Wines of the World

Munjebel FM Rouge 2020 Magnum

Frank Cornelissen
Munjebel FM, one of Frank Cornelissen's single-plot cuvées, is an organic (Eurofeuille), biodynamic, and natural red wine with DOP Etna Rosso and IGP Terre Siciliane Nerello Mascalese appellations. It comes from the vast contrada Feudo di Mezzo, specifically its upper part, known as Sottana. Its soil is deep, and the wines it produces are of an uncommon elegance typical of this region. The site is well-ventilated, but ideal ripeness is difficult to achieve in wet vintages. The magnum format amplifies the character of this wine and accentuates its roundness.

Vinification
The Nerello Mascalese harvest is destemmed, lightly crushed, and then macerated for 50 days on the skins. Fermentation is carried out using indigenous yeasts. The wine is aged for 18 months in fiberglass vats and 18 months in bottles. It is not clarified but lightly filtered.

Tasting
An almost Burgundian elegance and roundness characterize this wine, even in warm vintages. A special vintage of great finesse, which adapts to the most varied dishes. Try it with all the cuisines of the South: Italian, Greek, Provençal… We would recommend a delicious cassoulet from Sillon to accompany it. Or simply a good black pig ham from Bigorre.

Learn more about Frank Cornelissen
A key and universally respected figure in natural, organic, and biodynamic wine, Belgian Frank Cornelissen, a winemaker captivated by Sicily, is a classic. This man of constant questioning lives in human and cosmic resonance with his terroir: he has demonstrated that the powerful minerality of a great volcanic soil could be enhanced by the naturalness of his wines.

An ideal terroir for plot-by-plot vinification
In Passopisciaro, Sicily, in the north of the Etna Valley, the 19 plots cover 24 hectares of basalt soils spread over numerous plots (contrade) between 600 and 900 meters above sea level on the side of the volcano. It is, says Frank Cornelissen, the "Côte de Nuits of Sicily." Frank Cornelissen's contrade are all cultivated biodynamically and vinified separately: he decides on the blends based on the quality of each.

The nobility of Nerello Mascalese
Nerello Mascalese is the dominant variety and alone makes up the greatest vintages. This traditional red grape variety from the northern Etna valley produces hypermineral wines due to its long growing cycle. Other grape varieties in the azienda: Nerello Capuccio, Minella Bianco, Minella Nera, Alicante Bouschet, Malvasia, Catarratto, Moscadella, Grecanico Dorato, Carricante…

Munjebel CS Red 2020 Magnum

Frank Cornelissen
Munjebel CS is a natural single-plot red cuvée made from 100% Nerello Mascalese, biodynamic and organic (Eurofeuille label). It is produced by Frank Cornelissen in the DOP (AOP) Etna Rosso/IGP Terre Siciliane Nerello Mascalese. The grapes come from the Zottorinoto contrada and the Chiusa Spagnolo plot, towards the bottom of the valley, in a lava rock amphitheater at a relatively low altitude (620 m). This is a unique, ungrafted vineyard planted around 1925. The magnum format gives even more depth and dimension to this wine.

Vinification
The Munjebel CS harvest is destemmed and lightly crushed. Fermentation, using a vat base and indigenous yeasts, is accompanied by a 50-day skin maceration. No fining, light filtration before bottling.

Tasting
The Chiusa Spagnolo plot produces a deep and tannic wine, a little behind the other crus of the contrada and reminiscent of the varietal typicity of Nebbiolo. The color is slightly less intense than that of the other reds of the estate and the wine is a little slower to express itself. You will pair it with meats, charcuterie and Mediterranean dishes. Also try it with a roast pigeon from Bresse (Pierre-Eudes Quintart https://culinaries.fr/boutique/produits-de-noel/chapons-et-volailles-produits-de-noel/pigeonneau-2/) or Brittany (Volailles Renault https://culinaries.fr/producteurs/volailles-renault/).

Learn more about Frank Cornelissen
A key and universally respected figure in natural, organic and biodynamic wine, the Belgian Frank Cornelissen, a winemaker conquered by Sicily, is a classic. This man of constant questioning lives in human and cosmic resonance with his terroir: he has demonstrated that the powerful minerality of a great volcanic soil could be highlighted by the naturalness of his wines.

