August 2021 | 12 Bottle Club | New Members
Welcome to the August 12 Bottle Club from MYSA Natural Wine!
A note from our founder:
Welcome to the club! We are honored to have you and so excited to start this natural wine journey with you :)
This month is a fun run across Europe and the US.
From Greece to Croatia, Italy, France, and Spain we have everything from white to red and all in between. Then stateside we have some awesome producers across California, Oregon and Texas showing off non-traditional ways to look at more traditional grapes.
Dive in and enjoy!
- Holly Berrigan, Founder, MYSA Natural Wine
- Grotta di Sole - Clos Marfisi
- Salto Moscofilero - Domaine Skouras
- Castellar Cava - Celler Vilafranca
- Babić - Piližota
- Rosehaze - Purity Wine
- Darla - Swick Wines
- Beaujolais - Cambon
- Dino Fizzy Red - Everything is OK
- Weight of the Moment - Southold Farm + Cellar
- Romeo Red - Loop de Loop
- Rosé - A Tribute to Grace
- Grenache - Los Pilares
- Wine Evaluation Sheet
- Flower Girl Pet Nat - Botanica (some boxes)
- Maryjane Madeline - Emme Wines (some boxes)
- Amber - Halkia (some boxes)
Grotta di Sole - Clos Marfisi
Patrimonio - France
Description:
A thought provoking wine and one of the best representations of what we would enjoy sipping in early Spring. Comes from the French island, Corsica. Produced by a brother and sister duo, who are 5th generation winemakers. On the nose, citrus, creaminess, lemon meringue, tart green apple, and a touch of minerality. Lovely and round on the palate. The texture and feel is light and bright yet still complex. Medium acidity. Best paired with a lemony dish, such as a crisp arugula salad drizzled with a lemon vinaigrette and topped with salmon. You could also try lemon roasted chicken, asparagus, a soft cheese board. Stay away from fried foods, pizza, fries, or even ham. Play with the fact that this has a really nice acidic backbone, is complex, and it's not just your regular Glou Glou!
Pairings: Pasta, Lean Fish, Cured Meat
Serving Temperature: 48°-52°
About Clos Marfisi
If you aren’t familiar with Corsica, the main event is Patrimonio. This AOC covers 400ha with half of them being owned by the two largest producers, and the other half split up amongst 30 smaller growers. If you haven’t already guessed, Clos Marfisi is part of the latter. Brother and sister, Mathieu and Julie are fifth generation at the helm of this estate, having taken over from their father, Touissant, when Julie returned in 2001, and her brother in 2012, from having careers elsewhere in France.
Now, we thought that we had seen it all in terms of limestone, but Corsica takes the cake. Clos Marfisi’s vineyards (which Touissant planted about 40-50 years ago) rise up from the Mediterranean with southern and western exposures on steep slopes that are practically white with large chunks of broken up limestone. Seriously impressive. Equally impressive is the fact that they never gave into outside pressure and the entirety of the estate is planted to local varieties, so you won’t find any Grenache here. Their father is still very active in the vineyards, and is the main reason that this estate has never been touched by pesticides or herbicides, which were shunned for one reason or another by previous generations of vignerons on the island. This commitment to organics continues and the estate will be certified Bio by the 2018 vintage. Vestiges of the old guard remain in the cellar as well where native yeasts have always been used for fermentations, and sulfur levels are kept to a minimum.
As president of the Patrimonio AOC, Mathieu has a clear vision for where the estate is headed, and we like what we are seeing. Their commitment to honoring the past while shaping their own future is incredibly exciting to us.
- Selection Massale
Salto Moscofilero - Domaine Skouras
Peloponnese - Greece
Full of flavor and acidity! Grown at a high altitude in Mantineia, fermented in tank followed by short aging on the lees. On the nose, floral such as jasmine and rose, lime, and grapefruit. Similar to the aromas, citrus, flowers, and tropical fruit on the palate followed by a medium finish.
