12-18

Dark almost black in colour, with an intense dark berry fruit aroma of blackberries. Powerful, concentrated and full bodied. Structured, but smooth and velvety on the palate, combining well the matured fruit and the oak from 3 months ageing in wood. Moreish, elegant and complex, a long finish.

Country: Portugal

Region: Lisbon

Grapes: Alicante Bouschet

ABV: 14.5%

Food: as an aperitif, with tapas, red meat, risotto, paella, spicy food and dry cheeses.

On the west side of Sicily close to Marsala, Cantine Rallo has its vineyards and winery.

This ‘Orange’ wine is bright yet slightly cloudy in colour thanks to the natural approach to winemaking; with no stabilisation, fining or filtration resulting in a wine with very low sulphur levels. The bouquet is a beautiful mix of citrus, grapefruit, apple and white flesh fruits that follows onto the palate. Complemented by Mediterranean herbs and a backbone of fresh acidity.

Country: Italy

Region: Marsala, Sicily

Grapes: Catarratto

ABV: 12.5%

Fresh and slightly spicy with fleshy, white peach characters and a lovely perfume of jasmine from the Muscat. On the palate this wine is bursting with peach and apricot flavours.  Wonderfully balanced with an impressive backbone of elegant minerality.

Country: Lebanon

Region: Bekaa Valley

Grapes: Viognier, Chardonnay, Muscat de Alexandria

ABV: 13.5%

Food match

Mediterranean chicken or fish dishes with grilled vegetables

In addition to the black and red fruits also found on the nose there is a complex flavour of sweet spice and minerality followed by a fresh finish.

Country: France

Region: Languedoc, Terrasses du Larzac

Grapes: Carignan, Mourvèdre,  Grenache Noir, Syrah

ABV: 13.5%

Food match: Great with grilled meats and tomato based pasta dishes

Domaine Les Caizergues 

Smooth with a core of red fruit flavours and sweet spices supported by supple tannins giving structure to wine. The finish is long and smooth with the red cherry and raspberry notes lingering on the palate.

Country: Macedonia

Region: North Macedonia

Grapes: Pinot Noir

ABV: 12.5%

Food match: Roast chicken with all of the trimmings

Macedonia has a rich winemaking history, with the oldest archeological findings dating back to 13 century b.c. Today, Macedonia has around 24,000 ha of vineyards, the two main varieties grown are Vranec (red) and Smederevka (white).

Deep ruby red in colour with a violet hue. A vibrant nose of plum, cherry, violet, sweet spice and dried herbs. The palate has lots of fresh fruit flavours, including sour cherry and plum with refreshing acidity. The youthful fruit combines with spice and bitter chocolate notes giving a wine of depth and personality with a firm, dry and savoury finish - great served with food, perhaps lightly chilled.

Country: Italy

Region: Langhe, Piemonte

Grapes: Dolcetto

ABV: 12%

Food Match: Italian meat based pasta dishes, carpaccio of beef and lightly grilled meats.

The Dolcetto grapes are sourced from Colla's Cascine Drago estate - where the average age of vines is 20 years, planted at around 350m altitude. The grapes are immediately destalked and crushed, and then macerated on the skins for 5-7 days. Malolactic fermentation is completed before winter sets in. The wine stabilises in stainless steel, and then rests for a few months in bottle.

Clean and elegant, with notes of green apple, pear and white peach, citrus and floral hints.
Well-balanced, savoury and vibrant, with a crisp acidity and a saline finish.

Country: Italy

Region: Conegliano Valdobbiadene 

Grapes: Glera

ABV: 11%

Residual sugar: 12 - 15 g/l

Food Match: light first courses, fresh cheese and white meat.

Nestled in the heart of the Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG area, the Althea Winery is surrounded by beautiful Rive or hills which are recognised by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.

Kaalvoet Meisie (‘barefoot girl’)  is a richer style of Sauvignon Blanc because it ferments and ages in both new and old oak for 12 months. Elegant aromas of exotic fruit like dragon fruit, passion fruit and pineapple as well as ripe yellow peach and apricot. The concentrated fruit profile is complimented by aromas and flavours of wild herbs. Vibrant acidity and a lingering, minerally finish gives this beauty of a wine at least 7 years of ageing potential.

Country: South Africa

Region: Sondagskloof, Walker Bay

Grapes: Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon

ABV: 12.5%

Food Matching: Asparagus and and goat's cheese salad

You’ve probably heard of the quaint beach town of Hermanus, situated on South Africa’s famous Whale Coast. Between 1855 and 1902, it was called Hermanuspietersfontein. In 1902, the local postmaster decided to shorten the name of the town to make addressing letters to the locals easier.

