# Andrea Calek Blonde (NV)

- **Producer:** Andrea Calek
- **Colour:** white
- **Type:** still
- **Grapes:** Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier, Chardonnay
- **Region:** Rhône, France
- **Style:** Natural
- **Alcohol:** 12.5%
- **Average price:** €20
- **Vegan:** Yes
- **Contains sulphites:** No
- **When to drink:** Now or Later
- **Serving temperature:** 8–12 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** peach, apricot, apple, lemon, elderflower, herbaceous, honey

## About this wine

Domaine Andrea Calek is situated in Alba-la-Romaine in the southern Ardèche region of France. Winemaker Andrea Calek, a former Czech paratrooper, learned natural winemaking alongside legendary figures in Beaujolais, Provence, and Ardèche before establishing his estate in 2007. Living in a trailer among his vines and joined in 2016 by partner Stephana Nicolescu, Calek crafts pure, unadulterated Vin de France cuvées from organically and biodynamically farmed vineyards on clay-limestone soils.

## Interesting facts

- Winemaker Andrea Calek previously served as a paratrooper in the Czech military before discovering natural winemaking in France.
- Calek lived in a trailer directly inside his vineyards when he first established his estate in Alba-la-Romaine in 2007.
- The wine is produced with zero added sulfites, zero additives, and without fining or filtration.

## Food pairing

High acidity and vibrant mineral fruit purity cut through rich goat cheeses and complement fresh seafood or shellfish. Light protein pairings like poultry and delicate fish harmonize with the wine's medium-light body without overpowering its delicate aromatic nuances.

## Wine making process

The grapes for Blonde are harvested manually from organically farmed vines. In the cellar, whole clusters undergo direct pressing to retain freshness and tension. Spontaneous fermentation occurs with 100% indigenous yeasts with zero oenological inputs or additives. The wine undergoes short maturation in stainless steel or concrete vats to preserve vibrant primary fruit and purity. It is bottled unfined, unfiltered, and with zero added sulfur.