Very Vieilles Vignes
by Tom Wolf
Very Vieilles Vignes
by Tom Wolf
In 1920, in the aftermath of the First World War, an Italian farmer planted Friulano vines not far from the tenuous border with what had been the Austro-Hungarian Empire before the war, and is now Slovenia. New vines take a few years to begin producing viable grapes, and hopefully this farmer got to enjoy the fruits of his labor. But nobody has relished these vines as much as we have by getting to savor Vignai da Duline’s majestic 2022 Friulano.
The jury is still out on all of the ways in which old vines impact the wine they produce, but a few things are certain. First, the older the vine, the deeper its roots have dug into the soil and the more water it has access to. Even in warmer, drier vintages, these old vines remain capable of producing outstanding wines full of freshness and finesse.
Second, old vines tend to produce fewer grapes with more concentrated juice and sturdier skins. Despite lower yield, the greater concentration leads to extraordinary complexity, character, and irresistible textures in our glasses.
The collection below features wines produced mainly from vines planted before 1950, with some going as far back as 150 years—these twelve bottles are truly very old-vine gems! Don’t miss some of France and Italy’s greatest viticultural treasures.
Wines In The Collection
Domaine de Fontsainte France | Languedoc-Roussillon
The vines have been soaking up Mediterranean sunshine for the past century and a quarter, and they give it all back in each toothsome, rosemary-scented sip.
Vignai da Duline Italy | Friuli
Sumptuous, yet bone dry with a stony finish. It’s just easy to love.
Domaine Ludovic Engelvin France | Languedoc-Roussillon
After aging for eight years, it’s now in a spot where the fruit recalls savory plums and baked cherries.
Antoine-Marie Arena France | Corsica
The only Arena cuvée to see barrel-aging features the domaine’s oldest vines.
Thierry Germain France | Loire
Sourced from 110+ year-old vines, this is hands-down one of the best Cab Francs being made in the Loire Valley today.
France | Languedoc-Roussillon
The vines have been soaking up Mediterranean sunshine for the past century and a quarter, and they give it all back in each toothsome, rosemary-scented sip.
Italy | Friuli
Sumptuous, yet bone dry with a stony finish. It’s just easy to love.
France | Languedoc-Roussillon
After aging for eight years, it’s now in a spot where the fruit recalls savory plums and baked cherries.
France | Corsica
The only Arena cuvée to see barrel-aging features the domaine’s oldest vines.
France | Loire
Sourced from 110+ year-old vines, this is hands-down one of the best Cab Francs being made in the Loire Valley today.
More Collections
The Alchemy of Red Wine and Braised Beef
In the Adventures Club bulletin from 2011, where I found Chef Chris Lee’s recipe for beef braised with red wine and chocolate, Chris muses that rustic French stews are typically quite soupy and made to be sopped-up with lots of country bread. The French actually have a word for the act of sweeping bread across one’s bowl or plate to capture every last bit…
Snowed in, Tuscan Style
On a Friday afternoon last month, as a winter storm closed in on my mountain town, I made a few last-minute stops to stock up on provisions for what promised to be a snowed-in weekend. The final stop on my checklist was my local butcher, to pick up a cut of pork I’d never considered preparing before Chez Panisse chef Gary Podesto created a recipe he called “Coppa à la Matignon” for our Adventures Club last winter…
Closing Ceremony in Verona
From the volcanic Garganegas of Davide Vignato to the lively whites and reds of Corte Gardoni to the majestic reds of Quintarelli, all of these wines would be right at home among the dazzling fireworks and spectacle of the closing ceremony in nearby Verona...
Preserving and Enhancing Aeolian Winemaking Traditions
The magnificent Aeolian Islands are a string of volcanic islands north of Sicily that include Vulcano, Lipari, Salina, Panarea, Stromboli (an active volcano), Filicudi, and Alicudi. Capers are a primary local export, particularly from Salina and Lipari—the two largest and most populous of the islands— but Antonino “Nino” Caravaglio is at once the caper champion of the region and its wine maestro. He has built what is unquestionably the most qualitative collection of vineyards and wines in this little slice of Italy…
New Arrivals
Here is a collection of recent arrivals. Every week, we’ll be adding a dozen or more new arrivals, so check back often for your favorite classics or new discoveries!
The Carpe Vinum Collection
An ever-changing offering of wines that are just about to sell out; one last opportunity to seize a range of selections before they disappear from our shelves forever.
50th Anniversary Merchandise
When the esteemed French wine artist Michel Tolmer created beautiful artwork for our 50th anniversary, we knew right away that we had to feature it on a few select items of merch. After spending maybe a little too much time researching the options, we landed on a classy, leather-strap cap, a comfortable t-shirt made from 100% cotton, and a tote made with incredibly sturdy, fair-trade, and organic cotton by a certified B corp that invests in the livelihoods of women and farmers of India, featuring three wine sleeves and two other compartments for all of your other needs!
Recent Wine Club Selections
Our five wine clubs feature our best values from France and Italy as well as complex and cellar-worthy wines.