We are updating the website as details for the 2011 program are confirmed. Please check back for regular updates. In the meantime, familiarize yourself with the caliber of the event by viewing the featured wineries of 2010 below.
EUROPE
All Featured Wineries are listed alphabetically by region. Scroll down for Featured Wineries from Austria, France, Germany, and Italy.‣AUSTRIA
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JOHANNESHOF REINISCH (Tattendorf)
Represented by Hannes Reinisch & Hannes DachauerIn the Thermenregion south of Vienna, Austria lies Johanneshof Reinisch. Vineyards are planted with 65-percent red and 35-percent white varieties. There is a strong link between tradition and modernity, with vineyards growing on excellent soil, the most advanced technology of our time, and the experience of generations that have high ambitions for the present and the future. At Johanneshof Reinisch there is a particular focus on Burgundian varieties such as Chardonnay and Pinot noir, as well as the Pinot noir relative known as St. Laurent. In the area of Gumpoldskirchen the indigenous grape varieties Rotgipfler and Zierfandler are cultivated. The Reinisch family is now owned and operated by the fourth generation. |
‣ALSACE, FRANCE
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DOMAINE ALBERT MANN (Wettolsheim)
Represented by Jacky & Marie-Thérèse BarthelméLocated in the heart of Alsace, west of Colmar, the estate spans over 50 acres. The vineyards are comprised of five Grands Cru sites including Schlossberg, Furstentum, Hengst, Steingrubler and Pfersigberg, as well as the two Lieu-dit of Rosenberg and Altenbourg, and the Clos de la Faille. Domaine Albert Mann is committed to organic viticulture and also practices biodynamics. The Domaine is managed by Maurice and Jacky Barthelmé and theirs wives, Marie-Claire (daughter of Albert Mann) and Marie-Thérèse. The grapes come from 35-year-old vines with very low yields. The two brothers cultivate various grapes such as Riesling, Pinot gris, Gewurztraminer, Auxerrois, Pinot blanc, and Muscat for their white wines and exclusively Pinot noir for the red wine. The result is pure, structured wines with minerality and precision. |
‣BURGUNDY, FRANCE
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MAISON AMBROISE (Prémeaux-Prissey)
Represented by François AmbroiseThe Ambroise family settled in Prémeaux-Prissey, near Nuits-Saints-Georges, 300 years ago. Bertrand Ambroise studied viticulture and winemaking and then traveled to Champagne and Cognac to learn the approaches of other regions. In 1987, he created the house of Ambroise, a négociant that also draws on the family's 40 acres, which includes two Premier Crus in Nuits-Saints-Georges. They now produce 11,000 cases a year with bottlings of Chardonnay and Pinot noir. Bertrand views winemaking as a dialogue between traditionalists and modernists. |
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DOMAINE DE L'ARLOT (Nuits-St.-Georges)
Represented by Olivier & Florence LericheLocated in the Côte de Nuits, 2 km south of Nuits-St.-Georges, Domaine de l'Arlot took its name from the "Clos de l'Arlot", a 10-acre vineyard surrounding the house. The French insurance group AXA bought the 33-acre estate in 1987 and in association with Jean-Pierre De Smet and Lise Judet, created Domaine de l'Arlot. In January 2007, Christian Seely took over as Managing Director and Olivier Leriche as technical director. The vineyards are mainly situated around Nuits-St.-Georges (Clos de l'Arlot, Clos des Forêts Saint Georges) as well as in Vosne-Romanée (Les Suchots, Romanée Saint Vivant). There are many old vines (some 50 years or more) with an average age of 30 years. The yields are kept very low by employing severe pruning and using natural compost in low quantities. Today the vineyard management is mainly organic with a biodynamic approach. Photo courtesy of Domaine de l'Arlot. |
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DOMAINE BALLORIN & F (Morey-Saint-Denis)
Represented by Gilles & Fabienne BallorinGilles and Fabienne Ballorin began with the 2005 vintage in Morey-Saint-Denis and already they are carving out a good reputation for themselves with their biodynamic wines. Domaine Ballorin & F has vines in 11 different vineyards along a strip of the Côte de Nuits from Chenôve to Comblanchien, the most recent acquisitions being Trézs Girard in Morey and Clos du Roi in Marsannay. Gilles tends the vines while Fabienne handles the PR and marketing side of the business. The Ballorins aim to craft wine in a minimalist style. The answer lies in the soil: "the grapes are good if the soil is healthy" says Fabienne, "sometimes you can smell the life in the soil." The result are wines that are as pure and natural as can be. |
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DOMAINE DAVID CLARK (Morey-Saint-Denis)
Represented by David ClarkThis tiny Domaine was established in 2004 when Scotsman David Clark left a successful career in Formula 1 auto racing and moved to France to become a hands-on vigneron. In place of fast cars and pitstops, he now tends five acres of certified organic vines located around the village of Morey-Saint-Denis. The vineyards are plowed by tractor, but all other work is meticulously performed by hand. The IPNC featured wine was produced from Pinot noir vines planted in 1945; their deep roots help to grow ripe, balanced fruit that asks only to be guided into bottle unblemished by the winemaking process. Hence, there is minimum intervention in the winery, but particularly; no chaptalization, no new oak, and hand-bottling the annual production of 500 cases in the gentlest possible manner. |
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DOMAINE JEAN-JACQUES CONFURON (Prémeaux-Prissey)
