Joyful Wines — Norwegian importer of family-grown wines

Every wine we bring to Norway comes from a family we know by name. These are the people behind the bottles.

01 · 🇺🇸 USA · California

St Avalo

Los Olivos District · Santa Ynez Valley

St. Avalo is where Norwegian passion meets Californian terroir. Led by Geir Ramleth, the winery produces elegant small-batch wines that express the best of Santa Barbara County.

WINES

Los Olivos

WINE REGION

HECTARES OF VINEYARD

St. Avalo — terroir-driven wines from Los Olivos

In the heart of the Los Olivos District in Santa Barbara County lies St. Avalo — a family-owned boutique winery created by Norwegian Geir Ramleth. What began as a passion for wine and its ability to convey place, culture and history has grown into an ambitious project in one of California's most exciting wine areas. Here Californian terroir meets a Scandinavian approach to quality, precision and respect for nature. For Geir Ramleth, founding St. Avalo was about more than making wine. The goal was to create wines that express the unique character of Santa Barbara County through sustainable farming, artisan production and an uncompromising focus on quality. The result is a winery that unites international winemaking tradition with a personal vision of authenticity and long-term stewardship of natural resources. The vineyards lie in the Santa Ynez Valley, an area known for its distinctive climate where warm days and cool Pacific breezes create ideal conditions for quality grapes. This combination gives the wines freshness, complexity and balance while allowing the grapes to reach optimal ripeness. St. Avalo farms along sustainable and organic principles with great respect for nature's own processes. The philosophy is that exceptional wines are made in the vineyard, and that the winemaker's most important task is to preserve and highlight what nature has already created. With minimal intervention in the cellar, the grapes and the terroir take centre stage. The portfolio includes Sauvignon Blanc, Vermentino, Pinot Grigio, Sangiovese, Nero d'Avola and Cabernet Sauvignon. The choice of varieties reflects the wish to make wines that suit the climate of Santa Barbara County while expressing an international, food-friendly style. Production is deliberately small and quality-focused. Every wine is made with great attention to detail, from the vineyard work to the finished bottle. The aim is not maximum volume, but wines with personality, balance and a clear expression of where they come from. St. Avalo is today an expression of Geir Ramleth's vision of bridging Norwegian passion for quality with California's unique wine landscape. The result is wines that combine elegance, character and terroir — and tell the story of both the people and the place behind every bottle.

02 · 🇪🇸 Spain

Arias Vidal Viticultores

Bierzo · Castilla y León

A family of viticultores in the historic Bierzo district, specialising in local grapes such as Mencía, Godello and Palomino — wines that express the unique slate terroir of Valle del Recunco.

WINES

Bierzo

WINE REGION

HECTARES OF VINEYARD

Valle del Recunco — old vineyards, living history and the real Bierzo

In the village of Villalibre de la Jurisdicción, in the heart of Bierzo in north-western Spain, lies Valle del Recunco — a small family project driven by the wish to preserve the region's historic vineyards and tell the story held in every single wine. Behind it stands the Arias Vidal family, working some of the area's oldest vineyards, several planted more than a hundred years ago. Valle del Recunco was founded with a clear aim: to bring new life to vineyards that risked being abandoned. Through sustainable viticulture and respect for local tradition, the family works to preserve the landscape, the cultural heritage and the biodiversity that have shaped Bierzo across generations. The vineyards sit at around 550 metres above sea level on steep slopes of clay, limestone and gravelly soils. The main grape is Mencía, Bierzo's signature variety, alongside local varieties such as Godello, Doña Blanca, Palomino and Garnacha Tintorera. The old vines naturally give low yields and concentrated grapes with great character and a clear sense of origin. Bierzo is known for the meeting between Atlantic freshness and continental warmth. The result is wines with energy, minerality and elegance, where fruit, structure and freshness find a natural balance. That expression is at the centre of everything Valle del Recunco does. Production is small, the craft uncompromising, and every bottle tells the story of a landscape and a culture the Arias Vidal family is working to preserve for coming generations. For Joyful Wines, Valle del Recunco represents modern Bierzo at its most authentic — old vineyards, sustainable values and wines that express their origin with precision and personality.

03 · 🇪🇸 Spain

Bodegas Maeste

Ribera del Duero · Castilla y León

A tradition-rich bodega in Ribera del Duero. Tempranillo is the main grape, grown in chalky soils at high altitude — a style defined by elegance, structure and length.

