Skin Contact Wines

Fresh & Zesty

The Thirst Clairette Blanche explores how saltiness and acidity can enhance the overall freshness of a wine. Extended skin maceration before fermentation has added complexity. It has a distinct minerality with splashes of green and stone fruits. It's an intriguing example of this quirky variety.

It offers exceptional refreshment and drinkability, as well as an interesting and complex collection of aromas and flavours. Driven by its fresh citrus zest, the wine shows great focus. Generous lime and lemon flavours delight the palate that is accented by a distinct minerality, before a long and tapering, saline finish.

Pairs well with seafood, vegetables or white meat.

Fragrant & Aromatic

The Puiggros family has been producing wines from their own vineyards in Odena since 1843 for friends and family, however their wines have only been available commercially since 2008. Working exclusively with Garnatxas, the family came to realize that their traditional techniques and special terroir were something worth sharing with the rest of the world.

Imprevisible is an orange wine made from Grenache Blanc and aged for five months in amphorae. This wine is very special because it embraces a more oxidative style, reminiscent of Vin Jaune from Jura. This is incredibly unique and is contrary to the reductive style seen in most skin contact wines. It’s truly stunning and gastronomic on both the nose and palate. Impresivisible has a gorgeous amber orange colour. On the nose, it has beautiful notes of plum, fig and citrus peel; clementine and grapefruit, intermingled with medicinal herbs, nuts and spices; almond blossom, eucalyptus, thyme and clove. On the palate, it is well structured and medium-bodied. It is nicely balanced, beautifully tannic, with a long lasting finish of dried fruits and nuts.⁠

It's a perfect pairing for cheese and charcuterie and maybe some finer, elegant vegetable dishes. 

Herbal & Mineral

This is a Winery-direct offer. Place your order before October 3rd and receive your case of wine in January. To reserve your case of wine you only need to pay a $50 deposit today, the balance will be invoiced on arrival.

Juan Jesús, who is a 4th generation winemaker, founded Viñátigo in 1990 and has worked tirelessly since then identifying, recuperating the native grapes of the Canary Islands.

This Orange wine is made from ungrafted Gual vines planted in small plots in the northwest of Tenerife, around 200 meters above sea level. These plots near the Atlantic Ocean have a mild subtropical weather and an important marine influence. The grapes macerate with the skins in concrete egg tanks.

Smelling Elaboraciones Ancestrales Orange is a magical experience: spiced herbal aromas of rosemary, bay leaves and incense. It has a rich and unctuous palate of orchard fruits and fragrant pepper. The finish is long lasting with a subtle touch of tannin. One of the most elegant orange wines we have ever tried.

Exceptional when paired with lamb marinated with Mediterranean herbs.

Floral & Textured

Born from a partnership that started on Lighthall Road between Vigneron Glenn Symons & Négociant Nicholas Pearce, the 'First Contact - Skin Fermented White' was created during the 2019 harvest. Vidal and Sauvignon Blanc (50/50ish) were sourced from the infamous Wismer Vineyard, in Niagara's Twenty Mile Bench. Fermented on skins for 16 days, with very little manipulation other than some gentle punch downs and pump overs to keep the cap wet.

Deep straw gold in colour with punchy aromatics of fresh fermentation; green tea, Meyer lemon, tangerine, hops, olive brine & salted almonds. Truly energetic and fresh with notes reminiscent of a delicious Weiss Beer. On the palate, it has a great tannic structure, lovely acidity and beautiful balance.

We have been having fun pairing it with a variety of vegetables and meats using Middle Eastern, North African & Mediterranean inspired spices and techniques. Or even just a bowl of marinated olives, to keep it simple.

The label features artwork by Lilja Schaer, an up and coming local artist based in Toronto's Eastside Leslieville. Lilja draws her inspiration from the natural environment that surrounds her. She is also influenced by her Estonian-Canadian heritage. Lilja also happens to be Nick's 7 year old niece.

Bright & Zippy

Amidst the rolling hills and the river Po, nestled within the forests, fields and meadows, Daniele Saccoletto's winery sits quietly watching over their ten hectares of land spread between the towns of San Giorgio and Rosignano for over forty years.

I Tigli is a wine made from the indigenous piedmontese varieties Bussanello and Timorasso. The grapes are exposed to a skin-contact maceration for about ten days, it is not quite an orange wine but in that direction, and Daniele does not filter, so it is a bit cloudy with the wine retaining both great acidity and texture.This zesty skin-contact white has aromas of citrus fruits such as lemon verbena, fresh red apples and ginger. It has an interesting mineral character to it; and on the palate is vibrant and crisp, with flavours of lime and pears. 

This wine is the perfect pairing for fresh seafood, crunchy greens, root veggies and big-personality cheeses.

Salty & Fresh

Joan Ramón Escoda has been shaking the pillars of winemaking in his home-country and abroad since the 90's. He is an absolute anarchist, a radical winemaker, a rock'n'roller and a grass-roots innovator; and his wines are everything but banal.

Mas del Gaio is the top white from Celler Escoda-Sanahuja. An old-vine expression from rustic limestone vineyards next to the winery, blending Garnacha Blanca, Macabeu, and Parellada. Garnacha Blanca and Macabeu are fermented together. Once everything is combined, the wine is aged mostly in large amphora and old French barrels. Mas del Gaio has aromas of stone fruit, lemon verbena, and fuzzy peach skins, with a long, fleshy and salty finish. Fantastic acidity and viscosity from the lees aging. Tropical too, with subtle notes of passion fruit.