An ideal terroir for plot-by-plot vinification
In Passopisciaro, Sicily, in the north of the Etna valley, the 19 plots cover 24 hectares of basalt soils spread over numerous localities (contrade) between 600 and 900 meters above sea level on the side of the volcano. It is, says Frank Cornelissen, the "Night Coast of Sicily". Frank Cornelissen's contrade are all cultivated biodynamically and vinified separately: he decides on the blends based on the quality of each.

The nobility of Nerello Mascalese
Nerello Mascalese is the dominant variety and alone makes up the greatest vintages. This traditional red grape variety from the northern Etna valley produces hypermineral wines due to its long growing cycle. Other grape varieties in the azienda: Nerello Capuccio, Minella Bianco, Minella Nera, Alicante Bouschet, Malvasia, Catarratto, Moscadella, Grecanico Dorato, Carricante…

Munjebel CR Red 2020 Magnum

Frank Cornelissen
Munjebel CR is a single-plot red cuvée, certified organic (Eurofeuille), biodynamic, and natural. It is made from pure Nerello Mascalese grapes by Frank Cornelissen in the DOP (AOP) Etna Rosso/IGP Terre Siciliane Nerello Mascalese. Munjebel CR comes from the Campo Re plot, which is partially ungrafted and approximately 70 years old, located in the far west of the valley at an altitude of 735 meters. The soil is deep, and ripeness is difficult to achieve in wet years. This gives a particular character to the wines from this plot, closer to Nebbiolo (a typical Tuscan grape variety) than the other reds from Azienda Frank Cornelissen. The magnum format, by allowing this wine to blossom, helps it express itself.

Vinification
Grown biodynamically, the Nerello Mascalese grapes of Munjebel CR are destemmed and lightly crushed. Starting from a vat, fermentation on indigenous yeasts is accompanied by a 50-day skin maceration. No fining, light filtration before bottling.

Tasting
Munjebel CR is a deep, elegant and tannic wine. It may take a while to express itself. With its great freshness, it needs to accompany meats with character. A rack of black pork from Bigorre, or a rib of Wagyu or Angus beef, that's the perfect pairing.

Learn more about Frank Cornelissen
A key and universally respected figure in natural, organic and biodynamic wine, Belgian Frank Cornelissen, a winemaker conquered by Sicily, is a classic. This man of constant questioning lives in human and cosmic resonance with his terroir: he has demonstrated that the powerful minerality of a great volcanic soil could be highlighted by the naturalness of his wines.

An ideal terroir for plot-by-plot vinification
In Passopisciaro, Sicily, in the north of the Etna valley, the 19 plots cover 24 hectares of basalt soils spread over numerous localities (contrade) between 600 and 900 meters above sea level on the side of the volcano. It is, says Frank Cornelissen, the "Côte de Nuits of Sicily." Frank Cornelissen's contrade are all cultivated biodynamically and vinified separately: he decides on the blends based on the quality of each.

The nobility of Nerello Mascalese
Nerello Mascalese is the dominant variety and alone makes up the greatest vintages. This traditional red grape variety from the northern valley of Etna produces hypermineral wines due to its long growing cycle. Other grape varieties in the azienda: Nerello Capuccio, Minella Bianco, Minella Nera, Alicante Bouschet, Malvasia, Catarratto, Moscadella, Grecanico Dorato, Carricante...

Magma Rouge 2020 Magnum

Frank Cornelissen
Magma is Frank Cornelissen's classic red grand cru. Produced organically (Eurofeuille label) and biodynamically, and classified as DOP (AOP) Sicilia-IGP Terre Siciliane Nerello Mascalese, it is a wine for ageing, produced only in great vintages, when phenolic maturity has been reached. It comes from old, ungrafted Nerello Mascalese vines, planted in 1910 on the Barbabecchi contrada, at an altitude of 910 m, renowned for capturing the first rays of the sun in the cool of the morning. The magnum format enhances its depth and gives it even more breadth.

Vinification
This natural, organic, and biodynamic wine is obtained by sixty days of skin maceration of destemmed and lightly crushed grapes. No fining, no addition of sulfites. Light filtration before bottling.

