The Featured Wineries of 2012 will be announced in February. See below for the 2011 featured wineries.
EUROPE
All Featured Wineries are listed alphabetically by region. Scroll down for Featured Wineries from Austria, France, and Italy.‣AUSTRIA
|
WEINGUT WIENINGER (Wien)
Represented by Fritz Wieninger, Jr."Viennese wine" and "Wieninger" are practically synonymous.In fact, much of the prestige of Vienna´s wines can be attributed to the Wieninger winery. Nearly 100 years old, this winery was first run exclusively as a "Heurigen" (vineyard tavern) until Fritz Wieninger, Jr., became its wine production manager in the 1980s. Now he concentrates solely on distinctive, high-quality products. The fruit for these unique wines is sourced from the Bisamberg (sand, loam,loess) and Vienna´s most famous vineyard site, the Nussberg (weathered limestone). Having experimented with biodynamic viticulture already for some time, Fritz Wieninger decided at the beginning of 2008 to work all of this vineyards according to biodynamic principles. |
‣BURGUNDY, FRANCE
|
COMTE ARMAND LE DOMAINE DES EPENEAUX (Pommard)
Represented by Benjamin LerouxDomaine Comte Armand in Pommard has been under the ownership of the same family in an unbroken line since before the French revolution, an extreme rarity in Burgundy. Until 1994 the domaine owned only one vineyard, their famous 13-acre Monopole Clos des Epeneaux – an outstanding 1er Cru in Pommard. The current Comte Armand – Vicomte Gabriel Armand, is a Parisian lawyer who has continued the family tradition of relying on resident-managers, or regisseurs, to conduct all of the domaine’s affairs. In 1999 they handed the keys to 23 year-old Benjamin Leroux, a promising local winemaking prodigy who has risen to earn a reputation among the world’s best. Ben completed the transition to Biodynamic farming for the estate, and has continued to add vineyards as well. They now hold over 25 acres in Pommard, Volnay, Meursault and Auxey-Duresses, but the jewel remains the magnificent Clos des Epeneaux, a walled-in section of the Pommard 1er Cru Epenots that has consistently produced one of the finest reds on the Côte de Beaune. |
|
DOMAINE CHARLES AUDOIN (Marsannay)
Represented by Cyril AudoinDomaine Charles Audoin is located in the Marsannay appellation just south of Dijon, which is known as the “Gateway to Burgundy.” The Domaine began in 1972 with just three hectares of vines. Along with his wife, oenologist Marie-Françoise Audoin, Charles Audoin has since built up their Domaine to 14 hectares. Their son Cyril has been on board since 2000, and together they are continuing the Burgundian tradition of respecting the terroir. Their vines on average are 45 years old. In the winery, they bottle without fining or filtering and produce about 4,000 cases annually. |
|
DOMAINE DES CROIX (Beaune)
Represented by David Croix Domaine des Croix was founded in 2005 when young vigneron David Croix, head winemaker at Camille Giroud, and a group of private investors purchased Domaine Duchet. The vineyards consist of vines in Savigny, Pommard and Corton-Charlemagne plus five Beaune 1er Crus including Bressandes, Greves, Pertuisots, and Cent Vignes. The domaine has been organic since 2008. David was named ‘the emerging talent of the year’ by Bourgogne Aujourd'hui Magazine (issue no 73) and continues to garner accolades from critics and peers alike. |
|
MAISON JOSEPH DROUHIN (Beaune)
Represented by Véronique DrouhinFounded in 1880, Maison Joseph Drouhin, with an experience now spanning four generations, is resolutely committed to a strict observance of tradition and respect for the heritage of Burgundy. The estate comprises 72 hectares of vineyards among the greatest appellations. Joseph Drouhin has adopted the biological and biodynamic approach. Only natural products are used and all procedures show the utmost respect for the soil, the vine and the environment. The true wine lover will discover in these wines the Drouhin signature: the originality of the terroir, the finesse of the aromas, the elegance and harmony of the structure and the style of the vintage. |
|
DOMAINE JOSEPH FAIVELEY (Nuits-Saint-Georges)
Represented by Erwan Faiveley Founded in 1825, Domaine Faiveley is located at the heart of viticultural Burgundy, between Dijon and Beaune in Nuits-Saint-Georges. Historically based in the Côte de Nuits capital, the Faiveley family has progressively extended its domaine and today owns vineyards in the finest climats in Burgundy - Gevrey-Chambertin, Pommard, Volnay, Puligny-Montrachet, Mercurey and others. The vineyards are very fragmented with an average surface area per appellation of around one hectare. Seven generations have have passionately cutlivated the land and crafted premier wines. François Faiveley took over the domain at the age of 25 and was able to give it a new boost using a precursor of the sorting table and carrying out cold macerations. In 2007, François’ son Erwan Faiveley assumed the helm. Upon his arrival, he renewed and reinforced his team and invested in the winery and the vineyards. Erwan brought new dynamics to the family business, while remaining faithful to his predecessors' values. |
