VINALIA
November/December 2025 Release
CHAMPAGNE GOUNEL-LASALLE
TERRES D’ANCÊTRES
“Layered, rich, and radiant.”
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Another wonderful Champagne for Vinalia! Sophie and Arnaud Gounel are 4th generation grower-producers in the Premier Cru village of Chigny-Les-Roses in the Montagne de Reims, best known for its high-quality black grapes— Pinot Noir and Meunier. The Arnauds farm 29 specific parcels totalling only 5 hectares. They have a strong commitment to soil life, biodiversity and respectful viticulture. The estate is certified High Environmental Value, with cover crops between the rows and no use of insecticides. The Terre d’Ancêtres uses grapes grown on chalky soils, which ensure slow ripening but also maintain high acidity, which is requisite for Champagne production.
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REGION: Champagne, France.
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VARIETIES: 33% Chardonnay, 33% Pinot Noir, 33% Meunier.
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WINEMAKING: The base wine is fermented in oak vats and aged for 9 months. After tirage (adding sugar and yeast to start the second fermentation in the bottle), the wine rests on its lees (dead yeast) for 3 years. It is then disgorged and corked with no sugar added (zero dosage).
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TASTING NOTE: A lively and refreshing palate, with notes of lemons and apples, and a hint of brioche from lees ageing. A textural mousse adds creaminess to compliment the lively acidity.
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PAIRING: Battered fish, creamy seafood linguini, or risotto balls. Drink now, but will develop nicely with 3-5 years of bottle age.
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2022 ETÉREA KRIPAN
PHINCA HAPA BLANCO
“Remarkable complexity and texture.”
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Rooted in the elevated terraces of Rioja Alavesa, Etérea Kripan is a boutique wine project founded by Melanie Hickman. Melanie used her life savings to buy a vineyard parcel she fell in love with and moved from Hawaii to Elvillar where today her winery is located. She crafts her wine at Bodegas Bhilar which she runs with her husband, David Sampedro. Melanie’s vineyards are biodynamic, and the vines thrive in the biodiverse environment with hedgerows, peach trees, rosemary bushes and bees. Etérea Kripan produces five cuvées and Vinalia is delighted to work with Melanie to bring these unique wines to our part of the world. The Hapa vineyard, at 650 m of elevation, and with primarily chalky limestone soils, was planted in 1967 with both black and white grape varieties. The vine spacing is relatively wide allowing a range of cover crops as well as plough horses to work the vineyard, reducing soil compaction.
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REGION: Rioja Alavesa, Spain.
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VARIETY: Viura, Garnacha Blanca, Malvasia.
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WINEMAKING: An unusual method for a white wine, using semi-carbonic maceration — a practice typically reserved for red wines, like some Beaujolais, where whole grape clusters are placed in a sealed large vat to kick-start an enzymatic reaction in the grapes leading to spontaneous fermentation. This retains fresh fruit flavours. The wine is then fermented on its skins for up to 60 days.
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TASTING NOTE: An orange and golden appearance in the glass, with notes of baked apples, orange zest, and warming spices including ginger and cardamom. A salty and ‘bready’ finish compliments the texture. A perfect cold-weather white!
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PAIRING: Savoury phyllo pastries, grain-based dishes (quinoa or brown rice) mixed with root vegetables and nuts, or lightly-spiced Tourtière. Drink now or keep for 3-5 years.
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2023 ARTUKE
FINCA DE LOS LOCOS
“Expressive elegance.”
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Bodegas Artuke is a small winery in Baños de Ebro in Rioja Alavesa, the smallest of the three Rioja sub-zones. Arturo and Kike de Miguel (whose names make up Artuke) are part of Rioja ’n’ Roll, a group of young winemakers whose focus on terroir-driven wines is generating global interest in the diversity of wines produced in this area. Their viticulture respects the different soils in their 25 hectares of vineyards. In 1950, Arturo and Kike’s grandfather spent all of his money on a small fallow plot at 530 m elevation containing sandy limestone soils that his neighbours thought was madness (hence “locos”) as it was thought to have no potential for grape vines. The vineyard was planted in 1981 and today produces a superb wine that is a loving tribute to the grandfather.
REGION: Rioja Alavesa, Spain.
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VARIETY: 80% Tempranillo, 20% Graciano.
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WINEMAKING: Meticulous grape selection from organically farmed bush vines, followed by fermentation in stainless steel tanks and new oak barrels. The wine is matured in a mix of 500 and 3,500 litre French oak barrels and then bottled only with light filtration.
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TASTING NOTE: Aromas and flavours of cranberries, raspberries, violets, and baking spices. This ruby-hued wine has silky tannins, a medium body and a lasting finish.
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PAIRING: Christmas duck, or turkey, with cherry compote, and chocolate covered strawberries for dessert. Drink now, but potential to age 3-5 years.
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