities.

Born out of the Covid pandemic, the initiative enabled farmers to work in their local vineyards, which also eliminated the need to travel. Maule is home to a wealth of very old, dry-farmed, family-owned vines. Yet these have largely been ignored by the mainstream industry due to their limited production potential and issues with accessibility.

The wine was first offered for sale en primeur, which further contributed to financial security for both the growers and producer in the midst of the pandemic. We at Nicholas Pearce Wines supported the initiave and are proud the bring the wines to the Ontario market.

Darker and more serious than many País out there with proper complexity and depth, ripe flavours and round tannins without ‘rusticity’. This is the character of the grape on granite soils made in small lots with focus.

Enjoy this wine with roasted duck breast, or a mushroom-based dish.

Mineral & Fresh

Réva winery focuses on producing wines of excellence with extreme attention to the particular characteristics of each grape variety and the utmost respect for diversity. All the vineyards are cultivated organically and the estate is run by a group of young professionals who value both tradition and innovation. 

This wine is made from Sauvignon Blanc (50%) and Sauvignon Gris (50%) planted on soils with lequio formation clay and limestone, with marl and fossiliferous sandstone, a mix locally known as “elveziano”. After the harvest, which takes place very early in the morning, the grapes stay on the skins for about 8 hours.

On the nose, Réva Grey has flinty notes that intermingle with hints of passionfruit, citrus and sage. On the palate is it bold, lively and fresh, with a crisp acidity.

Pair this wine with seafood pasta, pesto or grilled vegetables.

Mature & Rich

Ca del Monte is situated on the hillsides overlooking the village of Negrar, in the heart of Valpolicella. Ca’ Del Monte’s Amarone Della Valpolicella Classico’s is a dark angel of sorts.

Expect stewed fruit, over-ripened plums, clove and baking spice, there is also pronounced vanilla and toasted notes. The palate is concentrated, with notes of prune, raisin, chocolate, rich fruit and warm spices. To sum up, full bodied, lifting acidity, smooth tannins and a rich finish.

Like the wine, big and strong foods pair best. Try it with stufato (meat and vegetable stew) or a beef tenderloin with a truffle butter sauce. Or keep it simple with seasoned cheeses.

Fresh & Floral

Located 50 km east from Saint-Émilion, the Barouillet family has been growing grapes for at least 8 generations in Pécharment, Monbazillac and Bergerac. Vincent Alexis, who joined his father in 2010, converted the vineyards to organic and is about to obtain the biodynamic certification. 

This splashy Pét-Nat is made from 50 year old Sémillon vines grown in clay and limestone soils. It is light in alcohol (only 9%!), fragrant, lively and richly textured on the palate. This bubbly has notes of lemon and lime, fresh apple and a touch of cut grass. Plenty of fizz!

Pop and enjoy!

Floral & Fresh

Unlike many winemakers, Frédéric Brouca is largely self-taught and took no formal courses on viticulture or winemaking.  His concept of growing grapes and winemaking focuses on reducing human intervention in the processes, and making it as natural as possible.

A distinctive white wine from the Languedoc region, crafted by blending Vermentino, Roussanne, and Grenache Blanc grapes grown on schist soils. This small-batch production ferments in a mix of concrete, stainless steel, and neutral oak barrels to create a wine with exceptional texture. Certified organic and produced without fining or filtering, this wine features minimal sulphur addition, resulting in a rich and unadulterated taste experience.

Herbal & Textured

Located in Snežatno in the Goriška Brda zone of Slovenia, near the border of Italy, Štekar winery is known for producing wines in the traditional manner, with extended skin contact and little or no sulphur added.  The hilly rugged terrain is marked with monuments to both world wars.

Rebula, also known as Ribolla Gialla, is a grape native to Friuli in Italy and this little corner of western Slovenia. As the natural fermentation began, the skins remained with the must for 24 days before being removed. The wine remained in giant Acacia wood barrels for eight months before being bottled without filtration. The result is expressive and spectacular; aromatic and inviting on the nose, the Rebula showcases yellow fruit, a firm structure. 

Orange wine made from Ribolla Gialla grapes pairs beautifully with a variety of dishes due to its unique flavour profile and aromatic qualities. Consider serving it alongside roasted vegetable dishes, as the wine’s acidity complements the sweetness of the vegetables. Additionally, it goes well with savoury dishes like pork loin or chicken marinated in herbs, and it can also enhance the flavours of a cheese platter, especially with aged cheeses or those with a bit of funk, like aged Gouda or blue cheese. For a delightful finish, try it with a citrus-based dessert or a fruit tart, which echoes the wine's fruity notes.

Rich & Sweet

Jurançon is a very small wine region located in the Pyrenees, famous for its sweet wines made with late harvested grapes. The grapes are hand-harvested later in the season when the sugar levels are really high and the water content is very low. The delicate honey and herb-tinged nose is enticing, with a sweet edge. It has a lovely rich texture with notes of straw and herb on the palate and good balance with a honeyed sweetness.

