These are the wines our buyers are most excited about, and that we think you’ll love as well. From the small-batch, handcrafted wines of South by Southwest in Australia and Kelly Washington in New Zealand to California legend Joel Peterson’s Once & Future project, each bottle has a story and offers something unique and special. Find out about these remarkable bottles, and give them a try, below.
South by Southwest: under-the-radar Australia
Based in the Margaret River region, this forward-thinking winery focuses on high-quality, small-batch and climate-conscious winemaking, working with a plethora of grape varieties from beautiful old vines. We are the only UK importer of these special, handcrafted wines, which remain little known in the UK (for now!) and offer incredible value. They capture the essence of this great Australian region, but with a slightly finer, more elegant style.
Among them, you’ll find a chenin blanc (a variety undergoing an exciting renaissance in this part of Australia) fermented in barrels previously used to make the iconic Leeuwin Art Series Chardonnay and a red made from vines so old they only yield two or three bunches each.
South by South West Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon-Merlot 2022
Grown by the sea in the Yallingup sub-region of Margaret River by Liv Maioran...
South By South West Treeton Margaret River Chenin Blanc 2023
Chenin blanc has a long history in Western Australia, with the first planting...
Kelly Washington: a New Zealand success story
New Zealand is a tough place for small producers, but this passion project from Tamra Kelly-Washington (who is also winemaker at Seresin Estate) is a beacon of success. This is a small-production project, working with outstanding vineyard sites from areas such as Central Otago and Waiheke Island.
We believe the results are incredibly exciting and the wider wine world is catching on as well. The 2022 Kelly Washington Waiheke Island Syrah was singled out recently by Jancis Robinson MW, who praised its ‘beautiful winemaking’, a testament to the skill at work here. These are polished but fresh, pristine and beautifully characterful wines that we recommend highly.
Once & Future: a California legend
Joel Peterson, who almost single-handedly championed zinfandel in the 1980s and 1990s, is the legend behind Once and Future, a venture he commenced after 45 years in the wine business. His career started with Joe Swan in the Napa Valley and then as founder of the Ravenswood winery, who became renowned for their excellent zinfandels and the motto, ‘No Wimpy Wines’!
In 2019, however, he decided to return to his roots, dusting off his old redwood vat he used back in the Joseph Swan days and embarking on this small-scale project, making the very best of grapes from unique, old vineyards. These are, in his words, ‘wines of sweat, commitment and love’, qualities that have won them international recognition.
Once and Future Green and Red Napa Zinfandel 2022
Stunningly complex California zinfandel that, while delicious on release, wil...
Once and Future Dickerson Vineyard Napa Zinfandel 2022
Having just celebrated their 100th birthday, these vines in the famous Dicker...
Once and Future Teldeschi Vineyard Frank's Block Zinfandel 2022
Joel Peterson rates the Teldeschi vineyard among the 'grands crus' of Califor...
Once and Future Bedrock Vineyard Zinfandel 2022
From Joel Peterson's own vineyard, originally planted in 1888 in an area famo...
