Fifi is the beloved natural wine doyen of New York City. Since opening the iconic natural wine bar, Ten Bells in 2010, he’s donned practically every hat in the industry — from proprietor of a... Read More
Fifi is the beloved natural wine doyen of New York City. Since opening the iconic natural wine bar, Ten Bells in 2010, he’s donned practically every hat in the industry — from proprietor of a hip Brooklyn wine shop to importer of some of our favorite producers, including Yvon Métras and L’Anglore.
And now he’s making wine, working alongside his friend Stephen Moran, proprietor of Domaine Leonine (another Flatiron favorite) in Roussillon, France.
The Côtes Catalanes, wild and rugged, have seen a centuries-long decline in popularity. But this has made it one of the last places in France where upstart winemakers can afford to get into the biz. Better yet, it’s got very old vines and complex soils (including limestone and schist) which give the wine concentration and mineral underpinnings that balance the sunny fruit. Nonstop sea breezes preserve acidity and fight diseases without need of any chemicals, which makes the terroir perfect for growers looking to work naturally.