Quatro Mustachios - Sussex - UK

At the Brighton Natural Wine Fair, I had the opportunity to taste some exceptional wines, including the debut UK vintage from the innovative duo, Sam Bunker and Dave Haynes of Quatro Mustachios.

Sam and Dave first crossed paths while studying at Plumpton College, where the class of 2017 proved to be a particularly fruitful year for winemakers. Fellow classmates included Alex from Titch Hill, Sophie Evans, and Lucy Chilvers. Together, Sam and Dave embarked on a winemaking journey, officially launching their international wine collective, Quatro Mustachios, in 2020.

The first UK releases from Quatro Mustachios came in 2022, made without any additions. These wines were crafted using fruit from a 50-year-old vineyard in Somerset, which had been grown almost wild and unsprayed for three years, for their Pet Nat. Additional varieties came from a nearby vineyard in East Sussex, where the grapes grow on clay over sandstone.

Sam and Dave’s work with Quatro Mustachios is a testament to their dedication to exploring the potential of hybrids and PIWI varieties, and the debut UK vintage marks a significant milestone in their journey.

Before forming the collective, the pair had been gaining experience working at vineyards across Europe. They joined forces with the third and fourth "Mustachios" – Teo Vitsas and Matthias Altmann – to produce the first collaborative wine under the Quatro Mustachios label. This wine, made in Matthias' cellar in Austria, was a co-ferment of hybrid grape varieties, inspired by Dave's passion for PIWI wines. Their efforts were recognized with a Silver medal at the PIWI International Wine Award, an encouraging sign that they were on the right path.

In the following year, while working in Spain, Sam and Dave produced two more wines, sourced from the vineyards of Catalunya and Ribeira Sacra. But it was upon returning to the UK that they truly began to hone in on their shared love for hybrids and PIWI varieties.

A man in a blue denim shirt is tasting a drink from a spoon at a beverage stand during an event, with bottles and containers on the table in front of him and event banners hanging behind him.

Where to Find Quatro Mustachios Wines

Online Retailers (UK & Europe Focus)

Wine-Searcher.com **Your primary resource for global availability.** Search for "Quatro Mustachios" to find merchants listing their wines and compare prices. Given their cult status and small production, stock is often limited.
Wines Under The Bonnet (UK Importer/Wholesaler & Information) Wines Under The Bonnet is a key importer/distributor for Quatro Mustachios in the UK. Their website provides detailed information on the wines and may direct you to retailers.
Bottles Wine (Online & London Shop, UK) A prominent London-based natural wine retailer that frequently stocks Quatro Mustachios, including their Pét-Nats and still wines.
Gnarly Vines (Online & London Shop, UK) An independent London wine shop specializing in natural and organic wines, which has regularly stocked Quatro Mustachios' diverse range.
Highbury Library (Online & London Shop, UK) A London shop focused on natural and low-intervention wines, known to stock Quatro Mustachios.
Oranj (Online & London Shop, UK) A popular online and physical natural wine shop in London that frequently features Quatro Mustachios.
New Breed Bottle Shop (Online, UK-wide Delivery) An online shop specializing in natural and low-intervention wines, often featuring Quatro Mustachios. Note the occasional 'Quattro' spelling variant.
Bottle Chop (Online, UK-wide Delivery) An online natural wine shop that frequently carries Quatro Mustachios' releases.
**Other EU Online Retailers:** Given their initial production in Austria and Spain, some specialist natural wine retailers in Austria, Germany, and Spain may carry their wines when available. Use Wine-Searcher to check.

Physical Shops & Bars (Examples)

  • **United Kingdom:** Many independent wine shops and natural wine bars across the UK, particularly in London, that specialize in low-intervention and English wines will carry Quatro Mustachios (e.g., those listed above with physical presences). Check with local, progressive wine shops in major cities (e.g., Bristol, Manchester, Edinburgh, Glasgow).
  • **Europe:** Look for specialized natural wine bars and shops in major cities like Vienna (Austria) and Barcelona/Madrid (Spain), as they may occasionally carry older international releases or new ones.

Winery Information & General Profile

**Winemakers:** Sam Bunker, Dave Haynes (core UK team), and collaborators Teo Vitsas & Matthias Altmann (for international projects).
**Location:** Négociant project with production in the UK (Somerset, East Sussex) and prior vintages in Austria and Spain (Catalunya, Ribeira Sacra).
**Philosophy: Regenerative/Organic-Minded Sourcing & Zero-Addition Winemaking:** Founded in 2020 as an international winemaking collective. They focus on sourcing organically farmed grapes, often from "PIWI" (fungus-resistant) hybrid varieties, and indigenous yeasts. In the cellar: Grapes are hand-harvested. Fermentations are spontaneous with indigenous yeasts. Wines are typically **unfined, unfiltered, and made with no added sulfur** ("zero-zero"). They embrace experimental and intuitive winemaking, often using skin contact for whites and minimal intervention to express the fruit and site.
**Vineyards:** Sourced from various small, organically farmed plots across the UK (e.g., 50-year-old vineyard in Somerset, East Sussex clay over sandstone) and previously in Austria and Spain.
**Key Grape Varieties:** PIWI hybrids (e.g., Seyval Blanc, Solaris, Sauvignac, Cabernet Blanc), as well as Pinot Noir for blends.
**Signature Wines (Examples - highly allocated):**
  • **'Last Night a DJ Seyval'd My Life' (Pét-Nat):** A vibrant sparkling wine, often from Seyval Blanc, known for its lively acidity and fruit.
  • **'This Is Not A Negroni' (Orange/Skin Contact):** An orange wine, often a blend of Sauvignac and Cabernet Blanc, with textural and aromatic complexity.
  • **'Bungla Rouge' (Red):** A light, juicy red, perfect for chilling, often a blend of various red grapes.
  • **'s.l.u.g' (Pét-Nat):** A recent release, typically a maceration of Solaris with a dash of direct-press Pinot Noir.
  • **Field Blends:** Experimental co-ferments of multiple varieties.
Wines are typically classified as Vin de France or English Wine (for UK productions).
**Production:** Small-scale and highly artisanal, with very limited quantities available due to their experimental nature and high demand.
**Style:** Characterized by freshness, a joyful exuberance, and a clear expression of fruit and terroir. Their wines are often light-bodied, vibrant, and incredibly approachable, embodying the cutting edge of natural winemaking with a focus on sustainable and lesser-known grape varieties.