£15 to £20

Fresh, but textured and full Douro blend. Aromas of coffee and vanilla with concentrated blueberry and black current. Ripe chewy tannin with a hint of star anise on the finish.

Country: Portugal

Region: Douro Valley

Grapes: Touriga Nacional, Touriga Francesa and Tinta Roriz 

ABV: 13.5%

Food Match: Hearty bean stew

The local grapes - Touriga Nacional, Touriga Francesa and Tinta Roriz - grow in fine soils with some schist in vineyards near Cambres, in the western part of the Douro valley and south of the river. The climate here is warm and dry, and some of the vines are over 50 years old. After harvesting fermentation takes place in stainless steel, with a small portion (around 10%) ageing for 4 months in 2nd year French oak barrels, before the final blending and bottling.

The nose is abundant with fruit and has complex notes of citrus fruit, tomato leaves with a hint of tropical lychee fruit.  The palate is fresh and vibrant with a near perfect balance of fruit and acidity. Stunning wine.

Country: Italy

Region: Marche

Grapes: Incrocio Bruni 54

ABV: 13.5%

Incrocio Bruni 54 is a crossing by pollenation of Sauvignon Blanc and Verdicchio which was done in 1936 by Professor Bruno Bruni while working for the Italian Ministry of Agriculture. It is only found in the Marche region and Tenuta Santi Giacomo e Filippo are championing it as Marche's flagship grape. Rightly so!

A stunning bouquet of floral notes and soft citrus fruits.

A 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

Tenuta Olim Bauda is one of Piedmont's top producers, run by the Bertolino Family since the 1960's. After Sr. Bertolino died in 1985, the winery shut for 15 years. But in 2000, his 3 children bought back what was sold off and have successfully revived the estate and the Tenute Olim Bauda name.

Fresh and complex with notes of white peach, almonds and a hint ripe papaya. Expressive on the palate with a lingering finish.

Country: South Africa

Region: Stellenbosch

Grapes: Chardonnay, Chenin, and Viognier 

ABV: 13.5%

Food Match: Seafood Paella

Floral nose, tropical fruit palate and mineral finish. Refreshing white.

Country: Portugal

Region: Douro

Grapes: Arinto, Gouveio, Rabigato

ABV: 13%

Perfumed and aromatic style of Chardonnay from the Mendoza valley in Argentina.

A clean wine, with plenty of aromatic intensity, fresh and mineral. On the nose it is floral and citrus-like. Notes of white flowers and fruits, lemon blossom and peaches. On the palate, it has a soft start, a good persistence, unctuous with balanced acidity, round with good concentration.

Country: Argentina

Region: Mendoza

ABV: 14.5%

Grapes: Chardonnay

After visiting Argentina in 1989, Californian trail-blazer Paul Hobbs became deeply interested in both the terroir and Argentine culture, noticing the unique potential for Malbec and other varietals in the region. After meeting two kindred spirits, Andrea Marchiori and Luis Barraud, they founded Viña Cobos in 1997 and since then there has been no looking back. Utilising gnarly old vines, careful vineyard selection, very low yields and an unerring empathy for the raw materials, Viña Cobos craft intense yet balanced wines that showcase the elegance and beauty of this region. The wines from Cobos have branched into four different brands – Felino, Bramare appellation, Bramare Single Vineyard and the super premium Cobos. Binding all of the wines from Viña Cobos is the true identity of each variety and the unique terroir of Mendoza, truly world class wines from a world class producer.

Light, straw yellow in colour. Aromas of  ripe, honeydew melon and peach; soft and full on the palate with a well balanced and long finish.

Country: Italy

Region: Alto Adige 

Grapes: Pinot Grigio

ABV: 13.5% 

food Matches: Grilled white fish, lightly truffled dishes, fresh pasta with spinach and garlic.

Made with Pinot Gris (AKA Pinot Grigio / Sivi Pinot).  Fermented in stainless steel, the wine then spends two months on fine lees to develop texture. Bottled unfined and gently filtered. 

Ripe grapefruit, almonds and citrus, flavours on the nose. Moderate acidity, with a fleshy stone fruit character, very elegant on the palate and finish.

Grapes:  Pinot Gris

Region: Ormoz

Country: Slovenia

ABV: 12.5%

Food Match: Fleshy white fish dishes such as pan fried Halibut with artichokes Cod served with seasonal squash and green vegetables.

Verus (Latin for “true”) is an exciting new winery founded in 2007 and owned by three friends who now produce some of the most exciting white wines coming out of Slovenia. The 12 hectare vineyards are located around Ormoz in the appellation of Styria (Stajerska) on the Jeruzalem-Ormoz hills. The cool climate here is influenced by the Alps, the Adriatic Sea and the Pannonian Plain.
The wines are true expressions of each grape variety and are bottled under screw cap with anexquisitely designed label. Their inaugural vintage 2007 received much acclaim from the press and wine writers and previews the future success of this young dynamic winery.

Dolomite wines express great purity of fruit and balanced elegance. The nose shows dark and red cherry. Dark berries, spiciness and herbs linger on the palate. The wine has great purity of fruit with a hint of wet-stone minerality and a velvet soft finish.

Country: South Africa

Region: Stellenbosch

ABV: 13.5%

Grapes: Cabernet Franc 90%
Malbec 10%

Unctuous and voluptuous! Ripe fruit aromas of pear, guava, melon, and peach. The palate has notes of banana, vanilla, and popcorn. Rich and yummy!

Country: USA

Region: River Junction California

Grapes: Viognier

ABV: 13.5%

We love this traditional method 100% Chardonnay from the team at KWV. Complex and rich with aromas of brioche and toasted hazelnuts. A creamy palate with a mineral finish. Delicious.

