Grilled meats, dark chocolate, pasta ai funghi

Black cherry, plum, black pepper, forest floor, and licorice. A persistent finish with integrated tannins.

Varietal:

Grenache, Carignan, Pinotage, Cinsault

Vintage:

• 2023

ABV:

• 12%

Funky Scale:

Classic

Region: Swartland, South Africa

Tremayne Smith's journey into winemaking began in East London, where he initially pursued a career as a chef. Influenced by his father's passion for wine, he transitioned into the world of winemaking. After completing his studies, he honed his skills as the assistant winemaker and vineyard manager at Sijnn, followed by a stint at Mullineux, before assuming the role of winemaker at Fable. In 2014, Tremayne embarked on his own venture, The Blacksmith, driven by his experiences working with varietals like Cinsault, Carignan, and Grenache, both locally and abroad. The ethos of The Blacksmith centers on crafting natural wines that captivate the senses and resonate with the soul. Tremayne possesses a profound understanding of the nuances involved in producing natural wines.

Flank Steak with Chimichurri, Lentil Salad, Grilled Salmon with Lemon Dill Sauce

Ripe blackberries, juicy plums, tart cranberry, violet, and pepper

Varietal:

Cayuga White, Pinot Noir, Blaufränkisch

Vintage:

• NV

ABV:

• 12.5%

Funky Scale:

Middle of the Road

Region: Seneca Lake, USA

Founded in 2011 by the father-son duo Ken and Ian Barry, Barry Family Cellars, situated in Burdett, New York, focuses on crafting small-batch, avant-garde wines that mirror the terroir and vintage. Collaborating with local grape growers, they highlight the distinct flavors of each vineyard, embracing simplicity with minimal intervention in the cellar. Their portfolio boasts unfiltered, unfined, and consistently vegan wines.

Oily fish like sardines, chorizo tacos with cilantro, and a mushroom risotto

Cherry, pomegranate, white pepper, smoke, and dried Christmas trees. Low in tannins, high in acidity, and medium in body. A bit of salt on the finish, like island waves washing over your palate

Varietal:

Listán Negro, Vijariego Negro, Baboso Negro

Vintage:

• 2021

ABV:

• 12%

Funky Scale:

Mostly Funky

Region: Canary Islands, Spain

In the heart of the Canary Islands, Spain, Borja Pérez is rewriting the story of Tenerife’s wines. Passionate, innovative, and deeply connected to the island’s volcanic soils, he champions natural winemaking with a focus on native varietals like Listán Blanco, Listán Negro, and Baboso Negro.

Borja’s wines are pure expressions of place—wild, electric, and full of life. No heavy oak, no shortcuts—just honest, terroir-driven wines that capture the raw beauty of Tenerife.

Bold, fresh, unforgettable—this is Canary Islands wine, reimagined.

Grilled meats, dark chocolate, or rich stews

Bold flavors of blackberries, pepper, and dark chocolate. Smooth with a rich finish.

Varietal:

Shiraz/Syrah

Vintage:

• 2021

ABV:

• 14%

Funky Scale:

Mostly Funky

Region: Western Cape, South Africa

Some winemakers follow the rules. Minimalist breaks them beautifully.

Connect the Dots isn’t just a wine—it’s a mindset. It’s about trusting the process, embracing the unknown, and finding meaning in the moments that weren’t planned but turned out just right.

Born in the diverse terroirs of South Africa’s Western Cape, this wine is shaped by strong coastal winds, cool nights, and the hands of a winemaker who believes in patience, instinct, and a little bit of magic. No shortcuts, no fluff—just pure expression in the glass.

Minimalist Wines doesn’t overcomplicate things. Great grapes, good people, and the kind of wine that makes you pause, take a sip, and feel grateful. Because sometimes, the best things happen when you let go and just connect the dots.

Tapas, Barbeque, Cheese Plate

Cranberry, pomegranate, cherry!

Varietal:

Trepat

Vintage:

• 2023

ABV:

• 11%

Funky Scale:

Middle of the Road

Region: Catalunya, Spain

Fredi Torres, an unconventional winemaker, transitioned from a career in Switzerland's nightlife scene to pursue winemaking after a revelatory encounter with Clos Mogador 1998. Determined, he embarked on a journey that led him to Priorat, where, alongside his partner Mark Lecha, they established Lectores Vini in 2013. Cultivating 6 hectares in Priorat's mystical terroir, they labor meticulously by hand due to the challenging rocky terrain. Their Priorat wines, both immediate and age-worthy, defy convention, reflecting Fredi's singular dedication to crafting exceptional wine. Expanding into Montsant, they embrace a playful, fruit-forward style, showcasing the region's cooler climate with vibrant character and a distinct lack of pretension.

