Located in the Ribeiro region in Galicia, Coto de Gomariz is made up of several vineyards covering a total of about fifty acres in the districts of Gomariz, Vieite, Esposende and Beade. In 1979 the Figueiral estate was recovered and became the first of the properties to be included in the Coto de Gomariz vineyard terrain. This marked the first step towards restoration of the native Ribeiro varieties, including the white Albarino, Treixadura, Loureira and Godello varieties, as well as the red Sousón, Ferrol, Mencía, Brancellao and Caiño Longo. Coto de Gomariz wines are the result of a unique combination of an Atlantic climate, low levels of rainfall, long hours of sunshine and sharp contrasts between daytime and nighttime temperatures, as well as unusual granitic and schist soils.
JULIA KEMPER WINES
To produce a high quality wine implies an extensive knowledge, work, constant learning, and above all, dedication and a tremendous passion. This passion has been on our family, the Melo-Kemper family, for more than 400 years. Our ancestors values were passed down from generation to generation and therefore we have adopted organic farming, which they undoubtedly practiced. Like our forefathers, we believe in the respect for Earth and biodiversity, and we believe in the balance between nature and we don’t want to interfere in it.
With 15 hectares of estate vines, we are committed to the traditional varieties of the Dao region: Touriga Nacional, Alfrocheiro, Tinta-Roriz and Jaen for our red wines, and Encruzado, Malvasia Fina and Verdelho for our white wines.
QUEVEDO
Quevedo is part of a new generation of small family wineries based in the Douro Valley. For many years, these families were growing grapes, and making Port wine, for merchants based in Vila Nova de Gaia. But when Portugal joined the European Union in 1986, legislation changed to allow both grape growers and wineries in the Douro to export their wines directly to the retailer. And as a result of this new legislation, the family brand “Quevedo” was born.
We cultivate 100 ha of vineyards across six properties in the Douro valley, from the sub-regions of the Cima Corgo and the Douro Superior. The diversity of our vineyards provides grapes of varying aromas and flavors to help us craft our wine.
The single most important thing we learned from our ancestors was that the wine shall be made in the vineyard. It does not matter how good or how lucky you are working the grapes at the winery, if the origin of the grapes is not the best, then there is now way you will make the best wine.
Secondly, vineyards tend to be consistent in terms of quality, but there is not a single location that is always the best. So, make sure you have different locations to grow your grapes, not all in the same spot.
These two ideas help to explain why producers in the Douro need to grow grapes in different areas, at different altitudes and why they plant a large array of native grapes.
BARON DE MONFORT
Our relationship with the Baron de Montfort estates is one that began more than 20 years ago while living and working in France. However, in regards to world of wine, didn’t begin until 2008. While working for a large French manufacturing company in the early 90’s, Peter met and befriended Bertrand de Sercey, who was then one of the export managers at the company. At the conclusion of the project, goodbyes were said and each went their own separate ways. Little did we expect that 20 years later at a wine convention in the United States, we would meet again in a strange twist of fate. We were once again back in the same line of business, as I would soon learn that Bertrand’s family owns and operates several prestigious vineyards in Bordeaux. After tasting these wonderful wines, I knew we had to share them with our friends, family and customers, and toast the newest chapter in the Sercey-Grisley friendship.With a total of 66 hectares, 16 in AOC Saint Emilion Grand Cru, and the remaining 50 in AOC Cotes de Castillon, the Baron de Montfort estates produce classic Bordeaux wines in arguably the most prestigious wine region in the world.
Chateau de Monbadon was built in the early 14th century with Chateau Lagrange-Monbadon sitting at the base of the feudal castle, while Chateau du Rocher contains some of the oldest growths in Saint Etienne de Lisse. The clay and limestone soil at all three estates are perfectly suited for producing the Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc varieties that thrive in Bordeaux.
