At Camuna Cellars, the guiding principle is a deep respect for the natural world and a belief in humanity's role as a collaborator, not a dictator. This philosophy translates into a commitment to sustainable viticulture and minimal intervention winemaking. Their goal? To "co-create interesting fermented beverages" that are not only delicious but also good for the land, the body, and the soul.

This dedication to nature's rhythms extends to their release schedule. New creations are bottled and released throughout the seasons, as they reach their peak, ensuring each offering captures the essence of its natural cycle.

Winemaker Eli Silins' passion for sustainable agriculture began in 2004 on a biodynamic vineyard in Australia. He continued exploring these practices while making wine in California before moving Camuna Cellars to its current home in Philadelphia in 2019. Here, amidst the bounty of the Mid-Atlantic, Eli's creativity flourishes. He crafts unique wines and beverages by experimenting with grapes, apples, honey, and intriguing combinations of these elements.

Camuna Cellars sources grapes from a diverse range of vineyards spread across the Outer Coastal Plain AVA in New Jersey and pockets of Lancaster and Chester Counties in Pennsylvania. All these vineyards employ a form of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) that prioritizes sustainable practices. The vineyards themselves are charmingly small, with most not exceeding 10 acres, and all harvests are done by hand. This meticulous approach ensures exceptional quality grapes for Camuna's unique creations.

"My goal," says Eli Silins, "is to craft something truly interesting and unique, a reflection of this emerging wine region finding its voice. I achieve this through minimal intervention and reliance on native yeasts, though I playfully admit to keeping commercial yeast around 'just in case'!"

He continues, "I minimize the use of sulfites, only employing them up to 40ppm in rare instances when necessary. Additionally, Camuna Cellars is produced under an alternative kosher certification, allowing us to explore a niche within the kosher wine world, which often has limited variety."