Organic and Biodynamic

Organic black-grape skinned silkiness in a glass - should be a staple in every household!

This is a big and powerful red wine, dark red in colour. The nose has plenty of dark fruit aromas, plums, black cherries, chocolate, dried fruit and slight herbaceous notes. The palate is full, dense and rich with intense and sweet, ripe fruit. There are more plum and spice flavours on the palate. The finish is has a touch of residual sugar, giving some natural sweetness, and is full, rich and lingering. 

Country: Italy

Region: Puglia

ABV: 14 %

Grape: 90% Zinfandel, 10% Merlot

Soft and velvety, bursting with dark berry and bitter cherry fruit characters.

Country: Italy

Region: Sicily

Grapes: Nero D'Avola, Merlot

ABV: 13.5%

Wild berry and smokey notes are deftly handled at Henry of Pelham, where this variety has become their recognised flagship red wine. A deep ruby colour with hints of dark purple; blackberry and plum aromas with coffee, cedar wood and smoky notes. Dry and full-bodied with pronounced black cherry flavours lingering on a smoky finish.

Country: Canada

Region: Niagara Peninsula

Grapes: Baco Noir

ABV: 13.5%

Food Match: Great with roast lamb and all the trimmings

http://swahilicoastfoodie.com/wine-and-roast-lamb-pairings/

Baco Noir's origins go back to 1894, when French grape creator François Baco crossed Folle Blanche with an unknown member of the American Vitis riparia family.

His intention was to create phylloxera-resistant vines that retained their Old World French character. At one time Baco Noir was grown in Burgundy and the Loire, but it was gradually phased out of the Old World and has since become one of North America's more successful hybrids.

A fine pale-coloured rosé with delicate aromas of pomegranates and raspberry and a distinctive flintiness. There’s finesse and elegance on the palate with flavours of soft red fruits, a gentle silky texture and a lingering fresh acidity on the finish.

If you ask someone what is their favourite wine, most would mention a red or a white. Very few would give a rosé. But, (for us) South Africa has taken the 'common' rosé and turned it into an art form. 

Such a delicate and perfumed rosé. Take a bit of sophisticated Provence rosé, give it a little hint of international dynamic, a little bit of relaxed "take me as I am" S'African personality and the result is this deliciously drinkable rosé from Stellenbosch.

Country: South Africa

Region: Schapenberg, Stellenbosch

Grapes: Mourvedre

ABV: 13%

Biodynamic and Organic

Waterkloof Wines

Winemaker Nadia Barnard:

In October 2022 Penny had the great pleasure of visiting Waterkloof Estate on the slopes of the Schapenberg, Stellenbosch with a few colleagues from the UK wine trade. They spent the good part of two days being driven around this beautiful, sustainably managed piece of land by winemaker, Nadia Barnard. All of the vineyards on the estate are farmed following organic and biological principles. Here at Cellar Door Wines we've always been huge fans of Waterkloof wines. It is always lovely to taste Nadia's wines in Saint Albans, but to be able to do so at Waterkloof, with the woman herself, was extra special. Tasting wine at the place of its birth explains the why and the how of its individuality. The people behind the vineyard and winery are also key components in the equation. The Cape and Waterkloof has such diversity of wine style with a great price quality ratio.

Completely untainted example of Nero D'Avola - just as nature intended!

The wine has a deep purple-red colour & intense aromas of blackberries & blueberries. The palate is soft & silky, bursting with spicy flavours of black pepper, dark chocolate, wild berries & vanilla.  The tannins are elegant yet persistent.  The finish is long & lingering and offers a burst of wild cherries at the end.

Country: Italy

Region: Sicily

ABV: 13.5 %

Grape: Nero D'Avola

Fun Fact: Zensa in Italian means “without” referring to the absence of any chemicals or pesticides in the winemaking process. 

A wonderful example of the Fiano grape. Close your eyes and you could be in Southern Italy! (almost). 

Straw yellow in colour, with an elegant floral aroma of mango, peaches and sage. On the palate is crisp and refreshing, with tropical notes and exotic fruit.  The finish is incredibly well balanced, long and persistent.

Country: Italy

Region: Puglia

ABV: 12.5 %

Grape: 100% Fiano

Straw yellow in colour with an elegant bouquet, reminiscent of pineapples and lemons. The palate shows hints of tropical fruit with a beautifully crisp acidity and a persistent finish. Only the best, handpicked, organically grown grapes are used to make this wine!

Country: Italy

Region: Sicily

Grapes: Grillo, Chardonnay

ABV: 12%

Guaranteed summer drinking pleasure! Redcurrant, strawberry and raspberry notes with a hint of sweetness on the finish. Seriously lovely stuff!

Country: Italy

Region: Puglia

ABV: 12 %

Grapes: Primitivo, Negroamaro

New to our 'Favourites' section, this silky smooth, ripe and rich Puglian beauty will not disappoint!