Pairings: Shellfish, Calamari, Cheese Plate
Serving Instructions: 48°- 52°
About Domaine Skouras 
Our story begins long before the creation of Domaine Skouras.
George Skouras was born in Argos, one of the oldest towns of Europe with a 3,000 years long tradition of wine and culture.
In 1980, George went to study Agriculture at the University of Dijon, in Burgundy, France. However, his acquaintance with the Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs of the region, as well as the famous local wine growers, put a spell on him.
On graduating from Dijon with a degree in oenology, George started gathering experience in many classic wine-producing regions of France, Italy and Greece.
A long-held vision, the creation of Domaine Skouras materialized in 1986. Initially, the small wine-making facility was in Pyrgela, a small village on the outskirts of Argos. The next logical step was the creation of a boutique winery in the Nemea Appellation area, in the village of Gimno.
There, the countless hours of manual work on an extremely small scale became an invaluable study on the Agiorgitiko variety and the Nemea denomination. - Domaine Skouras
Castellar Cava - Celler Vilafranca
Catalunya - Spain
Description:
Fine n bubbly! From one of the largest vineyard owners in the region of Penedés. Aged for 12 months on the lees. Aromas of green apple and citrus. On the palate, fresh with citruses such as lime and a hint of sweetness.
Pairings: Tapas, Appetizers, Seafood
Serving Instructions: 42°- 48°
About Celler Vilafranca 
"Celler Vilafranca is owned by 100 associated grape growers. Consisting of 2053 acres of vineyards, comprising 3% of the entire Penedès DO.
Location: Zone 5, northeast Spain, a few miles south of Barcelona in the Alt Penedès sub-region of the Penedes DO. Overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, at 577ft. the vineyards and the winery are located in the town of Vilafranca del Penedès. Where vines, which existed prior to the 4th century BC, were introduced by the Ancient Greeks.
Climate: The average temperature between April and October is 66'F higher than the standard in Zone 5, and with rainfall amounts of 24 inches annually. The higher temperatures induce greater amounts of sugar, while the altitude and rainfall, give greater acid levels, balancing each other, while improving the freshness and the aromas of the wines.
Soil:The topsoil is limestone and sand. The sand provides good drainage into the deeper water-retaining clay subsoil layers, nourishing the vine when necessary. The vines root systems are able to penetrate up to 30 feet through the deep soil in search of water, particularly in times of drought. These soils are relatively poor in organic matter, giving to lower yields per vine, resulting in greater skin to juice ratio per berry. This results in greater intensity and concentration of flavors.
What makes Casteller wines unique? Celler Vilafranca owns 3% of the vine lands within the Penedès DO, resulting in superior quality grapes wine at an amazing price point. Casteller Wines are superb values. Celler Vilafranca's large estate holdings is to a great advantage, allowing them to select the finest grapes from their 2000 plus acres of vines, producing consistent quality wines year after year. - Cream Wines"
Babić - Piližota
Dalmatia - Croatia
Description:Hand harvested and destemmed with 10 days on the skins in stainless steel tanks. Then moved to large neutral oak barrels. Dark fruit, berries, slightly gamey with strong acid and medium tannin.
Pairings: Lamb, Cheese Tray, BBQ
Serving Instructions: 50°- 55°
About Piližota
Ivica Piližota is a humble owner of a winery and vineyards in the inland locations surrounding the beautiful and historic town of Šibenik, in Central Dalmatia. Soil here is made up of mostly fertile red and brown top soil with finer brown clay stones, and a rugged and tough limestone foundation. The vineyard locations are on slopes or semi-slopes, with an altitude level of 50 to 300 meters above sea level. These vineyards see some of the warmer temperatures in Northern and Central Dalmatia, with interestingly cooler nights and constant salty breezes that whip around this hill and mountain crammed area. - Vinum USA
Rosehaze - Purity Wine
California - USA
Description:
The Pinot Gris grapes are farmed organically and lightly tread by foot followed by being left on the skins for a few hours. The only ingredient in this wine is the grapes! Notes of ripe red fruit and earth on the palate paired with good acidity. A juicy and tart wine!