150 years later, the wine farm Hermanuspietersfontein, or HPF for short, craft outstanding wines with a serious sense of place. Their grapes come from Sondagskloof (they produce 90% of WO Sondagskloof wine), which competes with Elgin and the Ceres Plateau for South Africa’s coolest wine growing region. This area is perfectly suited to Bordeaux varietals and, with the exception of Shiraz, is exclusively planted with them.

The Afrikaans wine names might look like a bit of a mouthful, but they are good fun; Bloos (‘blush’), Kaalvoet Meisie (‘barefoot girl’), Kat Met Die Houtbeen (‘cat with the wooden leg’), Posmeester (‘postmaster’), Kleinboet (‘little brother’) and Swartskaap (‘black sheep’).

Light, fruity, juicy and ripe red. Full of flavour and vibrant, crunchy red fruit character. Good stuff!

Country: South Africa

Region: Paarl

Grapes: Cinsault

ABV: 13%

Food pairing: pan fried duck breast with a berry sauce or cheese and cured meats with quince jelly.

Notes of wild strawberry, basil and clementine on the nose with a fresh, fruity palate and a clean finish.

Country: France

Region: Languedoc, IGP Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert

Grapes: Grenache (43%); Mourvedre (23%): Carignan (22%); Cinsault (12%)

ABV: 14%

Food match: great aperitif or with grilled or smoked oily fish such as sardines or makerel.

Domaine Les Caizergues

Certified Organic

Delicate, pale lemon yellow colour with aromas of citrus, grass and hay. Fresh and zippy finish.

Country: France

Region: Bordeaux

ABV: 14.5%

Grapes: Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon

Entre-deux-Mers is a large wine sub-region of Bordeaux in southwestern France. Its name translates literally as "between two seas", although the seas in question are in fact rivers – the Garonne and Dordogne, which respectively form the area's southern and northern boundaries.

Bright straw yellow colour with brilliant greenish glints. Intense on the nose with tropical fruit, peach skin and citrus aromas. Balanced and well-structured on the palate with great acidity and a lengthy finish.

Country: Spain

Region: Castilla y Leon, Rioja Alta

Grapes:Tempranillo Blanco, Viura and Sauvignon Blanc

ABV: 13.5%

Food match: Shell fish or roast veg dishes.

Hacienda el Ternero is a village which dates back to 1077 when it belonged to the Santa Maria de Herrerea Monastery. Notably, it is the only vineyard of DOC Rioja that lies within the region of Castilla y León. In 2009, the village was bought by the current owner. The 60 hectares of vineyards are in the Rioja Alta and sit at an altitude of 650m

Gardner Street Classic has the classic floral, elderflower note we have come to know of contemporary Bacchus married with a touch of stone fruit from the Chardonnay. On the palate there's an abundance of red apple fruit, a touch of wild fennel with the barrel fermented Chardonnay giving mid palate weight and structure to a wine that ultimately finishes with a brisk, present acidity.

Country: England

Region: East Sussex

Grapes: Bacchus 75% , Chardonnay 25%

ABV: 12.5%

Gardner Street is the historic name of Henners’ home village of Herstmonceux. The old name captures the hand-harvested, artisanal craft of tending vines and wines down English country lanes. A modern marriage of fresh, floral Bacchus with a little barrel-fermented Chardonnay.

Dark, ruby red colour. Aromas of sweet spice, ripe plum jam and leather on the nose. On the palate: complex and full bodied with velvety tannins on the finish. 

Grapes: Odesa Black

Country: Ukraine

Region: Odesa

Food pairing: Soft cheese and cured meats or grilled pork with potatoes.

Serving temperature: 16-18°C

ABV: 13%

Villa Tinta has been a family estate winery since 1998 when the winery foundation was laid and 500 hectares of family-owned vines were planted. The winery is situated in the Bolgrad district where winemaking was the source of life centuries ago.

With gentle aromas of rose petals and clementines, the restrained palate is lightly perfumed (as wild flower honey) and long.

Country: France

Region: Alsace

Grapes:  Gewurtztraminer

ABV: 13.5%

Matches perfectly with Thai Green Curry

A beautiful bouquet of floral notes and soft citrus fruits. Fresh and dry white wine, crisp floral notes with hints of underlying minerality, leading through to a piercingly pure finish.

