Real Wine Month

Finally an awakening of the senses; the doors are flung open; sunhats and sunscreen relocated. All it seems kicked off by the light shining through Tobacco Dock on the assembled winemakers, importers, vignerons, food purveyors and jolly vinous folk at the recent utterly fabulous Real Wine Fair.

There had been a fallow year, plus I missed one, plus the obvious pandemic induced halt to sniffing, swirling, spitting and imbibing with the very best in the trade.

Personal highlights were:

Pierre Frick’s 2021 Pinot Gris V Maceration – yup I sometimes drink wine from a bottle…..

Lark & Folly (the latest project of Tim Wildman of Lost in a Field English Pet Nat notoriety) – Forgotten parcels of traditional method English sparkling wine, rescued from obscurity, discovered, disgorged, dosaged then labelled and released under the Lark & Folly name. Tiny quantities, rare gems, obscure varieties…when they’re gone they’re gone.
The 2006 Reichensteiner was extraordinary, still bright & vibrant at 17 years+
The wine was discovered in a deceased estate and disgorged in 2023, with only 360 bottles saved. Perhaps the oldest vintage English Sparkling wine around, all that time ageing on lee. Message if this is of interest, strictly under the counter kit….

Then in more familiar territory a great line up from Can Vi; a coming-soon Toscano Rosso BIB from Antonio Camillo; the reassuringly familiar Raisins Gaulois, the 2023 vintage especially beguiling, supple and easy; Galets Rouge from Vignerons d’Estezargues a grenache / syrah based blend from a co-operative working naturally if that is not an oxymoron.

‘Real wine’ is a term embracing wines that are made organically, biodynamically and naturally. By no means precise nor prescriptive it serves chiefly to highlight growers who work with minimal mediation, ideally to obtain the purest articulation of terroir, fruit and vintage.’ – Real Wine Fair 2024

As a celebration of Real Wine Month AND more than a whole day without rain, the following wines are all on offer throughout the month of May.

Galets Rouge (Les Galets Rouge, Estezargues, France – 5ltr Bag in Box Red Wine
Raisins Gaulois – Raisins Gaulois, Lapierre, Vin de France. 5Ltr Bag in Box Wine
Lost in Field Pet Nat (Lost in a Field Frolic Pet-Nat 2022 – Sparkling Rose Wine 750ml