12-18

This is a fantastic, classic crisp Pouilly Fumé from a small, family owned estate in the Loire.

Country: France

Region: Loire Valley

Grapes: Sauvignon Blanc

ABV: 13.5%

Bright, lifted, fresh aromas of red and dark fruits. On the palate it is slightly creamy yet very fresh with a hint of spice on the finish. Lovely balance, very bright and easy. 

Grape: Primitivo 

Country: Italy

Region: Puglia

ABV: 14%

Deep ruby garnet. Bright cherry and dark berry on the nose with notes of white pepper, dried herbs, cloves and leather. Red berry and cherry follow on the palate with subtle vanilla oak. The finish is elegant and perfumed. Medium to full bodied with soft, supple tannins.

Country: South Africa
Region: Western Cape
Grapes: Shiraz and Grenache
ABV: 14%

Food Match: Grilled and barbequed beef or game; pan roasted duck breast or hearty stews and braised meats.

Bold, rich, intense, generous red made from the Tannat grape. 

Country: France

Region: Pyrenées, South West France, Gascogne

Grapes: Tannat

ABV: 14.5%

The terroir across the Côtes de Gascogne area is transitional, with the maritime effect of the Atlantic ocean giving way to a more continental climate in the east of Gers. In the east, summers are warmer and drier, and the clay limestone soils retain water more effectively. Nearer the coast, loose, sandy soils with good drainage and high rainfall characterize the vineyards.

Grapes are grown in Casa Berger vineyards beneath the slopes of Montserrat in Alt Penedes. Harvested at night, mixed and chilled in dry ice, then spent 2h macerating before being fermented for 25 days. Aged for 10-12 months before release.
Garnacha imparts delicious red berry flavours, Monastrell is responsible for the beautiful colour - floral on the nose, with red apple and pear notes leading to a crisp and lively wine with signature toasty cava finish.

Country: Spain

Region: Penedes

Grapes: Garnacha tinto, Monastrell

ABV: 12.5%

Crisp, dry and clean - a very refreshing glass of  pink bubbly!

Country: Italy

Region: Veneto

Grapes: Rabosa

ABV: 12.3%

Pale lemon colour, the Rótulo Branco is crisp and aromatic with aromas of blossom and pear. On the palate it has good body, a silky texture and a citrusy acidity providing a great backbone. Fruity notes and hints of fresh herbs accompany its long finish.

Country: Portugal

Region: Dão

Grapes:  Encruzado, Borrado das Moscas, Rabo de Ovelha and Cercial.

ABV: 12%

Subtle vanilla and spice along with delicate aromas of peach and orange are complimented by savoury, peppery notes on the palate. Serve as an aperitif or with light salmon or chicken dishes with nutty grains.

Country: Spain
Region: La Mancha
Grapes: Verdejo
ABV: 11%

Made from biodynamically farmed Verdejo grapes this orange wine from La Mancha is fermented with ambient yeasts on the skins for 10 days and aged in very large French oak vats for 6 months. The wine is only partially filtered and has an attractive cloudy amber colour. Lees aging helps round out the wine, creating a smooth and complex finished wine.

Fresh and zesty aromas with notes of almond skin, fennel and even a little jasmine. A bright natural acidity on the palate with a teasing top note of grassy fennel, almond nuttiness and the residual salinity of an old dry grown vineyard. Drink slowly to take all this in.

Country: South Africa

Region: Piekenierskloof

Grapes: Palomino

ABV: 12.5%

Gorgeous, salmon pink colour. Elegant floral and red currant aromas on the nose  accompanied by herbal notes. On the palate, it is fresh, but textured with a long dry finish.

Country: Italy

Region: Piemonte

Grapes: Nebbiolo

ABV: 13%

Food Match: Light starters and salads, soft, creamy cheeses like feta or goat’s cheese.

An aromatic dry white wine from Ukraine. The grape variety Sukholimansky is a local grape to Ukraine, it`s a cross of Chardonnay and Plavay (a Moldovan grape). This wine is fruit-driven, aromatic and fresh. The notes of mango, pear and tropical fruit.