|
DOMAINE FERNAND ET LAURENT PILLOT (Chassagne Montrachet)
Represented by Laurent PillotSince the 19th century, the Pillot family has cultivated vines in Chassagne Montrachet. Fernand and his son Laurent, the fourth generation, expanded the domaine in 1992 and then again in 2001 with the addition of Pothier-Rieusset vines in Pommard. Today, the family has 14.6 hectares of vines that span a total of 22 appellations. All of the crus are vinified and aged in their cave in Chassagne Montrachet with great respect for tradition and terroir. |
|
MAISON ALEX GAMBAL (Beaune)
Represented by Alex GambalMaison Alex Gambal is a small 4,500-case winery in Beaune specializing in handcrafted red and white Burgundies from the Côte d’Or. They purchase grapes, grape must and raw wine (either before or after malolactic fermentation). The wines are produced by hand in an artisan manner in small lots averaging six to ten barrels. The wine is moved during élevage without pumps and is bottled by gravity with the reds neither fined nor filtered. Alex’s goal is to make wines that have soul, personality and the character of the vintage and the place from which they come. Recently, Alex purchased vines within a Montrachet Grand Cru – becoming the first non-Frenchman to own land in a Montrachet site. |
|
MAISON CAMILLE GIROUD (Beaune)
Represented by David CroixMaison Camille Giroud was founded in 1865 and is one of the last small négociant firms in Burgundy. Always having specialized in wines that will age, Giroud still has small stocks in the cellars of vintages going back to 1937. The company continues to purchase finished wines and began to vinify several years ago when it could no longer fully rely on raw material from its traditional sources. Maison Giroud was purchased in 2002 by an American group. Winemaker David Croix is not a “modernist” but believes that the most important factor in producing Burgundies true to their appellation is the work that is done in the vineyards. Giroud uses a wooden press for its red wines, open wooden vats for fermentation, and no new oak barrels. |
|
DOMAINE DES COMTES LAFON (Beaune)
Represented by Dominique Lafon Dominique Lafon, manager of the renowned family estate Domaine des Comte Lafon, is one of Burgundy’s most progressive, forward-thinking, and venerable vintners. Taking over from his father René Lafon in 1984, Dominique has been instrumental in implementing major viticulture changes in Burgundy favoring farming methods that are respectful of the environment over the traditional methods that often included fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides. The 13.8 Hectare estate, which was largely established by his great-grandfather Jules Joseph Barthélémy Lafon in the late 1800s, is comprised of some of the most famous ‘Crus’ in Meursault, Puligny, and Montrachet. |
|
BENJAMIN LEROUX (Beaune)
Represented by Benjamin Leroux Benjamin Leroux is the winemaker at the highly regarded Domaine Comte Armand in Pommard and launched his own micro-negociant label in 2007. He’s a former winner of Burgundy’s best young talent trophy, and widely reputed to be among the best winemakers in the world. Ben worked harvest in Oregon at Domaine Drouhin in 1996 and 1997. The wines under Ben’s label come from many of the top growers throughout Burgundy, including an ever-expanding selection of Grand Crus. The wines are made in Ben’s new facility in Beaune, which he shares with another of Burgundy pre-eminent winemakers, Dominique Lafon. |
|
DOMAINE MARC ROY (Gevrey-Chambertin)
Represented by Alexandrine Roy & Dominique MahéDomaine Marc Roy includes nine acres of Pinot noir in Gevrey-Chambertin split into three distinctive “Cuvées”. “Vieilles Vignes” is made from a selection of the oldest vines of the estate (about 70 years old). “Clos Prieur” is made from this specific “climat”, ideally located just below the Grand Cru “Mazis-Chambertin”. “Cuvée Alexandrine” was first created in 2005 and made from a selection of “millerandées” grapes. One other acre is planted with Chardonnay to produce a rare white Marsannay «Les Champs Perdrix». After wine studies in Beune, Alexandrine took over as the 4th generation owner/winemaker of Domaine Marc Roy in 2003. She continued to further her wine knowledge through experiences in Australia (2004) and New-Zealand (2005). Additionally, since 2007 she has been the consulting winemaker for Phelps Creek Vineyards in Oregon. Because great wines are born in the vineyards, Alexandrine gives strong attention all year long to the soils and vines to bring low yields of top quality grapes. Then, traditional winemaking with 100% destemmed-grapes, fermentation with native yeasts, punch downs by foot and moderated oak maturation treatments allows Alexandrine to craft wines with soul that reflect Gevrey-Chambertin’s specific and unique Terroirs. |