Tasting
Magma restores the remarkable depth of Nerello Mascalese. Rich and elegant, with a dense texture, it has character, personality, and great finesse. More mineral than fruity, it offers notes of secondary fruits (blackberry, prune) and melted tannins. This great wine requires great dishes: we recommend stewed beef or coq au vin. So think about a can of Isabelle Leydier Delavallade or Fermiers du Bord de Sèvre.

Learn more about Frank Cornelissen
A key and universally respected figure in natural, organic and biodynamic wine, the Belgian Frank Cornelissen, a winemaker conquered by Sicily, is a classic. This man of constant questioning lives in human and cosmic resonance with his terroir: he has demonstrated that the powerful minerality of a great volcanic soil could be highlighted by the naturalness of his wines.

An ideal terroir for plot-by-plot vinification
In Passopisciaro, Sicily, in the north of the Etna valley, the 19 plots cover 24 hectares of basalt soils spread over numerous localities (contrade) between 600 and 900 meters above sea level on the side of the volcano. It is, says Frank Cornelissen, the "Night Coast of Sicily". Frank Cornelissen's contrade are all cultivated biodynamically and vinified separately: he decides on the blends based on the quality of each.

The nobility of Nerello Mascalese
Nerello Mascalese is the dominant variety and alone makes up the greatest vintages. This traditional red grape variety from the northern Etna valley produces hypermineral wines due to its long growing cycle. Other grape varieties in the azienda: Nerello Capuccio, Minella Bianco, Minella Nera, Alicante Bouschet, Malvasia, Catarratto, Moscadella, Grecanico Dorato, Carricante…

Munjebel PA Red 2020

Cornelissen
Munjebel PA, a single-vineyard organic (Eurofeuille), biodynamic, and natural cuvée from Frank Cornelissen, is a Sicilian red wine in the DOP Etna Rosso/IGP Terre Siciliane Nerello Mascalese. It comes from the Feudo di Mezzo contrada, in the Porcaria area, at an altitude of 640 meters. Maturation is not facilitated by the depth of the soil in the case of a wet vintage, but what a reward upon tasting!

Vinification
The Nerello Mascalese harvest is destemmed and lightly crushed, before a sixty-day fermentation-maceration on the skins. The wine is aged for 18 months in vats and 18 months in bottles. No fining, light filtration.

Tasting
Munjebel PA is an accomplished wine, which seems to offer everything one asks of a red. It is powerful, refined, elegant and gives its best in balanced vintages like this 2020. Pair it with charcuterie and cured meats from porc noir de Bigorre or terrines from Fermiers du Bord de Sèvre.

Learn more about Frank Cornelissen
A key and universally respected figure in natural, organic and biodynamic wine, the Belgian Frank Cornelissen, a winemaker conquered by Sicily, is a classic. This man of constant questioning lives in human and cosmic resonance with his terroir: he has demonstrated that the powerful minerality of a great volcanic soil could be highlighted by the naturalness of his wines.

An ideal terroir for plot-by-plot vinification
In Passopisciaro, Sicily, in the north of the Etna valley, the 19 plots cover 24 hectares of basalt soils spread over numerous localities (contrade) between 600 and 900 meters above sea level on the side of the volcano. It is, says Frank Cornelissen, the "Night Coast of Sicily". Frank Cornelissen's contrade are all cultivated biodynamically and vinified separately: he decides on the blends based on the quality of each.

The nobility of Nerello Mascalese
Nerello Mascalese is the dominant variety and alone makes up the greatest vintages. This traditional red grape variety from the northern Etna valley produces hypermineral wines due to its long growing cycle. Other grape varieties in the azienda: Nerello Capuccio, Minella Bianco, Minella Nera, Alicante Bouschet, Malvasia, Catarratto, Moscadella, Grecanico Dorato, Carricante…

Munjebel CS Red 2020

Cornelissen
Munjebel CS is a natural single-plot red cuvée made from 100% Nerello Mascalese, biodynamic and organic (Eurofeuille label). It is produced by Frank Cornelissen in the DOP (AOP) Etna Rosso/IGP Terre Siciliane Nerello Mascalese. The grapes come from the Zottorinoto contrada and the Chiusa Spagnolo plot, towards the bottom of the valley, in a lava rock amphitheater at a relatively low altitude (620 m). This is a unique, ungrafted vineyard, planted around 1925.

