Top Terroir: Emily Wines' Producer Picks

On Top Terroir we ask a different wine expert who his or her favorite wine producers currently are. We can't promise they'll be in your local wine store, but we will tell you where to look for them online. In this installment, Emily Wines, master sommelier and director of wines for Kimpton Hotels and Restaurants, shares her picks:

 

Producer: Botani

Location: Malaga, Spain

Why? Spanish wine importer Jorge Ordonez is producing a dry Muscat that is to die for. He's a pretty amazing person, a really dynamic Spanish man who helped polish and modernize Spanish wines. Malaga has been making Muscat forever but this one is dry, polished, clean and crisp — it's the opposite of what you would expect.

 

Producer: Gramercy Cellars

Location: Walla Walla, Washington, USA

Why? Master sommelier Greg Harrington makes really beautiful wines, their focus is Syrah. The area has potential for making big heavy alcocholic wines, but these have a lot of restraint and elegance. They're opulent without being over the top. The 2007 and 2008 vintages are fantastic, year to year I'm excited to see what they come out with.