The Salt of the Earth series is a passion project between three good friends; wine writer Jamie Goode, Zalto importer Daniel Primack, and Indigo’s very own Ben Henshaw. Discussing their mutual love of saline, terroir-driven whites, a lightbulb moment occurred over dinner one night in late 2017: their own barrel projects, exclusive to Indigo. A lengthy conversation proceeded to choose the right grape varieties on their pursuit. The brief was to settle on one that represented what they liked drinking themselves: a grape that clearly transmits its terroirs, and produces age-worthy, saline wines but at an accessible price point.
Following the success of their Albariño, Riesling, and Chenin Blanc, we can now introduce Salt Éire, a complex, multi-vintage, solera-aged Chardonnay from renowned English winemakers Dermot and Ana Sugrue. Salt Éire, (pronounced ‘air-uh’) is a nod to Dermot’s Irish heritage, and is the first-ever still English white we’ve had in our portfolio.
Salt Éire is made from 100% Chardonnay sourced from three of Dermot and Ana Sugrue’s Sussex vineyards: Mount Harry, Coldharbour, and Storrington Priory. The wine is a blend of different vintages, aged in a variety of vessels, from new small barriques to large old foudres, creating complexity and depth. A solera system is used for maturation, where a half-filled American heavy char barrel is used to top up the other barrels, further enriching the wine’s character. Individual barrels are then selected by Jamie, Ben and Daniel and blended once more before proudly sticking our own label on it.
“Salt Éire is a highly distinctive, multi-dimensional, solera-aged Chardonnay displaying nutty, creamy, citrus and savoury flavours with a flinty, herbal, salted-butter complexity following its long élevage in large and small barrels, old and new. Carefully controlled oxidation is balanced by a freshness and fine structure, with a long and intense finish, offering delicious drinking now, as well as serious potential for ageing.”
– Dermot Sugrue
Alongside Salt Éire, the Salt of the Earth range includes three other saline whites, each crafted by talented Indigo vignerons.
Sal da Terra: A maritime-influenced Albariño from Rías Baixas, Galicia, made in collaboration with Eulogio Pomares from the esteemed Zárate winery. This wine showcases the connection between coastally grown grapes and saline precision in the final wine.
Salz der Erde: A Riesling from the Rheingau in Germany, produced by Theresa Breuer of the top Georg Breuer estate. This wine offers a crisp, laser-cut profile with stony minerality and lemony acidity.
Soutbosch: A zesty, racy Chenin Blanc from Stellenbosch, South Africa, made by Bernhard Bredell of Scions of Sinai. The wine reflects the salty coastal influence of its False Bay vineyard, showcasing vibrant citrus and mineral notes.
Each wine in the collection is a tribute to the unique terroir where the grapes are grown, and the label artwork, created exclusively by artist Mariëtte Kotzé, emphasises the deep connection between these wines and their landscapes.
Get in touch with us to taste this collection of unique, energetic whites that are able to so clearly transmit their sense of place in the glass.