'Follaco'

Juan Garcia, Zamora, Spain 

An herbaceous, supple and RARE Spanish red that is SO dang delicious. We love a starts-a-new-life-making-delicious-wine-in-a-remote-place story (call us, Hallmark!), and Bodega Frontio is just that. In 2016 Danish winemaker Thyge Benned Jensen, locally known as Chus, moved his life to Arribes del Duero in the remove Zamora province on the border with Portugal. There he rented a 500-year-old granite winery (okay!), and threw himself into organically farming the region’s difficult terrain. He’s come a long way! He is one of only two producers in the entire region to sell his wines outside of Spain, and in 2024 he was appointed chairman of the appellation! The star in his line up is juan garcía, a small, local grape with thin skins that will literally BURST if it’s picked too late. May we all take a note from Juan García and communicate our boundaries this year. ‘Follaco’ was made from 80-year-old vines of juan garcía that were hand-harvested and fermented in tanks to keep the expression lifted and lovely as can be. Açai, hibiscus and summer wild flowers, sour cherries, river-side herbs, dried blackcurrants & a supple minerality. Chill down and pour alongside Greek kababs and tzatziki.