Sold Out
Fernweh

Kontakt Grenache Blanc 2020

Price: $28.95
Enter your email address below to be notified when this product is back in stock.
Tasting notes

This is a rare California skin-contact Grenache Blanc from one of the state's few Demeter-certified biodynamic estates, bottled in a production of just 65 cases. The 24-hour maceration adds a saline, tangy grip to the citrus peel and apricot jam core without overworking the fruit, landing somewhere between a bright white and a proper orange wine.

BodyFruitTanninAcidity
HoneysuckleCandied Orange PeelApricot JamWhite Peach
  • Style: Skin-contact white (orange wine); medium body; honeysuckle, citrus peel, apricot, saline finish; Demeter biodynamic; 65 cases
  • Grapes & Terroir: 100% Grenache Blanc; clone 141 on 101-14 rootstock; Demeter-certified biodynamic; sandstone and shale soils; Alisos Canyon AVA, Santa Barbara County
  • Winemaking: Hand-harvested Sept 11, 2020; crushed and destemmed; 24-hour skin contact; native yeast fermentation; 7 months in 50% stainless steel and 50% neutral barrels; 65 cases produced
  • Serving: Serve at 50-55F; no decant needed; drink now through 2024
  • Pairing: Goat cheese with thyme honey, prosciutto-wrapped melon, raw oysters, grilled halibut, grain salads with feta
  • Similar To: For fans of light orange wines and skin-contact whites who want California terroir expression

Fernweh's Kontakt is a skin-contact white wine made from 100% Grenache Blanc grown at Martian Ranch, a 102-acre Demeter-certified biodynamic estate on Alisos Canyon Road near Los Alamos, Santa Barbara County. The Grenache Blanc vines were planted in 2008 (clone 141 on 101-14 rootstock) and farmed entirely without synthetic inputs, following lunar and solar cycles in accordance with biodynamic practice.

The grapes were hand-harvested on September 11, 2020, then crushed and destemmed. Fermentation was spontaneous with native yeasts and the must sat on skins for 24 hours, giving the wine its pale amber tint and added texture. After pressing, the wine was aged for 7 months split evenly between stainless steel and neutral barrels, preserving freshness while adding a subtle roundness. Only 65 cases were produced.

On the nose: honeysuckle, orange candy, and candied citrus peel. The palate is medium-bodied with toasted brioche, apricot jam, and a tangy yogurt-like acidity. The finish is clean and saline, with notes of white peach tea. The 24-hour skin contact adds grip and weight without tipping into tannin-forward territory.

Pairs well with fresh goat cheese drizzled with thyme honey or prosciutto-wrapped melon, as the winemaker notes. The saline finish and tangy acidity also make it a natural match for raw oysters, grilled halibut with citrus butter, or a simple grain salad with herbs and feta.

Wine details

Dry/Sweet:, Dry
Wine Type:, Orange Wine
Wine Style:, Medium Body
Grapes:, Grenache Blanc
Farming:, Organic and Biodynamic
Vintage:, 2020
Alcohol:, N/A
Country:, USA
Region:, Santa Barbara County
Appellation:, Alisos Canyon 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

Fernweh

Fernweh Wine Co. is a small-production negociant label founded by Sebastian Lowa, a Berlin-born winemaker based in Southern California. The name Fernweh is a German word meaning 'longing for far-off places,' and the project reflects Lowa's interest in translating the expressive potential of Santa Barbara County's biodynamic and organic vineyards into low-intervention wines.

Fernweh sources exclusively from biodynamic and organic farms in Santa Barbara County. For the Kontakt Grenache Blanc, the fruit comes from Martian Ranch, a 102-acre estate on Alisos Canyon Road in Los Alamos owned by Nan Helgeland. The ranch was purchased in 2006 and the 20 acres of vines were planted in 2008 under the guidance of biodynamic consultant Philippe Armenier. Martian Ranch received full Demeter biodynamic certification in 2014 and follows lunar and solar farming calendars with no synthetic pesticides or fertilizers.

Winemaking at Fernweh follows a minimal-intervention approach. For the 2020 Kontakt, grapes were hand-harvested, crushed and destemmed, and given 24 hours of skin contact before spontaneous native yeast fermentation. The wine was then aged 7 months in 50% stainless steel and 50% neutral barrels. Production was limited to 65 cases.

Wine region

Santa Barbara County, USA

Alisos Canyon is Santa Barbara County's seventh and newest federally recognized AVA, approved on August 24, 2020 by the TTB. Located due east of Los Alamos along Alisos Canyon Road, it sits between the Santa Ynez Valley and Santa Maria Valley, covering 5,774 acres with roughly 240 acres currently planted across nine vineyards. The region's climate is shaped by cooling marine winds and fog channeled inland through the San Antonio Creek Valley, which runs directly from the mouth of Alisos Canyon to the Pacific Ocean 20 miles west. This creates some of the greatest diurnal temperature swings on the Central Coast, keeping mean temperatures lower than most surrounding AVAs.

Soils in Alisos Canyon are primarily weathered sandstone and shale from the Paso Robles and Sisquoc geological formations, with a rare limestone streak running through the AVA corridor. The low clay content of Careaga Sandstone reduces vine vigor and produces smaller berries with a higher skin-to-juice ratio. The AVA is particularly well-suited to Rhone varieties including Grenache Blanc, Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre, and Viognier, as well as Cabernet Franc, Tempranillo, Albariño, and Gamay.

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.