Wine Au Naturel

Ever wondered who the Anna is behind 'Vino di Anna', a label which, despite tiny quantities, has made its way onto the shelves and menus of many of the world's leading wines shops and bars? It's Anna Martens, none other than wife of Les Caves's Grand Fromage Eric Narioo. Anna is a highly experienced winemaker, having worked at well known wineries around the world. One of the natural wine world's leading ladies, she now works her magic on the wild and wonderful slopes of Mt. Etna. Have a listen to what Anna had to say about what led her to working naturally, how she defines the 'natural' world, and what it's like working with Mt. Etna's old vines and native grapes: More about Anna and Vino di Anna: Anna Martens Anna grew up in Adelaide, South Australia.  While studying oenology at Adelaide University she worked at Petaluma, in the Adelaide Hills. The travel bug soon hit and Anna worked vintages in Burgundy, New Zealand, Mendoza, Corbières and Stellenbosch.  In 200

Joseph Di Blasi is a blogger and natural wine importer now based in Poland. Joseph chats with us about the wine culture in both Poland and Norway (his former stomping grounds), the difficulties of importing natural wines, the controversy surrounding the word 'natural', as well as some of his favourite growers. Have a listen! Read more about Joseph on his blog, Vinosseur.   

Jenny & Francois Selections have in large part been responsible for introducing America to the wonderful world of natural wine. Their company began in 2000 after Jenny, a native New Yorker, met Francois while studying French Film in Paris. Today, the company imports and distributes wine from some of the natural wine world's most prominent growers as well as many lesser known gems. Outside New York they work with distributors throughout the US, ensuring an entire country has the opportunity to sip these artisan wines. We were fortunate enough to chat with Jenny about everything from her dessert island wine, to how her palate has changed, to what the natural wine scene in New York is like today.  "We present the wines of small vineyards in this competitive worldwide market, in order to defend an endangered species — winemakers who work like artisans, crafting a different wine each year. They do not impose a preconceived taste on their wines, but look to be surprised by what nature gives them

Love Tilly Devine is one of the best wine bars in Australia. There, I said it. It's the kind of place you want to linger well into the wee hours of the morning. The wine menu is brilliantly laid out with some of Australia's and the world's top natural wines. The food is super fresh-simple yet delicious. Owner Matt Swieboda chats about what got him into natural wine, the state of the natural wine scene Down Under, and which bottle would be his 'desert island' wine.

Jelena and Fulvio Bressan are some of Friuli's (in the northeast of Italy) finest winemakers. Champions of rare native grape varieties like Pignol, Schioppettino, and Verduzzo Friolano, Bressan's wines are made without chemicals or intervention in the winery except for a tiny bit of sulphur before bottling.  "The centuries-old spirit of the family lies here, where the slopes of the Collio Region fade gently and open up on the Isonzo River Valley, in a slice of land protected to the north by the Alps and open to the south to the hot winds of the Adriatic Sea; where a rare mixture of natural elements (geographic, geological and climatic) have created a unique and inimitable “terroir”." Here is the Bressan philosophy as written by Fulvio: I believe in the sure hand of my father and those who performed their labours among the same grapevines with commitment and dedication for ten generations before him. I believe in our land, unique, loyal, serene and aware of its surrou

Tom Lubbe's wines, under their label Matassa, are known for their intensely fresh, mineral-driven expressions of terroirs. Tom is a passionate advocate of working with a hands-off approach both in the winery and with his old vines on the steep slopes of the Roussillon in Soutwest France. He's also a bloody nice guy.  --Christina Pickard 

I am Wine, a project created by Uncle and nephew Michele and Nicola Finotto, is a series of films about artisan winemakers following the traditional practices of their ancestors, particularly focused on the fascinting winemaking traditions of Georgia, the olded winemaking country in the world.

Giampiero Bea is the president of ViniVeri (‘Real Wines’), a group of about 20 natural winemakers from all around Italy who work with the same winemaking philosophy we folk behind the Real Wine Fair also believe in. Viniveri aren’t into giving themselves strict rules and regulations because this contradicts the spirit of these ‘anarchic naturalists’, but you can read their manifesto below to get a good idea of what they stand for.  We are fortunate enough to have about half of Viniveri’s members pouring their wines at the Real Wine Fair.  Be sure to stop by and see them! A few weeks ago for the Wine au Naturel podcast, I interviewed Giampiero, who makes stunning wines at Paolo Bea, his family’s estate in Montefalco, Umbria during Viniveri’s annual wine fair, ‘Vino Vino Vino’ in Cerea, just outside of Verona.  Have a listen to what he had to say about natural wines.

American-Brazilian filmmaker Jonathan Nossiter talks to Christina Pickard about his inspiration for making the world famous (and often controversial) wine documentary, Mondovino, and what to expect from the British premiere of the extended version, Mondovino: The Series.