Country: Italy

Region: Puglia

Grapes: Primitivo

ABV: 13.5%

ORGANIC

Fresh citrus and peachy aromas with hints of passion fruit. The palate has abundant pineapple and tropical fruit characters, balanced by zesty acidity and a ripe yet crisp finish. We love this wine!

Country: Italy

Region: Marche

Grapes: Verdicchio

ABV: 12.5%

Organic, Vegan, Vegetarian

Food Match: Shell fish, white fish and goat's cheese salads

Black cherry, violet and subtle herb characters on the nose with complex liquorice and earth flavours on the palate. Firm, but ripe tannins, great structure.

Country: New Zealand

Region: Hawke's Bay

Grapes: Pinot Noir

ABV: 13%

Organic

Rod McDonald is a New Zealand winemaking legend who arrived in Hawke's Bay 25 years ago as a green cellarhand. Following a stint at Villa Maria he became winemaker at Vidal before setting off on a solo adventure to craft the most compelling and exciting wines from the wide variety of soils throughout the region.
Rod has chosen to farm organically to allow his wines to really represent both the land the grapes are grown on and the people who make them.

Champions of Biodiversity and Sustainable Biodynamic Farming.

A hugely compelling wine. Deeply refined single estate expression showing bounds of character, finesse, length, breadth and structure - it really does have it all! A classically styled wine with notes of cassis and cedar. The seamless, elegant palate is encased by fine tannins.

A harmonious and integrated blend that combines the spiciness of the Syrah, the fresh fruits of the Petit Verdot and the juiciness from the Merlot. The beginning is fresh and fruity with good acidity, evolving into riper flavours and herbaceous notes, with elegant tannins and fine, bright acid in the finish.

Country: South Africa

Region: Stellenbosch

ABV: 14.5%

Grapes: 56% Syrah, 27% Petit Verdot, 17% Merlot

Organic, Biodynamic

Waterkloof Wine

WATERKLOOF estate was founded in 2004, ending Paul Boutinot’s persistent and uncompromising 10 year search for a vineyard site with the potential to produce truly fine wine with a defining sense of origin. Located on the south-facing slopes of Schapenberg Hill near Somerset in the Stellenbosch district of the Western Cape’s Coastal Region, Waterkloof shares its magnificent Atlantic views with free-roaming peacocks and other natural fauna and flora attracted to this haven. Certified by Demeter in 2015, their vineyards are of only a few in the Cape to boast official biodynamic approval and status. The estate has 56 hectares under vine and Tim Atkin’s Cape Classification currently ranks Waterkloof as 5th Growth level. With production around 165,000 bottles per year, Waterkloof make “honest wines” from their unique biodynamic coastal site. Respect for nature, traditional winemaking practices and minimal intervention are all key to their success.

Complex nose with hints of spice, chocolate and mocha. Good structure with plum and mineral complexity and a lingering finish.

Country: South African wine

Region: Stellenbosch

Grapes: Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet & Malbec

ABV: 14%

An aromatic wine but don't be scared it's not sweet at all - and extremely more-ish

Hints of orange blossom and candied citrus fruits. Something completely different from the likes of Chardonnay, this is an engaging wine with a vibrant finish. You won't be disappointed, we promise!

Country: Chile

Region: Rapel Valley

Grapes:  Gewurztraminer

ABV:13%

Vegan/Vegetarian

Emiliana is one of the world’s most important producers of organic and biodynamic wines and the largest in South America. They have a total of 997 hectares under vine in the valleys of Casablanca, Maipo, Colchagua, and Cachapoal of which 923ha are IMO certified organic and the remaining 77 in conversion. Their spectacular biodynamic vineyard and winery at Los Robles is a model that attracts visiting viticulturalists and winemakers from all over the world. General Manager José Guilisasti and winemaking consultant Alvaro Espinoza were key to establishing this project to convert a large commercial winery into a commercially viable organic one. These innovative wines are made with great care and attention and the results are inspiring.

'Baby Chateauneuf Du Pape' A rich fruity wine that is made easy to drink with smooth tannins and an elegant finish. The harvest is hand-picked, meticulously sorted and 100% destemmed. It’s a traditional vinification with temperature control. No yeast added.

Country: France

Region: Rhone Valley

Grapes: Grenache, Syrah

ABV: 14 %

 Organic

Food: Best enjoyed with grilled red meat, especially lamb.

Luminous Red with purple reflections, this elegant and finely textured wine displays aromas of dark fresh plum, cinnamon, exotic spices, black pepper and tobacco. The firm yet gentle tannins add complexity and a long and lingering finish. 

Country: Italy

Region: Puglia

Grape: Nero di Troia

ABV: 13 %

A serious Rose with a strong personality.

Beautiful pale salmon colour with an appealing lemon & herb nose followed by flavours of warm southern herbs & rich, rounded fruit.  Very much a food wine with a powerful character & a delicious dry finish.