Country: Italy

Region: Piedmont

ABV: 12.5%

Grapes:  100% Cortese

Food Match:  Light cheeses, shellfish

Vegan/Vegetarian

The ‘Château’ is the most traditional – and the oldest – of their wines. It’s blended in the traditional way, with a short maceration period – these wines are designed to be drunk fairly soon. Dependable, elegant and bursting with fruit. The ideal way to get to know the vineyard and taste the terroir. Delicate and elegant floral aromas with lively minerality on the palate, clean attack and delicious strawberry notes.

Country: France

Region: AOP Côteaux Varois en Provence

Grapes: Grenache, Cinsault , Shiraz

ABV: 12.5%

Chateau de L’Escarelle of one of the most prestigious wine estates in the heart of Provence, with 100 hectares of organically certified vineyards set in 1,000 hectares of beautiful woodland.

Food Match: Perfect as an aperitif or an accompaniment to southern French dishes

Light yellow-straw. The nose is reminiscent of apricot, peach and quince with hints of litchi and cardamom. Citrus and stone fruit follow on the palate rounded by subtle oak and punchy lime acidity. The finish is long and dry. Medium to full bodied.

Country: South Africa
Region: Western Cape
Grapes: Chenin blanc and Grenache blanc
ABV: 13.5%

Food Match: Wild mushroom risotto, Moroccan chicken tagine or herb crusted rack of lamb.

The Loron Family have been producing great wines from Beaujolais since 1711 and have a peerless reputation! 

Country: France

Region: Beaujolais

Grapes: Gamay

ABV: 13%

No added sulphites

Classic Merlot nose of ripe dark plum and leafy notes, following through on the palate with rich, fleshy fruit, earthy notes and dark spice.

Country: Chile

Region: Wine of Chile

Grapes: Merlot

ABV:14%

Food matching ideas: Cheese and charcuterie or pasta ragu

Notes of  bay leaf, citrus zest, and grapefruit on the nose followed by a gentle, textural palate with bright citrus acidity and green apple.

Country: Chile

Region: Wine of Chile

Grapes: Sauvignon Blanc

ABV:12.5%

Food Match: Shellfish and seafood dishes

Mead is produced from fermented honey. This is gives the drink a very distinct, sweet and warming mouthfeel, perfect for sipping by the fireside.

Country: England

Region: Honey sourced from Derbyshire and Mexico

ABV: 10%

Made from 100% Agiorgitiko, a native variety to the Peloponnese. The colour is a bright, deep crimson, and the nose full of aromas of blackberries and ripe strawberries with just a touch of anise and black pepper. The smooth texture is accompanied by ripe, soft tannin and fresh acidity to give structure and elegance. Over a year spent in oak leaves you with notes of sweet vanilla and spices such as clove and cinnamon to accompany the long-lasting and powerful red fruits.

Country: Greece

Region: Peloponnese

ABV: 14%

Grapes: Agiorgitiko

Food match: Pairs well with a range of grilled meats such as chicken souvlaki or fine cuts of lamb.

The Lantides Estate is situated in the Ancient site of Nemea, in the heart of the
Peloponnese, north of Argos and just west of Corinth on the coast of the Aegean. Panikos and his son Simon run 25 hectares of vineyards which are situated around the mountainous valley of Skoteini in altitude between 500 - 650 meters above sea level. This family business was started in 1993 by Panikos Landidis, who had previously studied in Montpellier and Bordeaux in oenology. Today this knowledge is used to make quality wines using local varieties that are native to Greece.

The Peloponnese Peninsula is a large landform on the southern edge of
continental Greece. Covered in mountains, rugged plateaus and valleys, the
area has an abundance of mesoclimates and terroirs suitable for premium
viticulture. Native grape varieties such as Agiorgitiko, Moschofilero and
Mavrodaphne are planted throughout the peninsula. The modern Peloponnese
wine industry began to grow following the end of World War II, and today the
region is one of the most viticulturally productive in Greece.

Dry, and citrussy with a long herbal, minerally finish. Fresh oregano, slightly saline.

Country: Portugal

Region: Beiras

Grapes: Siria, Malvasia, Fonte Cal, Rabigato

ABV: 13%

A new Cellar Door Wines favourite! The lesser known Susumaniello grape is native to the South Italian region of Puglia. We love it for its rich aromas of blackcurrants, cherry and cranberry. On the palate it has ripe black cherry fruit with savoury notes of black olive and tomato with a sweet cocoa powder finish.

Country: Italy

Region: Puglia

Grapes: Susumaniello

ABV: 13%

Food pairing: Rich stews, beef lasagne or roast lamb or lamb tagine with Mediterranean grilled vegetables.