It started with a Vranec
Working as a winemaker is an international experience. Colleagues move from winery to winery, often sharing obscure yet extraordinary bottles from their home regions. It was one of these wines that changed my life.
I tried a remarkable Vranec from North Macedonia. A wine that simply wasn’t available in the UK. It opened my eyes to a wine world far beyond what I saw in shops and on restaurant lists, and even beyond what I had studied through WSET and winemaking courses.
From there, the search began. Wine fairs, vineyard visits, and (inevitably) many spreadsheets followed. Several months later, a new and very different wine list emerged.
The wines were all European, yet almost entirely unknown in the UK. They were made by family estates that farm with a long-term view of sustainability. And they relied on native grape varieties, naturally suited to their environment and requiring fewer chemical inputs.
Perhaps most importantly, they didn’t have to travel halfway around the world to reach your glass.
We hope you enjoy discovering them.
Henry Clark-Jones
Owner, Intrepid Wines