Grape: Cabernet Franc Region: Chinon, France Farming: Organic For refined, classically-styled Loire Valley Cabernet Franc, look no further than Domaine Olga Raffault's Chinon. Established by Pierre and Olga Raffault in 1931, the domaine survived Pierre's sudden death in 1947 thanks to the work of estate employee Ernest Zeinninger, who introduced minimal intervention farming at a time when chemical use was widespread in the Loire. Taking over in 2000 without previous winemakin

Grapes: Gamay, Pinot Noir Region: Cheverny, France Farming: Sustainable To the south of Blois, a town perhaps best associated with its imposing château, lie the little-known twin appellations of Cheverny and Cour-Cheverny. neither are regularly spotted on the average wine merchant’s list, and I think it is fair to say that these wines are a niche interest, most likely to appeal most to the hardened Loire fanatic. Of the two regions, Cheverny is the larger, and it is also the

Grape: Pinot Noir Region: Pfalz, Germany Farming: Sustainable While Koehler-Ruprecht has existed since the 1700's, it was Bernd Phillipi's hard work over the last 30 years that solidified the winery's world class reputation. Bernd's biggest inspiration was his grandfather, and the wines reflect an attitude of winemaking more akin to the 1900's than the 2000's. The Pfalz is ground zero for dry German Riesling but it is also home to some of its more diverse soil types, grapes a

Grape: Ortrugo Region: Emilia-Romagna, Italy Farming: Organic Santa Giustina is located in the heart of the Colli Piacentini in the far northwestern corner of Emilia-Romagna. A perfect backdrop to what the estate calls their 'village' (a few 1000 year old buildings, a church from 870, and their wine-making facilities) is a series of perfect hills before the distant Alps. A 100 hectare property at 300m above sea level is theirs, comprised of many different crops, forests, vin