WINES

Ribeira del Duero

WINE REGION

HECTARES OF VINEYARD

Maeste — wines with alma from Ribera del Duero

Maeste is a family-owned wine project built on respect for the region's history, nature and winemaking traditions. The estate was founded by Miguel Peña, who after many years in the wine trade realised his dream of making wines that convey both the landscape and the people behind them. At Maeste, winemaking is not only craft — it is about making wines with alma: soul. The foundation of Maeste's philosophy is sustainable work in the vineyards, respect for the terroir and a deep understanding of Ribera del Duero's heritage. Every parcel is carefully selected together with some of the region's most experienced growers, and the vineyards lie at high altitude where the continental climate brings large day-to-night temperature swings. This gives grapes with concentration, freshness and clear character. Maeste works mainly with Tempranillo, the iconic grape of Ribera del Duero, from carefully chosen vineyards farmed for quality rather than volume. The wines combine power and structure with elegance and balance, expressing the modern side of Ribera del Duero while remaining firmly rooted in the area's traditions. The project is a collaboration between dedicated professionals with long experience in viticulture and winemaking. The vineyards are led by Juan Manuel Martínez, who has devoted his life to the demanding but unique landscape of Ribera del Duero, while the wines are made with a clear aim: to express origin, identity and authenticity. For Joyful Wines, Maeste represents modern Ribera del Duero at its best — a producer combining tradition and innovation, sustainability and quality, making small-scale wines with genuine personality and sense of place.

04 · 🇪🇸 Spain

Bodegas Nodus

Utiel-Requena · Valencia · 600–900 m altitude

Bodega Nodus is an ambitious producer from Utiel-Requena that has made Bobal its signature, crafting elegant, terroir-driven wines that express the identity of the region.

WINES

Utiel-Requena

WINE REGION

200

HECTARES OF VINEYARD

Bodega Nodus — innovation and sustainability in Utiel-Requena

Bodega Nodus lies in the Utiel-Requena wine region west of Valencia, surrounded by high-altitude vineyards and a climate ideal for quality wine production. The winery was founded with the ambition of showing the best the region has to offer through wines that combine tradition, innovation and a strong focus on sustainability. The family behind Bodega Nodus has worked with farming and winemaking in the area for several generations. Today they manage extensive vineyards between 700 and 900 metres above sea level. The altitude brings large temperature differences between day and night, giving the grapes a slow ripening that preserves freshness, aroma and balance in the wines. Sustainability is central to everything they do. Bodega Nodus works deliberately to protect the natural ecosystem around the vineyards and has invested substantially in environmentally friendly solutions. The estate includes not only vineyards, but also woodland, olive groves and natural areas that support rich biodiversity. The goal is a balanced interplay between wine production and nature. The winemaking philosophy rests on respect for the fruit and the area's unique terroir. Bodega Nodus grows both native Spanish varieties such as Bobal and international ones such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. Through modern vinification and careful vineyard work, they seek to highlight the natural character of each variety and the distinctiveness of the region. The result is wines that combine the generous fruit of the Mediterranean climate with freshness, structure and elegance. The range spans crisp, aromatic whites to full-bodied reds with concentration and complexity. Common to them all is a clear identity and an expression that reflects the landscape they come from. For Bodega Nodus, wine is about more than quality alone. It is about creating a sustainable future for coming generations while carrying forward the region's proud winemaking traditions. Through respect for nature, innovative thinking and an uncompromising focus on quality, Bodega Nodus has established itself as one of the most exciting producers in Utiel-Requena.

05 · 🇿🇦 South Africa

Delheim Wines

Stellenbosch · Coastal Region

One of Stellenbosch's oldest and most respected estates, known for its Pinotage, Chardonnay and Cabernet-based cuvées. Three generations of winemaking craft, with the Wild Ferment range showing their modern side.

WINES

stellenbosch

WINE REGION

375

HECTARES OF VINEYARD

Delheim — tradition, sustainability and quality from Simonsberg

On the beautiful slopes of the Simonsberg mountain in Stellenbosch lies Delheim — a family-owned estate with a history spanning seven decades. Since its founding, Delheim has been known for its strong commitment to quality, innovation and sustainable wine production. The property covers 375 hectares, where the vineyards are surrounded by a unique nature reserve with rare fynbos species, indigenous forest and abundant wildlife. Conserving biodiversity is an integral part of the operation, and Delheim is recognised as a WWF Conservation Champion for its long-term work with nature conservation and responsible farming. In the vineyards, Delheim follows regenerative, nature-friendly principles focused on soil health, biodiversity, water stewardship and energy efficiency. This holistic approach helps create wines that express their origin with purity, balance and character. Delheim is among South Africa's most respected producers and has received numerous awards over the years for both its wines and its sustainability work. Combining tradition, family values and forward-looking thinking, Delheim represents the best of modern South African winemaking.

06 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Etna

Gustinella

Maletto · 1,000–1,200 m altitude

Sonia Gambino farms under 2 hectares on the western side of Etna, between 1,000 and 1,200 metres. Spontaneous fermentation, more than 15 rare grape varieties and zero synthetic chemicals — a micro-winery with real soul.

