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"The quality of Languedoc wines simply amazed me" - An interview with two noses for wine

24.07.2024
by Anastasia Hartleib
"Die Qualität der Weine des Languedoc hat mich einfach begeistert" - Zwei Nasen für Wein im Interview

When the joy of discovery and enthusiasm come together, the result can usually only be good. This is also the case with Two Noses for Wine. Wine lover Michael Sigloch is always enthusiastically discovering new wines, primarily from the French Languedoc region. He infects friends and acquaintances with his enthusiasm. So much so that he opened his own wine store a good 12 years ago. We spoke to the man from Heppenheim about his passion for wine, especially French wine.

Discovering two noses for wine:


Honest & Rare: Briefly about you: Who are you?

Michael Sigloch: We are a small, fine wine trade with a focus on France and selected German wineries. Two noses, that's me, a soon-to-be sommelier and passionate wine taster, and Bea, our Labrador, the nose for good terroir and friendly winemakers. We have been looking for exceptional wines for our customers since 2012 and can now offer over 100 wines from over 30 producers.


How did you come up with the idea of opening a wine store?

My wife Conny and I are very Francophile and have been visiting French wineries for over 25 years now. In the end, I was so impressed by the quality of the wines from the Languedoc that I wanted to introduce them to friends, acquaintances and business partners. In doing so, I discovered how much pleasure it gives me to be able to convince others of a good product - and to awaken the same enthusiasm that these wines arouse in me.


What fascinates you so much about wine?

Wine is a cultural asset and lives from its place of origin. The wines of Languedoc, for example, as we know them today, can only be understood in the millennia-old lineage of viticulture and the regional geological, climatic and cultural conditions. Wine reflects all of this like no other luxury product.


What do you pay particular attention to when selecting your wines?

In addition to authenticity, i.e. the clear recognizability of terroir and regional style, a reasonable price-pleasure ratio is of course also important. Unfortunately, the wine trade is dominated by discounters. As a specialist retailer, you have to consider not only the individual range but also certain price categories.


Bei Zwei Nasen für Wein gibt es hauptsächlich Weine aus biologischem oder biodynamischen Anbau. Das bedeutet z.B., dass in den Weinfeldern auch jede Menge Wildblumen stehen dürfen.
Zwei Nasen für Wein mainly sells wines from organic or biodynamic cultivation. This means, for example, that a lot of wild flowers are allowed to grow in the vineyards.


The wineries in the store are almost all organic or even Demeter-certified. Why?

The focus on organic viticulture was a matter of conviction for me right from the start. As I continued to study the various methods of wine production, I gradually came to the realization that biodynamic farming, i.e. the way Demeter-certified wineries work, represents the highest level of quality for Zwei Nasen für Wein. Biodynamics is convincing across the board in terms of sustainability, wholeness and the resilience of the vine. The wines are consistently convincing too. I am firmly convinced that biodynamic wines can trigger a positive response in the body.

To be fair, from a sales perspective, the focus on organic and biodynamic wines has also paid off. After all, as a small wine merchant, I have to somehow differentiate myself from the supermarket range. Fortunately, thanks to the focus on these special wines, I have succeeded in doing so.


Focus on organic wines - out of conviction


How do you discover new wineries?

Primarily at trade fairs such as the Wine Expo in Paris or Millesime Bio, the world's largest organic wine fair in Montpellier. Of course, I'm also out and about at ProWein in Düsseldorf and occasionally make contact with winegrowers in France via social media.

I'm also a taster at Wine System AG, where I attend one or two major tastings every year, such as the International Organic Wine Award. That automatically introduces you to new potential wineries. And of course it doesn't hurt to have known the wines and wineries of the Languedoc for a good 25 years.


Do you visit the individual wineries before you decide to include their products in the store?

If it can be arranged, we go to the wineries in Languedoc and take a look at their operations. Our trip to Alsace isn't that far either, which means we also visit all the wineries there.

Otherwise, we ask wineries that could potentially be included in our range to send us a sample package so that we can taste the wines in optimal conditions at our leisure. This means that the wines are kept for 1 to 2 days after the first tasting in order to be able to recognize their development.


Ein üppig behangener Rebstock aus dem Languedoc.
A lush vine from the Languedoc.


What do you prefer to drink - red, white or rosé?

My wife and I actually love champagne. The Zwei Nasen für Wein trade actually began in Champagne and good, attractively priced vintner's champagne has a firm place in the Zwei Nasen für Wein range - and in our private wine store.

When it's not bubbles, my wife prefers red wine and, like many customers, is an absolute fan of Mas de la Séranne Les Griottiers. Over the years, I have developed into a white wine lover. I particularly like the style of Villa Lucia blanc from Domaine Caihol Gautran. A full-bodied but not too broad cuvée from the high plateau of the Languedoc, AOP Minervois. In summer, we also like to start the evening with a glass of rosé, such as the Romain from Domaine Piquemal.


Which was the first wine that made a lasting impression on you - and which was the last?

My first encounter with Les Immortelles from Mas de la Seranne around 2004 stayed with me for a long time - until I started trading wine about eight years later. More recently, it's even an Italian. A Montepulciano d'Abruzzo, naturally from biodynamic cultivation from the Cantina Lunaria in eastern Abruzzo, the Coste di Moro 2019. This wine is simply an enormous pleasure to drink and is also outrageously good value.


Will new wineries be added soon?

The champagne range at Zwei Nasen für Wein will soon be expanding significantly. Then we will also be adding well-known houses such as Champagne Fleury, which produce biodynamically. Otherwise, a few new producers have already been added in recent months, such as Château L'Engarran with a very accessible and round red wine cuvée Les Gravières 2020 from the Montpellier region. Fortunately, we are always discovering new wineries that can come up with great wines. So we are not running out of material for the time being.


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About the autor:

Anastasia Hartleib

Anastasia Hartleib

Katalog & Marketing Managerin

Xing URL

Für mich geht nichts über das Entdecken kleiner Manufakturen. Ob das der Micro Craft Brauer aus Bayern oder die sächsische Brennerei ist, die es bereits seit Jahrzehnten gibt - hauptsache klein, regional verwurzelt und mit Sinn für's Handwerk!

  • Liebt: frische Luft, ihren Hund & Vinyl
  • Favorite drinks: wechseln mit so ziemlich jedem Glas...
  • Empfehlung des Monats: Alkoholfreier Gin. Der EASIP Fields holt den Frühling ins Glas!

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