Pairings: Nachos, Burgers, Burritos
Serving Temperature: 48°- 52°
About Purity Wine
"At about this time, I was running a wine program for a local Italian restaurant. My employer asked that I look for a wine for a private label he wanted to incorporate into our beverage program. In doing this, and dealing with all the inherent legal regulations, I began to see a path towards production. I started reading everything I could about the science of wine and began asking every winemaker who came into the restaurant how they did what they did.
By 2012, I was searching out a winemaking space and getting licensed. 2013 was my first year as a winemaker, and ever since, I’ve tried to build on the previous year’s experiences. As of 2016 all of the fruit I source is grown organically. Since 2017 I've been taking on leases to farming vineyards in places such as Calaveras, Mendocino, and Contra Costa Counties with the goal of someday having my own more permanent piece of land. Also, as of 2017, I've moved into a warehouse space in Richmond, CA where I've created a collective of natural winemakers, roughly 14 of us to date.
In 2018 I converted the office space at the front of the winery into a bar, The Study. I did this at the urging of our neighbors so they could have a place to hang out, but also selfishly, so that I could buy the wine of other producers to continue learning about what's going on in the business, craft, and art of natural wine.
2021 marks my eighth vintage making wine, and my passion has only gotten more intense. The wines continue to evolve and I've had the great fortune of being able to present them at some wonderful natural wine fairs such as RAW, Brumiare, and Third Coast Soif. - Purity Wine"
Darla - Swick Wines
Oregon - USA
Description:Our exclusive Darla orange Riesling is a special collaboration with Swick Wines! Pure Riesling grown in Washington in the Columbia Valley at 1,600 feet elevation. 30 days spent on the skins followed by foot worked ferments and ageing in neutral French oak barrels for six months. Darla is the name of our Swedish dalahäst logo and she is honored to have a namesake as delicious as this one! On the nose, sweet and strong citrus notes such as lemon lime curd along with floral notes. On the palate, perfect grip and a perfect amount of acidity. Crisp and lean! Try with non spicy Asian Cuisine, nachos, or even chicken wings!
Pairings: Appetizers, Picnic Food, Grilled Chicken
Serving Instructions: 48°- 52°
About Swick Wines
Joe Swick is a 5th generation Oregonian winemaker who captures the true taste of the Pacific Northwest through his wines. Joe sources his grapes from organic, biodynamic and sustainable vineyards in Oregon and Washington. After years of traveling and harvesting in various pockets of the world, such as Piedmont, Portugal, and Tasmania, Joe returned to Oregon to start his very own label in 2013. He embraces the minimal approach when making his wines such as using native yeasts, aging in old barrels and adding minimal sulphur during bottling—only when absolutely necessary. While Joe started out with a focus on making Oregon Pinot Noir, he now has explored many other grape varietals and experiments with different techniques during élevage. - Swick Wines
Beaujolais - Cambon
Beaujolais - France
Description: A project from one of the most famous Beaujolais producers Marcel Lapierre, Jean-Claude Chanudet, and Joseph Chamonard, this wine is a textbook example of a beautiful carbonic bojo! Get ready for a fruit bomb! The aromatics are vibrant with bubblegum, banana, strawberry, earth, and fresh juicy red cherry. Pure Glou Glou juice on the palate! Put with your next roasted chicken or turkey, or with your strawberry dessert on V-Day!
Pairings: Turkey, Charcuterie, Vegetarian Dishes
Serving Temperature: 48°-52°
About Cambon
What began as a project of three friends: the late Marcel Lapierre, Jean-Claude Chanudet (With his wife Geneviève) and Joseph Chamonard remains now in the hands of Jean-Claude Chanudet and his wife Geneviève (the daughter of Joseph Chamonard).
