£15 to £20

The signature red from legendary Northern Rhône producer Paul Jaboulet Aîné, this Côtes du Rhône is immensely pleasurable with notes of wild berries, white pepper, lavender and cherries.

Country: France

Region: Southern Rhone

Grapes: Grenache 53%, Syrah 37%, Mourvèdre 5%, Marselan 3%, Carignan 2%

ABV:14%

Domaines Paul Jaboulet Aîné was founded in 1834 and cultivates the iconic terroirs
from the northern Rhône Valley across seven appellations. Family owned by the Frey
family since 2006, talented winemaker Caroline Frey and her team implement heroic
viticulture techniques on the unique, heritage landscapes.

Full of finesse and elegance, this Cannonau offers intense aromas of ripe, red fruit with
subtle balsamic notes. Fresh and savoury, with fine tannins and a long, silky finish.

Country: Italy

Region: Sardegna

ABV: 14%

Grapes: Cannonau (Garnacha/ Grenache Noir)

Delicious, ripe, Georgian red, packed full of red cherry and mulberry aromas and flavours, with hints of vanilla. Soft and supple rounded tannins with a long, juicy finish.

Country: Georgia

Region: Kakheti

Grapes: Saperavi

ABV: 13%

Food Match: Red meat dishes, Stews and casseroles or mature cheese.

Georgia is considered to be the ‘cradle of wine', as 8,000 year-old indigenous Rkatsiteli grape seeds have been found in clay vessels.

Redolent and full bodied with apricot, nectarine and floral aromas, but with a saline
minerality and bright acidity, an exciting and captivating new wine from SA.

Country: South Africa

Region: Robertson

Grapes: Albariño

ABV: 12.5%

Springfield Estate

With its refined plum colour, a blast of forest fruit aromas on the nose and clove notes on the back palate, this wine’s tannins are balanced with a lively acidity, medium body and a long finish. The Kalecik Karası grape feels right at home in the terroir of Çal and has adapted to it with ease. Described as “Turkey’s answer to Burgundy Reds” by wine critics, its fragrant elegance perfectly complements Mediterranean and Anatolian cuisines.

Country: Turkey

Region:   Çal, Aegean, Denizli

Vegan/Vegetarian

Grapes: Kalecik Karasi

ABV: 13.5%

Food Match: Lamb Kofta with roast Mediterranean vegetables

Sweet, but balanced, powerful, rich and full bodied with aromas and flavours of blackberries, baked plum and sweet spice. Concentrated, long finish with notes of cocoa and baking spice. 

Country: Spain

Region: Castilla a Mancha, Jumilla

ABV: 11.5%

Grapes: Monastrell

Food Match: Dark chocolate mousse or Christmas pudding

The Gil family have been major wine producers in Jumilla since the early 20th Century. Bodegas Juan Gil is dedicated to producing powerful, yet approachable and modern wines, mainly based on Monastrell (aka Mourvedre) which is grown on about 80% of the vineyard.

The winery has invested heavily in its Organic and Sustainability programmes in recent years.

We love this SA  bubbly! A classic Cap Classique with a light golden hue. Van Loveren's Christina is elegant and refined with crisp green apple, aromas of pear and shortbread biscuits. Refreshing fruit driven flavours followed by a delicate mineral finish on the palate.

Country: South Africa

Region: Robertson

Grapes: 80% Chardonnay,  20% Pinot Noir

ABV: 12.5%

Vinified and aged on the skins in traditional qvevri clay pots for 6 months

Amber with orange hues. Stone fruits, peach and white flowers notes on the nose. Intense with pronounced but soft tannins coming from the skin contact balanced with refreshing acidity. Medium bodied and moreish, with very good length.

Country: Georgia

Region: Kakheti

Grapes: Rkatsiteli

ABV: 12.5%

Food Pairing:  Asian and Middle Eastern cuisine, aromatic rice, smoked aubergine. Serve cool, not cold.

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

 A dry, fruity, and pleasantly well balanced wine. Notes of cherry, plums, and liquorice with hints of spice such as pepper and cinnamon.

Country: Italy

Region: Valpolicella

Grapes: 80% Corvina Veronese, Corvinone, 20% Rondinella

ABV: 13.5%

Pairs well with read and white meats, stews, and hard cheeses 

A rich and textured Sauvignon having been fermented in oak. Aromatic and grassy nose, notes of passion fruit, nettles and a slightly saline, long finish.

Country: South Africa

Region: Sondagskloof, Walker Bay

Grapes: Sauvignon Blanc

ABV: 13%

Food Matching: Seafood and fleshy white fish dishes

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’).

On the nose this wine has intense notes of red fruits, such as blueberry, raspberry and black cherry with hints of balsamic and spicy notes of black pepper. It is earthy with vibrant acidity, a pleasant soft mouthfeel, medium bodied, with well-integrated tannins and a long finish.

