Burger, Roasted Food, Pork

Crisp fruit when young and spicy, peppery, and dark fruits when aged!

Varietal:

Syrah

Vintage:

• 2022

ABV:

• 13%

Funky Scale:

Mostly Funky

Region: Elgin, South Africa

Pieter Kruger and Kosie Van Der Merwe own a negociant winery with operations in both Elgin, South Africa, and Mosel, Germany. This unique setup allows them to source grapes and produce wines in two distinct wine regions, each renowned for its own varietals and terroir. In Elgin, known for its cool climate, they have access to a diverse range of grape varieties, including Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Sauvignon Blanc. Meanwhile, in Mosel, famous for its Riesling, they can take advantage of the region's steep slopes and slate soils to create high-quality wines with a distinctive character. By owning and operating in both regions, Kruger and Van Der Merwe can explore different winemaking techniques and styles while showcasing the best of each region's unique characteristics.

Roasted lamb, grilled vegetables, and hearty stews.

Blackberry, earthy overtones, and a lingering savory finish with berry highlights.

Varietal:

Grenache, Syrah, Carignan, Mourvèdre

Vintage:

• 2022

ABV:

• 13%

Funky Scale:

Classic

Region: Languedoc, France

Without formal training, Philippe and Emma immersed themselves in books, observed other producers, and learned from their mistakes. "It’s a bit like poker," Philippe remarked. "You dearly pay one or two times, then you watch out! This is the basis of learning." They released their first vintage in 2001 after acquiring several plots. From the outset, they embraced biodynamics, earning organic certification in 2008 and becoming one of fifteen organic producers in Saint-Chinian.

Nestled amidst the 'garigue', their vineyards are isolated and teeming with biodiversity. Most plots are plowed by horse, and the family creates their own compost. They manage low yields to encourage the vines' natural immune defense.

Charcuterie, hummus, grilled vegetables, roast chicken, picnic fare

Strawberry, blackberry, violets, elderberry, lavender, bright acidity

Varietal:

Cinsault, País

Vintage:

• 2022

ABV:

• 13%

Funky Scale:

Mostly Classic

Region: Itata Valley, Chile

Mingaco is a small family winery in the village of Checura in Chile’s Itata Valley, run by winemaker Pablo Pedreros and Daniela De Pablo. Pablo grew up making wine with his father and grandfather on the same land, continuing a long local tradition of small-scale farming and winemaking.

The vineyards include old, dry-farmed bush vines of Moscatel, País, and Cinsault, some more than 100 years old, planted on granitic soils with clay and quartz. Farming follows regenerative and biodynamic principles, with no synthetic fertilizers or herbicides.

Production is small, between 10,000 and 30,000 bottles annually. Through thoughtful farming and minimal intervention in the cellar, Mingaco focuses on expressive wines that reflect the history, landscape, and traditions of the Itata Valley.

Grilled beef, roast chicken, pasta with tomato sauce, mild cheeses

Red currant, plum, cedar, sweet herbs, soft tannins

Varietal:

Merlot

Vintage:

• 2024

ABV:

• 12.5%

Funky Scale:

Mostly Classic

Region: Bordeaux, France

Château Tire Pé is a small family estate in the Gironde-sur-Dropt area of Bordeaux, run by David and Hélène Barrault since 1997. The vineyards sit on clay and limestone soils with southern exposure overlooking the Garonne River, providing excellent conditions for balanced, expressive wines.

The Barraults farm their vines organically, a practice they adopted in 2008 and officially began converting under Ecocert in 2011. In the cellar, the focus is on gentle extraction and minimal intervention to highlight the supple fruit and terroir that define classic Bordeaux wines.

Roast chicken, grilled pork, mushroom dishes, soft cheeses, charcuterie

Red cherry, raspberry, subtle smoke, bright acidity, delicate earth

Varietal:

Pinot Noir

Vintage:

• 2023

ABV:

• 12.5%

Funky Scale:

Mostly Classic

Region: Burgundy, France

Domaine Bersan is a family estate based in the village of Saint-Bris-le-Vineux in northern Burgundy. The winery is known for its historic network of 11th-century underground cellars, originally built by monks and still used today for aging and fermenting the wines.

Jean-Louis Bersan and his father, Jean-Christophe, began farming the estate organically in 2009, achieving certification in 2012 and gradually incorporating biodynamic practices across their 22 hectares of vineyards.

The family focuses on traditional Burgundian varieties such as Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, as well as local grapes like Aligoté and Sauvignon Blanc. With hand harvesting, native fermentations, and minimal sulfur at bottling, the wines emphasize freshness, precision, and the distinct terroir of the Saint-Bris area.

Grilled seafood, Mediterranean salads, roasted vegetables, charcuterie

Red cherry, rose petal, orange zest, nectarine, red currant

Varietal:

Mourvèdre

Vintage:

• 2022
• 2023

ABV:

• 13.5%

Funky Scale:

Middle of the Road

Region: McLaren Vale, Australia

Poppelvej is the project of Danish brothers Jens and Uffe Deichmann. The name means “street of poplars,” referencing the street where they grew up in Denmark, and the original hand-painted sign from their great-great-grandfather now hangs in the winery.

Uffe moved to South Australia for a harvest and ended up staying after meeting his future wife, Nicole. The couple eventually settled in McLaren Vale, where Poppelvej was founded in 2016.

The wines are made from sustainably farmed vineyards in McLaren Vale and Adelaide Hills. Fermentations are low intervention with minimal additions, and the wines are typically bottled without fining or filtration. Production is small, around 4,000 cases annually, and the wines reflect both the creativity of their makers and the character of the region.

Salads, Shellfish, Brunch

Crisp, fresh, clean, all the things you want in a Cava!

Varietal:

Macabeo, Xarel-lo, Parellada

Vintage:

• 2023

ABV:

• 11.5%

Funky Scale:

Classic

Region: Catalonia, Spain

"Owned by the Suriol family, Cellers de Can Suriol del Castell is known for making wines and vintage Cava with personality in the organic winemaking tradition. They make wines under the Suriol brand which are all estate bottled fruit and then they make the Azimut line from purchased grapes from their neighbors, all of whom work organically. The Can Suriol vineyards and winery are situated in Alt Penedes, Province of Barcelona, Catalunya. This region is justifiably famous for producing fine wines and cava. The cultivation of the Can Suriol vineyards is done by 100% organic methods as certified by the CCPAE (until 2007 NOP certification).

- Jenny & Francois"

Seafood, goat cheese salads, grilled fish, sushi, fresh vegetables

Kiwi, guava, passionfruit, grapefruit, white pepper, fresh herbs

Varietal:

Sauvignon Blanc

Vintage:

• 2024

ABV:

• 13%

Funky Scale:

Middle of the Road

Region: Stellenbosch, South Africa

Founded in 1995 in the Polkadraai Hills of Stellenbosch, Boschkloof is a family estate led by second-generation winemaker Reenen Borman. Drawing on his Rhône Valley experience, Reenen crafts elegant, site-driven wines using sustainable farming and minimal-intervention methods. The estate is best known for its acclaimed Syrah “Epilogue,” the first South African red to earn 98 points from an international critic.