Innovative Wines That Inspire Regenerative Thinking for The New Year

Sunrise on the vines. Photo by Moritz Knoringer on Unsplash

We’ve raised our glasses and toasted the year. We’ve hugged and kissed, reflected on what worked and what didn’t, and maybe indulged more than planned, willingly surrendering to warm hospitality or personal comfort.

Now comes the quieter moment. A time for regenerative thinking. A moment to seek inspiration, renewal, and meaningful paths forward for 2026 and beyond.

These reflections find a natural partner in wine, not just wines of fabulous flavor, but wines that embody resilience, reinvention, and intention. From biodynamic pioneers to Fair Trade–certified estates and winemakers who have overcome adversity, these bottles tell stories of healing the land, uplifting communities, and reimagining tradition. It's time to create Innovative wine events for the new year

In January we toast to the great possibilities ahead with well considered wines from around the world, brought to you by your humble Sommelier. 

Stewards of the Land: Biodynamic Excellence

In the heart of France’s Loire Valley, Domaine Huët stands as one of the world’s great champions of biodynamic viticulture. Located in the Vouvray AOC, the estate embraced biodynamic farming decades ago, achieving full Demeter certification in 1988 under the guidance of Gaston Huët and legendary winemaker Noël Pinguet.

Biodynamics goes well beyond the absence of synthetic chemicals. It includes farming in rhythm with lunar cycles and planetary alignments, yes, sometimes it feels like the moon really is in the seventh house. Whether or not one subscribes to the philosophy, the results are undeniable.

Huët’s Chenin Blancs feel alive in the glass: textured, expressive, and deeply rooted in place. The estate produces a full range of styles, from bone-dry Sec to lusciously sweet Moelleux and elegant sparkling Pétillant, all renowned for their longevity. Expect notes of orchard fruit, honeyed stone fruit, ginger, and mineral tension in youth, evolving into marzipan-like depth with age. A beautiful way to say “hello” to a new year.

Biodynamic wineries are now emerging across Oregon, Washington, and California as well, proof that regenerative farming isn’t dogma, but a pathway to purity and profound pleasure.

Listening to the Land: Arianna Occhipinti, Sicily

Travel south to Sicily and you encounter, Arianna Occhipinti a young, female winemaker whose approach is as intuitive as it is disciplined. Working with indigenous varieties and spontaneous fermentations, she allows nature to lead rather than dominate it.

Her estate lies in a striking landscape where red soils glow at sunset and winds sweep down from the Iblei Mountains. Her wines are transparent expressions of place that are vibrant, soulful, and vivacious.

Occhipinti’s Siccagno Nero d’Avola is particularly compelling. Made from a naturally concentrated clone of the grape, it offers dark cherry, blackberry, and plum layered with forest floor, olive tapenade, and subtle earthy spice. On the palate, grippy minerality and bright acidity frame the fruit, with notes of licorice, ash, and leather carried by soft, food-friendly tannins. Wild yet elegant, passionate, noble, and quietly philosophical.

Community & Resilience: Reinvention in South Africa

In South Africa’s dryland Swartland region, a collective of independent producers has transformed adversity into innovation. Once overlooked, the region now thrives through dry farming, regenerative soil practices, and minimal intervention, proving that collaboration and ecological integrity can rewrite a region’s future.

One especially meaningful example is, Ses’fikile Wines founded by Nondomiso Pikashe. After an eleven-year career in education, she reinvented herself, co-founding a wine company whose name means “We have arrived” in Zulu, a declaration of presence, pride, and possibility.

Ses’fikile wines reflect the energy of an African Renaissance. Their Shiraz–Cinsault blend offers juicy blackberry and plum with gentle spice and supple tannins, while the Chenin Blanc–Roussanne blend shows bright citrus, subtle florals, and refreshing lift. These are wines of openness, accessibility, and quiet confidence.

Fair Trade Certified: Social Regeneration 

Regenerative thinking isn’t only about soil health, it’s about people. Fair Trade Certified links environmental stewardship with social equity, ensuring fair wages, safe working conditions, and reinvestment in local communities.

From Chile, Viña Casa Silva demonstrate how larger producers can pivot toward ethical practices without sacrificing quality. Their Organic & Fair Trade wines, including Carmenère, Cabernet Sauvignon, and a vibrant organic white blend (typically Sauvignon Blanc with Sauvignon Gris) deliver expressive fruit, freshness, and balance, all grown with respect for people and planet.

Tasting Toward Transformation 

These wines remind us that a glass of wine can be an entry point into deeper reflection about ecology, community, creativity, and how we choose to move forward. This is where connecting with a local sommelier and wine educator becomes essential. A trusted guide can translate global stories into personal experiences, helping you discover wines that align with your values, palate, and sense of curiosity.

In Portland, wine expert and professional Sommelier Michael Perman of C’EST WHAT? Wine and Sensory curates experiences for corporate events and private residences that go far beyond tasting notes. Drawing on decades of leadership, hospitality, and global wine study, Michael helps clients explore wine as a sensory, emotional, and cultural journey, one that sparks conversation, connection, and fresh thinking. 

As Michael Perman states “wine inspires a conversation about what’s possible. In our wine events, we love to energize people to make new connections by sharing an elevated experience”

Here we go, stepping into a new year. May we choose wines, and experiences that open our hearts, sharpen our awareness, and expand our minds.

Here’s to wines that inspire regeneration, in the glass and beyond. Best wishes and cheers for a sensational year ahead.