LA VIDA AL CAMP
Based in Sant Sadurní d’ Anoia, the birthplace of Cava, La Vida Camp is a project dedicated to producing the best Cava and wines possible. In doing so, La Vida al Camp has teamed up with local farmers who are growing their grapes organically, and are focused on producing the highest quality indigenous grapes of the region. Their attention to detail allows the Vida Camp team to produce an absolutely stunning Cava made in the traditional method.“Our passion for the land and the people that work it led us to make our dream become a reality. La Vida al Camp is a way of looking at and understanding life. It is our particular way of transmitting the taste of this land that inspires us so. Our philosophy of honest and primary work means that we work together with the farmers from the region, who share our passion for nature, driven by the desire to achieve wines of personality.” -La Vida al Camp Team
QUINTA DE COVELA
On the sinuous terraces of a natural amphitheater perched high above the right bank of the Douro river, Quinta de Covela has - for at least five centuries now - straddled the rugged terrain where two of Portugal's best-known wine-producing regions now meet. Downstream, rugged granite marks the landscape of the Vinho Verde region. Upriver, the hot, slate-layered earth is what gives Port wine its heart and soul.
With panoramic views over the river, the Covela estate covers 49 hectares, of which 18 are planted with vineyards that also mark the frontier between two typical villages of the lower Douro - São Tomé de Covelas and Santa Cruz do Douro, both recognized for their natural beauty and rich cultural heritage.
With an eye on keeping Quinta de Covela in the vanguard of wine trends and exploiting the estate's unique potential, a new experimental plot is currently being planted with a dozen or so varieties, mostly Portuguese and rarely known beyond our borders. In coming years, the results of such studies and experiments may well be transformed into new Covela wines or updated versions of some of our existing blends
The wines will continue to be intriguing assemblages of Portuguese and international grape varieties, with local Avesso and Touriga Nacional continuing to be the cornerstones for Covela blends. Arinto, Chardonnay, Viognier and Gewürztraminer complement Avesso in the whites, while Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot Noir - the three main Bordeaux red grapes - blend with Touriga Nacional for reds of strong personality.
DOMAINES DENIS DUBOURDIEU
Denis Dubourdieu is all at once a scientist, a vineyard owner and a wine maker. Educated as an agro-scientist, an Oenology Professor at the university of Bordeaux since 1987, he has concentrated his research studies on yeasts, aromas and colloids. He is considered as one of the top specialist in the winemaking process (and often referred to as the “godfather” of white Bordeaux wines) and the ageing of white wines. Nevertheless the work of his team has also greatly contributed to deepening our knowledge of red wines aromas.
Denis Dubourdieu attends to the family vineyards as a vine grower, a wine maker and is a consultant to numerous wine producers in France and abroad. Denis Dubourdieu and his wife Florence both come from old families of wine growers of the Bordeaux region. Assisted by their son, Fabrice, Engineer in Oenology, they produce wine from several estates totaling 120 hectares, in the Sauternes, Graves and Premières Côtes de Bordeaux regions.
The vineyards are run by 2 companies: Pierre & Denis Dubourdieu EARL (Doisy-Daëne, Cantegril & Haura) and Denis & Florence Dubourdieu EARL (Reynon and Floridène). In the latter part of 2006, after completing graduate studies in business and marketing, Jean-Jacques, Denis’ youngest son, joined the family vineyard. In charge of purchasing and marketing, he is also responsible for promoting the Dubourdieu brand name across the French and American markets. During the wine-making process, he oversees the harvest at Doisy-Daëne and Cantegril.
MAS FORASTER
Mas Foraster is located in the village of Montblanc Spain, just inland from the city of Tarragona, in the beautiful Catalonia region of Spain northeastern Spain. The estate has a total of 29hectares (just under 72 acres) where they mostly grow Cabernet Sauvignon and Ull de Llebre (Catalan for Tempranillo) as well as Garnacha Blanca, Macabeo and Chardonnay for white wines. They also grow the indigenous variety Trepat, which is what originally drew our attention to this fantastic producer. Trepat is a wonderful variety which fans of Pinot Noir will definitely enjoy. It produces lighter bodied wines with wonderful red fruit notes and floral qualities, and it is also often used to produce rose wines and cavas in the region. Josep Foraster is a wonderful addition to our portfolio as they are a family owned and operated winery, seeking to produce wines with the highest quality possible, and making sure their wines truly express the terroir of their vineyards.