Wines

When it comes to white wine, most people associate the region of Burgundy with the mighty Chardonnay, but in this small region of Saint Bris, Sauvignon Blanc is the hero of the hour. On the nose you find baked hay, fennel seed, cumin and wet stones. The palate has a wonderfully round texture with notes of yellow plum and green pepper.

A fruity, rich Pinot Noir from New Zealand winery The Crater Rim, this 2020 Cantebury offers notes of plums, red berries, soft tobacco and cocoa.

A fruity and fresh Zinfandel from Frog’s Leap vineyard, located in Napa Valley, California. The winery is named after Frog Farm — a spot where, at the turn of the century, frogs were raised and sold — and produces organic wines that take advantage of the gravel soils of the famous wine country. This vintage from 2020 is a classic field blend with significant portions of Petite Shiraz and Carignan with a balanced bouquet of spice, fresh fruits and summer berry flavours.

This fourth generation, eight-hectare domaine is situated in Verze which produces some of the freshest wines in the Macon. They were certified organic in 2008 and now work biodynamically as well. This is a great value for money Burgundy with its bright nectarine, pineapple and fresh pink grapefruit notes that go beautifully with light fish dishes.

This is definitely a new cult winery in the making with many of its wines already on allocation. Based in the Santa Rita Hills the estate wines come from plots in the southwestern corner of the estate. The Chardonnay has the classic soft orchard fruit notes of California with hints of white peach and apricot. The palate gives way to delicate white flowers, frangipane and hint of clementine. This is a wine that will open and develop in the glass - perfect for a seafood risotto.

This is a partnership between two winemakers who are making wines from the high altitude vineyards of the Cafayate Valley. The winery is named after the local people of the area and it holds tradition and innovation in equal measure. This wine is made by leaving the white Torrontes grapes in contact with the skins to produce what is called an orange wine. It has lovely notes of orange blossom, dried apricot and ginger. The palate has a hint of tannin but still retains a lovely freshness with a dollop of orange marmalade on the finish. A great beginners' orange wine.

The area of Reichsfeld has been producing some of the finest wines of Alsace since the 12th century and the Bohns have got three generations worth of knowledge when it comes to this land. They are passionate about the biodiversity of the land and work naturally in the winery. This is their ‘fun’ wine which is a blend of Riesling and Sylvaner. It is a great wine to start your journey into skin contact, natural wines. On the nose a hint of pea flowers, apricot and pear. The palate is very mineral and the schist soil that the grapes are grown on really comes through with a little grip of tannin on the finish. This is wine to go with any Asian dish.

This fresh Provence Rose from Minuty embodies the style and elegance of the region, making it a firm favourite in the top bars and restaurants on the Cote d’Azur. The nose has notes of strawberry and soft red fruits with a gentle touch of peach, that leads to a light and fresh palate coloured by ripe stone fruits. For a perfect pairing, try this summery Rose with tapas or a classic mozzarella salad.

Estela Perinetti comes from a family of wine makers and after working for the Catena family she has returned to her roots and now manages the family estate Las Estelas where she is fast becoming one to watch on the Argentinian wine scene. This is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. The wine shouts black juicy fruits, blackcurrant leaf, rosemary and a hint of blackcurrant blossom. The palate is bright and vibrant with plenty of fruit and freshness – this is definitely a crowd pleaser and one to always have in the wine rack.

While Pinot Noir and Syrah grapes are an unusual combination, they have worked well in this Australian red wine – the Syrah brings a juicy raspberry note with sweet spices and the Pinot Noir offers black cherries, strawberry roll ups and freshness. This wine is lighter than expected on the palate and the fruit is more restrained and savoury than the nose would suggest. Try serving this chilled and pairing it with light game or rich fish dishes.