La Cave des Nomades Natural Cork Killer 2019

Banyuls Sur Mer, Languedoc Roussillon

The story of Josè Carvalho Moreira, known as Ze Tafè, is one that deserves to be told, and it is easy to understand why his company could not have a different name: La Cantina dei Nomadi.

Ze Tafè's story is incredible: over the years it has been able to change its skin, contexts and jobs. The tour starts from the outskirts of Oporto, heading for Banyuls Sur Mer, with many stops in between.

His nomadic lifestyle in England, Germany, Norway and Portugal brought him two degrees in Plastic Arts and Painting and in Cinema, a career as a musician, jobs as a salesman at Ikea, fruit picker, expert in building wine houses and, of course, wine producer, founding Le Cave de Nomade.

A whimsical and unusual character, like his wines, whose mentor is another unusual guy, Manuel Di Vecchi of Vinyer de la Ruca, who passed on to him his love of natural wine.

Today there are almost 8 hectares, divided into 12 plots of Grenache Noir, Gris and Blanc, Carignan Noir and Gris, Mourvèdre, Syrah, Merlot, Macabeo, Muscat Petit Grain and Chardonnay.

Each cuvée is a micro-production of 300 to 1,200 bottles. All the labels are made of cork with designs by Katja Stroph, a nomadic artist herself.