presented by Johnny Utah from A-Vin-Garde
Conquilla Cava Brut NV
The foundation of Conquilla Cava is deeply anchored in the Penedès Valley within the Catalunya region of northeastern Spain. The brand’s identity and its very name derive from the singular, fossiliferous, iron-rich clay-limestone soils of their estate vineyards, which are packed with prehistoric marine shell fossils (conquillas). Sourcing entirely estate-grown fruit, the viticultural team focuses on capturing a pure, structured Mediterranean identity that honors the traditional heritage of Spanish sparkling wine.
This Cava is a remarkably crisp, vibrant, and highly expressive selection that serves as a beautiful snapshot of its ancient marine terroir. Each of the classic varieties is harvested and vinified separately in temperature-controlled stainless steel vats below 15°C to protect their pristine, natural aromatics. Following the primary blend, a long, slow secondary fermentation takes place natively inside the bottle in a naturally cool underground cellar. The wine is aged sur lie (on its fine lees) for 12 months before cold disgorgement and a balanced dosage adjustment to 7 grams of sugar per liter.
Appellation: D.O. Cava, Catalunya, Spain
Grapes: 50% Xarel-lo, 25% Macabeu, 25% Parellada – ABV: 11.5%
Tasting notes: Bright, crisp, and elegantly bubbly. It layers fragrant aromas of white peach and anise over a zesty, citrus-driven palate that rounds out into a complex, toasty mineral finish.
Pairing: Best served well-chilled at 6–8°C. It serves as an ultimate companion to light appetizers, summer salads, fresh seafood, raw oysters, or savory paella dishes.
Producer: Conquilla Cava
Netzl Grüner Veltliner 2025
The multi-generational Netzl family estate organically farms 28 hectares of premium vineyards in the Carnuntum winemaking region, located just east of Vienna, Austria. Today, winemaker Christina Netzl leads the estate with a deep commitment to sustainable agriculture, biodiversity, and certified organic production. The local meso-climate benefits from a unique confluence of the warm Pannonian plain, the nearby Danube river, and cooling northern winds. This climate pattern yields warm, sun-drenched afternoons balanced by sharp nighttime temperature drops, allowing their whites to develop immense aromatic intensity while keeping their racy, natural acidity perfectly intact.
The 2025 vintage stands as a classic, precise, and beautifully refreshing expression of Austria’s signature grape variety. The hand-picked fruit undergoes a natural, spontaneous fermentation inside stainless steel tanks with minimal intervention. To highlight pure varietal essence, the wine is bottled unfined and unfiltered, presenting a clean, classic straw-yellow frame.
Appellation: Carnuntum, Niederösterreich, Austria
Grapes: 100% Grüner Veltliner – ABV: 12%
Tasting notes: Bright, zesty, and precise. It highlights expressive aromas of crisp apple, grapefruit rind, and white pepper, transitioning seamlessly into a vibrant, linear palate with a clean, lip-smacking finish.
Pairing: Serve well-chilled at 8–10°C. Highly versatile at the table, it pairs excellently with classic Wiener Schnitzel, fresh garden salads, grilled asparagus, or light poultry dishes.
Producer: Netzl (Winemaker: Christina Netzl)
Grands Bois CDR Les Trois Soeurs 2024
Founded in 1920 by Albert Farjon, Domaine Les Grands Bois is a highly respected family estate situated in Sainte-Cécile-les-Vignes in the southern Rhône Valley, France. In 1994, Albert’s granddaughter Mireille and her husband Marc Besnardeau—a former Parisian sommelier—took over management and spearheaded a dedication to estate-bottled exports and certified organic viticulture. The estate covers 47 hectares across a patchwork of clay-limestone and stony communes. Named “Les Trois Sœurs” (The Three Sisters) in honor of Marc and Mireille’s three daughters, this cuvée draws from exceptionally mature, 30-to-60-year-old vines that capture the deep, sun-baked heritage of the region.
The 2024 vintage delivers a wonderfully rich, concentrated, and beautifully balanced Southern Rhône red blend. Vinified cleanly in concrete or stainless steel vats to highlight natural fruit purity, it avoids any heavy wood aging to let the peppery garrigue qualities of the terroir speak unmasked.
Appellation: Côtes du Rhône AOC, Southern Rhône Valley, France
Grapes: Carignan, Grenache, Syrah – ABV: 14% – 14.5%
Tasting notes: Rich, fleshy, and highly aromatic. It layers fragrant scents of dark cherry, wild mint, and black pepper over an ample, smoothly rounded palate with fine, soft tannins and a savory finish.
Pairing: Best enjoyed at a standard cellar temperature of 15–17°C. It serves as an exceptional companion to herb-roasted duck breast, grilled lamb chops, savory game birds, or rich tomato-based stews.
Producer: Domaine Les Grands Bois
Gabriëlskloof Syrah 2023
Nestled in the cool-climate Bot River ward within the Walker Bay region of South Africa, Gabriëlskloof is a boutique family property owned by Bernhard Heyns. Acclaimed head winemaker Peter-Allan Finlayson guides the estate’s gravity-fed cellar with a deep focus on minimal intervention and landscape precision. This highly unique “Whole Bunch” Syrah release is sourced predominantly from the estate’s historic, sustainably farmed shale vineyard block. The vines grow on rugged, well-draining soils and are exposed to cold maritime winds sweeping off the Cape South Coast, forcing the clusters to retain a striking level of wild perfume and peppery tension
The 2023 “Whole Bunch” bottling is an internationally celebrated, texturally brilliant masterpiece that saw absolutely zero wood contact. The hand-picked fruit undergoes a 10-day, 100% whole-bunch carbonic fermentation to extract lively color and aroma before being gently pressed, racked off its lees, and aged for 8 months exclusively in stainless steel vats.
Appellation: Bot River, Walker Bay, Cape South Coast, South Africa
Grapes: 100% Syrah – ABV: 14%
Tasting notes: Wildly elegant, fresh, and deeply aromatic. It opens with complex notes of blueberry, violet petals, and cloves, expanding into a juicy, medium-bodied palate with grainy tannins and a savory, olive-and-spice finish.
Pairing: Best enjoyed slightly chilled at a cellar temperature of 14–16°C. Its savory profile allows it to pair beautifully with cured meats, grilled hangar steaks, roasted game, or wood-fired mushroom pizzas.
Producer: Gabriëlskloof Wines