|
DOMAINE MOREY-COFFINET (Chassagne-Montrachet)
Represented by Thibault & Cristina Morey Passionate about music and wine, Thibault Morey is a blossoming papa! He and his wife Cristina take care of their daughter Céleste. At 29 years old, Thibault is a tenth generation vigneron. His great grandfather, Henry Pillot, and his grand fathers Fernand Coffinet and Marc Morey taught him from the beginning the work of the vines. Growing up, Thibault became interested in wine and vinification with his father, Michel Morey. In his caves constructed in the 16th century, Thibault vinifies mythical appelations such as Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru La Romanée, Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Pucelles et Grand Cru Batard-Montrachet. Domaine Morey-Coffinet owns eight hectares of vines and annually produces 50,000 bottles of wine, which are distributed throughout the world. The wines of the domaine can be defined by the richness of the Grands Bourgognes with an elegance gained by respecting the character of each of the incredible cuvées. “I am conscious of our magnificent terroir and I seek excellence in my work,” affirms Thibault. |
‣CHABLIS, FRANCE
|
DOMAINE LES TEMPS PERDUS (Chablis)
Represented by Clotilde Davenne Biography Coming Soon |
‣CHAMPAGNE, FRANCE
|
CHAMPAGNE RENÉ GEOFFROY (Aÿ)
Represented by Jean-Baptiste Geoffroy This father-son domaine is producing Champagnes of the utmost integrity. The Geoffroy family has been growing grapes in the village of Cumières since the 1600s where 11 of their 14 hectares are planted. The remainder is planted to Pinot meunier in the village of Fleury-la-Riviere and a few small lots in the village of Damery. All of the individual parcels are vinified separately; all are fermented in enameled stainless steel, and some lots go into oak foudre. The family is committed to fruit-thinning in July, only manual harvesting and environmentally gentle handling of the vineyards. Once the grapes are harvested, the Geoffroys press in a traditional Coquard press, slow and gentle, but rarely seen any more because of its low productivity and the physically taxing work it entails. Red-grape dominated cuvées from a locally warm microclimate create thrilling, vibrant, fruity Champagnes. Jean-Baptiste Geoffroy makes wines that reflect his enthusiasm. |
‣ITALY
|
AZIENDA AGRICOLE MARCHESI PANCRAZI (Tuscany)
Represented by Giuseppe PancraziMarchesi Pancrazi comes from a fifteenth-century estate west of Florence, Villa di Bagnolo. In 1975, 3,300 vines identified as Sangiovese were planted on the estate’s clay/schiste soil, on a low hillside particularly rich in iron (instrumental for Pinot Noir complexity). The grapes were vinified as Sangiovese, and anonymously blended into the everyday family wine. Then one day in 1989, an oenologist friend of the Marchesi Pancrazi pointed out that the “Sangiovese” was actually Pinot Noir — in fact, probably Tuscany’s oldest Pinot Noir vines! At this point, Vittorio Pancrazi decided to vinify the Pinot on its own, and naturally put his Bordeaux-educated friend Niccolò D’Afflitto in charge of the experiment. After year’s of maturation in Allier barriques and six months of bottle age, the experiment succeeded. Since 1989, Pancrazi, in synergy with his winemaker, has carried out in-depth innovations in the vineyard and in the winery. |
|
J. HOFSTÄTTER (Bolzano)
Represented by Martin Foradori HofstätterThe Hofstätter estate, founded in 1907, has been in family ownership for four generations and is now run by Martin Foradori-Hofstätter. It comprises several vineyards of five historic manor houses located on either side of the Adige Valley. The Hofstätter estate is therefore unique in that it is supplied with grapes grown in the finest south-west and south-east facing vineyards planted on hillsides in the warm and sunny South Tyrol (Alto Adige) which is Italy's northern-most province. Its main town of Bolzano lies on the same line of latitude as Mâcon in Burgundy. In fact, Hofstätter has made Pinot noir their speciality. The estate's top wines are named after the wine farmsteads where they are grown: Kolbenhof, Barthenau, Oberer and Unterer Yngramhof, Steinraffler and the Cereseto Superiore ("Hof" means farmstead). In total the vineyards comprise 120 acres, located on hillsides and in steep sites at altitudes varying between 750 and 2100 feet above sea level. The Hofstätter wine estate places prime importance on the cultivation of local Alto Adige (South Tyrolean) varieties, above all Gewürztraminer, Lagrein and Vernatsch (Schiava), though Pinot blanc and Pinot noir have been growing here for so long (since the 1860s) that they have become "naturalized citizens" and are accorded equal importance. |