Vinification
The Munjebel CS harvest is destemmed and lightly crushed. Fermentation, using a vat base and indigenous yeasts, is accompanied by a 50-day skin maceration. No fining, light filtration before bottling.

Tasting
The Chiusa Spagnolo plot produces a deep and tannic wine, a little behind the other crus of the contrada and reminiscent of the varietal typicity of Nebbiolo. The color is slightly less intense than that of the other reds of the estate and the wine is a little slower to express itself. You will pair it with meats, charcuterie and Mediterranean dishes. Also try it with a roast pigeon from Bresse (Pierre-Eudes Quintart) or from Brittany (Volailles Renault).

Learn more about Frank Cornelissen
A key and universally respected figure in natural, organic and biodynamic wine, the Belgian Frank Cornelissen, a winemaker conquered by Sicily, is a classic. This man of constant questioning lives in human and cosmic resonance with his terroir: he has demonstrated that the powerful minerality of a great volcanic soil could be highlighted by the naturalness of his wines.

An ideal terroir for plot-by-plot vinification
In Passopisciaro, Sicily, in the north of the Etna valley, the 19 plots cover 24 hectares of basalt soils spread over numerous localities (contrade) between 600 and 900 meters above sea level on the side of the volcano. It is, says Frank Cornelissen, the "Night Coast of Sicily". Frank Cornelissen's contrade are all cultivated biodynamically and vinified separately: he decides on the blends based on the quality of each.

The nobility of Nerello Mascalese
Nerello Mascalese is the dominant variety and alone makes up the greatest vintages. This traditional red grape variety from the northern Etna valley produces hypermineral wines due to its long growing cycle. Other grape varieties in the azienda: Nerello Capuccio, Minella Bianco, Minella Nera, Alicante Bouschet, Malvasia, Catarratto, Moscadella, Grecanico Dorato, Carricante…

Vino Rosso Red 2018,

Corva Gialla
Vino Rosso, simply named, can be considered the emblematic red of Azienda Corva Gialla. Red fruits, freshness, mineral and earthy notes, tertiary aromas, spices, and tobacco: this is how we can summarize the profile of this 100% Sangiovese with the Vino da Tavola (table wine) designation. With a few years of bottle age, this 2018 offers beautiful notes of evolution and a pronounced but not excessive body. The richness, due to a high content of natural sugars during fermentation, and the polyphenolic maturity are remarkable, as well as the balance between velvety and tannicity, lightness and body, roundness and acidity. On the nose, notes of spices such as cinnamon, black pepper and fennel; on the palate, the wine is full-bodied and red fruits dominate: ripe cherry, raspberry and strawberry. Black fruits and plum are not left out, and delicious aromas of dried fruits (prune, fig) combine with spices on the finish. Vino Rosso is a classic Sangiovese from old and newer vines planted at 450 meters above sea level on a west-facing plot with volcanic soils. The harvest is destemmed. A starter culture is made from a small proportion of grapes, while the rest is directly pressed and added directly to the starter culture. The wine rests in fiberglass vats until bottling in March.

Find out more
Azienda Corva Gialla ("yellow crow") is a wine estate in Lazio, Italy, located on the edge of Umbria in the Alta Tuscia Viterbese. A volcanic region considered one of the most beautiful in Italy and characterized by its calanches, tall tuff rock formations delineating deep valleys carved by numerous rivers and streams. Corva Gialla is located in Lubriano, opposite Cività di Bagnoregio. Alta Tuscia is a breeding ground for young winemaking talents dedicated to nature who are enhancing these historically neglected lands. Founded in 2017, the estate has four hectares cultivated by Beatrice Arweiler, originally from another wine-growing region, between the Rhine and the Moselle. The new owner also planted an olive grove (Frantoio and Leccino varieties) and developed the estate for mixed farming and livestock production. The vines were planted with the help of Gian Marco Antonuzzi of the Le Coste estate. The friable volcanic soil lends itself beautifully to viticulture and the planting of grape varieties such as Grechetto d'Umbria, Trebbiano, Vermentino, Sangiovese, and Ciliegiolo. The estate's wines are quintessentially Italian, meaning they are crafted primarily for enjoyment. They are straightforward, deep, and easy to drink, expressing the strong minerality of their soils.

