Stories From the Cellar

Jurgen Gouws from Intellego Wines is a laidback guy with a surfer's tan who makes serious natural wines. His lineup runs the gamut from pet nats to skin contact whites to chillable reds and seriously incredible Syrah. After studying at Elsenburg in Stellenbosch, he traveled the world to work at Terroir al Limit in Priorat, at Stéphane Ogier in the Rhone Valley, Matassa in the Languedoc, and even t...

Mick Craven from Craven Wines was our very first guest on this little podcast when we launched last year. He was back in town, so we sat down for a quick catch up.  In this episode, we talk about the Cravens' infamous Pinot Gris, which (surprise, surprise) was rejected yet again by the South African Wine & Spirits Board for not conforming to the 'typicity' of Stellenbosch. Mick has some things to...

This episode is part 2 of our conversation with Franco Lourens of Lourens Family Wines based in Paarl, South Africa. Go back and check out part 1 if you haven't already, as this episode is a continuation of our conversation. In this episode, we talk about how Franco launched his own project, as well as the stories behind his wines. We start with the story of his white blend. Franco released his fi...

This episode is an interview with Franco Lourens of Lourens Family Wines based in Paarl, South Africa. The word 'family' is found in the name of many wine projects, but few actually put their family at the center of their branding. Franco's wines are not only named after members of his family, but their faces also adorn the labels. His red blend, 'Howard John,' is named after his dad, the white bl...

Ronnie Sanders, CEO of Vine Street Imports, shares his take on why current market conditions mean it's the perfect time to sell English sparkling wine...

This episode is the second half of Henry Laithwaite's interview from Harrow & Hope. I encourage you to go back and listen to part 1 if you haven't already as this is merely a continuation of our conversation. In Part 2, we talk more specifically about the Harrow & Hope wines, as well as well as the catch 22 between creative freedom and the need for stricter regulations to protect the quality of En...

Harrow and Hope is a very special producer in our book because they represent the next gen of sparkling wine in England. New York Times wine critic Eric Asmiov calls their wines, "as different from the big English names as Champagne's grower-producers are from the big houses." In other words, these are small-batch, organically farmed, mostly native-ferment wines from their 16 acre vineyard in the...

Ronnie Sanders, CEO of Vine Street Imports, shares his first memories of Henry Laithwaite of Harrow & Hope when he was "just a kid" working with ReadHead Studios in McLaren Vale. Plus, hear what Ronnie remembers about visiting the Harrow & Hope vineyard for the first time in Marlow, England.  Special thanks to  SNACKTIME  for the music!  Vine Street Imports  Instagram   |   Website  

Regions, districts, wards... oh my! In this short episode, we break down South African Wine of Origin law for you simply, using the analogy of a Russian Doll.  Special thanks to  SNACKTIME  for the music!  Vine Street Imports  Instagram   |   Website  

This episode is the second half of our conversation with Jolandie Fouché of Wolf & Woman Wines . If you haven't listened to part 1, I would encourage you to go back and do so before listening to this one. In this episode, we talk about Jolandie's wines and her experiences in the South African wine industry. Here's a preview: "The other day, somebody asked me, "Do you actually want to be a serious...

Today's episode is with Jolandie Fouché of Wolf and Woman Wines based in Swartland, South Africa. These wines, which we imported for the first time last year, were an instant success. They're absolutely phenomenal varietal wines, and the range includes Chenin Blanc, Grenache Blanc, Grenache Rose, Pinotage, and Syrah. After more than a decade of earning her stripes in the South African wine industr...

Aaron Meeker, our National Sales Manager, and Ronnie Sanders, our CEO, recount the story of tasting Jolandie Fouché's Wolf & Woman Wines for the first time and the wild impression it left on them. Special thanks to  SNACKTIME  for the music!  Vine Street Imports  Instagram   |   Website  

Today, we have Ronnie Sanders, our CEO, and Aaron Meeker, our National Sales Manager, on to remember Josh Raynolds, a wine critic that was extremely influential in the Australian wine world. Josh passed away tragically a few days ago. He was a not only a colleague, but a mentor and a friend to Ronnie. We hope you enjoy listening to these stories about Josh's deep curiosity about all wines – not ju...