Pair it with fish dishes and cured cheeses.

Fresh & Fruity

Located in the town of Pilio, about thirty miles east of Rome, Abbia Nova is a brand-new artisanal winery by cousins Daniele and Pierluca Proietti. The name 'Abbia Nova' refers to an ancient Roman road linking the town of Piglio, in the southwestern part of the region, with Abruzzo.

Listening to our producers' stories about the uniqueness of certain grapes make our hearts beat faster. Abbia Nova is one of those wineries. Their Senza Vandalismi Bianco is made from Passerina, an ancient and traditional grape of the Marche region but also cultivated in the Lazio. 

Leaning on the refreshing side of oxidation, the 2020 vintage is surprisingly clean and clear pale straw in the glass. On the nose, this young wine boasts intense evolution, leading with apple and pear compote, lemon lime cordial, macadamia nuts and salted almonds. It's full but fresh on the palate, rich with tension and backed by a beautifully balanced acidity. 

Spicy & Tropical

Husband and wife duo Ilya and Nadia started Leaning Post winery in Niagara over 10 years ago. Initially a virtual set up, the winery now located on Highway 8, has become a reference producer in Niagara.

A truly deep and fascinating nose, the Clockwork leaps from the glass with aromas of mandarin orange, guava, fresh cut grass and a slight background of jalapeño.  Slight earth and animal notes combine with lime, grass, beeswax and a hint of gooseberry on the palate, this skin-contact Sauvignon Blanc has a texture that seems to be-endless but is balanced by crisp acidity that lingers through to a long finish.

Enjoy with fish tacos or fish and chips.

Juicy & Round

Elios was born from the passion of two young Sicilian friends who, in love with their land, decided to take over their families' farms and focus on producing natural wines and other products such as olive oil and honey.

Katamacerato is Elios' orange wine made from Catarratto grapes. The grapes are cultivated in their estate in Alcamo, and harvested by hand. Once at the winery, the Catarratto grapes macerate on their skins for a whole week, fermenting spontaneously. The wine has a deep orange colour and great aging potential. Both on the nose and on the palate, it is intense and structured, with beautifully integrated tannins and notes of thyme, rosemary, and ripe fruit. These notes come together creating a fresh and very drinkable Sicilian orange. Pure Mediterranean essence!

Orange wines are perfect for evenings al fresco in your backyard, and to add some funkiness to your homemade pizzas. This mixed case features 4 bottles of each of the following wines:

Daniele Saccoletto I Tigli Bianco, Piedmont, Italy. I Tigli is a wine made from the indigenous piedmontese varieties Bussanello and Timorasso. The grapes are exposed to a skin-contact maceration for about ten days, it is not quite an orange wine but in that direction, and Daniele does not filter, so it is a bit cloudy with the wine retaining both great acidity and texture.This zesty skin-contact white has aromas of citrus fruits such as lemon verbena, fresh red apples and ginger. It has an interesting mineral character to it; and on the palate is vibrant and crisp, with flavours of lime and pears.

Elios Katamacerato Catarratto 2019, Sicily, Italy.Katamacerato is Elios' orange wine made from Catarratto grapes. The grapes are cultivated in their estate in Alcamo, and harvested by hand. Once at the winery, the Catarratto grapes macerate on their skins for a whole week, fermenting spontaneously. The wine has a deep orange colour and great aging potential. Both on the nose and on the palate, it is intense and structured, with beautifully integrated tannins and notes of thyme, rosemary, and ripe fruit. These notes come together creating a fresh and very drinkable Sicilian orange. Pure Mediterranean essence!

Bodegas Puiggrós Imprevisible 2019, Catalonia, Spain. Imprevisible is an orange wine made from Grenache Blanc and aged for five months in amphorae. This wine is very special because it embraces a more oxidative style, reminiscent of Vin Jaune from Jura. This is incredibly unique and is contrary to the reductive style seen in most skin contact wines. It’s truly stunning and gastronomic on both the nose and palate. Impresivisible has a gorgeous amber orange colour. On the nose, it has beautiful notes of plum, fig and citrus peel; clementine and grapefruit, intermingled with medicinal herbs, nuts and spices; almond blossom, eucalyptus, thyme and clove. On the palate, it is well structured and medium-bodied. It is nicely balanced, beautifully tannic, with a long lasting finish of dried fruits and nuts.

*Please note, this mixed case will take 7-10 business days to repack and process*

Full-Bodied & Rich

La Fralluca is situated on the hills of Suvereto facing Monteverdi Marittimo, at about 120 meters above sea level in a magnificent area immersed in a wild, uncontaminated natural area, surrounded by woods and Mediterranean shrub. It stretches over 45 hectares of land, 10 of which are vineyards on soils characterized by the typical geological formation of limestone, medium textures, calcareous, with plenty of stone. Luca and Francesca, the owners of the winery, chose this area because they fell in love with the enchanting landscape.

A delightful skin contact blend of Viognier and Vermentino, fermented in stainless steel and French oak tonneau. Notes of dried flowers, apricots and honey - this is a perfect entry point into skin contact wines. 

The extra bit of flavor in skin-contact whites is a huge advantage with spicy dishes, and they’re one of the best wines to pair with coconut curry or jerk chicken. They’re also great with earthy vegetarian mains like spanakopita or lentil stew.

This product is part of the LCBO Vintages program. It may take approximately 10-14 business days to be delivered.