Magnum MC Macabeu Sparkling White 2019

Partida Creus
Warning, this is a rarity, so enjoy it: 2019 is apparently the only vintage of this sparkling wine, presented here in magnum. A veritable explosion of stone fruit (peach, apricot) and floral notes, with a magnificent texture, MC Macabeu is both a curiosity and a delectable and entirely serious wine: it comes from an old plot of Macabeu vines—well-known in Languedoc, Catalonia, and northeastern Spain—returned to a wild state and virtually abandoned before being reclaimed by Massimo and Antonella. The vines grow as vines, at an elevated position, with a limited production of small bunches. It’s a unique, concentrated, and fruity wine that grabs your soul and is a must-try. MC Macabeu, macerated on the skins for ten days, is a wine full of personality; it doesn’t mince its words.

Find out more

Partida Creus is an important estate, both in terms of winemaking and history – we’re talking about the history of the vine in Catalonia. Massimo Marchiori and Antonella Gerosa, originally from Piedmont – and even from the Langhe region, where wine is well-known – first pursued careers as architects in Barcelona. But the wine bug bit them, and soon they abandoned the big city and its sophistication for the vineyards of southern Catalonia, in Bonastre in Baix-Penedés. There they find a quantity of abandoned vineyards planted with a dizzying diversity of traditional Catalan grape varieties that they passionately revive to save these varieties – and their wines – from oblivion. For them, it is not just a matter of heritage rescue, no: it is a matter of taste and nature. Of natural wines, which they will never stop making from now on on these sandy, poor, clay-limestone or clay-gravel soils, poor and poorly irrigated, where the vines suffer to give their best juice. Massimo and Antonella practice organic, biodynamic viticulture, entirely manual and natural in order to give new life to these wines. Vinyater, sumoll, garrut, monastrell, ull de perdiu, ull de llebre, sumoll, queixal de llop, cariñena, trepat, subirat parent, maccabeu, parellada, pansé, vinel·lo, bobal, cartoixà vermell or xarel·lo: Partida Creus is a veritable conservatory of native Catalan grape varieties. It also grows moscatel, grenache, merlot and cabernet (among others). Few wineries can boast growing so many different grape varieties. The wines reflect this diversity, with the winemakers striving to best convey the signature of the soil and the grape variety: single-variety wines are common among them, alongside extensive blends, all in the styles dear to Catalonia: still wine, "ancestral" sparkling wine, and even vermouth. The bottles themselves are works of art: bare glass, simply marked with two large stenciled initials that denote the vintage. The wines, fresh, vibrant, lush but always straightforward and impeccably juicy and fruity, breathe life. The arrival of a Partida Creus at the table always elicits cries of satisfaction.

SP Ancestral Sparkling White 2021

Partida Creus

This 100% Subirat Parent sparkling Catalan wine, classified as Vino de Mesa (table wine), has a pale and elegant color. On the nose, it is fresh and aromatic with notes of ripe white fruits, melon, and wildflowers. Agile and lively on the palate, fresh and straightforward, lemony and slightly saline, it offers a crisp texture that perfectly suits its effervescence. Subirat Parent, one of the oldest Catalan grape varieties and a close relative of Malvasia, remains rare even in its country of origin. The clay-limestone soil enhances its freshness and integrity. This wine is produced by direct pressing followed by alcoholic fermentation between 15 and 18°C in stainless steel vats with indigenous yeasts. This alcoholic fermentation ends in bottles where the wine rests for ten months on its fine lees before being marketed. Produced and vinified without sulfites or any other additives.