The trio purchased this 13 hectare parcel upon realizing that, despite being designated outside the grand cru status, it held prestige beyond title. Planted originally in 1914 in 3 parcels, it is complimented by a mixed soil composition of clayey granite and calcareous-sand. They expanded the plantings to make use of the subtle variations below, and combined the wines to create a harmonious (and amazing) definition of the entire plot. The ‘réserve’ bottling is from the oldest vines, called ‘Le Cambon.’ Following the biodynamic-organic practices they began so long ago, they tend their vines without chemicals or inorganic fertilizers.
Only natural yeasts are used in the cellar, and time is effectively given to the resting wines in the 200 year old foudre casks. Knowing a prized piece in any auction or display takes an artistic and weary eye; perhaps six eyes this time were better than one. No matter, the traditional wines of this overlooked set of vines, caught between Morgon and Brouilly is best tended under the watchful gaze of their rightful owners. - Savio Soares Selections
Dino Fizzy Red - Everything is OK
California - USA
Description:
A zero/zero blend of Petit Syrah, Marsanne, and Granache Blanc. Very yummy and fruit-forward. Notes of herbs and red fruit on the nose with a pleasing fizz on the palate. A great wine to enjoy with close friends!
Pairings: Grilled Meat, Pizza, Tacos
Serving Temperature: 45°- 50°
About Everything is OK
"California has huge potential. We work on vineyards ourselves and have a lot of principles when choosing who to work with, but there are many sites where the people know the land better than we ever could. They need to be rewarded with consistent buyers who treat their fruit with care and let it shine. The Richmond collective is building an ecosystem of farms, wines, and customers that can support these people doing right by their farms." - Booker Riley
Weight of the Moment - Southold Farm + Cellar
Texas - USA
An exciting variety that's historically an Italian grape, Teroldego! This wine was produced using foot-treading to start followed by gentle punch-downs. Ageing was done in large neutral French oak for 5 months. Overall this red is quirky, earthy, bright, and fruity! Notes of dark fruit, hints of smoke, and earth!
Pairings: Cured Meats, Risotto, Lasagne
Serving Instructions: 48°- 52°
About Southold Farm + Cellar
Southold Farm + Cellar is a winery and vineyard that started on the North Fork of Long Island by Regan and Carey Meador, sold, moved and that now exists in Gillespie County, Texas.
We are and always will be a winery whose sole mission is to make wines that speak of place and time, that thrill and delight our friends, family and ourselves. In order to do so, our winemaking decisions are dictated by what has happened during that season, not stylistic emulation of other regions or forced consistency.
We believe in farming first and non-interventionist cellar methods.
All of this means you should expect our wines to vary year to year, like individual children with their personalities, we hope our work tells the story of Texas and that vintage through each variety in each parcel. - Southold Farm + Cellar
Romeo Red - Loop de Loop
Oregon - USA
We love our women winemakers! A bright, fresh, juicy, and energized red blend. Elegant aromatics of bright cherry, and violets. Abundant on the palate with dark fruit qualities from dark cherry and plum, also has a woodsy quality similar to a forest floor. Quite delicate yet complex. Quoted from Loop de Loop themselves,"this Vin de Soif has the energy of a puppy.". Drink by itself or with a charcuterie plate, vegetable stew, or possibly even game.
Pairings: Pasta, Quiche, Charcuterie Plate
Serving Instructions: 48°- 52°
About Loop de Loop
"Julia Bailey Gulstine started Loop de Loop Wines in 2012 while working with Love and Squalor Wines at Goodfellow Family Cellars. Before that she was introduced to making wine by her grandmother. She was thrilled by the alchemy of it and loved spending time with her grandma doing various tasks a small farm requires. In her 20's she developed a passion for wine while working in some of Portland’s artisanal restaurants. This led to months spent traveling throughout wine regions in France and Italy. Upon returning from that trip she decided to work for a winery. She picked up the yellow pages (back when we still used phone books!) and she made it as far as Argyle Winery. After a couple of years there she joined Patty and Jim at Patricia Green Cellars, as their first employee.
