NexTerra's sourcing trip destinations often highlight vacation bucket-list regions around the globe—from Florence to Napa Valley. But just as important are our trips to the interior of the USA, where our winery and winery partners specialize in wines made from unique berries, stone fruits, and citrus. Fruit wines require a thoughtful combination of sourcing high-quality raw products and applying technical fermentation skill to ensure the final flavor profile remains true to the base fruit.
Historically, many of today’s grape-growing regions were once planted with a wide variety of fruits, nuts, and vegetables—long before wine grapes took over. As agriculture modernized and mono-cropping became the norm, crops like figs, hazelnuts, walnuts, prune plums, pears, and squash were replaced by more commercially alluring plantings like wine grapes. But these regions still offer ideal soil, sun exposure, and weather for growing exceptional fruit—making them a natural fit for fruit wine innovation.
Each year, just as we do with our wine grape supply, we work with suppliers to secure the highest quality fruit juices and purées. Our team of experts tastes through variations of berries, passionfruit, citrus, and even rhubarb (technically a vegetable!) to select base ingredients for fermentation. From there, we pair the bases with high-quality sugar added early in fermentation, resulting in wines with alcohol levels similar to traditional table wines. Without this, many fruit wines would hover in the 4–8% ABV range—less enticing to consumers and prone to quicker aging in the bottle.
At NexTerra, we’re proud to produce fruit wines alongside our grape-based portfolio. This category offers a wide spectrum of bold colors, unexpected flavors, and creative blending potential.
For retailers and distributors looking to differentiate, fruit wines present a compelling private label opportunity. Whether it’s a bold seasonal release or a year-round flavor-forward option, we offer flexible development and custom sourcing to help you create a standout product built for your audience. Contact us to learn more.