Country: Ukraine

Region: Odesa

Grape: Sukholimansky 

ABV: 11.5%

Food pairing: salads, soft cheeses, grilled vegetables, shellfish, and fish dishes, particularly those prepared on the grill

Mead is produced from fermented honey. This is gives the drink a very distinct, sweet and warming mouthfeel. Lyme Bay's Black Cherry Mead is a beautiful combination of the sweet and tart flavours of honey and wild cherries. Great on the rocks as a summer drink, it is also a lovely accompaniment to dark chocolate or raisiny, rich desserts.

Country: England

Region: Honey sourced from Derbyshire and Mexico

ABV: 10%

The wine is made using classic technology from Rkatsiteli, Mtsvane, Khikhvi and Kisi grape varieties grown in the Tsinandali microzone, Kakheti, Georgia. The aroma is lively and bright. The wine is dry, full-bodied, characterized by minerality, balanced acidity, hints of oak and a long finish. Recommended serving temperature: 10 to12 °C

Country: Georgia

Region: Kakheti

Grapes: Rkatsiteli, Mtsvane, Khikhvi and Kisi

ABV: 13.5%

Vegan

Read all about Penny's recent trip to the cradle of wine, Georgia in her blog here.

Intense savoury nose with notes of dried citrus peel, marmalade, brown spice and almond skin. Full flavoured and textural on the palate with flavours of apricot kernel and fruit peel followed by a fine bitter orange finish.

Country: South Africa

Region: Breedekloof

Grapes: 90% Chenin Blanc, 10% Muscat D'Alexandria

ABV: 12.5%

Dachbosch Wine

Food match: 

The grapes are sorted, de-stemmed and crushed. Fermentation process started with juice still on the grape skins, whereafter the wine was left on the grape skins for a further 6 months. The clear wine was then racked, blended and bottled.

Wonderfully fragrant with notes of pithy stone fruits, bight jasmine and honeysuckle. The palate follows through with a richness of fruit including ripe peach and apricot. The finish is given finesse by the refreshing acidity.

Country: USA

Region: Lodi

ABV: 14.5%

Grapes: Viognier

This delightful orange wine is made of mostly Muscat with a touch of Semillon. It makes for a beautifully fresh and bright wine with bold notes of apricot, candied lemon and a touch of sea salt and nuts for that lovely fresh bite. The 10 days on skins gives a chewy wine gum notes with fine tannin to coat the palate and an oxidative nutty finish. Fresh and complex, making a fantastic gastronomic South African wine.

Country: South Africa

Region: Stellenbosch

Grapes: Muscat (89%)
Semillon (11%)

ABV: 13%

Food Match: Oysters or Japanese cuisine

Stellenbosch, this famous region, is 30 miles north east of Cape Town yet still close enough to the ocean to benefit from cool maritime conditions. These beautiful vineyards are dominated by scenic mountains and the region is home to some of the Cape`s most famous and influential wine estates. The most noted and important vineyards are located on the prized slopes of the Simonsberg Mountain. This small and highly rated sub-zone has fantastic terroir and is where many of South Africa`s top red cuvees are produced.

Angus Paul had their first vintage in 2020, creating wines with a focus on South African Heritage, using Chenin, Muscat and Pinotage soon expanding with Cinsault. The wines are made with minimal intervention to make quality wines that truly express the varieties characteristics. The labels are inspired by the ‘Age of exploration’ when the South African wine industry was founded, with graphics of superstitious tales from exploratory sailors.

This non-alcoholic sparkling has notes of citrus, apple, pear and toast. It`s dry, fresh and mineral.

Grapes: 100% Chardonnay

Vegan

Fermented twice for exceptional flavour. Bolle's unique method of wine-making ensures all the taste of wine without any of the alcohol. Their double fermentation process gives their sparkling wine all the crisp, dry flavour and mouth feel of Champagne - making BOLLE the non-alcoholic wine choice of discerning wine drinkers.

