Martin, Author at It Must Be Wine O'clock

A fine example of how good an English wine can be.

This Chapel Down Bacchus from Tenterden in Kent is a fine example of how good English wine can be.

Chapel Down Bacchus 2023 (England)

English wine has come on in leaps and bounds over the last twenty years or so and this Chapel Down Bacchus from Tenterden in Kent is a fine example of how good English wine can be.

This is an aromatic, fresh, crisp wine, with aromas of apple, grapefruit and melon on the nose, and flavours of peach, melon and apple on the palate.

Produced by England’s largest wine producer, it is a light, well-balanced wine with a long finish. It is a wine that can enjoyed by itself or paired with seafood, salad or an Asian dish.

It also pairs well with Wensleydale cheese.

Available from Grape Britannia, Waitrose, Sainsbury’s, Majestic (£15-16)

A fine Chardonnay from New Zealand to get the new year off to a great start!

A fine Chardonnay from one of New Zealand’s foremost wine producers

Oyster Bay Chardonnay, Marlborough 2023 (New Zealand)

This fine Chardonnay from one of New Zealand’s foremost wine producers, Oyster Bay, will get the new year off to a great start! With aromas of peach, apple and grapefruit on the nose, and flavours of nectarine and peach on the palate, it’s a very good representation of a cold climate Chardonnay from a region best known for its excellent Sauvignon Blanc wines.

The layers of fruit are well supported by the bright acidity, subtle hints of oak and the creamy texture, creating a delightful wine which is perfect by itself or with a seafood or vegetable dish.

Available from Sainsbury’s, Majestic, Tesco (£11-£12)

A perfect apéritif from Italy …

Excellent value for money and a perfect apéritif

Taste the Difference, Conegliano Prosecco Superiore Brut, 2023 (Italy)

Produced from grapes grown on the steep limestone hills in the DOCG area of Conegliano in north-east Italy, this is a crisp, refreshing sparkling wine with flavours of apple, lemon, apricot and peach, and a smooth, lively fizz.

This very pleasant and well-balanced Brut wine from Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference range has medium acidity, a hint of minerality and a clean finish. It is excellent for money and a perfect apéritif.

Available from Sainsbury’s (£9.75)

This Negroamaro from Puglia in the heel of Italy is a delightful Southern Italian red offering very good value for money.

Vanitá Negroamaro, Puglia 2023 (Italy)

The heat of Southern Italy means it is able to produce full-bodied red wines made from grape varieties such as Aglianico, Primitivo and Negroamaro which flourish in the hot, sunny climate. This Negroamaro from Puglia in the heel of Italy is a delightful Southern Italian red offering very good value for money.

With aromas of bramble fruits, vanilla and a hint of spice on the nose, and flavours of blackberry, prune, and cherry on the palate, this is a smooth, velvety, well-balanced wine with medium tannin and a lingering finish.

A bold, full-bodied fruity wine, this is a perfect match for steak, roast or grilled meat dishes, roasted vegetables or mature cheeses.

Available from Co-op (£8)

A wine from Alentejo that brings a touch of Portuguese warmth to these cold, wintry evenings …

Esporão Monte Velho, Alentejano 2023 (Portugal)

Portugal has an abundance of local grape varieties which bring a note of difference to its wines. This wine from the Alentejo region of south-east Portugal is a well-crafted blend of Antão Vaz, Arinto, Gouveio and Roupeiro grapes and brings a touch of Portuguese warmth to these cold, wintry evenings.

An aromatic wine with notes of jasmine, honeyed peach and pear on the nose, and flavours of apple, citrus fruits and peach on the palate, this is a smooth, elegant wine with balanced acidity and a creamy mouthfeel.

This is a very appealing wine that can be enjoyed by itself, or paired with seafood, pasta or feta cheese.

Available from The Wine Society (£9.25)

Pairs very well with fish’n’chips!

Solear Barbadillo Manzanilla Sherry (Spain)

Pale lemon in colour, with aromas of citrus fruit, almonds and olives, and yeasty notes from the flor used in the biological ageing process, this Manzanilla, is bright and fresh, with a saline, tangy finish derived from its coastal location of Sanlucar in southern Spain.

A dry wine with light acidity, it has herby, nutty flavours on the palate, and can be enjoyed as an aperitif or with smoked salmon, fish and chips, or cured meats.

Available from Waitrose (£12.99)

A dry, medium-bodied wine with refreshing acidity and a long finish …

Bardos Verdejo 2023 Rueda, Castilla y León (Spain)

Spain offers a rich hunting ground for interesting and refreshing indigenous white wines, with each of them bringing features of their distinct regionality to the table, and Verdejo from the Rueda region of Castilla y León is a very good example.

Typically, Verdejo wines are fresh and zesty, with flavours of lime and lemon together with pear and peach. It makes for an excellent alternative to a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc and a perfect match for seafood, if you are looking to try something different.

The Bardos Verdejo 2023 is a dry, medium-bodied wine with refreshing acidity and a long finish. With aromas of lemon, pear and peach on the nose, and flavours of apricot, lime and pineapple on the palate, this is an appealing, elegant wine that can be enjoyed by itself, or paired with seafood, a creamy pasta, or goat cheese.

Available from Cambridge Wine Merchants (£12.50)

The Coravin Wine System

On those (admittedly rare!) occasions when you open a bottle of wine but just want to drink a glass or two, wouldn’t it be great if you could reseal the bottle and put it away again?

Good news – the Coravin wine system does just that! It ejects wine from the bottle by pumping in argon gas so the wine doesn’t oxidise. The Coravin wine system inserts a needle into the cork (or screw cap) and as the argon enters the bottle, you can pour as much or as little of the wine as you like. Then you remove the needle and the cork or cap re-seals, protecting your wine till you want to open it again. Ingenious.

What’s more, the wine tastes just the same the next time you have a glass as it did the first time. Incredible but true.

A wine lover’s dream come true. And a perfect Christmas gift- check out the Coravin wine system here

Looking for a stocking filler for a wine lover? Try this

Hugh Johnson’s Pocket Wine Book 2025: Latest Edition

Now in its 48^th year of publication, Hugh Johnson’s Pocket Wine Book is the world’s best-selling annual wine guide. The key reference book for any wine lover – with helpful facts and commentary on everything from grape varieties, to vintages, to wine growers and regions, as well as advice on which foods go with which wines. This is the wine book! A perfect Christmas gift.

Waterstones £15.99

For another Christmas gift idea for a wine lover, see here.