Grape-pure wine and beautiful bottles — a Scandinavian couple's idea of affordable excellence
Some wine brands are born from a single vineyard. SpaceNine — the team behind the A23 wines — was born from a dream two people had together. Thomas has lived and breathed wine since the 1980s; Gunhild comes from a world of art and design. A23 is what happened when they decided to combine the two. The result is a range of grape-pure wines with real character and genuinely beautiful labels, made for people who love what's in the glass and what's on the bottle in equal measure.
A for Amphora, 23 for the year
The name isn't a road or a postcode, whatever the wines' globe-trotting origins might suggest. A is for Amphora — the clay vessel the ancient Greeks used to store wine — and 23 is for 2023, the year the first A23 wine was launched. That debut was a Riesling Trocken from the Pfalz in Germany, the couple's "firstborn," and the brand has grown from there.
The people
Thomas brings more than four decades in the wine trade. Rather than own a single estate, he works as a kind of master blender and curator: he personally seeks out producers across Europe, visiting cellars and tasting endlessly, and only those who meet a strict set of standards — on vineyard practices, grape quality, winemaking philosophy and consistency — make it into the A23 family. Then he rolls up his sleeves in the cellar and blends each wine himself, to a precise style he has in mind. Every bottle is his final call.
Gunhild brings the other half of the equation. Her background in art and design is why an A23 bottle stops you on the shelf. For this pair, design isn't decoration — it's part of the wine.
The bottles that smile back
Each A23 wine has its own visual identity, built around a carefully chosen colour and a distinctive animal illustration. The animals are the heart of the design: each one is picked to capture the character, energy and mood of the wine inside, so a bottle tells you something about its personality before you've even pulled the cork. It's a modern, playful, quietly elegant look — minimalist design married to decorative illustration — and it makes the range instantly recognisable. As they put it, a bottle should spark curiosity and bring a smile before it's opened.
Grape in its purest form
For all the roaming and blending, the goal is simple: show each grape in its purest, most compelling form. The Riesling comes from the Pfalz; the Pinot Noir from France's Languedoc, where better sites and winemaking have finally made great-value French Pinot a reality; the Sauvignon Blanc is unmistakably Loire in style. There's Chardonnay, Syrah and Tempranillo too, plus an organic Cava and even a Champagne collaboration. The medals back up the approach: Gold across the range at the Gilbert & Gaillard International Challenge 2026, 93 points and a Silver for the Riesling Trocken at the IWSC, and a steady 4.0–4.1 on Vivino. Excellence, fairly priced.
How and when to drink it
These are easy, welcoming wines. The Riesling Trocken is bone-dry and mineral — a perfect aperitif or a foil for spice. The Pinot Noir is soft and red-fruited; serve it lightly chilled with barbecued meats or hot-smoked salmon. The Chardonnay leans rich for roast chicken or creamy pasta, while the Syrah and Tempranillo bring black fruit, pepper and gentle spice for a midweek roast or a board of charcuterie.
People's favourite: the A23 Pinot Noir — proof that great-value French Pinot really does exist, and a staff pick for good reason.
My favourite: the A23 Riesling Trocken — the firstborn, 93 points, and the most decorated of the range.
Buy their wines: SpaceNine Range — exclusively available at Perfect Cellar.
Cheers! Jon Cellier | Wine Director