Sold Out
Artemis Botanical

Sage Advice 2020

Price: $26.95
Enter your email address below to be notified when this product is back in stock.
Tasting notes

The flottaison method gives this wine a character you rarely encounter in California: the lifted red-fruit brightness of carbonic maceration without the grapey artificiality, because direct-pressed Syrah and Roussanne juice replaces the CO2. The inclusion of Roussanne in the press fraction adds a floral, waxy texture that threads through the red fruit.

BodyFruitTanninAcidity
RaspberryWildflowersCherryGarrigue
  • Style: Light-bodied red; four-variety Sierra Foothills blend; flottaison technique; zero sulfur; organic fruit
  • Grapes & Terroir: Syrah, Roussanne (press fraction), Grenache, Cinsault (whole cluster); organically farmed; Sierra Foothills AVA, Rough and Ready, Nevada County
  • Winemaking: Syrah and Roussanne pressed over whole-cluster Grenache and Cinsault in sealed tank; flottaison method (juice replaces CO2); spontaneous fermentation; no additives; no sulfur
  • Serving: Serve at 55-60F; no decant needed; enjoy within 1-2 years of vintage
  • Pairing: Charcuterie, grilled salmon, roasted beets with goat cheese, lamb merguez, herbed lentils
  • Similar To: For fans of Gamay and carbonic Beaujolais who want a California take with Rhone variety complexity

Sage Advice is named for Daniel Sage, the Ardeche-based natural winemaker who pioneered the flottaison technique. In flottaison, direct-pressed juice fills the space around whole-cluster fruit inside a sealed tank, substituting for the CO2 used in standard carbonic maceration. The result combines the high-toned, fruity aromatics of intracellular fermentation with the gentler extraction of direct pressing.

This 2020 bottling uses four varieties sourced from Rough and Ready in Nevada County, Sierra Foothills: Syrah and Roussanne were pressed and the resulting juice poured over whole clusters of Cinsault and Grenache inside a sealed fermentation tank. The blend is unusual, pairing two Rhone reds with a white grape in the press fraction, which adds aromatic lift and texture to the fermentation.

Artemis Botanical works exclusively with organically farmed fruit from across northern California, ferments spontaneously with native yeasts, and adds no sulfur or other additives. The wines are zero-zero by design, not by compromise.

Serve slightly cool with charcuterie, grilled salmon, or dishes with herbal sauces that can match the wine's aromatic register. Works well alongside roasted beet salad with goat cheese or lamb merguez. Light enough to hold up against the Roussanne-influenced texture without needing heavy proteins.

Wine details

Dry/Sweet:, Dry
Wine Type:, Red Wine
Wine Style:, Light Body
Grapes:, Syrah, Grenache, Cinsault, Roussanne
Farming:, Organic
Vintage:, 2020
Alcohol:, N/A
Country:, USA
Region:, Sierra Foothills
Appellation:, Sierra Foothills AVA
Bottle Size:, 750ml
Sugar Level:, Zero Added Sugar

We will process and ship your order in 2-3 business days, you will receive a shipping confirmation email with tracking as soon as the Carrier scans the shipping label.

Ground shipping time depends on location, here's a breakdown:

West Coast: 1-2 business days
Midwest: 3-4 business days
East Coast: 5 business days

Process time is not shipping time. Shipping time starts from the days successive to the day of shipping, after the order has been processed.

See here our shipping policy.


Important Compliance Requirements

FedEx and other carriers we might occasionally use can only deliver wine to customers who are 21 years or older. Someone must be at the address to receive the package, carriers don't just drop a package and leave. They must ensure the person receiving the wine is 21 or older.


Re-shipping a Package

If a package is returned to us after three failed delivery attempts, we can only re-ship the wine upon payment of a re-shipping fee, to be determined based on the shipping address and number of bottles. Shipping wine is extremely expensive. We are sorry about this, but we have no other choice. Please make sure there's always someone at the address you enter as your shipping address.

If you'd like to receive a refund for a package that was returned to us after FedEx made three delivery attempts, we can do that but we must keep a $20 refund fee; FedEx charges us a lot of money for returns, unfortunately, I can't stress this enough.


Re-routing a Package

If you'd like to reroute a package after it's been shipped, we can do so for a $20 re-routing fee. We cannot re-route a package across state borders. For any change of address, please contact us as soon as possible, ideally within 1-2 days from placing the order or we cannot guarantee we'll be able to reroute or change your order's shipping address.


Canceling an Order

If you'd like to cancel an order after it's been shipped, we can do so upon payment of a small cancellation fee – the amount depends on the size of the order. Carriers charge us a lot of money to recall a package en-route.


Heat/Frost damage

We are not responsible for heat- or frost-related issues. We offer ice-packs upon request. Please let us know if you think that there could be heat-related issues. If we don't hear anything from you regarding weather issues before an order is shipped, or if you don't request a hold due to the weather, we are not responsible for heat/frost damage.


Placed an order. What next?

1. You will receive an order confirmation email with your order summary.*

2. As soon as your order ships from the warehouse, usually within 2-3 business days, this applies to all shipping rates, you will receive a shipping confirmation email with your tracking information. 2DAY shipping refers to shipping time; we still need 2-3 business days to prepare an order. We need to pick and pack, QA, add printed collateral, and palletize the orders.