Since then her life has been ""loopy"" journey. She attained her sommelier certification and worked as a wine buyer...learning more and traveling to various wine regions once again. After returning to University to study for a MA in International Relations, she left the wine industry to work for NGOs in Palestine, Israel - with short stints in Sweden and Laos.
After five long years of living abroad she was homesick for the vineyards of Oregon. In 2011 she returned to work with, and learn from, her friend Matt Berson of Love & Squalor Wines. Then, she dove-in with an enormous leap of faith, and started making Loop de Loop Wines in 2012. Since then she's been tremendously lucky to have the support of her husband and friends throughout the process. - Loop de Loop"
Rosé - A Tribute to Grace
California - USA
Description:
A lovely, crisp rosé that's perfect for sipping in sunny weather. Dry, with balanced acidity. Notes of red currant, floral, strawberry, and watermelon jolly ranchers.
Pairings: Shellfish, Appetizers, Spicy Food
Serving Instructions: 45°-50°
About A Tribute to Grace
"A Tribute To Grace Wine Company is dedicated to crafting authentic expressions of Grenache. All wines are single-vineyard sourced to maintain authenticity, and remain 100% Grenache.
I am a New Zealand born winemaker who moved to California in 2006 with the dream of making Grenache. In the land from which I stem, the climate is too cool to ripen this sun-loving beauty. And so began my search: northern Spain, southern France, southern Australia, California…
Abundant sunshine and entrepreneurial spirit led me to the latter, and in 2007 I sourced my first Grenache fruit from the Santa Barbara Highlands Vineyard. Nestled high above the Pacific Ocean and 33 miles inland, this high-desert vineyard provided the perfect balance of heat and light I sought.
I chose to name my label after two of my favourite things: my Grandmother Grace, and my most beloved attribute. My winemaking intention is to capture this spirit, and stay as close to nature as humanly possible. The trio is completed by the grape itself, which to me encapsulates grace.
- A Tribute to Grace"
Grenache - Los Pilares
California - USA
Description:A nice introduction to the glou glou universe! This red is fresh, and flavorful from the high-quality grapes used. Manually harvested and bottled unfiltered and unfined. Tart cherry, plum, and herbs such as fennel on the nose. Baked plum with a strong backbone of acidity on the palate. Medium bodied, deep, and fresh. Delicious by itself, or with cheese plates, or duck breast. Put this in the category of: don't pair me with a super serious meal!
Pairings: Cheese Plate, Grilled Meat, Roasted Peppers
Serving Instructions: 48°- 52°
About Los Pilares
Los Pilares is Coleman Cooney, Jay McCarthy, and Michael Christian. Before making wine for others we were all either backyard vignerons, garage winemakers, or wine industry professionals. Since the first vintage in 2010, we have been showcasing the terroir of San Diego’s backcountry and mountains by making wine with nothing but grapes, sometimes apples. All the fruit comes from sustainable vineyards and orchards grown in the backcountry and mountains of San Diego County. - Los Pilares
Flower Girl Pet Nat - Botanica
Western Cape - South Africa
Description:
A hazy and unusual expression of a Cabernet Franc. Tons of ripe green habanero peppers, and a touch of floral on the nose. On the palate it's tons of fun and a bit of funky while also creamy. Get ready for an acidic bite combined with smooth fizzy bubbles that will prepare your palate for a light afternoon snack! Or even better, pair with Mexican food like tacos, or enchiladas. This is the perfect spring wine!
Pairings: Mexican food, Roasted Chicken, Soft Cheese
Serving Temperature: 48°-52°
About Botanica
Ginny Povall is the heart and soul behind Botanica, and much like Ginny herself, these wines beam with life and a great sense of purpose. Originally from Massachusetts, Ginny eventually made her home at Protea Heights, a farm on the outskirts of Stellenbosch. For several decades, Protea Heights established a reputation as the first farm in South Africa to cultivate their national flower, the Protea. Ginny continues growing flowers and in 2009 expanded the farm when she planted several hectares of vineyard.
