Mendocino, California

From a site planted a whopping 108 years ago! “Just 20% whole bunches are used but the wine remains vibrant in every respect, via colour, bouquet and palate. A classic example of Cali-Cari weighing in at a mere 12.5% yet showing perfect balance between ripeness of fruit and thirst quenching ability.” David Crossley, Wide World of Wine, January 2020.

Donkey & Goat were part of the original new wave natural wine scene at the turn of the millennium.  From their home base in downtown Berkeley they passionately advocate for minimal intervention winemaking, devoted to producing wine that meets their own environmental objectives. Since having their first child, they have abandoned all plastic at home, and this is as close to a plastic free winery as one can get. All ferments, however small, take place in wooden vats, and wines stay sur lie in old barrels until bottling. They pick early, basing their selection on acid and flavour, and all wines ferment spontaneously. Looking for lower alcohol, they work with several vineyards in cooler areas, although they very much so see alcohol as a by-product to using natural yeasts and working naturally. Wines are rarely filtered, and if so, they are labelled accordingly. Hand harvested grapes, SO2 (at bottling).  If only everything were so simple!