WINES

Maletto

WINE REGION

HECTARES OF VINEYARD

Gustinella — Etna off the beaten track

On the high slopes north-west of Etna, in the small mountain village of Maletto, lies Gustinella — one of Sicily's most exciting and personal wine projects. Here winemaker Sonia Gambino works old vineyards between 1,000 and 1,300 metres above sea level, among the highest-planted vines on all of Etna. The story of Gustinella began during the pandemic, when Sonia returned to her family's roots in Maletto. Her grandfather, Gustinello, once ran the village palmento — the traditional communal winery where local farmers had their grapes turned into wine. Through conversations with older growers in the village, Sonia discovered old, almost forgotten vineyards at risk of disappearing. Rather than let them be abandoned, she chose to give them new life. Today she works a patchwork of small parcels of hundred-year-old vines, often planted as traditional field blends where several varieties grow side by side. Here you find local treasures such as Grecanico Dorato, Grenazzu (Grenache), Nerello Mascalese and a number of rare, partly unidentified varieties that have survived across generations. Maletto lies outside the Etna DOC zone and differs markedly from the better-known areas on the northern and eastern sides of the volcano. The cool high-altitude climate, the volcanic soils and the extreme location give wines with low alcohol, high freshness and a distinctive energy combining elegance, minerality and pure fruit. All vineyard work is done by hand and without chemical treatments. In the cellar the philosophy is just as simple: spontaneous fermentation with indigenous yeasts, minimal intervention and great respect for the raw material. The aim is not to shape the wines, but to let Maletto's unique identity speak in the glass. For Joyful Wines, Gustinella embodies everything we love about the new generation of artisan producers: respect for tradition, preservation of heritage and an uncompromising focus on wines of place. The result is tiny productions with huge personality — true volcanic wines from one of Etna's least known and most fascinating corners.

07 · 🇿🇦 South Africa

Idun Wines

Elgin Valley · Cape South Coast · 350 m altitude

IDUN is a boutique wine project in Elgin, South Africa's leading cool-climate region. The French-Danish Rousset family makes elegant, terroir-driven wines focused on freshness, precision and balance, inspired by the cool climate and long ripening season.

WINES

Elgin

WINE REGION

IDUN — elegance from Elgin

In the heart of the spectacular Elgin Valley in South Africa lies IDUN Wines — a family-owned winery combining European tradition with the unique character of South Africa's leading cool-climate region. Behind the project stands the Rousset family, who fell in love with Elgin and its enormous potential for winegrowing, and have since devoted themselves to making wines of finesse, precision and personality. The name IDUN comes from Norse mythology. Idun is the goddess of eternal youth, fertility and apples — a natural inspiration in Elgin, where apple growing is an important part of the area's identity. This connection between nature, history and family underpins the philosophy behind the wines. Elgin lies around 350 metres above sea level and enjoys a cool Mediterranean climate that gives long ripening and optimal growing conditions for quality grapes. The result is wines with freshness, elegance and remarkable balance — hallmarks found throughout IDUN's portfolio. From precise, mineral whites to refined reds and elegant sparkling wines, each wine expresses its origin with clarity and authenticity. IDUN represents modern South African wine at its most sophisticated: artisanally made, terroir-driven and clearly focused on quality over volume. The wines combine New World fruit and energy with Old World structure and elegance — a style that has made the producer an exciting name among wine lovers and sommeliers internationally. At Joyful Wines we are proud to represent IDUN — a winery making wines with history, identity and a strong sense of place.

08 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Sicily

Quattrocieli

Alcamo · Trapani · Founded 2015

Quattrocieli is a family-owned, organic winery from Alcamo in western Sicily, where tradition, sustainability and native grape varieties come together in authentic wines that express the real Sicily.

WINES

Alcamo

WINE REGION

HECTARES OF VINEYARD

The elegance of modern Sicily

Quattrocieli was founded in 2015 by the Lombardo family in Alcamo, western Sicily, with a clear vision: to make wines that convey the identity, culture and natural richness of the area. The name Quattrocieli — four skies — refers to the four different vineyard areas the family farms, and symbolises the diversity of terroir that shapes their wines. The project is built on the family's strong bond with Sicily. Founder Leonardo Lombardo and his son Giuseppe chose to invest in the potential of their home rather than seek opportunities elsewhere. The result is a modern winery with deep roots in local tradition and a strong focus on quality, sustainability and authenticity. Today Quattrocieli farms around 20 hectares of vineyards spread across Alcamo, Calatafimi, Salaparuta and Gibellina. Each area contributes its own expression, giving the wines complexity and character. Production is based on certified organic viticulture, with respect for nature at its centre. No synthetic pesticides are used in the vineyards, and the work is carried out with the greatest possible care for biodiversity, soil health and natural growth cycles. Quattrocieli's philosophy is that wine should above all be an honest expression of the place it comes from. They therefore work with minimal intervention in both vineyard and cellar. The focus is on Sicily's own varieties — Catarratto, Grillo, Insolia, Nero d'Avola and Zibibbo — grapes that across generations have shown their ability to convey the island's character and Mediterranean climate. The wines are marked by freshness, balance and sheer drinkability. They combine the warm, generous fruit Sicily is known for with a modern style defined by elegance and purity. Every bottle is a tribute to the island's landscape, culture and people — and an expression of Quattrocieli's wish to share the real Sicily with wine lovers everywhere. For Quattrocieli, wine is about more than production. It is about family, belonging and respect for nature. With every vintage they seek to preserve and pass on the heritage of Sicily — in a way that is sustainable, modern and deeply rooted in tradition.

Eight family estates. Four wine countries. One importer.

Our growers