New arrivals from Ostal Levant
We were introduced to Louis and Charlotte Pérot by our good friend Simon Busser who makes stunning wines in the nearby commune of Prayssac on one of the Lot's extravagant meanders.The Pérots left Paris and bought a house and winery at the end of 2015. Read more…
A delayed harvest:
A visit to Catherine Bernard and Nicolas Allain, August 2022
Harvest cannot begin yet. Thirst-driven wild boars roved through Catherine Bernard’s vines several nights before; ravaging fruit, vines, and the land alike in their passage through her oldest plot, La Carbonelle. In this Mediterranean heatwave, wild boars quench their thirst on the berries and disinter the roots of vines for nutrition; breaking and ripping young branches, tender roots and leaves. Boar damage–a first for Catherine and her son Nicolas Allain–combined with a punishing heatwave, and an unexpected drought translate to unexpected losses and a need to adapt and delay their 2022 harvest. Read more…
New from Costadila - August 2020
Costadilà began in 2006 in the hills above Conegliano in the province of Treviso. Ernesto Cattel embarked on a project that went well against the grain. The rolling hills of the area are incredibly beautiful but with the popularity of its much drunk export, Prosecco, agricultural practices changed. Read more…
SPRING TASTING - SUNDAY 28TH APRIL 2019
We are very pleased to announce that tickets for the 2019 edition of our Spring Tasting go on sale today. As usual we will be joined by our friends Tutto Wines and a very exciting group of winemakers at The Round Chapel, Hackney.
ANJOU AND BEYOND, 2019
Leaving Angers, crossing the swollen Loire and descending into the valleys of the Layon and its tributaries it is easy to see why the region was so important for wine production in the Middle Ages. The Plantagenets and elite of mediaeval Angers must have been well pleased to have such a special place on their doorstep as they sipped their Gouais and Plant d’Anjou.
A VISIT TO BARRANCO OSCURO
There is something visually spectacular upon entering the Alpujarra’s region in which Barranco Oscuro’s vineyards stand that takes time to fathom.
It begins with the steep ascent from coastal paths, arriving in mountains around 1,300 metres above sea level. Views stretch as far as the eye can see before turning and stretching again.
CHRISTMAS AT 40 MALTBY STREET
As the Winter Solstice approaches all our minds are brightened by planning a few days of extravagance at the end of the month. For many the revelry starts early in December (or before) and we see this at 40 Maltby Street—old friends reuniting, colleagues letting their hair down and a general sense of goodwill to all men.
A VISIT TO MARIE & VINCENT TRICOT
We were invited for lunch with Marie and Vincent Tricot not long after out Fête du Vin in Chassignolles at the end of July. The usually refreshingly temperate Auvergne was in the grip of the same heatwave that seemed to hold all of Europe for much of this summer; that Sunday certainly felt like one of the hottest.
NEW FROM CÀ DE NOCI
Emilia Romagna has always had a strong draw for us. The rolling hills to the south of the region's ancient towns are spectacularly beautiful and home to some of the best food you can find. Sitting at a table eating warm crescentine with lardo and drinking Lambrusco is one of the finest dining experiences to be had.
SPRING TASTING 2018
We are very pleased to confirm that we will be holding our Spring Tasting again this year with our friends and fellow importers Tutto Wines on Sunday 29th April. The tasting will be at the Round Chapel on Lower Clapton Road in Hackney and will run from 11am until 5pm (with last entry at 4pm). We recommend arriving earlier rather than later to avoid disappointment.
CHRISTMAS AT 40 MALTBY STREET
Festive plans are well underway here - the warehouse has been filled to the rafters with wine; the Christmas beef is hanging; and the mince pies are being filled. Across on the continent the vines are entering their rest period and the juice from autumn is well on its way to becoming wine.
OCTOBER 2017 & A VISIT TO COSTADILÀ
Autumn has fully descended on us, with the streets full of plane leaves, darker nights and sluggish mornings. Now that the weather is cooler we have begun shipping wine again, and so are looking forward to several new arrivals over the coming months.
SEPTEMBER 2017 NEWSLETTER
As London has begun to feel autumnal we thought it would be a good time for a newsletter. We have all returned from our summer holidays, having spent some of it together in Tuscany hosting our annual Fête du Vin (or more aptly Festa del Vino this year) with our friends from Pacina.
A VISIT TO MAZIÈRE
Corbières is one of the most dramatic and beautiful areas in the Languedoc. Climbing up from the populated coast and the plains around Perpignan it is a shock to come across this craggy, undulating, precipitous, wind battered landscape. It is no surprise that the Cathars chose this area to build two of their most mind-bogglingly remote fortresses - Quéribus and Peyrepertuse.
SPRING TASTING 2017
On Sunday 30th April we will be returning to the Round Chapel in Hackney with Tutto Wines to host our annual Spring Tasting.
The tasting will run from 11am-5pm and entry will be £15. There will be lunch cooked by our team from 40 Maltby Street, as well as glasses of beer and wine for the fatigued.
A VISIT TO PACINA
The hamlet of Pacina, just south of Siena, originated around 900AD as a monastery. The cellar and foundations from this time remain cold and dark beneath the main house.
FEBRUARY 2017 NEWSLETTER
A very belated Happy New Year from all of us at Gergovie Wines and 40 Maltby Street. The beginning of the year saw all of us scattered across the globe (Australia, Venezuela, Japan, France, Sweden, and Cornwall), which meant we were able to have one of our chefs Will Gleave take the reigns for our first day back in January.
DECEMBER 2016 NEWSLETTER
The last few months have proven to be rather busy for us; with visits to producers, new wine arrivals, and the inevitable Christmas preparations. So, it seemed like a perfect time to reinstate our long neglected newsletter.
SPRING TASTING 2016
On Sunday 1st May 2016 we will be joined by our friends at Tutto Wines once more for our Spring Tasting. This year we are particularly excited as the tasting will be held in the beautiful Round Chapel on Lower Clapton Road, Hackney.
The tasting runs from 11am to 5pm. Entry is £12 on the door, which entitles you to a tasting glass and free rein to taste with over thirty of Europe’s most exciting growers.
THE AUVERGNE
The Auvergne was once one of the most important wine producing areas in France planted with Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Gamay d'Auvergne. Loads of coal heading to Paris (the area's other precious natural resource) would also bring the area's wines to supply the bustling Auvernat bistro trade that was booming in Paris in the mid-nineteenth century.