Country: France

Region: Provence

Grapes:  65% Mourvedre, 20% Grenache, 15% Cinsault

ABV: 14%

Organic

Vegan/Vegetarian

Domaine Lafran Veyrolles is an estate with a superb terroir and is widely recognised as one of the top three producers in the appellation. Jean-Marie Castell runs this small, traditional estate with just 10 ha of vines on the famous red clay soil of Bandol.  The estate nestles in and is protected by the hills of the Cadière d'Azur and benefits from a maritime climate. The estate works organically and the yields are kept extremely low. Domaine Lafran Veyrolles reds have made it one of the star performers of the appellation … but don’t overlook the rosé wines as they deserve attention too!

Intense and bright picota cherry colour. The nose is clean and intense, lots of black fruits, candy and floral notes.  A medley of plum, strawberry, black cherry and black currant with undertones of white pepper, earthy notes, and a very pleasant balsamic end with a hint of sweetness. This is elegant, crisp with mineral undertones and notes of rosemary and cedar that emerge as the wine evolves – not to mention the sweet but vibrant tannins that promise a bright future.

Country: Spain

Region: DO Manchuela, La Mancha

Grapes: Garnacha

ABV: 14%

Vegan/Vegetarian

Organic

As the lands starts to rise, inland northwest of Valencia, you will find Roselia Molina heading up Bodegas Altolandon. The property consists of 120 hectares with the winery resting right in the centre, not only making it aesthetically satisfying but also extremely practical. At 1,100 metres above sea level, the altitude serves to benefit the grapes with large diurnal variations which encourage even ripening and also helping retain their natural acidity. Organic methods are used to manage the vines utilising only natural fertilisers and some green pruning to further guarantee the quality of fruit prior to hand-harvesting. The grapes are vinified as naturally as possible with native yeasts and little other intervention. The wines are then aged in French oak and some in clay amphora to retain purity, but build complexity.

Aged for 12 months in oak, this Spanish gem is a beautifully deep ruby red in colour. The nose is intense with aromas of red fruits with undertones of eucalyptus. Perfectly balanced and round in the mouth with soft tannins and flavours of ripe fruits, vanilla and spice this wine is structured on the palate with a long, rich finish.

Country: Spain

Region: La Mancha

Grapes: 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 50% Graciano

ABV: 13.5%

Wonderful, ripe and warming wine, full of sunshine and brightness. Subtle hints of sweet spice, coffee grounds and milk chocolate on the finish. Yummy.

Country: Italy

Region: Puglia

Grapes: Negroamaro

ABV: 13.5%

Food match: great with antipasto cured meats. 

Caiaffa are certified organic, they do not use insecticides or pesticides in order to encourage a balanced ecosystem.

https://www.caiaffavini.it/en/

Hand harvested and completely destemmed, the wine was fermented and aged in the amphoras in contact with skins and lees. The inside of our amphoras is coated with natural tree resin according to the ancient process used by the Romans 2000 years ago. The wine has not been filtered or stabilised.

Rich, ripe and full of mulberry fruit character with a silky round tannic structure. Beautifully made low intervention wine.

Country: Portugal

Region: Lisboa

Grapes: 50% Aragonez and 50% Trincadeira

ABV: 14%

Wonderful, fresh wine made from organically grown grapes and with minimal intervention in the winery.

Country: Spain

Region: Almansa

Grapes: Verdejo and Sauvignon

ABV: 13%

Wonderfully well balanced, pure, juicy and ripe Montepulciano.

Ruby red in colour with a strong fruity scent, containing hints of spices, cherry plum and jam. Well balanced and plenty of length. This is a rich, deeply savoury, complex version of that old Italian classic.

Country: Italy

Region: Abruzzo

ABV: 13.5%

Grapes: Montepulciano

Certified Organic

We love this orange wine with it's pale amber colour. Beautifully pure and textured palate with fresh nuttiness and fine spices. Tangerine and a hint of marmalade and lovely pure citrus fruits. Juicy linear and expressive with a salty tang on the finish.

Country: Portugal

Region: Lisbon

Grapes: 20% Fernão Pires from Lisbon; 80% Siria from Beira Interior

ABV: 13%

Winemaker Andre is always interested in experimenting with new and old methods. He is the 5th generation of winemakers at Quinta do Montalto, the farm has 15Ha of Vineyards grown with organic certification since 1997 in Clay and Chalk soils under the Lisbon DOC Encostas D’Aire.
He uses ancient methods the create DOC Medieval Ourem, but also made new Portuguese Amphoras and uses the most modern low intervention techniques for his traditional range.

A rich and textured white wine with great depth and complexity given from being made in clay amphora. Matches beautifully with antipasto and meat dishes, but equally very friendly drunk without food.

Country: Italy

Region: Marche

Grapes: Incrocio Bruni 54

ABV: 13%

Incrocio Bruni 54 is a crossing by pollenation of Sauvignon Blanc and Verdicchio which was done in 1936 by Professor Bruno Bruni while working for the Italian Ministry of Agriculture. It is only found in the Marche region and Tenuta Santi Giacomo e Filippo are championing it as Marche's flagship grape. Rightly so!