Find out more

Partida Creus is an important estate, both from a winemaking and historical perspective – we are talking here about the history of the vine in Catalonia. Massimo Marchiori and Antonella Gerosa, originally from Piedmont – and even from the Langhe region, where wine is well-known – first pursued careers as architects in Barcelona. But the wine bug bit them, and soon they abandoned the big city and its sophistication for the vineyards of southern Catalonia, in Bonastre in Baix-Penedés. There they found a quantity of abandoned vineyards planted with a dizzying diversity of traditional Catalan grape varieties, which they passionately revived to save these varieties – and their wines – from oblivion. For them, it's not just a matter of heritage rescue, no: it's a matter of taste and nature. Natural wines, which they will continue to make from now on on these sandy, poor, clay-limestone or clay-gravel soils, poor and poorly irrigated, where the vines suffer to give their best juice. Massimo and Antonella practice organic, biodynamic viticulture, entirely manual and natural in order to give new life to these wines. Vinyater, sumoll, garrut, monastrell, ull de perdiu, ull de llebre, sumoll, queixal de llop, cariñena, trepat, subirat parent, maccabeu, parellada, pansé, bobal, cartoixà vermell or xarel·lo: it is a true conservatory of native Catalan grape varieties that Partida Creus cares for. Moscatel, Grenache, Merlot, and Cabernet (among others) are also grown here. Few wineries can boast growing so many different grape varieties. The wines reflect this diversity, with winemakers striving to best convey the signature of the soil and the grape variety: single-varietal wines are common among them, alongside extensive blends, all in the styles dear to Catalonia: still wine, "ancestral" sparkling wine, and even vermouth. The bottles themselves are works of art: bare glass, simply marked with two large stenciled initials that denote the cuvée. The wines, fresh, vibrant, lush but always straightforward and impeccably juicy and fruity, breathe life. The arrival of a Partida Creus at the table always elicits cries of satisfaction.

VY Ancestral Sparkling White 2015

Partida Creus
Finely sparkling, lively and fresh, creamy and full-bodied on the palate, this is a superb natural sparkling wine made from Vinyater (a traditional Catalan grape variety) that should be enjoyed, especially now that this magnum has aged a little and gained depth, having had time to develop the full richness of its fresh notes – white flowers, almonds, white fruits – and its magnificent length. This festive vintage, classified as a Vino de Mesa (table wine), will shine as an aperitif, for any celebration, and at the table with seafood, grilled white meats, sweetbreads, or a beautiful vol-au-vent financier. The vinyater harvest is manual; alcoholic fermentation takes place on the skins and with indigenous yeasts in stainless steel vats. The wine completes its fermentation for ten months in bottles on fine lees.

Find out more
Partida Creus is an important estate, both from a winemaking and historical perspective – we are talking here about the history of the vine in Catalonia. Massimo Marchiori and Antonella Gerosa, originally from Piedmont – and even from the Langhe region, where wine is well-known – first pursued careers as architects in Barcelona. But the wine bug bit them, and they soon abandoned the big city and its sophistication for the vineyards of southern Catalonia, in Bonastre in Baix-Penedés. There they find a quantity of abandoned vineyards planted with a dizzying diversity of traditional Catalan grape varieties that they passionately revive to save these varieties – and their wines – from oblivion. For them, it is not just a matter of heritage rescue, no: it is a matter of taste and nature. Of natural wines, which they will never stop making from now on on these sandy, poor, clay-limestone or clay-gravel soils, poor and poorly irrigated, where the vines suffer to give their best juice. Massimo and Antonella practice organic, biodynamic viticulture, entirely manual and natural in order to give new life to these wines. Vinyater, sumoll, garrut, monastrell, ull de perdiu, ull de llebre, sumoll, queixal de llop, cariñena, trepat, subirat parent, maccabeu, parellada, pansé, vinel·lo, bobal, cartoixà vermell or xarel·lo: Partida Creus is a veritable conservatory of native Catalan grape varieties. It also grows moscatel, grenache, merlot and cabernet (among others). Few wineries can boast growing so many different grape varieties. The wines reflect this diversity, with the winemakers striving to best convey the signature of the soil and the grape variety: single-variety wines are common among them, alongside extensive blends, all in the styles dear to Catalonia: still wine, "ancestral" sparkling wine, and even vermouth. The bottles themselves are works of art: bare glass, simply marked with two large stenciled initials that denote the vintage. The wines, fresh, vibrant, lush but always straightforward and impeccably juicy and fruity, breathe life. The arrival of a Partida Creus at the table always elicits cries of satisfaction.

