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
Hailing from the rugged and windswept hills of Corbières, which teem with garrigue and olive groves, La Demoiselle delivers a glorious taste of the South.
Mas Champart France | Languedoc-Roussillon
These ancient hillside vines yield very little, giving an intensely concentrated juice with great acidity and a textured finish. Open it alongside seafood or as an apéritif.
Guy Breton France | Beaujolais
Leave it to Breton to take summer heat and turn it into a light summer breeze in a glass.
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
The fruit recalls savory plums and baked cherries. It almost feels like a cheat: getting to drink a wine with the desirable qualities of long cellaring, but in its immediate, current release.
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.
Domaine Robert-Denogent France | Burgundy
Classy, pure, and precise Chardonnay, evoking freshly crushed apples, crushed stones, and citrus zest.
Vigneti Vecchio Italy | Sicily
Aromas of wildflowers, saffron, beeswax, and Mediterranean herbs. Rich, fleshy, and focused, all at just 12% alcohol.
France | Languedoc-Roussillon
Hailing from the rugged and windswept hills of Corbières, which teem with garrigue and olive groves, La Demoiselle delivers a glorious taste of the South.
France | Languedoc-Roussillon
These ancient hillside vines yield very little, giving an intensely concentrated juice with great acidity and a textured finish. Open it alongside seafood or as an apéritif.
France | Beaujolais
Leave it to Breton to take summer heat and turn it into a light summer breeze in a glass.
Italy | Friuli
Sumptuous, yet bone dry with a stony finish. It’s just easy to love.
France | Languedoc-Roussillon
The fruit recalls savory plums and baked cherries. It almost feels like a cheat: getting to drink a wine with the desirable qualities of long cellaring, but in its immediate, current release.
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.
France | Burgundy
Classy, pure, and precise Chardonnay, evoking freshly crushed apples, crushed stones, and citrus zest.
Italy | Sicily
Aromas of wildflowers, saffron, beeswax, and Mediterranean herbs. Rich, fleshy, and focused, all at just 12% alcohol.
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