Episode 17 is with Lukas van Loggerneberg of Van Loggerenberg Wines based in Paarl, South Africa.  Lukas is a gentle giant. He's a quiet, modest man who makes some of the country's best wines. That's by no means a stretch of the imagination, as he is a Tim Atkin first growth producer, a title reserved for the best 25 winemakers in all of South Africa. We're lucky enough to import his entire collec...

Aaron Meeker, our National Sales Manager & in-house South African wine aficianado, talks about his perceptions of Lukas Van Loggerenberg and the Van Loggerenberg wines.  Special thanks to  SNACKTIME  for the music!  Vine Street Imports  Instagram   |   Website  

Episode 16 is part 2 with Charla Bosman, the winemaker at Sijnn Wines. If you haven't listened to part 1, go back and start there. It it has a lot of context about Charla and Sijnn that you'll need before listening to this episode. Here, we talk about life in South Africa, and all of its highs – the people, the diversity, the landscape – and the lows - making wine during load shedding, the routine...

Episode 15 is with Charla Bosman, the winemaker at Sijnn Wines located in a tiny town called Malgas at the edge of South Africa's Cape South Coast. Sijnn (pronounced 'sane') was named after the Khoisan word for riverbank, as it sits up on the hill overlooking the Breede River about 10 miles from the Indian ocean as the crow flies. It is here, 25 miles down a windy, bumpy dirt road, that David Traf...

Aaron Meeker, Vine Street Imports' National Sales Manager / resident South African wine connoisseur,  remembers his first trip out to the extremely remote town of Malgas to visit Charla Bosman of Sijnn Wines for the first time with Stephanie Wiid and Etienne Terblanche of Thistle & Weed .    Special thanks to  SNACKTIME  for the music!  Vine Street Imports  Instagram   |   Website  

This episode is part 2 of our interview with Peter Dredge of Dr. Edge based in Tasmania, Australia.  If you haven't listened to part 1, go back and do so, as this is simply a continuation of our conversation. In this episode, you'll hear the story of Peter's wine labels, many of which are taken – with permission – from trip hop album artwork. You'll hear the stories behind the names of some of his...

If you consider the Tasmanian wine industry old enough to be going through a new wave à la Swartland or South Australia, Peter Dredge (a.k.a. Dr. Edge ) would be largely responsible for shifting those tectonic plates. Peter is helping to show the world that, rather than just shipping high-acid juice to the mainland for bubbly blends, Tasmania can have its own reputable wine identity. He calls his...

This episode is part 2 with Callum Powell of Agricola Vintners based in Australia's Barossa Valley. If you haven't listened to part 1, hit pause and go back to listen! It gives a lot of context for this episode and shares stories of Callum's background, starting with growing up running around the cellar of Torbreck which his dad, Dave Powell, founded. In this episode, we get more into the details...

Episode 11 is with Callum Powell of Agricola Vintners based in Australia's Barossa Valley. This episode will focus on Callum's background, and the next episode you'll hear him talk more specifically about his two Syrah wines, which by the way come with very high praise from his winemaker peers, notably Fraser McKinley from Sami-Odi. It's impressive because at 28 years old, Callum is one of – if no...

Ronnie Sanders, CEO of Vine Street Imports, tells the story of how he was tipped of to Agricola Vintners by Fraser McKinley of Sami-Odi, one of South Australia's movers and shakers of the wine industry.  Special thanks to  SNACKTIME  for the music!  Vine Street Imports  Instagram   |   Website  

Episode 10 is with Mark Stephens of Deep Rooted Wines based in Walker Bay, South Africa. Mark is a regenerative viticulturist-turned-winemaker and is a prominent figure in the Cape South Coast's new wave. The South Coasters - as they call themselves - are an exciting group of winemakers whose energy and enthusiasm resemble that of the Swartland revolution a number of years ago. Another one in this...

Aaron Meeker, Vine Street Imports' National Sales Manager, recounts his first impressions of Deep Rooted Wines , a brand by Mark Stephens. Mark is based in Walker Bay, South Africa, and he's a regenerative viticulturist who recently launched a wine brand with very eye-catching labels. One in particular, the 'Touch Me' Verdelho, will certainly turn heads... Special thanks to  SNACKTIME  for the mus...