Tales From the River Banks - a six bottle box set

Wines under the influence of rivers, free flowing through the Douro, Duero, Mosel, Loire and Maule river with a little stop off at Lake Neusiedl just to shake things up. 

White wines

Andreas Bender, Weissburgunder, Mosel, Germany -  Andreas was only 13 years old when he made his first wine, learning about viticulture, soil and terroir from his father who was a vine propagator. From then on he knew he was destined to be a wine maker. He studied and then hit the road, working at wineries in Germany, France Italy and the US before he settled back home in 2008 to start his own project on his family vineyards. 

Andreas' philosophy is unusual in that he doesn't commercialise his top single vineyards separately. This doesn't mean he's not a traditionalist though and actually vinifies grapes from each individual vineyard site separately every year, resulting in a multitude of different cuvées which are later blended to make the best of each vintage into a number of different wines. He believes careful cellar work, simple techniques and natural fermentation are key.

Andreas' own vineyards are farmed organically and he also works with trusted growers who farm to his specifications.

This wine is made from Weissburgunder (aka Pinot Blanc), rather than the more familiar Riesling, and comes from 30 year-old vines on steep slopes with slate soils. A wine with delicacy, a round, silky mouthfeel and a soft stone fruit core with a lovely, fresh finish.

Producer - Andreas Bender
Country - Germany
Region - Mosel 
Variety / Blend - Weissburgunder
Wine Style - White Wine   
Farming - Organic
Vegan    

Landron Chartier, Domaine Muscadet Coteaux de la Loire, France - Some things go together like strawberries & cream. Muscadet & shellfish is one of those classic pairings that just work.

Benoît and Bernard Landron farm around 25 hectares of vines near Ancenis, north-east of Nantes, where they produce a mix of red, white & sparkling wines. Their Muscadet is Côteaux de la Loire appellation rather than the more fashionable & expensive Sèvre et Maine but certainly shouldn't be thought of as inferior, just different, expressing the softer climate & different soils of the region.

Producer - Landron Chartier
Country - France
Region - Loire
Sub-Region - Nantais
Variety / Blend - Melon de Bourgogne
Wine Style - White Wine
Farming - Organic
Vegan

Gonzalez Bastias, Tierra Madre, Maule Valley, Chile - This is made by the 5th generation of the same family to farm their vineyards, custodians of historic 200 year old Pais bush vines. Farming is organic and environmentally aware production in every sense. They make Chilean wines that are light years from the me too, international varietal mass. This white has flavours of citrus fruit - mandarin and lime - lovely texture and length. Perfect with sweet and sour dishes and other spice food.

Producer - Gonzalez Bastias
Country - Chile
Region - Maule Valley
Variety / Blend - Semillon, Torontel
Wine Style - White Wine
Farming - Organic
Vegan

Orange wines

Heinrich, Naked Orange, Neusiedlersee-Hügelland, Burgenland, Austria - 

Gernot and Heike Henrich are life long innovators. Since taking over the family estate in 1985 they have constantly sought to improve and explore. Now farming biodynamically, which they see as being right for the planet and better for the wines, they were among the first to move to focus on quality and champion local grape varieties. 

Naked wines are made with minimal intervention, nothing to hide behind. 

Made from fruit from both sides of the Lake Neusiedl, this is a blend of all your favourite Austrian varieties. Two weeks on the skins and 18 months between amphora and big ol' oak barrels made with super lo-fi winemaking. Zesty, juicy blood orange and citrus fruit.

Producer - Heinrich
Country - Austria
Region - Neusiedlersee-Hügelland, Burgenland
Variety / Blend  - Chardonnay, Weissburgunder, Roter Traminer, Muskat Ottonel, Grauer Burgunder (Pinot Gris)
Wine Style - Orange Wine
Farming - Biodynamic
Vegan      

Red wines

Quinta Milu, Ribera del Duero, Castilla y Leon, Spain - Ribera del Duero is a region known for being “big" - big wines, big oak, and big bucks. Quinta Milú is refreshingly different, its wines hugely drinkable, pure and fruit forward. Germán Blanco (the farm is named after his daughter) makes wines using techniques like foot treading, wild yeast fermentations and minimal handling, that are infused rather than extracted - elegant and balanced rather than heavy and grippy.

Made partly in stainless steel and partly in open oak tubs then matured for five months in large, old French oak barrels it has lovely flavours of cherries and plums and cracked pepper.

Producer - Quinta Milu
Country - Spain
Region - Castilla y Leon    
Sub-Region - Ribera del Duero
Variety / Blend - Tempranillo
Wine Style - Red Wine
Farming - Organic
Vegan      

Quinta da Costa do Pinhao, Gradual, Douro, Portugal- 

In the heart of the Douro Valley, famous for Port but gaining an increasing reputation for un-fortified reds too, Quinta da Costa do Pinhao's vineyards lie on rich slate soils high above the river and the heat of the valley floor. Farming is organic and winemaking traditional, in stone lagars, producing terroir driven, balanced and fruity wines. Twelve months in used French oak barrels has softened the tannins and added just a hint of espresso and balsamic which complements the rich red fruit and plum flavours. Perfect with a bifana!

Producer - Quinta da Costa do Pinhao
Country - Portugal
Region - Douro
Variety / Blend - Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinta-Roriz
Wine Style - Red Wine
Farming - Organic

Photo pinched respectfully from Clemens Busch and his goat on the Mosel

This case contains one bottle of each of these wines. If any is out of stock or becomes unavailable it will be replaced by one of equal or greater value and deliciousness.