Kumeu River is one of the leading estates in New Zealand (the country is also commonly referred to by its Māori name Aotearoa). Much of what we think of as standard winemaking practice in the country is really thanks to their efforts. They led the charge on growing Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, pioneered the use of indigenous yeasts, and also pioneered the use of screwcaps.
 
The estate began as a dream brought to fruition by decades of hard work by the entire family. Maté Brajkovich, originally from Dalmatia in southwestern Croatia, emigrated with his mother and sisters to join their father in New Zealand’s North Island. The family purchased a farm in Kumeu after years saving money earned by digging for resin from indigenous kauri trees.

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We’ve talked about the glory days of Barolo. Not the region, but back when you could find great Barolos for under $50. Well, it seems one estate has not allowed inflation to impact their pricing or quality: Bruna Grimaldi.
 
It should come as no surprise to any long-time subscribers to our newsletter to hear us say that Grimaldi craft classic, well-structured and delicious wines that outperform their modest price tags. The estate dates back to the 1990s, when Bruna (along with her husband, Franco Fiorino) began bottling her own wine. This decision came after decades selling off the exceptional fruit and bulk wine before eventually selling small amounts locally. As the word got out and international interest poured in, the wines have only improved.

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With parcel-specific soil maps recently released and winemakers looking to highlight the characteristics of the terroir of their own vineyards, older techniques more similar to Burgundian winemaking have taken root in Beaujolais. The resulting wines are still juicy and lovely, but with added depth and mineral crunchiness not often found in Gamay wines. This is how the vanguard of winemakers is shaping one of the most exciting areas in France, if not the world.
 
Anne-Sophie Dubois, a Champenois native with her training in Volnay, is making some of the most perfumed and elegant wines off of her 20-acre hilltop vineyard in Fleurie. She is, in some circles, already a name-brand, rock star producer.  Generally speaking, though, she’s not well known enough.