Andrea Calek 'Babiole'

60% Grenache and 40% Syrah, 13.5% ABV

Calek has a reputation for taking a hands-off approach to his wines (even by natural wine standards). But this is a good thing! Just look him up and you’ll find articles with titles like “Andrea Calek Is a Lazy Bum and That’s Why His Wines Are So Good.” His wines are alive and untamed, yet elegant in their own right. 

The winemaker: Andrea Calek was born and raised in Czechoslovakia. Just down the road from his winery is Le Mazel, the acclaimed winery where so many Ardeche winemakers cut their teeth and where he learned winemaking before starting his own endeavor. His life partner, Stephana now runs the winemaking for the most part as he has taken a step back in recent years.