Ballymaloe Grain Store was the venue for our ‘Real wines – Celebrating the Artisan growers’ presentation last Sunday. Pascal Rossignol of Le Caveau was joined by Eric Narioo owner of Les Caves de Pyrene, a UK wine importer championing the cause of Natural wines and his wife Anna Martens, owner/winemaker of Mount Etna winery Vino di Anna. Once again, we greatly appreciated the impeccable organisation of Ballymaloe, lead by sommelier Colm McCan and his team.
We presented 8 wines, each of them bursting with individuality, charm and life. Answering a question during the presentation Eric Narioo predicted that in 20 years, most wines would be produced naturally, given the overwhelming enthusiasm with which an entire new generation of winegrowers around the World are embracing these methods. The demand is certainly growing, with the ‘natural wine bar scene’ in major cities such as New York, London or Paris still in full swing and with more and more restaurants allowing greater space to Artisan wines on their lists.
In effect, Natural wines may never replace conventional wines, but they certainly offer a brilliant alternative to wine drinkers in search of emotion and authenticity, and as in
the words of Patricia Nelson recently posted on Slow Food website
‘In the end, there is definitely room to accommodate both markets. Natural wines counter what seems to be increasing homogeneity, and it is heartening to see producers and retailers embracing craft practices while creating products that do not present an ever-pervasive sameness.’
Wines We Presented At Ballymaloe Grain Store
- ‘Pink bulles’ Pet Nat Gamay rosé by Jean Maupertuis (Auvergne, France)
-
Vino Bellotti Bianco 2011, Cascina Degli Ulivi (Piemonte, Italy)
-
Vouvray ‘la Dilettante’ 2011, Pierre et Catherine Breton (Loire Valley, France)
-
Vitovska Amphora 2007, Vodopivec (Friuli, Italy)
-
Cheverny Rouge 2011, Clos Tue-Boeuf (Loire Valley, France)
-
Vino di Anna 2011, Eric Narioo and Anna Martens (Etna, Sicily, Italy)
-
Peza do Rei 2010, Adega Cachin (Ribera Sacra, Spain)
-
Villalobos ‘Wild Vineyards’ Carignan Reserve 2010 (Colchagua Valley, Chile)