Country: South Africa

Region: Paarl

Grapes: 100% Chardonnay

ABV: 12%

Laborie Wine

Bruwer Raats, the winemaker, must be a front-runner for the accolade of ‘King of Chenin’. Not just in South Africa, but globally.

The wine has a distinctive yellow apple and pineapple core, alongside notes of green melon and limes. The wine is thus bursting with fresh fruit flavours. The wine ends with zesty citrus flavours, and has a long mineral finish

Country: South Africa

Region: Stellenbosch

ABV: 13.5%

Grapes: Chenin Blanc

Bruwer has established a reputation as a New World leader in the production of Chenin Blanc and Cabernet Franc. Neil Martin called him ""one of the top growers in the region, perhaps in South Africa"" and gave his Eden High Density Cabernet Franc 95 points. He crafts soil specific wines that embody the unique characteristics of the Stellenbosch region. The Original Chenin Blanc epitomises the balance between power and elegance, while the Family Chenin delivers a refined complexity with firm minerality.

Evro originates from Rallo’s exceptional estate vineyards in Alcamo, in one of Sicilia’s premier growing areas. Pale yellow to straw yellow with light green reflections. The bouquet shows citrusy notes and marked apple scent. There is a distinct minerality on the palate – a trademark of Rallo’s wines – with rich mouth-feel and persistent finish. This is a seductive wine.

Country: Italy

Region: Sicily

ABV: 12.5%

Grapes: Insolia

Fresh, zesty and full of life, with aromas of wild, ripe black currants and citrus zest. On the palate it is crisp, clean with notes of minerality and an almond skin finish.

Country: Georgia

Region: Kakheti

Grapes: Mtsvane

ABV: 13%

Food Match: Fresh goat's cheese salad with grilled asparagus or grilled seafood with pan fried fleshy white fish with a rich, mushroom sauce.

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

Floral and stunningly aromatic wine, reminiscent of white lilies, ripe pears and sherbet. You got to try this wine - it's lovely all year round!

Country: Italy

Region: Puglia

Grapes:  Fiano Minutolo

ABV: 14% 

Caiaffa are certified organic, they do not use insecticides or pesticides in order to encourage a balanced ecosystem.

Elegant plum and raspberry nose, followed by a juicy mulberry palate. Just a hint of South Africanness that can make one nostalgic for the Cape winelands if you happen to be in that frame of mind...

Country: South Africa

Region: Darling

Grapes: Merlot

ABV: 14.5%

Groote Post is an historic 18th century farm just outside the quaint town of Darling. Nearby Atlantic coastal breezes make for slow a ripening season giving the wines optimum flavour and producing distinctive flavours.

Excellent Bordeaux Blend from Bulgaria. Big and bold in flavour with richness and spice in equal measure but a lovely fine-grained tannic structure with good acidy, keeping it moreish and balanced.

Country: Bulgaria

Region: Bessa Valley

Grapes: 52% Merlot, 14% Petit Verdot  plus 8% Cab Sauv

ABV: 14.5%

Food Match: Roast lamb with all the trimmings

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%

Aromas of dark cherry and blackberry plus a rich, round palate of red berry fruit are complemented by toasty, vanilla notes that bring a touch of spice to the finish.

Country: France

Region: P Haute Vallée de L’Aude, Languedoc-Roussillon

ABV: 13.5%

Grapes: Pinot Noir

 Food Match:Beautiful drinking on its own or with game, robust fish or slow cooked stews.

Lively, expressive and juicy red from the lesser known region of Bierzo in North West Spain. Menzia, a native grape, gives lovely dark ripe fruit characters of plum and bramble berries. 

Country: Spain

Region: DO Bierzo

Grapes: Menzia

ABV: 13.5%

Wonderful, lively bubbly with fresh granny smith apple aromas and flavours.

Country: France

Region: Limoux, Languedoc

Grape: Mauzac, Chenin, Chardonnay

ABV: 12%

Traditional Method

A wonderful fruity Pinotage with velvety tannins supporting sweet spices and red and black fruit.

Country: South Africa

Region: Stellenbosch

Grapes: Pinotage

ABV: 13.5%

Stellenbosch Vineyards is located on the historic Welmoed farm, which was one of the
first proclaimed farms in Stellenbosch and dates back to 1690.
They produce a range of wines that are true to style, and consistently showcase the
quality and value of South African wine. Stellenbosch Vineyards are a well-versed
negociant, sourcing excellent grapes from various plots around the Cape each year to
supplement their estate grown grapes. Stellenbosch Vineyards is one of South Africa’s
leading exporters, with about 85% of their production heading for foreign shores.
Stellenbosch Vineyards take their corporate social responsibility seriously - they are
Fairtrade certified and are members of the Agricultural Ethical Trade Initiative (WIETA)
and the Industry Association for Responsible Alcohol Use (ARA).

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.

Carefully selected estate grown grapes are aged for 24 months in French and American oak barrels to create this silky smooth reserva.

Country: Spain

Region: Rioja

Grapes: Tempranillo and Graciano

ABV: 14%

With its pale yellow colour and green reflections, the nose has a ravishing charm: dominated by intense notes of citrus (lemon, grapefruit). It also reveals notes of apple, pear and white flowers. The mouth is beautifully balanced between roundness and a refreshing final vivacity. Delicate spicy, floral and fruity notes persist pleasantly to the finish.

 Country: France

Region: Macon, Burgundy

Grapes: Chardonnay

ABV: 12.5%