Rupert Patrick
UK
Meet the man behind the first Naked Whisky who brought a long-lost family blend back to life
- Years ago Rupert had a wild idea to start his own whisky business. He knew he needed to gain experience in the industry first, so he set off to travel the world selling scotch and made contacts all over Scotland.
- A chance discovery in 2016 gave him the nudge to go it alone. He came across the whisky ledgers of his great great grandfather, James Eadie. They revealed the secrets behind a once highly-regarded family blend, and Rupert knew he had to revive it.
- He persuaded one of Scotland’s most experienced and distinguished Master Blenders, Norman Mathison, to come out of retirement and the pair have worked tirelessly ever since. Norman’s skill, Rupert’s dedication and Angels' support has brought this blend back to life... and it stands out from the crowd today, just as it did 170 years ago.
Lady Ramirez Ibarbe
Chile
Our first Chilean ginmaker followed her heart into the distillery
63 Ratings
1,742 Followers
- Lady may have started her career as an engineer but she quickly followed her heart into the distillery where she has gone on to make award winning pisco and pajarete alongside her sisters, Cecilia and Sandra. Never one to shy away from a challenge, in 2014 she decided to take the leap into the world of gin...
- Chile isn’t a well known gin producer so breaking into the industry was no mean feat! The trio subjected many a bartender to sample after sample before settling on a blend that’s bursting with botanicals as unique as the area they grow in.
- It’s all thanks to Angel funding that this family run distillery on the edge of the Atacama desert can bring a taste of Chile straight to your front door and Lady couldn’t be more grateful!
Sebastian San Martin
Argentina
A man on a mission to show you the real Malbec
587 Ratings
270 Followers
- Sebastián San Martín is a name you probably haven’t heard before. But we can bet you have tasted one of his wines. He’s worked for some of the biggest wineries in Argentina like Francois Lurton and Argento, learning top tips from some of the world’s best consultant winemakers along the way.
- After years of being the guy behind the label, Sebastián is thrilled to finally see his name on the bottle. He’s using Angel funding to source grapes from small, family-run vineyards - to show you the ’real’ Malbec. If you’ve only ever drunk mass-produced Malbec that’s been oaked to within an inch of its life, his wines will be a revelation.
- Sebastián says “I’m so enthusiastic. I have so many things in my head about what we can do. There are many things to be discovered in Argentina, it’s a very special place. To have the chance to show these special grapes and places and history at a valuable price is an honour” - the honour is all ours Sebastián.
Marko Stojakovic
North Macedonia
We were casting the net across Eastern Europe, and we landed Marko first cast
679 Ratings
209 Followers
We’d been looking for a good Macedonian wine for ages. Turns out the missing ingredient was Marko. He's had a top-flight career in France, making some of the world’s most famous drops, including Chateau Palmer in Margaux, and Vieux Telegraphe in Châteauneuf du Pape.
Marko could have settled for being toasted in the salons of Paris. Instead, he gave it all up and went back to his roots. He’s a passionate Macedonian who knew his homeland had the potential for amazing wines. But finding markets for the unfashionable region was tough, until he found Naked, and we found him. A panel of Archangels tasted the wine he sent in, and absolutely loved it.
Marko told us his dream was to find a bigger audience to showcase his country’s wines. We explained how 250,000 Angels were waiting to drink them. It felt like a marriage made in heaven. So we shook on it.
David Tofterup
Spain
Spanish Winemaker of the Year 2015 and 2017 joins the Naked family
512 Ratings
168 Followers
- Born in Denmark (in his own words, a country known more for drinking wine than making wine!) David saw how much fun his parents had in their basement dabbling in homemade wine... but it wasn’t until the family moved to Spain when he was 15 that he really caught the winemaking bug.
- Fast forward 24 years - and David has worked at wineries all over the world including Spain, France, Chile and the US. But it's those native Spanish grapes that really grab his attention. The unpredictability of Monastrell (you may know it as Mourvedre) and the many different characters of Tempranillo draw him in year after year.
- Without Angel support David wouldn't have been able to transition from large scale corporate wine production to boutique style wines with buckets of oomph and personality. This new found freedom means he can go back to the roots of winemaking and discover all the possibilities Spain has to offer. Something we think he is really rather good at…!
Philippe Socheleau
France
Philippe took a punt on Chenin, and it paid off big time
103 Ratings
23 Followers
- After studying food & wine, Philippe spent some time at a friends vineyard and was so taken with it, that he came straight home and started his own winemaking business with his father.
- He took a massive gamble back in 2001, when he ripped up their Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc vines in favour of lesser known Chenin Blanc ones. The bold move paid off and nowadays they are producing some of the top Chenin in the region.
- To Philippe, the beauty of his job is creating delicious wines for people to enjoy. He thrives on the patience and precision required and won’t shy away from taking a little risk every now and then. In short, he’s nailed what being a winemaker is all about!
Gilles Perrier
France
7 generations of winemakers revealing the stars of Savoy
271 Ratings
101 Followers
- Growing up with both his father and grandfather constantly out in the vineyards, how could Gilles not fall in love with wine?! He’s never more enthusiastic than when he is championing local varieties such as the Jacquere (between us that’s a fresh, fruity and very easy drinking grape...yum.)
- A few years ago they hit hard times with frosts wiping out 40% of their harvest. If ever there was a place that Angel funding could make a huge difference it’s here.
- Gilles is so excited to join the Naked family. Thanks to you, he can now, along with his brothers Philippe and Christophe, carry on the family tradition with pride.
José Domingues
Portugal
Passionate Portuguese winemaker discovered by our Archangels at a blind tasting
822 Ratings
197 Followers
- Jose started his career as a winemaker at the tender age of 16. He knows the Vinho Verde region better than anybody else.
- Archangels discovered Jose in a blind tasting of Portuguese wines, and fell madly in love… his creations stood head and shoulders above the rest!
- Jose is a seriously passionate and dedicated chap - “I think what makes my wines special is actually the passion and detail that my whole team puts into the work we do... the care of the vineyard, the thoroughness with which we create each wine, so that each wine reveals its maximum potential and character”
- As a teenager, Juicy threw himself at any opportunity to get involved with anything to do with winemaking. He planted vines which went on to be owned by a famous Australian winery.
- Forty years and a host of international awards later, he has literally come back to his roots. Returning to these vines to make awesome wines.
- On top of that Juicy used to be Chief Winemaker at the iconic Penfolds winery, where he made some of Australia’s most prized Shiraz. Safe to say he knows how to make a bangin’ wine.
Tom Puyaubert
Spain
Tom's on a mission to make you fall in love with a different side of Rioja
966 Ratings
1,650 Followers
Despite calling it home for over 18 years, Tom is known as a foreigner in Rioja. He stands out even more by avoiding the traditional winemaking style of the area; championing instead varieties like Garnacha and Graciano.
It’s tough in Rioja at the moment. With most of the oldest (and best) vineyards belonging to the older generation whose families are now more interested in big city life. Tom says either big commercial wineries must take over or small, independent winemakers should step in and preserve the beauty and history of the land. Cue, Angel Funding!
Tom’s passion and enthusiasm for his region is infectious and he cannot wait for Angels' feedback. Hearing the opinions first hand from his ‘final judges’, as he calls them, is an opportunity he’s never had so form an orderly queue and give a big, Naked welcome to Tom.
