our producers
We find wines from small, family-owned producers you may not have heard of before and bring them to you. Our focus on quality, sustainability, and equity is intentional. That means finding really good bottles at affordable prices from wineries known mostly only to the locals. We also think wines made with limited intervention in the vineyard and the cellar are just better. And we purposely work with producers led by women and people of color and those who support the livelihoods of their entire team.
Take a trip with us and hear the stories and sounds of
South Africa and France.
South African wines are really exciting right now for those looking for incredible quality and something a bit different. Our producers source their grapes from small micro-climates in the Western Cape region outside of Cape Town and each share a philosophy of sustainability and allowing the fruit to express itself from vineyard to vineyard and vintage to vintage. We're most excited about the traditional method sparkling wines from South Africa rarely seen in the US market. You'll be one of the very few to try these limited production wines typically only distributed in South Africa and Europe.
Very limited production Méthode Cap Classique bubbly from owner and creator Melissa Genevieve Nelsen. Genevieve MCC is hand-crafted with careful attention in the vineyard and minimal intervention in the cellar. This small portfolio of Blanc de Blancs cuvées with low or zero dosage and a brand new Brut Rosé are sourced from the exciting Bot River region of the Cape South Coast. Made in the traditional Champagne method with extensive aging - 4 years on the lees - Genevieve is one of the top rated sparkling wines from South Africa. We're thrilled to partner with Melissa to bring these wines to the US market.
A real hidden gem, Springfontein Wine Estate is one of the few wineries in the world to have its own appellation much like a "monopole" in Burgundy. The expression of this unique limestone terroir tucked away near the southern most tip of Africa is on full display with wines made in the most natural way possible - 100% organic, indigenous yeasts, and unfiltered. Springfontein focuses on grape varieties native to South Africa: Pinotage and the newly released Chenel (a crossing of Chenin Blanc and Trebbiano). Another reason we're excited to partner with Springfontein is their commitment to education through the Children's Book Network.
Part of the original South African wine farm in the oldest wine region in the Southern Hemisphere, historic Constantia Uitsig is now consistently making some of the best cool climate white wines in the New World. Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon, and Bordeaux blends are the stars. They also make a limited amount of Méthode Cap Classique sparkling wine that is worth seeking out. Uitsig, which means "the View" in Afrikaans, also makes significant investments in their workers and their community through an on-site school and charitable giving to local foundations.
Led by Jeanne Vito, one of Africa's most dynamic and inspiring women in wine, VINO VITO is an homage to the African spirit. These limited production wines, like the Akua'ba Red and Mami Wata, support a social impact vineyard project in Togo, West Africa. VINO VITO is produced in collaboration with our partners at Springfontein Wine Estate.
An initiative of Springfontein Wine Estate, Cape Moby Winery is rooted in a story of family and mentorship between Springfontein's founder Dr. Johst Weber and Mariska Kammies. Mariska grew up on the farm, minutes away from the seaspray and jagged edges of Walker Bay, and has grown into become Cape Moby Winery's leader. As brand ambassador, Mariska strives to give back to the community and serve as a role model for young women.
Our philosophy with our French portfolio is to find hidden gems in classic regions. These are wines you really need to seek out, are made in very small quantities, and have great stories to tell. Our producers focus on finesse and elegance over power, and go to great lengths to express the unique terroir of each individual plot.
5th generation winemaker Marine Descombe is now leading the family-owned vineyards in Beaujolais at Château de Pougelon in Brouilly. Manually harvested from old vines with limited use of sulfites, this Gamay Noir is made in the Burgundian style to produce some of the best value, single vineyard cru Beaujolais in the region. While made from the same grape with the same low intervention techniques - native yeast fermentation and no fining agents - each bottling expresses the uniqueness of the terroir across Beaujolais. Look for their premium lieu-dit offerings from the crus of Brouilly, Fleurie, Morgon, and Juliénas.
.png){kind=logo}
Led by Marine Descombe, winemaker at Chateau de Pougelon, the Vins Descombe lineup of "Marie," "Josephine," and "Simone" is a collection of Vins de France made initially only for the domestic French market. They are a tribute to influential French women in history: Marie Curie, Josephine Baker, and Simone Veil.
Domaine Vaudoisey-Cruesefond is tucked away in the village of Pommard, home to some of the most legendary Pinot Noirs in the Côte de Beaune. 8th generation winemakers Laure and Alexandre Vaudoisey are continuing a tradition that began in Volnay in 1806, crafting terroir-focused Burgundies at affordable prices. This family-owned domaine with small plots in Pommard, Volnay, Auxey-Duresses, and Meursault makes wine the natural way, with indigenous yeasts and without inputs. Vaudoisey produces no more than 100 cases for most labels we import, nearly all from single vineyards.
