Wehlener Sonnenuhr (pronounced vay-len-er zon-en-ooer - The Sundial of Wehlen) is one of the greatest vineyards in the Middle Mosel. This precipitously steep, rocky vineyard consistently yields some of the most elegant and sophisticated white wines in the world. Citrus and white peach flavors predominate when the wines are young, turning to a pure expression of the mineral soil as they age.

Spatlese -  The Spatlese (late picked) designation means that the grapes get an extra week or two of hang time, which helps them develop higher ripeness and deeper flavours than Kabinett. 

Technical Info

Grape Variety: 100% Riesling

Appellation: Mosel

Quality level: Prädikatswein Spätlese 

VDP Classification: VDP.Grosse Lage

Vineayard: Wehlener Sonnenuhr

Soil: Blue slate soil

Viticulture: Sustainable, according to strict German environmental regulations

Picking method: Selective hand-picking

Blue Slate Soil is the most typical type of slate in the Middle Mosel. Rich in potassium, it provides vital nutrients to the vines and gives the wines a pronounced mineral edge that enhances the naturally high acidity of Riesling. In addition to the heat retaining blue slate soil, the vineyards are characterized by incredibly steep slopes, a favourable position near the river and excellent drainage.

One of our favourite Italian white grape varieties here at Regional Wines and definitely one of the world's least well known whites. - Timorasso. This Italian white variety comes from the tiny hillside appellation of Colli Tortonesi DOC in Piemonte. 

The grapes in this wine were grown on vineyards located in Monleale in the Alessandria Province, which has a south east and south west exposure and clay limestone soils.. 

This dry white has high acidity with a medium to full body and white floral notes with flavours of peach, nectarine and a nutty taste on the finish. It drinks well now but definitely has the potential to age. 

Winemakers Elena and Luca Currado Vietti fell in love with Timorasso when they first tasted it in the 1990s and have now joined the ranks of producers of this grape, which they describe as a thoroughbred varietal. 

Timorasso...

Timorasso can be traced back to the Middle Ages and is a vigorous grape in terms of growth. It was nearly extinct after the European phylloxera epidemic of the late 1800s and has slowly been revived so there is now a total of 110 hectares, of which Vietti has 7.1 hectares. 

Its production is centred around the town of Tortona, known in Roman times as Derthona, hence the name on the label.

Experience the best sake Niigata Prefecture has to offer with this refined bottle of Manju junmai daiginjo-grade sake. Part of the Kubota series by Asahi brewery, this premium junmai daiginjo variety has a fruity aroma with flavours of honeysuckle and Fuji apple with subtle notes of spiced pear. Best enjoyed chilled or at room temperature.

Vinupetra : a Sicilian dialect word meaning "wine produced in stony soil." The vineyard is cultivated by hand using natural products. No biotechnology is used in the winemaking process. District: Porcaria in the municipality of Castiglione di Sicilia – Etna Nord at 580 meters above sea level. Parcel: VignaCalderara. Grape varieties: Nerello Mascalese 80%, Nerello Cappuccio 10%, Granache & Francisi 10%.

Number of screws approximately:  3,800

Land area: approximately 0.38 hectares

Density of vines per hectare: 10,000

Vine Age: Over a hundred years old, on its own rootstock, with part replanted in 2005

Vineyard cultivation: Albanello di Etna (Etna Bush Vine method) with Etna chestnut support.

Average yeild per hectare:  9,000kg

Average liters of wine produced per hectare:  6,000L

Average total number of 0.75 l bottles produced: 3,100

Harvest period: second ten days of October

Vinification: Pressing of the grapes, 30% of which with the stems. Maceration on the skins for at least 15 days in a 2500-liter wooden vat.

Yeasts: addition of native yeasts (Pied de cuve)

Duration of alcoholic fermentation: 10 days

Aging period: in 225 and 500 litre barrels for 12 months

Filtration: only during bottling

Clarification: natural decantation

Decanting during refinement number: 6

Addition of sulfur dioxide: in small doses before fermentation and bottling

Average alcohol content: 13.5%

Average total acidity grams per litre: 6.5

Average pH: 3.35

Total sulfur in freshly bottled wine (mg/l) average: 60

Bottling: in May of the second year following the harvest

First Year of Production: 2001

Hand harvested, fermented in Palmiento aged in underground amphorae. The vineyard is biodynamic and only minimal filtration takes place through a wicker basket. Ruby red color. Notes of red berry fruit, raspberry and cherry predominate on the nose. On the palate it is fresh and soft, with a well present but velvety tannin. A well balanced wine.