This is the wine you want to open at the very beginning or at the very end of a dinner. It matches beautifully with all kinds of cheeses, specially goat and blue cheeses; as well as with foie-grass. It is also terrific as a dessert wine.

Aromatic & Fresh

Radford Dale is one of South Africa’s leading independent Wineries. Based on the Helderberg Mountain in Stellenbosch, the winery specializes in producing site-specific, natural wines.

 Pinotage is a relative newcomer to Radford Dale (their first release came in 2011), yet the varietal has become an integral part of what they do. Simply put, they are looking for purity of fruit and freshness in our expressions.

The grapes for this wine are predominantly from a vineyard located in the northern part of the Stellenbosch region and a quarter of a century old. Their primary objective with this wine was to wild ferment, importantly leading with carbonic maceration, so as to unlock and reveal the hidden side of Pinotage. This whole berry, natural fermentation took place in open-top, 600L oak demi-muids, for a very soft extraction of colour, flavour and tannin. No new oak was used as they wanted the wine to exhibit its freshness while adding texture and complexity.

Raspberry and redcurrant fruit aromas with both intensity and freshness. The palate is bright, vibrant, focused with wild cherry and plum fruit complemented by savoury herbs and spices.  You can tell this wine has been made in the vineyard and guided with a most gentle hand in the cellar. It shows purity, freshness with superb drinkability and balance.

Unlike many winemakers, Frederic Brouca is largely self-taught and took no formal courses on viticulture or winemaking.  His concept of growing grapes and winemaking focuses on reducing human intervention in the processes, and making it as natural as possible.

Here we have the debut vintage of a light red that Frédéric has categorized as "Rouge Clair.  A bright and light co-fermentation of direct press Mourvèdre fermented on Terret Blanc and Carignan grapes. Here he draws the lines between a gastronomic rosé de terroir and a light bodied red full of flowers, red fruits and minerality. Clair des Champs was built for pleasure while remaining a confident "hands-off" organic expression of the varitals; unfined, unfiltered with minimal sulphur added.  

Mineral & Zesty

Château de La Chaize is among the oldest, most historic estates in Burgundy’s Beaujolais region. Cared for by the same family for nearly three and a half centuries, the estate has been passed on to new owners, the Gruy family, who are equally committed to managing the estate with the utmost care, while implementing an ambitious environmental plan.

Pouilly-Fuissé lies in southern Burgundy’s Maconnais region and is produced only from Chardonnay grapes. Vineyards are planted on hillsides containing limestone-rich clay soils with a granitic subsoil. The appellation was established in 1936 and covers roughly 800 ha at altitudes around 200 - 300m a.s.l. Wines tend to be full-bodied, ripe and elegant.

For this wine, the grapes were hand harvested from a selection of different vineyard sites within Pouilly-Fuissé from ~50-year-old vines. Traditional fermentation takes place at a low temperature (62.6° F), and malolactic fermentation is blocked.
50% of the wine is aged in stainless steel, 50% in foudres.

Notes of citrus, iodine and flowers on the nose, while on the palate the wine is balances bright acidity and minerality with an ample body and yellow fruits and spice flavours.

Floral & Fresh

All the major wine-growing areas have articulated the diversity of their territory through their villages. The diversity and complexity of the soil and geology of Rioja Alavesa means that the villages in the area have very different personalities.

Transitioning to the higher slopes closest to the Sierra Cantabria, Samaniego produces some of the most sought-after grapes of Rioja Alavesa.

The wines have a powerful frame with fresh acidity and firm, but velvety tannins. The fruit tends towards sour cherries and a minty, spicy complexity. The wines have the structure and depth to age beautifully for decades, but also show remarkable grace in their youth.

Floral & Fresh

The wine is made from quality, low-yield grapes from small plots of old vines located on hillsides parcelas on limestone soils. Around a quarter of the wine is aged for 6 months in new French oak barrels, giving it complexity and texture.

It has pure, intense primary aromas of black cherry and dark berry with a hint of violet and clove. Medium-bodied, it displays remarkable complexity and concentration. The fruit quality shines through, displaying the character typical of the cooler Rioja Alavesa climate, without being masked by excessive oak aging.

Juicy & Fresh

While the vineyards that form Punset have been farmed by the Marcarino family for generations, it is truly thanks to Marina and her incredible energy that the estate is how it is nowadays. Her passion for the soil and the environment led her to embrace biodynamics and the agronomic philosophy of Manasobu Fukuoka. From one of the healthiest vineyards in Italy, Marina crafts wines that brim with life, energy, and pure terroir.