For over a decade now, she has poured herself into Botanica and quickly become one of the most exciting winegrowers in the region. Since the inaugural vintage in 2009, Botanica has consistently produced some incredibly compelling wines from very special, but often overlooked, regions and vineyards across the Western Cape. All the wines are vinified and bottled at Protea Heights. In addition to the Botanica range, Ginny now produces several wines under the Big Flower label, which utilizes the fruit grown on her property. - Pascal Schildt
Maryjane Madeline - Emme Wines
California - USA
Description:
Strawberry starbursts, blueberry, tart red cherry, and cotton candy on the nose. Bright acidity up front, but with a fruity, fleshed out mid palate. Notes of juciy berry such as cherry, cranberry, herbs, gushers, and candied grape. Definitely slightly chill this one! Refreshing minerality on the back palate and a long, textured finish. Pair with a mezze platter, roasted chicken, grilled meats, junk foods, pizza, or chicken nuggets!
Pairings: Cheese Plate, Grilled Meat, Roasted Peppers
Serving Temperature: 48°- 52°
About Emme Wines
My name is Rosalind, and I farm grapes organically and make wine without additives.
I work within a likeminded community of grape-growers and winemakers in Northern California. 2018 marked the first year I set out to create something of my own, albeit with the welcome support of the talented people who surround me.
Wine, at its core, is about community. Countless hands are involved in every glass you drink – the growers who planted cuttings three generations ago; the field workers who prune the vines in winter, tend them throughout the year and pick the grapes come autumn; the winemakers and interns who footstomp those grapes, forklift bins of fermenting fruit from tank to press, and fill barrels with wine to rest before bottling; and the distributors, restaurateurs, and sommeliers who help bring that bottle to you. An incredible amount of labor and love goes into filling a glass with wine, and I am constantly reminded of and grateful for the community who makes all of it possible. I could not do this alone, nor would I want to.
Similarly, at the end of the day, wine should be enjoyed with your own community of friends and family. I aim to make fresh, bright wines that taste good, encourage thoughtful discussion, and ultimately bring people together.
rosalind reynolds - Emme Wines
Amber - Halkia
Nemea - Greece
Description:
From the #1 most produced white grape in Greece, Assyrtiko. Spends 4 days on the skins followed by 12 days of indigenous fermentation in stainless steel tanks. Lightly golden in color with aromas of overripe lemon, honey, and herbs. Heavy on the mouth with similar notes to the nose. Structured and round on the palate. Perfect with grilled seafood, Mediterranean platter, or even a lighter roasted chicken meal. Very delicious!
Pairings: Oysters, Shellfish, Feta Salad
Serving Temperature: 48°- 52°
About Halkia
Anna Halkia is a small organic female grower and winemaker in Nemea, the largest winemaking region of Greece and home to the Agiorgitiko grape (which is the most planted red Greek grape).
Anna grew up in Australia with her immigrant parents, and moved back to Nemea as an adult, to start her family with her husband. Her consciousness and care for her family had led her to organic viticulture, which, she felt, would shine more if she turned into her own wine, instead of selling her organic grapes as raw material and mixed with inferior quality grapes. In the early 2000s, she decided to create a basic winemaking facility in the back of her house, where the family’s vineyards are located. The lack of investment forced her to rely on basic technology and natural winemaking. There was no surplus of funds to buy lab yeasts and enzymes, which a consulting oenologist had advised her to do, so necessity turned her to wild fermentation and lo-fi winemaking. Her wines, naturally, earned a following, due to their raw expression of the organic fruit. Anna also applied and received her organic certification, to prove part of the work that goes into the vineyard.
Today Anna is still selling locally the small-batch wines she makes from Agiorgitiko, Assyrtiko, and Roditis grapes, following the same methods she was forced to adopt, and which helped them stand out from the norm. - Eklektikon
Wine Evaluation Sheet
Want to have some fun evaluating and taking note on your wine? Check out our natural wine tasting sheets we made special for the club!