Magnum XL Ancestral Sparkling White 2015

Partida Creus
This beautiful magnum elegantly bears its eight years of age: that's called age, and the notes of evolution that can be discerned add to its charm. These few years further strengthen its character while polishing the edges. Xarel·lo Ancestral, a smoky, deep, full-bodied, mineral, and explosive sparkling wine, is a true invitation to celebrate. The nose offers aromas of ripe white fruits—apple, pear, white peach—followed by mineral notes on the palate that form a framework for yeasty touches reminiscent of buttery pastries and fresh bread. Beautiful, straightforward, saline acidity. Very elegant, XL Xarel·lo Ancestral is a Vino de Mesa (table wine) that is highly drinkable and enjoyable. Made entirely from the native Catalan grape variety Xarel·lo, it is the result of hand-picking and direct pressing. The must is fermented in stainless steel vats using indigenous yeasts and finishes fermenting in bottles on fine lees for a minimum of ten months, without the slightest addition of sulfites.

Find out more

Partida Creus is an important estate, both in terms of winemaking and history – we are talking here about the history of the vine in Catalonia. Massimo Marchiori and Antonella Gerosa, originally from Piedmont – and even from the Langhe region, where wine is well-known – first pursued careers as architects in Barcelona. But the wine bug bit them, and soon they abandoned the big city and its sophistication for the vineyards of southern Catalonia, in Bonastre in Baix-Penedés. There they find a quantity of abandoned vineyards planted with a dizzying diversity of traditional Catalan grape varieties that they passionately revive to save these varieties – and their wines – from oblivion. For them, it is not just a matter of heritage rescue, no: it is a matter of taste and nature. Of natural wines, which they will never stop making from now on on these sandy, poor, clay-limestone or clay-gravel soils, poor and poorly irrigated, where the vines suffer to give their best juice. Massimo and Antonella practice organic, biodynamic viticulture, entirely manual and natural in order to give new life to these wines. Vinyater, sumoll, garrut, monastrell, ull de perdiu, ull de llebre, sumoll, queixal de llop, cariñena, trepat, subirat parent, maccabeu, parellada, pansé, vinel·lo, bobal, cartoixà vermell or xarel·lo: Partida Creus is a veritable conservatory of native Catalan grape varieties. It also grows moscatel, grenache, merlot and cabernet (among others). Few wineries can boast growing so many different grape varieties. The wines reflect this diversity, with the winemakers striving to best convey the signature of the soil and the grape variety: single-variety wines are common among them, alongside extensive blends, all in the styles dear to Catalonia: still wine, "ancestral" sparkling wine, and even vermouth. The bottles themselves are works of art: bare glass, simply marked with two large stenciled initials that denote the vintage. The wines, fresh, vibrant, lush but always straightforward and impeccably juicy and fruity, breathe life. The arrival of a Partida Creus at the table always elicits cries of satisfaction."

Munjebel Blanc 2021

Frank Cornelissen
“Our first white wine,” explains Frank Cornelissen of Munjebel Blanc, “started out as an orange wine, fermented on the skins for a long time. I loved the tactile feel and density, but I missed the finesse and precision of classic French white wines from the Loire Valley, for example. With the 2015 vintage, I modified our technique to seek the purity and flavors of Etna, which led us to maintain a short skin maceration period and age our white wines for a long time in the coldest part of our cellar before bottling.” The elegance, purity and density achieved make this wine an ideal companion for a wide variety of dishes and cuisines, from fish to white meats. » The white version of the Munjebel cuvée combines beautiful concentration, freshness and oriental aromas: orange blossom, jasmine, dried apricot. Produced on medium-altitude plots from Grecanico Dorato and Carricante in equal parts, on the Calderara, Borriglione, Crasà and Picciolo plots, Munjebel white is very mature. The vines are over forty years old; the grapes are destemmed, lightly crushed and macerated for about four days. No fining, no sulfiting, light filtration before bottling. This wine will pair with an almost infinite variety of dishes, meat and fish, oysters and shellfish, and all Asian cuisines.

