In 1985, inspired by the pioneering efforts of other Marlborough mavericks, the Glover family converted their farm in Dillons Point to vine. Being a third generation farming family meant that there was a natural ability to see the potential in the land for vineyards and ultimately the production of world-class wine. In 2007 Owen and Wendy Glover’s passion for growing grapes finally overflowed into the desire to release their own brand – Zephyr, inspired by the prevailing wind that cools their vineyards. The wines immediately created a stir in the United Kingdom with Tim Atkin writing “If I were to choose one Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc at the moment it would be Zephyr.” With sons Jack and Ben on board (Ben is currently winemaker for the Accolade NZ Group), this family affair continues to attract the attention of sommeliers and the international press. From the value-driven Massey Dacta label to the Zephyr labeled wines, all wines are made from estate-grown fruit grown according the standards of the NZ Sustainable Winegrowing Association. Massanois is proud to represent their wines in the U.S. for the first time!
Pinot Noir
SOLI
The journey that is Soliste reflects the passion and commitment born of old world beliefs and traditions joined in a way that transcends individual ideas. We are particularly inspired by winemakers who have challenged the status quo to elevate their region or cépage to grand cru level. Central to our philosophy is to be bold, experimental, and take risks; not arbitrarily, but with intent, diligence, and a long term vision. The rebellious voice of the Master of St Andelain, the self-taught iconoclast Didier Dagueneau, echos in our winery, “If you want to be the best, you need the methods and techniques to get you there: Your vines must bear the best grapes; your vinification must be the most rigorous. There are no recipes. It’s all in the details of viticulture and all the details of winemaking, the assemblage of little things, 100 details and commitments which makes for the minute differences between a good wine and a great one.”
Our quest to create wines of great finesse and com-plexity requires patience, tenacity, and a singular focus on uncompromising standards. It is also a commitment to sacrifice production to trace the footsteps of the Cistercian Monks of Vougeot: to focus on a single clone from a single vineyard and age in single cooperage to craft extraordinary wine that exemplify their identity and sense of place – Terroir – our MonoClone® Pinot Noir.
[The International Wine Review gives high praise to the wines of Soliste.]
STRING
Stringtown was born of the need in the market for affordable, high-quality, domestic Pinot Noir. All the grapes grown for Stringtown are done so without pesticides and chemical fertilizers. Here, the focus is on organic farming that examines the ecological relationship between soil, plants and animals. The winemaking is built on community and the strong support of independent growers who uphold this philosophy and make wines that are true representations of the land, vintage and climate. The integrity of the winemakers and the luscious, carefully farmed fruit make Stringtown a standout.
The Stringtown project had got off to an initial auspicious start, but without a reliable supplier, the bottling was briefly suspended. In a circuitous route, connections we had in the Walla Walla Valley led us to Eugene Wine Cellars, owned by grower Bruce Biehl. Bruce had been managing hundreds of hectares of vineyards in Oregon since the 1970s. Between his connections and his own sources, he has been able to offer us a consistently impeccable quality of Pinot Noir sourced from the Willamette, Rogue River and Umpqua valleys that is honest, genuine and unadulterated. The Stringtown is pure and elegant yet juicy and approachable, featuring the nuanced minerality and medium-body that make Oregon Pinot Noir so unique and so appealing.
TIMBRE
Timbre is a Santa Barbara County-based winery specializing in the Burgundian varietals of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay as well as small amounts of Cabernet Sauvignon, Riesling, and Syrah. Founded in 2005, it is owned and operated by friends and business partners Seth Klapper and Alex Katz. Timbre is the epitome of a small family business in which the owners are instrumental in every aspect of the work. Their mission is to craft elegant, perfectly balanced wines that gracefully complement classic cuisines through an expression of traditional style and winemaking technique as well as a modern sensibility. While the famed wine regions of Burgundy, Bordeaux, the Rhône, and the Mosel River Valley serve as benchmarks, Timbre strives to stay true to the terroir of the vineyards from which their wines originate.
Domaine Michelot
Domaine Michelot has been in the Michelot family for six generations and, having increased in size over the years, now comprises more than 19 hectares which include a number of prestigious 1er cru wines. The domaine achieved widespread recognition in the 60s under the direction of the charismatic Bernard Michelot and this spirit and tradition flourishes and grows in the hands of the current generation. The Meursault vineyards are made up of a number of “terroirs” – parcels of land with individual characteristics of soil, drainage and orientation – and their distinct personalities yield a diverse range of wines. They appeal to all, from private individuals to restaurateurs, who enjoy sharing the uplifting pleasures of good wine.
The Domaine keeps anti-malady treatments of the vines to a strict minimum, preferring to keep the land itself healthy through a carefully scheduled program of ploughing. They allow grass to grow in a part of each vineyard and mow it regularly. The grass deprives the vines of easily accessible water and forces the root system deep into the ground. This minimizes the need for pesticides and concentrates the specific qualities that each terroir brings to its wine.
PRIMR
Primary Wine Co. stands for purity. With honest, genuine, straightforward flavors and a back-to-basics approach to wine. These are wines that are enjoyable from the first to the last sip. Savor our classic California wines in the spirit of all things simple and good.