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Compañía Vitivinícola Tandem, Navarra, Spain
The first time I met Jose Maria and Alicia at Tandem was on a cool, brisk December morning in the early 2020s. Despite the season and temperature, I was greeted with warmth and hospitality and felt at home immediately. This small but effective three-person operation makes impeccable wines with excellent precision. Nothing is rushed, and their commitment to letting things take the time they need, combined with Alicia’s true “hands-off” winemaking approach, shows in every glass and bottle.
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Bideona, Rioja, Spain
If you think you know Rioja, think again! Bideona is among the few forerunners taking this world-renowned region into its next phase. Their detailed selection and commitment from the very beginning, along with their parallel effort to preserve a world heritage of old vines, set them apart. Fellow “Master of Wine” Andreas Kubach and his team are transforming centuries-old traditions into something highly contemporary. Exciting, to say the least!
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Erika Obermayer Wines, Various regions, South Africa
What do you do when you, at a young age, reach the Cellar Master position at one of the “Big Guns” in South Africa? Stay and be happy ever after? Not Erika Obermayer. No, her commitment is evident in her desire to get her hands dirty and dedicate her amazing winemaking skills to producing highly individual wines that truly speak to you. Walking into her small winery with its modest settings feels like stepping into a Danish-style interior decoration shop. Erika’s wines are just as stylish!
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Weingut Herbert Zillinger, Austria
Dedication is clearly a common theme in the DNA Wines portfolio, and Herbert and Carmen Zillinger are no exception. They craft what I like to call “Gruner Veltliner 2.0” from the Weinviertel region. The origin, or rather the misconception of the region, has nothing to do with Zillinger, yet at the same time, it has everything to do with Herbert and Carmen’s philosophy of tending and belonging to the land. Biodynamic certification, whether you believe in it or not, certainly puts a significant focus on the land and the health of the vines, grapes, and the ecosystem around them. Don’t expect fruity and fresh GV; expect the unexpected instead!
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Ceel, Burgenland, Austria
It is always encouraging to see the younger generation honouring traditions while pushing new frontiers. Marcus, Martin, and Franz have returned to their vigneron roots in Burgenland to create their own label, Ceel, crafting impeccable wines from the historic prime vineyards around Rûst. The results are striking in every detail.
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Eensaamheid, Agter Paarl, South Africa
Named after the Dutch word for “solitude,” Eensaamheid is ideally located in the heart of the Agter-Paarl region. The Brier-Louw family has farmed this land for hundreds of years. At the helm today is Janno Briers-Louw, winemaker and Cape Wine Master, who crafts highly contemporary wines from dryland-farmed grapes. The highlight of a solid lineup is usually the Old Vine Chenin Blanc, which perfectly expresses what we value most: a sense of place and the true DNA of origin.
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