Find out more
A great must-have and universally respected figure in natural wine, Frank Cornelissen is a classic. This man of constant questioning lives in human and cosmic resonance with his contrasting terroir: he has demonstrated that the powerful minerality of a great volcanic soil can be highlighted by the naturalness of his wines. The brilliance, the directness and the exquisite fruitiness of his vintages earn him the admiration even of those reluctant to go "natural". They are good initiation wines.
His Sicilian azienda is located in Passopisciaro, in the northern Etna valley. It is, he says, the "Night Coast" of Etna for the great diversity of its wines spread over many locations (contrade) at different altitudes. The climate is continental and harsh, even snowy, in winter, but very warm and sunny from June to September. The altitude gives the wines tension and elegance. The vines coexist with a Mediterranean polyculture: olive trees, almond trees, vegetable gardens... (Frank also produces olive oil). The age of the vines ranges from forty years to over one hundred years. The plots, nineteen in number, on twenty-four hectares in total, are all at altitude, between 600 and 900 meters, on several volcanic flows. They are all vinified separately: Frank decides on the blend based on the quality of the wines from each plot. In general, seven or eight vintages are made in addition to the generic wines (rosé, basic red and white). The soils are made up of different types of basalt, between powder and rock, with perfect drainage that allows for the production of concentrated and fine wines.
Nerello Mascalese dominates the estate's grape varieties. This great traditional red grape variety from the northern valley of Etna is the only grape variety used in the great vintages. Its growing cycle is long, which allows the vine to work the soil and capture its minerality in the fruit. Other grape varieties include: Nerello Capuccio, Minella Bianco, Minella Nera, Alicante Bouschet, Malvasia, Cattaratto, Moscadella, Grecanico Dorato, Carricante…

Pietre Blanc 2021

La Vinicola di Antonio Gismondi
What a wine! A pure pleasure in the glass, heralded by a beautiful, pure, innocent yellow color. The nose offers a gentle whiff of yellow flowers, a hint of blooming dandelion, and sun-warmed spring nature. These lovely sensations are confirmed on the palate, with one of the loveliest mineral nuances one could dream of: heated limestone, clay, wild herbs, and white fruits. Pietre is remarkable for its balance, its ease on the border between freshness and Mediterranean warmth. The freshness of the Apennine climate and the clay soil, elegantly carried by all the wines of this estate, certainly has something to do with it. Made from a blend of Malvasia di Candia and Falanghina directly pressed, Pietre Blanc evokes by its name the pebbles of its native province. The skin maceration is one or two days depending on the vintage, in stainless steel vats, as is the aging of six to ten months. Unfiltered, no sulfites at bottling. This well-balanced, floral and fruity white will harmonize with many dishes.

Find out more

The azienda of Antonio and Anabel Gismondi is located in Cerreto Sanita, in the Benevento region of Campania. A microclimate gives this area an almost continental feel: humid winds from the Tyrrhenian Sea collide with the first ramparts of the Apennine chain, causing condensation in the air and lowering temperatures, which are significantly cooler and more humid than on the coast. If we add a thermal inversion phenomenon between day and night, common in the Apennine climate, the freshness of the wines from the Antonio Gismondi estate is nothing mysterious in this southern Italy, which is nevertheless known for its very hot climate. The estate is family-run: for generations, the Gismondi family has cultivated vines and made wine using the most traditional and natural methods, to which are added biodynamic techniques. For a long time, of the fifteen tons of grapes produced each year, one ton was reserved for vinification on site for family consumption, the rest going to the local wine cooperative. It was the meeting with Massimo Marchiori and Antonella of Partida Creus that led Antonio and his wife Anabel to start producing natural wines at home, using the entire harvest. The two-hectare vineyard is located between 350 and 380 meters above sea level, on clay, loam, and stony soils, with two-thirds facing south, planted with vines around six years old. The remainder faces southwest and corresponds to the Pietre and Cerreto cuvées, with vines thirty years old. The grape varieties are Merlot, Freisa, and Sangiovese for the reds, and Falanghina and Malvasia di Candia for the whites.