Represented by Paul & Louis MeunierOne of Burgundy's most highly-regarded estates, the 20 acres of Domaine Jean-Jacques Confuron is now controlled by Sophie Meunier-Confuron and her husband Alain Meunier, who work together as a team in the vineyards and the cellar. They took over from Sophie's father in 1988, and converted all parcels to organic viticulture in 1990. The wines are brilliant examples of the concept of "power without weight", with great depth of flavors wrapped up in refinement and elegance. The entire range is outstanding here – the Côte de Nuits-Villages is a tremendous value for the quality, and their Romanée-Saint Vivant is a reference standard for one of the most refined of all Grand Crus. |
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DOMAINE HUMBERT FRÈRES (Gevrey-Chambertin)
Represented by Emmanuel Humbert & Isabelle BoisselEmmanuel and Frèdéric Humbert are the fourth generation of vignerons to tend this family estate. They took over the domaine from their parents in 1989 and they have been quietly and steadily improving the quality of their wines ever since. Today they produce wines which reflect their dedicated effort and experience of the past 12 vintages, with an emphasis on manual methods including ploughing and green harvesting. Emmanuel is the dynamic force behind this domaine: he is a thoughtful and passionate man with a great love for wine, food, and rugby. The Humbert brothers are well connected in the village of Gevrey-Chambertin, where they benefit from a wealth of accumulated winemaking experience from their relations and family friends. |
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DOMAINE JEAN-RENÉ NUDANT (Ladoix Serrigny)
Represented by Guillaume NudantThe Domaine Jean-René Nudant is marked by more than 200 years of tradition. There is literature stating that a Guillaume Nudant was a winegrower in the village of Aloxe-Corton in 1453 during the reign of Charles the Bold. In the year 1747, André Nudant cultivated vines in Ladoix, the village where the cellar and 6.4 acres of vineyards exist today. After working for a period in New Zealand, Guillaume Nudant, the last of the line, joined his father, Jean-René, in managing the property and vineyards. Domaine Nudant produces wines from multiple appellations including Ladoix, Aloxe-Corton, Corton, Nuits-Saint-Georges, and Vosne-Romanée. Jean-René and Guillaume pamper their vineyards throughout the year employing the methods of "lutte raisonnée" which involves frequent plowing, no weeding, and use of organic manures. The winemaking is rigorous, with long fermentations and temperature controlling. The Pinot noir is aged for 12 to 18 months in oak barrels, one-third of which are new oak. The result is aromatic wines with elegance, structure, and ripe tannins. |
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DOMAINE MARC ROY (Gevrey-Chambertin)
Represented by Alexandrine Roy & Robert MorusDomaine Marc Roy has been in the family for four generations. The estate includes nine acres of Pinot noir and one acre of Chardonnay, producing about 1,700 cases annually. Owner and winemaker, Marc Roy, inherited his love for vineyard management and winemaking from both his father and grandfather. Marc's wife, Régine, manages the sales and reception of guests at the winery. Their daughter, Alexandrine, took over the job of winemaker and manages the vineyard with her father. She carries on the family tradition of giving strong attention to the soils and bringing about low yields of top quality in order to produce wines that reflect Gevrey-Chambertin's unique terroir. Alexandrine will be pouring her 2008 Domaine Marc Roy "Cuvée Alexandrine" of which only four barrels were made. Alongside her Burgundian cuvée, Alexandrine will pour the 2008 Phelps Creek Pinot Noir "Cuvée Alexandrine" which she crafts annually in Oregon's Columbia Gorge using the same techniques she employs in Burgundy such as punching down by foot and native yeast fermentation. Alexandrine has a special relationship with Oregon and is honored to introduce this unique venture to IPNC guests. |
‣GERMANY
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SCHLOSSGUT DIEL (Burg Layen)
Represented by Caroline Diel & Sylvain Taurisson Diel
Schlossgut Diel is an elite estate on the lower Nahe river in Germany, producing scintillating terroir-driven Rieslings, as well as Pinot noir, Pinot gris, and Pinot blanc. Attentive viticulture and intelligent craftsmanship in the cellar make this one of Germany's leading estates. In the new Parker Buyer's Guide, which only awards up to five stars to the greatest-of-the-great, Schlossgut Diel was awarded six stars. Armin's daughter Caroline Diel has recently assumed the helm and is settling in quite well. She is responsible for the vineyards as well as the cellar and will pour the Pinot noir "Caroline" as Diel's featured wine. |
‣ITALY
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J. HOFSTÄTTER (Bolzano)
Represented by Martin Foradori HofstätterThe Hofstätter estate, founded in 1907, has been in family ownership for four generations and is now run by Martin Foradori-Hofstätter. It comprises several vineyards of five historic manor houses located on either side of the Adige Valley. The Hofstätter estate is therefore unique in that it is supplied with grapes grown in the finest south-west and south-east facing vineyards planted on hillsides in the warm and sunny South Tyrol (Alto Adige) which is Italy's northern-most province. Its main town of Bolzano lies on the same line of latitude as Mâcon in Burgundy. In fact, Hofstätter has made Pinot noir their speciality. The estate's top wines are named after the wine farmsteads where they are grown: Kolbenhof, Barthenau, Oberer and Unterer Yngramhof, Steinraffler and the Cereseto Superiore ("Hof" means farmstead). In total the vineyards comprise 120 acres, located on hillsides and in steep sites at altitudes varying between 750 and 2100 feet above sea level. The Hofstätter wine estate places prime importance on the cultivation of local Alto Adige (South Tyrolean) varieties, above all Gewürztraminer, Lagrein and Vernatsch (Schiava), though Pinot blanc and Pinot noir have been growing here for so long (since the 1860s) that they have become "naturalized citizens" and are accorded equal importance. |