This is an orange wine made from the Grunspitz variety, Nachbil believe theirs is the only dedicated grafted Grunspitz vineyard in the world, so how’s that for provenance?

With notes of rose petal and bitter Seville orange, and compelling minerality, this tannic and textured wine from the thick-skinned, small-berried regional oddity is really quite unique.

Handpicked dry farmed organically grown grapes with nothing added - 5 days maceration in open-topped vessels before completing fermentation in stainless steel with wild yeasts. After 9 months in the stainless steel tanks the wine is bottled unfined and unfiltered. 300 bottles of 2017 vintage produced.

Unusual grape varieties? Check! Organic? Check! Natural? Check! Nice packaging? Checkety-check-check! More important than ticking boxes however, the wines are great. Looking back at my notes from when I first tasted these, the word 'compelling' keeps appearing – these are unique and interesting wines that develop in the glass and hold your attention. Nachbil is located in Beltiug in the North-Western Transylvania region of Romania where they organically farm 23 ha of vineyard in excellent climactic conditions. The 300 year old wine cellar sits next to a new wine making facility, where all grapes are processed.

Since 2010, the vines have been tended without herbicide, pesticide and mineral fertilizers, and this minimal intervention approach is continued in the winery where they avoid additives such as cultured yeast and enzymes or other technical interventions. The only ingredient used in wine production at Nachbil is grapes. As everywhere, the soil and climate represent the foundation of viticulture. In Beltiug, there are different types of clays and a moderate warm climate ideal for grape vines, and with a wide range of plots, Nachbil have an assortment of microclimates to suit different varieties.

A great companion for marinated poultry dishes and stews or a lamb and apricot tagine.