ABOUT US

Amber Wines is a boutique Natural Wine import and distribution company based in Zürich. It was founded by  Lover of Nature and Natural Wines from Slovenia Tea Arvaj. The company is specializing in small estates from Slovenia and Friuli Venezia Giulia - the wines are all natural, authentic, terroir driven and produced in traditional way.

 

AMBER AND NATURAL WINES

THE PRODUCTION OF NATURAL WINE REQUIRES PASSION, BALANCE, PATIENCE, KNOWLEDGE AND WORK. I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO EXPERIENCE ALL THIS SINCE I WAS A CHILD AND I WAS ALWAYS PRESENT FROM CULTIVATION TO BOTTLING. I WAS FASCINATED BY THE DEDICATION WITH WHICH MY GRAND-GRANDFATHER CARED FOR THESE PLANTS. I WAS ALLOWED TO EXPERIENCE HOW A SMALL TREE WITH ONLY A FEW LEAVES GREW INTO A MAGNIFICENT, NOBLE VINE. A TIME THAT IS CONNECTED WITH MANY BEAUTIFUL EXPERIENCES AND UNFORGETTABLE MEMORIES. THE HARVEST TIME WITH THE WHOLE FAMILY, HAPPY FACES, WINE AND FRESH GRAPE MUST, LOTS OF CAKES, CHESTNUTS, THE SWEET SMELL IN THE AIR, PLAYING WITH THE 200 KILO STONE OF THE WINE PRESS, THE “BAREFOOT DANCE" IN THE GRAPE VAT...A THREE DAY FESTIVAL...

 

WHY NATURAL WINE?

DO YOU KNOW WHATS ADDED TO YOUR WINE?

THOUGH NATURAL WINE IS AT TIMES ACCUSED OF BEING A TREND OF FAD, THE TRUTH IS THAT MOST OF THE METHODS EMPLOYED TO MAKE WHAT WE CALL NATURAL WINE REFLECT HOW WINE HAS BEEN PRODUCED FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS.

ALL THE WAY BACK IN THE OLD WORLD BC, PEOPLE IN SLOVENIA, NORTH EAST ITALY AND GEORGIA WERE FERMENTING GRAPES INTO WINE IN THE MOST HANDS OFF WAY POSSIBLE - THEY WOULD FILL THE TERRA COTTA VESSEL WITH GRAPES - STEMS AND ALL, BURRY IT IN THE GROUND AND LEAVE IT TO FERMENT. NOTHING ADDED, NOTHING TAKEN AWAY. INCREDIBLE WINES ARE STILL COMING FROM THIS LANDS, MADE IN THE SAME ANCIENT, HAND-OFF WAY.

 

NATURAL WINE IS WINE MADE IN THE ORIGINAL, TRADITIONAL WAY. IT HAPPENS IN BOTH THE VINEYARD AND THE CELLAR, ON THE END AS WELL BY FILLING IT INTO THE BOTTLE.

IT STARTS WITH ORGANIC OR BIODYNAMIC FARMING = ORGANIC GRAPES = TECHNIQUES USED IN THE CELLAR ARE HANDS OFF (NO ADDITIVES GO IN THAT ALTER THE BODY, AROMA, COLOR, OR FLAVOR OF WINE) = BY BOTTLING NO ADDED SULFITES, OR SULFUR DIOXIDE (Sulfur dioxide also naturally develops in very small amounts during the fermentation process).

I DRINK NATURAL WINE BECAUSE I BELIVE IN LETTING NATURE DO HER THING, HOWEVER UNRULY SHE IS.

AS I HAVE LEARNED BY NOW, THE BEAUTY OF NATURAL WINE IS A VARIATION THAT I CAN EXPERIENCE FROM BOTTLE TO BOTTLE, FROM PRODUCER TO PRODUCER AND FROM GRAPE TO GRAPE. IF I DRINK NATURAL WINE I TRAY TO ENJY IT AS IT IS, BECAUSE I MAY NEVER EXPERIENCE THIS MOMENT AGAIN…

SHARING WHAT YOU LOVE. NATURAL WINES WITH FRIENDS, WITH SOMEONE NEW…SHARING WINE ISN’T ABOUT FLEXING YOUR KNOWLEDGE.

INVITE PEOPLE TO YOUR WORLD WITH HONESTY AND CURIOSITY, AND USUALLY THE REST FALLS INTO PLACE. I THINK ENTHUSIASM AND OPENNESS CAN BE INFECTIOUS.

                 

AMBER (ORANGE) WINES

WINES MADE FROM WHITE GRAPES GIVEN EXTRA TIME IN CONTACT WITH THEIR SKINS (MACERATION) DECIDEDLY AMBER OR “ORANGE” TINT. A STYLE THAT WAS VERY MUCH OLD WORLD (GEORGIA, SLOVENIA, NORTH EAST ITALY) IS ENTIRELY INTERNATIONAL NOW.

I BRING YOU THE MOST UNIQUE AND ANCIENT VARIETIES AND EXPERIENCES OF AMBER (ORANGE) WINES AND TAKE YOU BACK TO THE LONG-HOLD FAMILY TRADITION OF MAKING AMBER WINE.

"Tea Heusser Arvaj, Founder Amber Wines GmbH"