Country: Italy

Region: Veneto

Grapes: 40% Merlot, 33% Ancellota, 27% Corvina

ABV: 13%

Food Match: A great accompaniment to salami, antipasti and caponata but also primi pasta dishes such as Pasta alle Sarde.

Inviting scents of ripe red berries intertwined with delicate yeasty undertones grace the nose, offering a tantalizing introduction. The palate unveils its dry, lightly sparkling nature, accompanied by a harmonious balance of vibrant acidity and luscious fruity nuances. Approachable and effortlessly enjoyable.

Grape: Nero di Troia

Country: Italy

Region: Puglia

ABV: 12%

A delicate and floral sparkling rosé from Guerrieri Rizzardi.

Country: Italy

Region: Bardolino 

Grapes: Corvina and Merlot

ABV: 12.5%

.A beautiful salmon pink colour, this lovely rosé is fresh, clean and fruit driven. Yum!

Country: South Africa

Region: Sondagskloof, Walker Bay

Grapes: Malbec and Merlot

ABV: 12%

Food Matching: Seafood and fleshy white fish dishes

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’).

Lovely hints of grapefruit, white peach and herbs on the nose of this Sicilian native grape wine with depth and minerality

Country:Italy

Region:Sicily

ABV:12.5%

Grapes: Catarratto

Clear gold in colour. The aroma is light, clean with citrus notes. It`s medium-dry, has a medium level of acidity, light to medium in body. On the palate it`s fresh with stone fruit and citrus notes.

Grapes: 75% Chardonnay 25% Sylvaner

Region: La Mancha

Country: Spain

Food pairing: white fish, roast pork loin, cheese, prawns, chicken, risotto

Delicate aromas of lemon and ripe pear on the nose, dry and herbal flavours and a refreshing salty finish on the palate.

Country: Georgia

Region: Imereti, West Georgia

Grapes:  Krakhuna

ABV: 12.5%

Food Match: Pan fried salmon with fresh coriander and grilled asparagus

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

Read more about the Vachnadziani Winery here.

This Mencia is made from 85 year old vines that are organic. The wine is a vibrant crimson in colour with plenty of red fruit and berries. Hints of liquorice and herbal notes lend elegance and make it the perfect pairing for a BBQ grilled meat and vegetables.

Country: Spain

Region: Bierzo

Grapes: Mencia

ABV: 14 %

Fermented in stainless steel and matured for 8 months in wood

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%

A dry but powerful Gewurztraminer with spicy, rose petal and mango notes on the nose. Full-bodied and rich on the palate with notes of ginger, orange and vanilla balanced by fresh, mouth-watering acidity.

Country: New Zealand

Region: Nelson

ABV: 13.5%

Grapes: Gewurztraminer

An aromatic and zesty nose with aromas of citrus, peach, nectarine and white flowers. A crisp acidity with a fresh and clean finish.

Country: Cyprus

Region:  Limassol

ABV: 12.5%

Grapes: Xynisteri

Food match: Tabouleh, grilled fish and pasta salad or spanakopita (spinach and feta pie)

Tsiakkas Winery is located in Pelendri village in Limassol region. Costas Tsiakkas established the winery in 1988 which he runs with his wife Maria. They own 5 hectares of mountainous vineyards which are located at an altitude of 1000-1400m. The winery emphasises the production of high quality wines from indigenous varieties.

Surprisingly, this variety is not actually related to Gruner Veltliner. An aromatic, spicy, full-bodied white wine with a fresh acidity slight nutty character. Round and viscous palate, with fleshy white peach character and a long finish.

Country: Austria

Region: Wagram, Niederösterreich

ABV: 10%

Grapes:  Roter Veltliner

Food Match: great with pork schnitzel  and potato salad

Aromatic and fresh! Blended with 10 % Huxelrebe to add to complexity to the natural greengage, elderflower and honeyed notes of the Bacchus.

Country: England

Region: Hertfordshire

Grapes: Bacchus, Huxelrebe

ABV: 12.5%

Hazel End on vines Muller Thurgau, Huxelrebe and Reichensteiner were planted in 1990-1993, their Bacchus vines were planted in 2009.

This wine is sure to put a spring into your step! When you crack it open you can smell it's distinct Roberson Sauvignon aromas from metres away.                                    

Intense, stony, minerally Sauvignon with lime, gooseberry, freshly cut green pepper and granadilla (passion fruit) notes. Zippy, zesty and mouth-watering.

Country: South Africa

Region: Robertson

ABV:12.5%

Grapes: Sauvignon blanc

The grapes are harvested at night, and then undergo 21 days of alcoholic fermentation. The wine spends 100 days on primary lees, and all racking is done under CO2 for 2-3 weeks.