The Sauce Subscription - May '25
The Old World winemaking nations of France, Italy and Spain tend to hold much of the focus when we’re thinking about wine. Yet, this is doing a disservice to the other old world wine nations.
The Old World pertains to European winemaking and there are numerous countries which have a rich history of wine.
For the May Whole Bunch Wines Sauce Subscription, we wanted to highlight these other old world wine nations.
Let us give you a tour of the wines of Portugal, Greece, Germany, Austria and Slovenia.
Many of these wines aren't regulars on our shelves, so if you'd like to see some of these in the future, please let us know!
Red Wine
Heidi Schröck & Söhne Junge Lowen Red Blend [£27]
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‘Junge Löwen’ is ruby red in colour, with aromas of raspberries, violets and beautiful minerality resembling the schist soils where the fruit is grown. This medium-bodied wine has a lovely vibrancy, smooth tannins and an elegant finish.
Kanakaris Agiorgitiko [£27]
- Michalis Kanakaris founded his eponymous winery in 1979, in the Aigialeia region of north-west Peloponnese. All grapes are harvested by hand and carefully sorted, before arriving at the winery in small crates. Look for notes of coffee, tobacco, dark chocolate and black fruits.
Casa Ferreirinha Papa Figos Douro Tinto [£23]
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A truly modern example of Douro light wine showcasing the fresh, vibrant fruit and fine, balanced structure that can be achieved with careful grape selection from some of the finest vineyards in the region.
Heidi Schrock & Sohne Rusterberg Zweigelt [£27]
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Heidi Schröck Rusterberg Zweigelt is dark red in colour with aromas of black cherry and hints of cocoa. Austrian winegrowers often refer to Zweigelt as ‘the fighter’ due to its hardy nature. However, Heidi’s Rusterberg has an elegant core, silky tannins and a lot of character. Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee, kind of wine
Vinarija Dalia Splet Red Blend [£40]
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A really beautifully crafted Serbian wine, from a truly exceptional winemaker in a nine-hectare vineyard in the village of Rajac, (a part of the broader Timok wine region). A blend of Gamay and Vranac, it is bursting with notes of black cherry, liquorice with an earthy edge.
Quinta dos Carvalhais Duque de Viseu Tinto [£17.50]
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A classic Portuguese blend which folds in four different grape varieties. Grapes are gently crushed at the winery, before being transferred to temperature controlled stainless steel tanks. Following 6 days of fermentation, 35% of the wine is transferred to French oak, with the remainder remaining in stainless steel tanks. This balances the fresh and vibrant, with the textured and spicy.
White Wine
Kanakaris Malagousia [£28.50]
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Top-tier Greek white wine from a native grape variety. The Malagousia we have here is taken from some of the highest vineyards in Aigialeia, with many of the vines sitting over 1000 metres above sea level. This helps to lock in acidity and allow for a real flavour intensity. It showcases herbal aromas, alongside notes of citrus, stone and tropical fruit.
Quinta de Azevedo Escolha [£24.50]
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A single varietal Alvarinho from the Vinho Verde region of Portugal. It is light and fresh, but with a bit more intensity than your usual Vinho Verde. Powerful notes of peach crumble and baking spice come through on the palate. Refreshing decadence.
Axel Pauly Generations Riesling [£26.50]
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The grapes for the ‘Generations’ Riesling are all harvested from the Pauly family’s steep and sloping vineyards from Lieser, (a sub-section of the famous Mosel region). Tart notes of citrus come through immediately, before they give way to notes of candied orange and stone fruit, with a palpable minerality.
Loimer Kamptal Grüner Veltliner [£25.50]
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Everything you want, and more, from an Austrian Grüner. It is sharp, yet elegant and rich, coming from the esteemed Kamptal Region. This thoroughly complex wine delivers notes of orange zest, dried pineapple, white pepper, eucalyptus, lime jelly, grapefruit and gingerbread.
Dreissigacker Vintages Riesling [£42]
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We couldn’t leave this without throwing in one more German Riesling and wow, what a Riesling. The ‘Vintages’ project is about innovation. Meticulous work in the winery has led to this wine which blends Riesling grapes from five separate harvests including 2017 for ripe fruit notes, 2018 for balance, 2019 for elegance, 2020 for minerality and 2021 for more fruitiness. An exceptional and unique offering.
Quinta dos Carvalhais Duque de Viseu Branco [£21]
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We're rounding things out with a white blend from Portugal which departs from the usually rich and oaked wines of the Dão region. 25% of the wine spends four months in French oak, but the freshness and vibrancy really shines through via notes of fresh citrus, pineapple and passionfruit, with a floral flair on the nose.
Don't Miss Out!
Make sure to check out our wine tastings and monthly wine club, if you want to try great wines like the ones mentioned in this blog post. Links below:
- Manchester Wine Tastings & Events
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Sauce Subscription (Monthly Wine Club)
- 50% Off Your First Box