Australian Wine FAQs

At EPIC NEGOCIANTS, we are passionate about protecting the environment for future generations to come, and indeed to ensure that high quality food can continue to be produced such as the grapes grown in our pristine vineyards in South Australia. To further the interest of our Sustainable Values, we are proud to be a sustainable wine business with Sustainable Australia Winegrowing accreditation (SAW). Some of our vineyards are certified organic and others biodynamic, we make this clear on the labelling. Our business model is also designed to reduce CO2 emissions, with wine being delivered from our winery direct to your door, without going through the warehouses of many middlemen which is typical of the wine industry. Our wine growing operation has a Quality Management System that is ISO 9001 Certified, HACCP Certified, and our vineyards are Freshcare Accredited. In addition the wine growing operations are BRC Certified and we have a Wine Standards Management Plan in place. These accreditations and approach combined with our world leading production facilities and techniques to produce wines for you to enjoy with great friends and great food many years to come. We also support The Ocean Cleanup in developing advanced technologies to rid the world’s oceans of plastic. One passive system could theoretically remove about half the Great Pacific Garbage Patch in 5 years.

Our grapes are grown in iconic vineyards around Australia, with a focus on South Australia. See specific bottle and tasting notes.

A Negociant is the traditional French term for a merchant who buys in grapes and barrels of wine from growers to sell under his or her own brand to provide customers with a trusted brand. They essentially developed wine branding by giving provenance to the product inside and allowing the customer to experience various vineyard sites under that 'house'. Many originated in Burgundy, but some in England, buying grapes or wine from the small producers or winemakers and then assembling, packaging and offering the wine under the their own brand name. In fact, some of the best known Burgundy makers including Jadot, Drouhin, and Bouchard Père and Fils are principally negociants, as were many of today's elite UK merchants who would ship barrels from Bordeaux or Burgundy and bottle under their own label. We buy fruit from iconic vineyards in great regions and have it made by leading local producers, so we are able to select the best parcels matched with the best winemaker.

Yes, but with minimal sulfur added. Sulfur dioxide is a natural chemical element occurring during the production process and added when added to the process. Wine made without sulfur is not protected from oxygen, and therefore oxidizes quickly. There is often a belief that Sulfur in wine causes headaches, but research has shown there is no proof of this, it is more likely a case of dehydration.

All our wines are vegan friendly, we only use plant based fining agents. The most common use of an animal product in the production of wine is during the fining stage when an agent is used to settle the solids in the wine and make it clear for bottling. Historically agents have included albumen (eggwhites), isinglass (fish bladder), casein (milk) or gelatin (animal protein). Today winemakers have access to bentonite, derived from clay. We have carefully integrated the use of bentonite across our range.

Sulfur dioxide, a naturally occurring chemical element is added as an antioxidant and antibacterial to avoid oxidation and spoilage. Wine is a living thing and needs to be managed to avoid spoilage. Scorbic acid is occasionally added to some whites wines.

Biodynamic farming is only suitable for some regions which do not experience frequent climatic challenges, Equally there are very few accredited vineyard in Australia, but there are many 'in principal' growers, who we also work with. please see the 'biodynamic range in the dropdown list in our shop.

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