100% Negroamaro from Contrada Monte La Conca, between San Marzano and Francavilla Fontana. The soils here are finely textured red soils thanks to the presence of iron oxides and the vines are head-trained bush vines, grown at a density of 500 vines per hectare. The grapes are harvested manually with small baskets and experience maceration for 18 days on 80% of the mass followed by 25 days on 20%, with native yeasts selected in the vineyard. Fermentation takes place at a controlled temperature of 24-26 °C and maturation follows in French and Caucasian oak barriques for 12 months.

Deep purple red in colour with a rich and complex bouquet that shows hints of spice, soft fruit and cherry jam. The palate is full-bodied, smooth and balanced with fine tannins, and a pleasantly long finish.

Best served with red meats, game and mature cheeses.

Earthy red made from the Sangiovese grape and a wine that represents Central Italy at its best, expressing this elegant grape's great structure thanks to being made from 20 to 30 year old vines, hand picked grapes and a wild ferment in concrete and stainless steel for 12 to 15 days. The wine was aged for six months in concrete and three months in bottle, pre release. 

It's a wow red, both for drinking now and for aging. The beautiful firm smooth tannin structure, high but balanced acidity and the purity of red fruit all make it an exceptional red wine. 

An assemblage of different parcels on marl and limestone soils in Gevingey, 35yo vines on average, facing west. Vinified and aged in foudres with no bâtonnage, the wine was bottled in July the following year. This is a zippy and lean style of chardonnay that is always great. 

Notes on the producer

Natives of the Jura, both Pauline and Géraud’s families owned tiny plots (used to make wine for home consumption) and spending time in the vines in their childhood was enough to give them the wine bug. They met while studying winemaking in Dijon and created Domaine des Marnes Blanches when they returned to the Jura in 2006. They farmed organically from the word go and have added (some planted) parcels along the way to reach a total of 12ha today, spread across three towns in the Sud-Revermont (south of the Côtes-du-Jura AC).

They recently built a new winery off the main road in Ste-Agnès which gives them plenty of space and allows them to vinify and age every parcel separately. Wild yeast fermentation is the norm, wines are fermented in stainless steel and then aged in minimum 5yo 228 to 600ltr barrels. Sulphur is used sparsely for the whites (around 20mg/l total) or not at all for the reds.

Hand-harvested with rigorous sorting, traditional vinification with alcoholic and malolactic fermentation in 500-liter demi-muids, indigenous yeasts, without racking. Organic viticulture (certified), and biodynamic practices.

The nose is intense, offering beautiful floral aromas. The palate is splendid, rich, and full-bodied, with aromas of lemon. Tension is currently dominant, along with salinity and minerality, but this nectar will undoubtedly evolve towards a more luscious character. It finishes with a very long, mouthwatering finish.

Bouscasse represents the most open and polished wine from Alain Brumont's extensive holdings in the region. The vines are planted on hillsides with yellow and white clay layered over fissured limestone. Bouscasse is meant to reflect the history of the region, made in the style of the 18th century heyday of Madiran.

The wine is big and bold, packed with both fruit and tannins. It has great structure and a dense dusty tannic character that promises great aging but which will be drinking now with a dcent decant.

Tannat 40%, Cabernet Sauvignon 35% and Cabernet Franc 25%

Domaine de Beaurenard is family owned and operated (over seven generations) and is one of the leading estates of Chateauneuf-du-Pape. The Coulon brothers, Daniel and Frederic, have taken over from Paul and Regine, and craft some of the most fruity, charming and supple wines of the whole Appellation. With the modernization of the cellars in the late 80s, the quality of the wines has gone from excellent to often exceptional - and the vineyards are now organic and biodynamic.

All 13 of the permitted grape varieties are used here including some vines so old they’re not sure of the variety. Terrific stuff.

This is a great red to drink on a cool night with its dense, dark and delicious flavours, thanks to the hot climate it comes from in Salento in the region of Puglia in southern Italy. This wine is made from Italy's Negroamaro grape, which is widely planted there around the warm southern Mediterranean.

It tastes full bodied, smooth as velvet and tastes of plush plum flavours, sweet licorice and has a dry finish.