3. Please track your package using the tracking service.

4. The carrier will attempt delivery a maximum of 3 times. After 3 delivery attempts, your package will be sent back to our warehouse.**

*Please ensure your email address is correct; otherwise, you will not receive the order and shipping confirmation emails.

**If delivery is attempted 3 times without success, or if you fail to retrieve your package from the carrier depot by the stated deadline, the shipping fee will not be refunded to the customer.

Returns Policy

If you are not satisfied with your purchase, please contact us at (424) 414-2040 or via e-mail at hello@primalwine.com between 9 am and 5 pm Pacific Standard Time, Monday through Sunday, we would like to understand and try to solve your concerns. We can offer refunds only as store credit.

Producer profile

Artemis Botanical

Artemis Botanical is the project of Ian Thorsen-McCarthy, a winemaker who has worked on both coasts and whose output spans table wines, vermouth, amaro, grappa, piquette, and fruit eau de vie. The project began as a way to apply natural wine principles to fortified and aromatized wine categories that had been largely left behind by the transparency movement.

Artemis works exclusively with organically farmed fruit sourced from vineyards across northern California, with an emphasis on aromatic varieties and minimal intervention in the cellar. Fermentations are spontaneous, no additives are used, and no sulfur is added at any stage. The label describes its approach as zero-zero.

Winemaking at Artemis leans toward minimal extraction for reds and extended skin contact for whites. The Sage Advice cuvee applies the flottaison technique developed by Ardeche winemaker Daniel Sage, using direct-pressed juice rather than CO2 to create an anaerobic environment around whole-cluster fruit, producing intracellular fermentation without the addition of external gas.

Wine region

Sierra Foothills, USA

The Sierra Foothills AVA spans six counties along the western slope of the Sierra Nevada, from Yuba in the north to Mariposa in the south. Vineyards are planted between roughly 1,500 and 3,000 feet in elevation, on soils that shift between decomposed granite, volcanic debris, and metamorphic rock depending on the sub-zone. The continental climate delivers warm days and cold nights, with diurnal swings of 40 degrees Fahrenheit or more helping retain acidity in grapes.

Rough and Ready sits in Nevada County, one of the less-trafficked corners of the Sierra Foothills. The region's sub-AVAs include El Dorado, Shenandoah Valley, Fiddletown, and North Yuba. While Zinfandel accounts for the largest planted acreage, Rhone varieties including Syrah, Grenache, Mourvedre, Cinsault, and Roussanne have found a strong footing here, with producers increasingly farming them for lighter, fresher styles.

Frequently asked question

We will process and ship your order in 2-3 business days, you will receive a shipping confirmation email with tracking as soon as the Carrier scans the shipping label.

Ground shipping time depends on location, here's a breakdown:

West Coast: 1-2 business days
Midwest: 3-4 business days
East Coast: 5 business days

Process time is not shipping time. Shipping time starts from the days successive to the day of shipping, after the order has been processed.

See here our shipping policy.

Signature on delivery is mandatory for wine deliveries. Please make sure someone is at the shipping address to sign for the package.

If applicable, please consider delivering the package to a business address to ensure someone is available to sign for the package.

We also have the option of delivering the package to a Carrier's store for pickup. Please reach out to us to coordinate.

Carrier will try to delivery a package up to three times before returning the package to us.

See here our shipping policy.

If you miss a delivery and a package gets returned to us we have two options:

1) Reship the package right away: due to the very high cost of shipping and returns, we must charge a re-shipping fee to be determined based on package size and shipping destination.

2) Consolidate the returned package with your next order: this option is free of charge and it's the most popular option.

See here our shipping policy.

This collection features our best selling natural wine from all around the world. It's the best place to start you natural wine journey! Browse one of the largest selections of natural wine available online in the United States.

Primal Wine Natural Wine Club is the best way to discover natural wine. Let us do the heavy-lifting, sit back, and relax. We will send you an ever-changing selection of natural wine made by top producers from around the world.

Our customers love Primal

I'm just copying and pasting from the hundreds messages we received, no pseudo reviews!
Erin C.

We love our membership so far and can't wait until our next shipment.

Jennifer B.

A note to say that we are loving the tasting notes sheet you’re sending!

James S.

I'm really happy to find Primal – your selections are terrific. 

Samuel M.

Love your company, always a great wine selection. 

Chelsea V.

I love what you guys do!

What Is | Primal Wine

What is natural wine?

Natural wine is a type of wine made in small batches from organic or biodynamic grapes with minimal intervention.
What Is Biodynamic Wine Info Cards | Primal Wine

What is Biodynamics?

Biodynamic wine is wine made from grapes farmed biodynamically. Biodynamic farming is a holistic approach.
What Is Organic Wine Info Cards | Primal Wine

What is organic wine?

Organic wine is made with grapes farmed organically. Organic farming is an alternative to conventional farming.
What Is Vegan Wine Info Cards | Primal Wine

What is vegan wine?

Vegan wine is wine made without using animal products during the fining phase of the clarification process.