Notes & News

presented by  Andy Woolgar from Elephants Corner Bellevue Chenin Blanc 2026 The historic Bellevue Estate in Stellenbosch stands as a foundational pillar of South African viticulture. While globally legendary for its historical connection to red cultivars, the property produces incredibly exciting expressions from its Certified Heritage white blocks. Winemaker Wilhelm Kritzinger handles some of the…

presented by Brittanie Wallace from Queen of Wines La Espera Torrontés 2025 In the late 19th century, the Funcke family immigrated from Germany to Argentina, weaving their ancestral traditions directly into the local agricultural fabric. Honoring this rich lineage, founder Kurt Heinlein established Bodega Funckenhausen on a sprawling 330-hectare estate of untouched wilderness. Located in…

presented by Alex Freedman from Millennium Beverage Caulino Alois Campania Falanghina At the foothills of the Caiatini Mountains in the province of Caserta, Michele Alois alongside his sons Massimo and Gianfranco established their certified sustainable family estate. Surrounded by an amphitheater of hills not far from the inactive Roccamonfina volcano, the property sits on an…

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…

presented by Joshua Terrell from Sunrise Wines Cantina San Biagio Vecchio Tasso Barbasso The foundation of Cantina San Biagio Vecchio rests in the scenic, yellow-sand hills of Oriolo dei Fichi, located near Faenza in the historical Emilia-Romagna region of Italy. Founded on a small parcel of land historically managed by the village parish priest, the…

presented by Andrew & Robin of Cellar Door Wine Shop Painted Fields Old Vine Zinfandel Andis Wines operates a sleek, state-of-the-art facility in the Sierra Foothills AVA of California, a historic region deeply tied to the 1850s Gold Rush era. Under the visionary winemaking direction of Mark McKenna and consulting winemaker Philippe Melka, the estate…