Quintessential Moves Into Spirits

Launches André Brunel’s Le Gin 13 from Rhône, France

(NAPA, CALIF., May 15, 2024) – Quintessential, a family-owned and operated import, marketing and sales company exclusively representing family-owned wineries from around the world, proudly announces its entry into the craft spirits world with the debut of Le Gin 13 from the famed  Châteauneuf-du-Pape producer of Les Cailloux and Cuvée Centenaire, André Brunel. Crafted from organic grapes and featuring 13 hand-selected botanicals, including juniper, coriander and rosemary, Le Gin 13 offers a harmonious blend of classic gin flavors with a Rhône twist.

Dennis Kreps, co-owner of Quintessential, expressed excitement about this new endeavor. "There could not be a more suitable spirit to enter the craft sector than with Fabrice Brunel’s handcrafted gin. He brings such passion and authenticity to anything he creates, and Le Gin 13 is no different. It offers something special to both wine and spirits consumers alike with its perfect blend of tradition and innovation.”

Created by Fabrice and Romain Pitaud, the skilled winemaking team at André Brunel, Le Gin 13 embodies the rich heritage of the Rhône, which runs deeply in the Brunel family (as they have been producing wine there since 1739). Fabrice shared his motivation to create this unique gin. “As a gin enthusiast, I drew inspiration from my home, the Rhône, to craft a gin tailored for wine aficionados. Le Gin 13 embodies the concept of terroir through carefully selected botanicals, a deep connection to our winemaking heritage and by highlighting the differing characteristics in vintaged gin.”

Key Characteristics of Le Gin 13:

• Organic Grapes: Crafted from organic grapes sourced from the Rhône region, Le Gin 13 boasts a unique grape-based alcohol, paying homage to its wine-producing origins.
• Vintaged Gin: Utilizing skins and stems from a specific year, Le Gin 13 is a vintaged gin, with the inaugural batch featuring grapes from the 2022 harvest, followed by 2023.
• The Significance of 13: Named in homage to the 13 grape varieties grown in the Rhône, Le Gin 13 features a blend of 13 flavorful ingredients (from greatest to least amount): juniper, coriander, angelica root, cinnamon, orange peel, rosemary, cardamon, pepper, Sichuan pepper, lavender, thyme, fennel and vanilla. 
• Classic & Complex Flavor: Le Gin 13 preserves the essence of gin with juniper while incorporating ingredients reminiscent of Rhône grape varieties, such as orange peel for Grenache and pepper for Syrah, along with Provençal herbs like lavender and a signature garrigue note evocative of the region.
• Traditional Distillation: Le Gin 13 follows traditional gin techniques while using grapes, stems and skins to ensure authenticity and quality. The base alcohol, a byproduct of wine fermentation, undergoes distillation to produce a classic spirit like marc in France or grappa in Italy, until reaching 96 degrees of alcohol. It is then cut to 45 degrees of alcohol, gently heated and infused with herbs for three days, followed by a classic distillation process to yield the final product.
• Luxurious Packing: Everything about Le Gin 13 highlights the connection to its winemaking and Rhône roots from the gnarled, old vine image to the detailed history on the back label, culminating in an expressive and impactful design.

How Fabrice Brunel drinks Le Gin 13: "I prefer it neat with lime or cucumber or paired with a dry tonic for a refreshing cocktail."

Le Gin 13 will be available nationwide in the US by the fall of 2024.

About Quintessential: Based in Napa, California, Quintessential is a leading fine wine and spirits importer, marketer and sales company exclusively representing family-owned wineries and distilleries. Guided by father and son, Steve Sr. and Dennis Kreps, Quintessential celebrates expressions of renowned terroir from around the world, with a global portfolio comprising 33 families and 45 wineries across 12 countries.

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