Place: Beaujolais, FRA

Variety: Gamay

Farming: Organic

Born in Lyon to Arabic heritage, Karim was adopted by a family in Morgon, eventually working for ten years as a vineyard-hand and winemaker for Beaujolais legends Guy Breton and Marcel Lapierre.

When he started his winery, he was told that use of his ethnic first name on labels would limit his sales and as a result, he initially labelled his wines simply as ‘K. Vionnet.’

As time passed, Karim embraced his North African roots and not only began including his full name on his wines but also named his Beaujolais Village Du Beur Dans Les Pinards which loosely translates into the Arab in your wine derived from the French expression du beurre dans les épinards—something you say when you have extra money that will allow you to add a bit of butter in your spinach.

This comes from a 60-year-old vineyard in La Chapelle-de-Guinchay planted by Beaujolais godfather Jules Chauvet. 

Fresh, bright and vivacious, it is impossibly delicious and energetic.