Christmas Tasting 2024

Brilliant straw colour with greenish shades. On the nose the wine shows expressive notes of exotic fruit and notes of melon, lemon, green pepper and jasmine with orange. The mouth is delightfully rich with flavours of peach and green apple and a lemony fresh finish that lingers and evolves. 

Country: Greece

Region: East of Athens

ABV: 13%

Grapes: Assyrtiko

Food match: Greek salads, shellfish and grilled white fish, turkey.

Domaine Papagiannakos was established in 1919 in the heart of the plain of Mesogaia, Attica - just 30km from the shadow of the Acropolis.

Rich, ripe, but savoury Pinot from Canterbury. We love this wine!

Country: New Zealand

Region: North Canterbury

ABV: 13.5%

Grapes: Pinot Noir

Deep purple/red colour with an opaque core. On the nose it is rich with sweet red and black berry notes, some vanilla and sweet spice. On the palate it is much weightier than the nose suggests.  Very opulent, but elegant and balanced at the same time.

Country: South Africa

Region: Stellenbosch

ABV: 14%

Grape: Shiraz

Medium Bodied, with a subtle sweet spice and smokey character. Bright ruby in colour and concentrated, notes of plums, blackberries and damson fruit combine perfectly with the well balanced toast and oak notes.

Country: Uruguay

Region: Canelones

ABV: 14%

Grapes: Tannat

Food match: BBQ meats or herby sausages and mash

Medium ruby red colour with a pure nose of ripe dark fruits, cherry, plum and sweet spices like ginger and aniseed supported with discreet oak. The palate is round and textured with a well balanced freshness, ending with a long and broad spicy finish.

Country: Italy

Region:  Puglia

Grapes: Primitivo 100%

ABV:  14.5 %

Oak Ageing  6 Months

Food Matching

A food-flexible wine, but pairs well with roast red meats, grills, pasta with ragu sauce.

Ruby red in colour and surprisingly fresh and fruity on the nose and palate for it's age. Velvety tannins and a long mulberry finish.

Country: Portugal

Region: Dão

Grapes: Jaen, Alfrocheiro

ABV: 13%

Food Match: Lamb tagine

Such an attractive, appealing nose of mixed red fruits, very bright and clean with floral hints. The palate is soft, supple and mouth-filling. Red fruits follow through with a touch of minerality. Great finesse, with a gentle and seamless finish.

Country: Italy

Region: Piedmonte

Grapes: Nebbiolo: 90%
Cabernet Sauvignon: 5%
Vespolina: 5%

ABV: 13%

Food Match: A wonderfully versatile red that is great just with simple antipasti or with roast lamb with all of the trimmings.

Orbello is a small village very close to the Tenuta Sella vineyard where this wine is produced from. A traditional blend that Tenute Sella has been producing for more than 50 years. Nebbiolo, Vespolina and a touch of Cabernet Sauvignon, all the grapes are hand-harvested. Once picked a cold maceration is carried out. Alcoholic and malolactic fermentations in stainless steel tank. Aging for 1 year in barriques, and 6 months refinement in bottle.

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).

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.

Superb concentration, complexity, amplified aromatics, and depth of flavour going on in this Georgian qvevri wine. Dried apricots and ripe peaches. Well rounded, with a sophisticated tannic structure, vibrant acidity with a long honeyed finish.

Country: Georgia

Region: Kakheti

Grapes: Kisi

ABV: 13%

Food Match: Spicy dishes, seafood such as shellfish and salmon, aged hard cheeses.

"Amber in colour with kumquat, sun-dried apricot and marzipan on the nose, candied orange peel, dried peach and tangerine zest on the palate, supported by muscular but polished tannins, thanks to controlled extraction. Fantastic depth, the lovely dried apricot notes follow to the long finish." 92 points, Sylvia Wu, Decanter (September 2022)

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

Vibrant aromatic of blueberries and black plums with a hint of toasty oak. The generous, rich palate is packed full of juicy red and black fruits and underpinned by a fine tannin profile. A balanced wine with a persistent fruit 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.

A natural, beautifully golden sparkling wine. The aroma is dominated by apple, quince and citrus fruit notes. Medium-bodied, with a pleasantly fresh fruit-forward finish.

Country: Bulgaria

Region: Danube Plain

Grapes: Riesling 

ABV: 11,5 %

Food Match: Aperitif, shellfish, salads, fish & chips.

With ancient roots, a red with a strong personality, complex aromas and fruity notes, enriched by elegant spicy notes on the finish.

Country: Italy

Region: Abruzzo

ABV: 13.5%

Grapes: 100% Montepulciano

Irsai Oliver is an elegant white wine. Flower bouquet aromas: acacia, linden, rose. Balanced acidity and delicate honey aftertaste.

Grapes: Irsai Oliver

Country: Ukraine

Region: Odesa

Food pairing: pasta, pork, poultry, vegetarian, appetizers and snacks, mild and soft cheese

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.

Dense, spiced nose with intense blackberry and blueberry aromatics. The ripe fruit is supported with cocoa and spiced oak notes; intense to the finish.

Grapes: Odesa Black

Country: Ukraine

Region: Odesa

ABV: 13%

Food pairing: Excellent with beef and other red meats, and also grilled vegetables and chicken. Also fabulous with 70% plus dark chocolate after a meal.

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.