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White
750ml
Bottle: $18.08
12 bottles: $17.72
Fresh and clean with green-apple and lemon character. Hints of dried apricots. Medium body. Some lime. Easy finish....
JS
90
Red
750ml
Bottle: $17.94
12 bottles: $17.58
• 100% Schiava (Vernatsch) from Cornaiano. • Elevation is 350 to 420 m with a northerly exposure. • Soils are...
Sale
Red
750ml
Bottle: $16.55 $17.08
12 bottles: $15.44
COLOR: Ruby-red with a purple shimmer. AROMA Subtly pronounced, fresh, fruity, floral (violet), white pepper....
White
750ml
Bottle: $25.20
12 bottles: $24.70
Sale
White
750ml
Bottle: $20.14 $21.20
12 bottles: $17.42
Dark cherry, plum and cassis flavors, with rich cinnamon, herb and coffee notes. Full flavored grilled or sauced...
Sale
Red
750ml
Bottle: $19.89 $21.60
The nose develops an intensity of violet and wild berries aromas. The mousse is fair and creamy, with a dry yet full...
Sale
Sake/Fruit Wine
750ml
Bottle: $12.44 $13.10
12 bottles: $9.52
THE BASICS Red wine with fresh and fruity flavors. THE TASTE Bold and fruity with aromas of citrus and mulling...
Sale
Sake/Fruit Wine
1.5Ltr
Bottle: $22.00 $23.16
6 bottles: $13.00
Natural lemon and orange fruit extracts. 100% Spanish Tempranillo grapes. Pair it with fresh fruit and cheeses....
Case only
Sake/Fruit Wine
750ml - Case of 12
Bottle: $11.52
Memories of the best summer vacation. Pleasant and fruity flavour with notes of citrus, red fruits and summer fruits...
Sale
White
750ml
Bottle: $39.94 $43.09
Pretty date, caramel and hazelnut husk notes meld nicely, showing good cut through the ginger- and toasted...
WS
92
WA
90
Sale
Rapid Ship
White
750ml
Bottle: $14.85 $15.94
The non-vintage Rainwater Medium Dry is aged for three years in oak casks and this was bottled in January 2011. It...
WA
90
Sale
Sake/Fruit Wine
1.0Ltr
Bottle: $12.76 $13.43
12 bottles: $10.45
Homestyle Sangria is a refreshing sangria that delivers all the natural flavors of delicious premium red wine with a...
Sale
Sake/Fruit Wine
1.5Ltr
Bottle: $23.37 $24.60
6 bottles: $15.00
Homestyle Sangria is a refreshing sangria that delivers all the natural flavors of delicious premium red wine with a...
Sale
Sake/Fruit Wine
1.5Ltr
Bottle: $23.37 $24.60
6 bottles: $15.00
Homestyle Sangria is a refreshing sangria that delivers all the natural flavors of delicious premium white wine with...
Case only
Red
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle: $24.33
Testacalda is a pure Lambrusco di Sorbara Spumante Metodo Classico made with the ancient and traditional method of...
Case only
Red
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle: $13.00
Slightly sparkling ruby red wine, semi dry, vinous and intense bouquet, with a characteristically fruity scent,...
Red
750ml
Bottle: $12.94
12 bottles: $11.52
White
750ml
Bottle: $15.17
12 bottles: $14.87
A refreshing delight, Cantina Gabriele Malvasia carries a sweet and easy to drink composition. With sweet and spicy...
Red
750ml
Bottle: $12.65
12 bottles: $12.40
Color: Garnet red with a frothy fragrance, brilliant. Nose: Clean, distinctive with hints of violet and raspberry....
Sale
Red
750ml
Bottle: $13.67 $14.39
12 bottles: $10.93

Lambrusco Malvasia Mavrodaphne Mencia Mencia Wine

Some grape species are distinct and unique varietals, clearly separate from each of their cousins. Others, like Lambrusco and Muscat, are more like umbrella terms, featuring several subspecies which show slight differences from each other from region to region. Indeed, there are astonishingly more than 60 identified varieties of Lambrusco vines, and they are almost all used in the production of characterful Italian sparkling wines. They are distinguishable by their deep ruby blush, caused by strong pigments present in their skins, and their intensely perfumed character.


Lambrusco vines are grown in several Italian regions, although we most closely associate this varietal with Piedmont and Basilicata. It has also been grown successfully in Argentina and Australia. The varietal suffered from a fairly lowly reputation in the late 20th century, due to bulk, low cost production of Lambrusco sparkling wines, aimed at markets across northern Europe and America. However, things are rapidly changing, and the older, more traditional methods of bottle fermentation are returning, along with a higher level of quality and expression, as consumers become more discerning and demanding. Many of the Lambrusco sub-varieties have their own established DOC, such as Lambrusco Salamino di Santa Croce, Lambrusco di Sorbara and Modena, where new regulations are keeping standards high and methods traditional.

In the Archaea region, high in the Northern Peloponnese mountains, the predominant grape varietal grown is the prized Mavrodaphne. Meaning 'Black Laurel', the Mavrodaphne grapes have extremely dark skins, and ripen slowly under the Greek sunshine, helped by the mineral rich soils the vines thrive in. This grape varietal is mostly used to produce the opaque, inky fortified wine of the same name, which is popular all over Greece and elsewhere in the world. This fortified wine allows the grapes to really show off their complex and fascinating flavors, which range from a rich marzipan to flavors of bitter chocolate, sweet coffee, dried figs and prunes, as well as plenty of jammy fruit notes.

Mavrodaphne is produced in a traditional method which involves leaving the grape juice exposed to the sun in large vats, before having its fermentation halted by the addition of various distillates taken from previous successful vintages. This mixture contains plenty of residual sugar, which gives the end result its characteristic sticky sweetness, and also helps with the next fermentation process, which typically takes place in large underground cellars. The final product is a heady drink, absolutely bursting with unusual, rich and sweet flavors and carried in a dark and slightly viscous Port-like liquid.

Mavrodaphne grapes are also used for the production of still red wines, but are generally blended with varietals such as Agiorgitiko or imported grapes like Cabernet Sauvignon. Mavrodaphne grapes are excellent for mellowing more acidic varieties, and producing deliciously rounded wines, which have taken the international market by storm in recent decades.

Additional Information on Greek Wines


Greek Wines
Ancient Greek Wines – A Brief History of Wine in Greece
The Myth of Dionysus, Greek God of Wine
What is Retsina?