INFO

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 OR ORANGE WINE

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 ( Slovenia, North East Italy, Georgia) is entirely international now.

The maceration of the grapes on their skin during the fermentation makes this wines very special. They get more freshness and are rich in fruit aromas, essences, the fragrance of herbs, flowers and fruits. Each glass and bottle gives you new experience and the palate of colors are like the Landscapes where the wines are growing. Liquid Gold!

Maceration on the skins assist in protecting the wine. The tannins which are extracted from the skins by fermentation are like anti-oxidant for the wine. To avoid the use of sulphur dioxide in order to protect the health of consumers its important to bottle clean wines because the cleanliness of the wines is essential.

Its important to know that the macerated white wines taste the best if they are not to cold. I recommend you to drink them on a temperature between 10 and 15 degrees.

 

NATURAL BUBBLES & PETNAT

NATURAL BUBBLES can be made in different ways or using different Methods. 

TRADITIONAL METHOD (like Champagne) - is when the second fermentation happens in the Bottle, this means that you first need a fully fermented wine or a base wine, by bottling the base wine you add sugar and yeast and that causes the second fermentation in the bottle. They are always crystal clear, this happens due the disgorgement. If you don't like too much sweetness in your sparkling wine you have to look for Sparkling with zero dosage, brut nature, sauvage.

COL FONDO – is like traditional method, but without disgorgement, what makes it more cloudy and mostly bottled with crown caps. 

CHARMANT – both fermentations happen in a pressure tank, not in the bottle. The method as well uses sugar and yeast to cause the second fermentation. Sparkling made with this method are more fresh and fruity and shod be consumed fast.

OPENING INSTRUCTIONS

Consume it on 6 or less degrees, always place the bottle in a vertikal position before opening, never in a horizontal.

 

PET NAT

BOTTLE FERMENTATION, PÉTILLANT NATURELL or also called ANCESTRAL METHOD. This is natural wine that has bubbles, or I would rather call it FIZZY. The carbonation is lower than by sparkling wines and they are more cloudy. Thats because of no additives - its only grapes. Unfinished wine with sediments is bottled with crown caps, after both fermentations happens in the bottle. Sometimes PetNats can be wild while opening, but you also have to know that there can be differences by the same PetNat from bottle to bottle - that's because of the natural way of producing (the winemaker is not controlling the fermentation with adding yeast and sugar, it is also not disgorged).

OPENING INSTRUCTIONS

For better opening I suggest you to drink it under 3 degrees, the best way is to put it in ice water for at least 30 minutes before consuming. Always place the bottle in a vertical position before opening, never in a horizontal, also don't shake it, while opening hold the bottle in at a 45 degree angle and prepare a glas for immediate pouring. 

CHEERS!