Sommelier's Soirée

The Merayo family has deep roots in the Bierzo appellation, with a long legacy of viticulture as both grape growers and wine producers. In 1989, Pedro Merayo shifted his focus solely to nurturing his family's vineyards, revitalizing the region's old vines that had been neglected during the Franco era. Relaunching the Merayo winery in 2010, he is now joined by his son Juan. Today, Merayo is dedicated to crafting site-specific wines from their head-trained vines, many nearly a century old, while maintaining a steadfast commitment to sustainable practices.

Cave Spring was founded in 1973 by John Pennachetti Sr., who transformed an abandoned orchard on the Niagara Escarpment into a vineyard. With remarkable foresight, he planted Riesling and Chardonnay at a time when their potential was largely overlooked in Canada. Beyond producing exceptional wines, Cave Spring has played a pivotal role in advancing the Canadian wine industry; John Sr.'s son Len co-founded the Vintners Quality Alliance (VQA) and Cave Spring became the first winery to achieve the Sustainable Winegrowing Ontario credential.

With nearly two centuries of winemaking heritage, the Poiron-Dabin family has deep roots in the Loire Valley, dating back to at least 1858. The modern winery began with the marriage of Jean Poiron and Thérèse Dabin in 1962, culminating in the acquisition of Domaine de Chantegrolle in 1990. Their sons, Jean-Michel and Laurent, took over as the next generation. Situated in the Château-Thébaud subzone of the Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine appellation, Poiron-Dabin produces rich Muscadet and has successfully revived the rare Berligou.

Founded by Stanko Polanič, Marof seeks to showcase the untapped potential of Slovenia’s Prekmurje region. Winemaker Uroš Valcl brings his passion for honest, terroir-driven wines, shaped by his upbringing in his family’s vineyard. Situated on a historic aristocratic estate, Marof employs minimal intervention winemaking, focusing on blends with native and international varieties. Their wines, known for structure and ageability are only released after years of careful maturation.

Tóth Ferenc - affectionately known as Uncle Feri - and his wife embarked on their winegrowing journey back in 1983. A passionate advocate for rare grape varieties like Kadarka and Leányka, Tóth Ferenc has significantly contributed to the Eger region’s viticultural landscape, earning him the prestigious Hungarian Order of Merit for his efforts in 2017. In 2005, his daughter Katalin and son-in-law Zoltán joined, enhancing the winery's legacy and championing the official recognition of Egri Csillag (the region's flagship white wine) into appellation law.

The vision for Fausti was conceived in 1997 when Cristina Fausti envisioned an organic, modern winery to complement her family’s Marche vineyard. She partnered with esteemed winemaker Domenico D’Angelo, who shares her reverence for the land and celebrates the principles of biodiversity y in the vineyard. Nestled in Fermo, a region steeped in viticultural history, Fausti’s vineyards are marked by a medieval tower—once owned by the Matteucci counts—symbolizing the area’s rich grape-growing heritage.