Fresh citrus aromas with lots of green apple and a herbaceous finish. A fresh but full and smooth mouth feel with a crisp finish.

Country: South Africa

Region: Piekenierskloof, Swartland

ABV: 13%

Grapes: 100% Grenache Blanc

Food Matches: shellfish, vegetarian dishes especially with aubergine, leeks and peppers, salads with a light vinaigrette or tangy mayonnaise, oysters, asparagus with hollandaise sauce and soft cheeses.

Piekenierskloof is in the Citrusdal Mountains, about 50 kilometers north of the Swartland, which provides the perfect natural environment for vineyards to thrive.

Piekenierskloof Wine

At 750 meters above sea level, the plateau’s climate is characterised by warm days and cool nights, which allow grapes to slowly ripen and develop complex fruit flavours. Ungrafted bush vines planted in the 1950’s are still used in the production of Piekenierskloof Wine Company’s range of wines.

Grapes are sourced from vineyards predominantly in the Piekenierskloof region. These are bush vineyards and grow on koffieklip and sandy loam soils. Vineyards are planted in 1987. Harversting takes place middle to end of February.

Created as an ode to the bounty of the sea, Miss Lucy can turn the many other delights safe to grace our tables into a celebration of the ocean.

Only a salty breeze and a sunny day can improve what is already a perfect match. This unique blend bursts with citrus pamplemousse (Paw Paw) flavours. 

Country: South Africa

Region: Robertson

ABV: 12.5%

Grapes: Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Pinot Gris 

Springfield Estate goes against the grain in order to make sure the drinking experience is perfect at the consumer end and sustainable at its end. The wines are all about the rocky, unforgiving terroir of Robertson, and stand head and shoulders above most producers for sheer quality.

https://springfieldestate.com/

Bright juicy fruit with a hint of spice on the nose.

Country: Italy

Region: Friuli Venezia-Giulia

Grapes: 

ABV: 12.5% 

Food Match: Goes well with roast meats red or white

Superb. Organically farmed, vegetarian white from Lisbon. A field blend of old vines mainly Fernao Pires white. Golden yellow colour. On the nose shows notes of apricots and honey, vegetable and sweet spice. Medium bodied with great texture. Fruity and spicy on the palate, with a long finish.

Country: Portugal

Region: Lisboa

Grapes: 90% Fernão Pires, 5%Arinto ,
5% other indigenous varieties

ABV: 14.5%

Aromas of sweet spice, black cherries and plums with subtle hints of cedar and leather. The palate has soft, juicy tannins which are well balanced on the long finish.

Country: South Africa

Region: Wellington

Grapes: Malbec Merlot

ABV: 13.5%

Food matches: BBQ red meat and Mediterranean roast vegetables

Deep ruby-purple in the glass. The nose opens with ripe cherries, blackberries, plum, violets, and hints of liquorice. The palate is juicy and approachable, with layers of red and black fruit, gentle spice, and soft tannins that make it smooth and easy to drink. Medium-bodied, fresh, and vibrant with a subtle earthy edge. 

Country: South Africa

Region: Stellenbosch

Grape: Syrah

ABV: 13%

Food pairing: great with charcuterie, grilled meats, or hearty stews.

Saperavi is often compared to Malbec, Cabernet Franc and even Gamay depending on how it is made. This is dark, juicy and fresh, dee black in colour, rich and full but finishes really freshly with a gentle grip. Delicious.

Country: Georgia

Region: Kakheti

Grapes: Saperavi

ABV: 13%

Food Pairing:  Sausage caserole, a juicy burger and barbecued meats.

Read all about Penny's recent trip to the cradle of wine, Georgia in her blog here.

A classical style of Soave. Aromas of pear, lemon zest and peach. Lightly honeyed and juicy palate with the notes of citrus, peach, almond. The finish is crisp and mineral.

Country: Italy

Region: Veneto

Grape Variety: Garganega

ABV: 12%

Food Match: goats cheese, basil and roasted pepper salad; asparagus or delicate fish sprinkled with lemon juice