Roussillon is its own world. This corner of Mediterranean France is defined by Catalan culture - a rebellious, romantic, rustic seaside vibe that I am frankly obsessed with (Barcelona is also Catalan). Locals think of themselves as Catalan first and French (or Spanish) second. Think sleepy stone villages, cork oak forests, and crumbling castles, all surrounded by rolling hills of vines. The dry, sunny climate makes organic farming a bit easier, so even tiny family vineyards can grow excellent fruit without chemicals. Wine here feels ancient. Probably because they’ve been doing it for thousands of years.

Grenache is originally from Spain, where it's called Garnacha. This grape is genetically unstable, and mutated over the years to create several different variations. Garnacha Blanca is the albino variation, (yes, the same kind humans and animals get). Garnacha Gris (grey) is the light-skinned version. Both Spanish and French winemakers have made use of all 3 variations of Garnacha for all 4 styles of wine (plus dessert wine!) for hundreds of years. NEAT! That’s because Garnacha is VERSATILE! It has naturally low tannin, making juicy, fruity wines with rich, silky textures.

Boris Kovac grew up in the vineyards of Serbia, son of a famed winemaker and professor. He wanted to be a painter, but the vines have him in their clutches and now he makes his art with wine. David Serodes comes from a long line of winemakers in southern France, though his family lost their vineyards during World War II. He set out to reclaim that tradition, learning every corner of the wine world from labs to cellars to soils. The two met in wine school and became fast friends. Today they make flavorful, honest, distinct wines in defiance of industrial sameness.

LET ME JUST SAY. This might be the most versatile orange wine I’ve tried! She’s full bodied, so expect a thick n lovely texture with just a bit of grip, like a light black tea. She’s got mandarin orange and peach snapple and fancy dried flower blend and whatever peach rings would taste like if they weren’t sweet. What’s not to love! This goldilocks wine honestly pairs with everything under the sun, but it’ll really blow your mind with a rich fish dish (Almondine? Scampi? Yes!) or a simple bowl of slow-cooked beans with fresh herbs. Use a ton of oil or butter in either because you deserve it.