Duck breast with figs, roast chicken, mushroom tart, charcuterie, strawberry spice desserts

Dark berries, red cherry, violets, white pepper, wild herbs, mineral crunch, juicy acidity

Varietal:

Cabernet Franc

Vintage:

• 2023

ABV:

• 12%

Funky Scale:

Mostly Classic

Region: Loire Valley, France

Call it driven by passion: Cyril and Fabien, the two brothers at the helm of Domaine du Mortier, aren’t originally from a winemaking family. But, when their parents bought a house with a small vineyard back in 1989, the then-teenagers fell in love with viticulture. So much so that they started a proper domain seven years later, naming it after a hamlet where the winery and vineyards are located, just west of the town of Bourgueil. - Jenny & Francois

Grilled white fish, roasted cauliflower, herb roasted chicken, mussels, grain salads, aged cheeses

Lemon peel, quince, pear skin, dried herbs, chamomile, saline minerality, gentle tannins

Varietal:

Semillon

Vintage:

• 2024

ABV:

• 12%

Funky Scale:

Mostly Funky

Region: Itata Valley, Chile

Nacho, also known as Ignacio Pino Román, breaks the mold of your typical winemaker. In Chile's Itata Valley, he's on a mission to revive age-old traditions. Instead of relying on modern equipment and chemical shortcuts, Nacho champions the old ways. He roams Coelemu, collaborating with small growers who tend to their ancient vines naturally, without harsh chemicals. In his cellar, simplicity reigns supreme - stainless steel, clay, and neutral wood are the tools of his trade. With no unnecessary additives, Nacho's focus is on allowing the unique character of the Itata Valley and its grapes to shine through in every bottle of his "natural wine." It's a recipe for something truly special, don't you think?

Roasted vegetables, grilled fish, schnitzel, soft cheeses, grain salads, picnic fare

Citrus peel, ginger, white flowers, stone fruit, fresh herbs, savory spice, lively acidity

Varietal:

Welschriesling, Rosenmuskateller, Blaufränkisch, Saint Laurent, Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc

Vintage:

• 2023

ABV:

• 11%

Funky Scale:

Middle of the Road

Region: Weinland, Austria

Alexander and Maria Koppitsch began making wine in Burgenland in 2011. They took over their parents 5.5-hectare winery and moved from selling their grapes into making their own wine. The vineyards are in the Neusiedl am See, a small village situated at the shores of the Neusidl Lake and on the eastern end of the Leitha Mountains which feature soft, rolling hills of mostly limestone soil. Like his father and grandfather before him, Alex does not believe in introducing any additives into the grapes or the wine. They use Rudolf Steiner’s biodynamic principles to cultivate their grapes, and pride themselves on performing every aspect of the vineyard management and the winemaking by hand, on a very small scale. - Jenny & Francois