Grilled Meat, Oily Fish, Pasta

Charming aromatics and flavors of cranberry, redcurrant fruit, and light tannin.

Varietal:

Blend of 25 over native Portuguese varieties

Vintage:

• 2024

ABV:

• 11%

Funky Scale:

Middle of the Road

Region: Douro, Portugal

Tiago Sampaio, the innovative young winemaker behind Folias de Baco, began his journey in 2007, though his passion for winemaking traces back to his childhood, where he explored his family's farms and vineyards alongside his grandfather. Always curious and adventurous, Tiago's willingness to experiment shaped his path. He pursued agricultural studies in Santo Tirso and spent five years at university in Vila Real before embarking on a PhD in Viticulture and Enology in Oregon. There, he absorbed modern winemaking philosophies and aesthetics, all while cherishing his Douro roots. Returning to the Alto Douro, specifically in the challenging sub-region of Cima-Corgo, Tiago established his estate. His vines cling to steep slopes of schist and granite, ranging from 500 to 700 meters in altitude.

Vietnamese Goi Cuon, Grilled Salmon with Lemon-Dill Sauce, Grilled Fish Tacos with Mango Salsa

Grapefruit, apricot, lychee, and orange blossom.

Varietal:

Welschriesling, Muscat, Grüner Veltliner

Vintage:

• 2022

ABV:

• 11.5%

Funky Scale:

Mostly Classic

Region: Burgenland, Austria

Meinklang is a lively farm compromising the three typical fields of a Pannonian farmstead in East Austria south of capital town Vienna: wine-growing, fruits and agriculture. Each family-member is specialized in an aspect of farming. Unique is the estate owns Angus & Aubrac cattle herd. It`s the farms source for our own nutritious, organic fertilizer for lively soils in the vineyards and creates the closed circle in the biodynamic Demeter farming. Outstanding issues are the totally unpruned vines, called «graupert» and the extended maturation in concrete egg-shaped containers. As well as the family initiated the first holistic Demeter brewery where we refine the ancient grain beer out of the old varieties called Einkorn and Emmer wheat. - From Zev Rovine

Seafood, Grilled Chicken, Sushi

Complex and intriguing with great structure to pair with intense cuisine.

Varietal:

Moscatel Galego

Vintage:

• 2023

ABV:

• 11%

Funky Scale:

Middle of the Road

Region: Douro, Portugal

Tiago Sampaio, the innovative young winemaker behind Folias de Baco, began his journey in 2007, though his passion for winemaking traces back to his childhood, where he explored his family's farms and vineyards alongside his grandfather. Always curious and adventurous, Tiago's willingness to experiment shaped his path. He pursued agricultural studies in Santo Tirso and spent five years at university in Vila Real before embarking on a PhD in Viticulture and Enology in Oregon. There, he absorbed modern winemaking philosophies and aesthetics, all while cherishing his Douro roots. Returning to the Alto Douro, specifically in the challenging sub-region of Cima-Corgo, Tiago established his estate. His vines cling to steep slopes of schist and granite, ranging from 500 to 700 meters in altitude.

Fresh oysters, crispy shrimp, ceviche, and salted almonds

Light-bodied with lemon zest, ripe peach, green apple, honey, and a mineral backbone

Varietal:

Albariño

Vintage:

• 2022

ABV:

• 12%

Funky Scale:

Classic

Region: Galicia, Spain

There’s this little vineyard in Galicia, Spain, right by the Atlantic, where the air smells like salt and sunshine. The kind of place where time moves slow, and the vines have been doing their thing for decades, soaking up everything the land has to give.

That’s where Bodega Corisca lives.

It started as a family dream—just some vines, a whole lot of love, and a belief that wine should taste like the place it comes from. No chemicals, no shortcuts. Just soil, sun, rain, and patience. And now? Well, now it’s the first fully organic Albariño in Rías Baixas.

This wine? It’s fresh, bright, with a little bit of citrus, a little bit of green apple, and just enough of that sea breeze to remind you it’s got a story. Every sip feels like a thank-you—from the land, from the people who made it, and