This Dolcetto presents itself as a vibrant fruit bomb, complemented by earthy and rustic undertones. To achieve a fresh and lively profile, maceration is carefully managed to be brief and sweet —no longer than 10 days— while the wine is aged for approximately a year in concrete tanks.

On the nose, it presents a bouquet of fresh dark fruits, with notes of ripe blackberry, succulent plum, and a hint of cherry, intertwined with subtle floral undertones and a whisper of earthiness. The vinification technique, emphasizing a short maceration, allows the wine to express its fruity aromas elegantly while avoiding overly harsh tannins. On the palate, the wine is medium-bodied, showcasing a harmonious balance between its lively acidity and soft, pleasant tannins that caress the mouth.

Light & Fruity

The Hager's winery consists of 13ha of vineyards in and around the small wine-growing village of Mollands in the Kamptal region of Austria. The strength of this family business is its soil diversity. Loess, clay and different kinds of primary rock (mica schist, gneiss, etc.) can be found in the northern part of the region. Since 2006, the winery has been working according to the biodynamic guidelines of the Demeter Association. Matthias' philosophy is that nature is a sophisticated system which is to be explored and it has it's own unique self-regulating power that can be used for viniculture.

Zweigelt is a hybrid vine between St.Laurent and Blaufränkisch and today, it is considered to be one of the most important red grapes in Austria. The Blauburger vine is also a hybrid made from Blauer Portugieser and Blaufränkisch.  This wine combines these two hybrids into one easy-drinking, delicious red. The cool influence of the Waldviertel winds make this wine light and pleasant with beautiful cherry fruit and a velvety finish. 

Easy to drink on its own, but also goes perfectly with pasta dishes and light cuisine with tomatoes.

Floral & Fresh

All the major wine-growing areas have articulated the diversity of their territory through their villages. The diversity and complexity of the soil and geology of Rioja Alavesa means that the villages in the area have very different personalities.

Laguardia is perhaps the most charming of our villages. Vineyard parcels are high, on average 500m, but with more exposure and open to the Ebro valley. Ripening tends to be the earliest among our villages and the wines are the most elegant and perfumed. Laguardia also is the most approachable and gastronomic wine, due to its lighter, velvety tannins and juiciness on the palate. The aromatic profile is always lifted, delicate and floral, reminiscent of wild strawberries and violets.

Floral & Fresh

All the major wine-growing areas have articulated the diversity of their territory through their villages. The diversity and complexity of the soil and geology of Rioja Alavesa means that the villages in the area have very different personalities.

Villabuena makes some of our favourite wines, which tend to be a perfect example of the ideal, middle-weight, highly drinkable, yet extremely age-worthy Rioja Alavesa.

Vineyard parcels are on hillsides, around 500 m above sea level, and well protected by the Sierra Cantabria. Ripening is later than in Laguardia but earlier than in Leza, giving the most beautiful balance between freshness, elegance and good fruit concentration. Bideona Villabuena shows precise and pure berry aromas, finely grained tannins and an amazing flow on the palate, even when young.

Textured & Bright

Once the site of a monastery of the Olivetan order, Giovanni Cenci lives and works his family’s generations- old farm, producing some of the most compelling, complete wines of the region. The family farm spans 30 hectares for grains and grazing, with only 7 hectares planted to ancient clones of Grechetto, Trebbiano Toscana, Sangiovese, Merlot, and more; above all, this is an ecosystem for living, not a winery for churning out bottles.

Wine has of course been crucial to this site for hundreds of years, not just because of the people who have worked the land, but rather the uniqueness of the place itself: massive blocks of travertine marble are visible alongside limestone-rich clay soils, giving the wines definition alongside meaningful substance.

Anticello is made with Grechetto grapes, which are destemmed and left in contact with skins for about an hour before starting fermentation. The grapes are then fermented in stainless steel (80%) and wooden barrels (20%). It ages for 7 months in steel with frequent bâtonnage. 

On the glass, it has a deep straw yellow colour with golden hues. On the nose, it has aromas of stone fruit, citrus, and wild flowers. The palate is fruity, savoury, fresh, slightly tannic, soft and powerful.

Floral & Spicy

Cantina Barbera is located in Menfi, on the west coast of Sicily. The vineyards are about one mile from the Mediterranean Sea: an uncontaminated deep blue sea, facing South, where low cliffs and sandy dunes create a beautiful environment protected by the Belice River Natural Reservation Fund.

This wine is 100% Frappato, and while Menfi is located outside the historical area where Frappato is traditionally planted, it shares many fundamental characteristics with that terroir: southern exposure, outstanding saline soils lying on compact clays. FuoriZona is a mouthwatering wine with a light ruby
color, soft tannins, a distinct acidity and a graceful body. It smells of cherries, mint, violet and red roses, and has a mouth of pink pepper, blood orange and pomegranate.

Try FuoriZona with tuna, seafood soups, or couscous and grilled vegetables.