After realizing their shared passion for authentic wine, José Miguel Sotomayor and Luca Hodgkinson left the world of conventional winemaking to pursue a more authentic vision of viticulture. For the two friends, this meant going back to the roots of what wine is all about: pure, untamed, natural expression of place and identity; connecting our senses to the earth; and connecting with each other through the pleasure of sharing.

As "Wildmakers", the duo's aim is to preserve the natural character of the grapes through the use of natural materials and processes. They are committed to organic and biodynamic farming, free of pesticides and herbicides. Soils are lightly plowed once a year and allow a spontaneous cover crop. They avoid overly aggressive operations – no osmosis, no crio-extraction, and no sterile filtration. They use only indigenous yeasts and minimal sulfur. For fermentation, natural materials are preferred over stainless steel – clay amphorae, cement, and old oak. Wildmakers are certified Free of Pesticides and are soon beginning the process of organic certification. In addition, they are signatories of the Wine Industry Equity Pledge.

    Wildmakers