Get that Jauma Juice
Jauma (‘yow-mah’) is the natural winery from James Erskine, Mark Warner, and Fiona Wood, who are mad about natural wine and all the good things it possesses: realness, taste of place, and creating an experience. Erskine was professionally trained in the culinary arts and wanted to own a restaurant, but after a detour as a top sommelier in Australia he fell into winemaking instead. It happens to the best of us! When traveling in Catalonia he met a winemaker named Jauma who introduced him to the Garnacha grape, and he was astonished by its taste of terroir and freshness. (Fun fact: Jauma is ‘James’ in Catalan; Catalonia is where founder James Erskine was inspired and began to conceptualize his own winery back home in South Australia.) Grenache is still Erskine’s preferred wine-child, although his winery also boasts a whole range of different grapes including Chenin Blanc, Shiraz, Verdelho, and many more.
It has now been ten years since Jauma began earning a cult-like natural wine following. If you say natural wine and Australia in the same sentence, Jauma is the first winery that comes to mind (alongside Jamsheed and Lucy Margaux). All of Jauma’s wine is made naturally, without manipulation in the cellar and without additives or sulfur (since 2015). All natural yeasts are used in the fermentation process, and all wines are bottled under a distinguishable, no-fuss crown cap. Since 2011 Fiona Wood has managed the McLaren Vale vineyards with strict organic practices, and in 2018 Erskine purchased an old organic cherry orchard where he is expanding and planting new vines including Savagnin and Traminer. You can even visit the winery in the lush village of Lenswood in the Adelaide Hills of Australia and pick cherries while drinking natural wine! Oh, how we miss traveling! Someday soon, we hope.
2018 Jauma 'Ralph's Shiraz'
Back to basics with Shiraz, but it’s anything but basic with its notes of wild blueberries and pop-rocks. To enjoy this Shiraz in all its glory, give this baby a slight chill before opening. Enjoy around a roaring campfire for a cozy time with your quaranteam.
2020 Jauma 'A 1000 Fires' White Blend
Named after the great Austrian architect, painter and dreamer, Hundertwasser (100 waters), this zippy blend of Muscat and Chenin is aromatic, juicy, textured and honeyed. 1000 Fires will brighten up any dark, wintery day and zhuzh up any meal!
2019 Jauma ‘Why Try So Hard’ Verdelho Blend
A funky, peachy blend of Muscat, Verdelho, and Shiraz. Super aromatic, slightly stony with a guava kind of juicy-juice and peppery goodness. Pair with pad-thai, crispy potato chips, or prosciutto and arugula pizza.