Category Archives: Special Features

Vinopolis Special Feature 8/20/2023

Inside Muga: A Spanish Classic

The name Bodegas Muga is likely not a new one for Vinopolis customers. Since 1932 this winery has been producing world class Rioja wines in a style and method that’s uncompromisingly traditional and incredibly precise. However, how many of our loyal subscribers have actually looked inside the winery itself? Read on to see a few photos and featured wines from our visit to Muga. 

A Look Inside Bodegas Muga

In regards to its wine production, Muga is one of the most traditional wineries in the world, as all aspects of the winemaking process are carried out in oak barrels and vats built by a proprietary in-house cooperage team that takes its craft incredibly seriously. What’s so special about this?… Read the rest

Tan Fruit: Better than White Burgundy? August 2023



For the last 30+ years the world has been spellbound by the fact that Oregon can produce pinot noir on a par with some of the greatest reds coming out of Burgundy. A visit to the Willamette Valley has become akin to a religious pilgrimage for New World pinot. But what about chardonnay? We’ve read many articles over the years celebrating the growth and quality of this french white in the Willamette, and we’ve tasted a wide number of bottling across varied producers, but excellence has thus far been sparing and often limited to a single top cuvee.

Jim Maresh is turning all of this on its head.

We hope you’re well acquainted with the Maresh family for their stunning examples of old-vine Pinot Noir from exceptional single vineyards.

… Read the rest

Vinopolis Newsletter – Special Feature Muller-Catoir: July 2023

 In This Newsletter:

Special Feature
The Wines of Müller-Catoir
 
The German Wine You’re Missing
 

One of my all-time favorite German wineries has got to be Müller-Catoir. It’s no secret that the Pfalz is Germany’s premier location for the production of dry riesling, but it’s a little known fact that it’s also the sanctuary of some of the best non-riesling whites in all of Europe. Yes, you heard me correctly, the Pfalz and producers like Müller-Catoir are making some of the finest white wine that exists on the planet, and it’s not just riesling.

Last Thanksgiving I brought home a bottle of  the 2020 Burgergarten Trocken Muskateller to share with my family and the diverse foods we were going to have on the table.

… Read the rest

Monvigliero In Stock Now!

Burlotto Monvigliero 2018

October 21, 2022

2018 Burlotto Barolo Monvigliero bottlesG.B. Burlotto was considered among the absolute greatest winemakers in the world for the seventy plus years he was at the helm. After his passing in 1927, the winery and his hometown of Verduno slipped into obscurity. Now Fabio Alessandria, the great-great-grandson has taken over and Burlotto regained the place it deserves among the top echelon of small producers in the Piedmont. Tradition is first and foremost for Fabio, going so far as to use gentle crushing by foot followed by a sixty day maceration period, once common but now virtually unheard of in Barolo. The technique is used for the home vineyard of Monvigliero and the soft touch develops a wine of remarkable character with notes of cedar, olives in herbs, and something rich – like truffles – the feel is structurally powerful, but so elegant as to be shimmery. … Read the rest

New Salvioni La Cerbaiola Releases Arriving in April

Salvioni La Cerbaiola

ETA April! (Published 3-29-2022)

You’ve heard of iconic Brunello’s like Biondi Santi but Salvioni should also be on your radar as well. With less than 10 acres or 1/5th of their property planted to grapevines, pampered doesn’t begin to cover the winegrowing philosophy. Grown at over 1,200 feet above sea level, there is a near constant breeze that assists in maintaining acidity and reducing disease pressure. The confluence of breezes and high elevation ensure that freshness is maintained even in exactingly hot vintages like 2017. The resulting wines combine jammy ripeness with lifted acidity, almost Napa-esque. 

In order to maximize the power of their old vines, yields are highly reduced and spend more than the required time in vat and bottle.
… Read the rest