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A full-bodied wine, smooth, elegant and balanced, with velvety tannins and a lingering finish

Agiorgitiko, Kanakaris, Peloponnese 2022 (Greece)

This Agiorgitiko wine from Aigialeia in the northwestern Peloponnese is a fine example of one of Greece’s best-known grape varieties. It is produced by the third generation of the Kanakaris family, one of Greece’s foremost winemakers.

Deep ruby in colour, it has aromas of blackberry, cherry, coffee and vanilla on the nose, and flavours of blackberry, plum, strawberry jam, cinnamon and liquorice on the palate. It is a full-bodied wine, smooth, elegant and balanced, with velvety tannins and a lingering finish.

Enjoy with red meat dishes, notably lamb, roasted vegetables or mature cheese.

Available from Cambridge Wine Merchants (£19.95)

A delightfully aromatic dry white wine with fresh, light acidity

M & S Found Moschofilero-Roditis, Peloponnese 2023 (Greece)

This wine is part of Marks & Spencer’s celebrated Found range, which seeks to introduce interesting and less accessible wines for discerning wine drinkers to discover and enjoy.

Produced from grapes grown at altitude on the Peloponnese peninsula, this is a well-crafted blend of the aromatic Moschofilero (80%) and citrusy Roditis (20%) grape varieties. The result is a delightfully aromatic dry white wine with fresh, light acidity.

With Muscaty, honeyed tones and a minerally, lemon tang, this is a well-balanced wine with a lengthy finish. It’s a perfect match for seafood and offers excellent value for money.

Available from Marks & Spencer (£8.50)

A well-balanced, barrel-fermented Rioja with a creamy mouthfeel and a lingering finish

This barrel-fermented Rioja is produced from Viura grapes and is a well-balanced, full-bodied wine with a creamy mouthfeel and a lingering finish.

Cune Barrel Fermented Rioja 2021 (Spain)

While Rioja is deservedly well-regarded for its red wines, White Rioja is generally less well-known, and fewer than 10% of plantings in the Rioja region are white grape varieties. This barrel-fermented Rioja is produced from Viura grapes and is a well-balanced, full-bodied wine with a creamy mouthfeel and a lingering finish.

A complex wine, with aromas of lemon, peach and vanilla on the nose and flavours of citrus fruits, peach, melon, and a hint of toastiness and spice on the palate, this is a very good example of a modern White Rioja.

Enjoy by itself or paired with cold cuts, grilled fish, a chicken or vegetable dish.

Available from Sainsbury’s, Waitrose (£11)

A light, aromatic and elegant Vinho Verde wine from the west coast of Portugal

A light, aromatic and elegant Vinho Verde from the west coast of Portugal

Atlantique Vinho Verde 2023 (Portugal)

Portugal has a number of indigenous grape varieties which make it an interesting wine region to explore. This light, aromatic and elegant Vinho Verde wine from the west coast of Portugal is a case in point. It’s a blend of Loureira, Arinto, Treixadura and Avesso grapes and has a slight sparkling sensation that enhances its freshness.

Pale lemon in colour, with lemon and green apple on the nose and lemon, pear, peach and a hint of honey on the palate, this is a crisp, refreshing wine with a mineral note on the finish.

Perfect by itself on a sunny afternoon, or paired with fish, other seafood dishes or salads.

Available from Sainsbury’s (£8.25)

A bright, fresh wine from Western Sicily

A bright fresh wine from Western Sicily

Isola della Fiamma, Grillo 2023 (Sicily, Italy)

A bright, fresh wine from Western Sicily, produced from a blend of Grillo (80%) and Zibibbo (20%) grape varieties, combining the crisp, citrus flavours of the former with the more floral attributes of the latter.

With fresh, fragrant aromas of orange-blossom, almond and peach on the nose and flavours of citrus fruit, honey, peach and apricot on the palate, this is a wine with refreshing acidity, a round mouthfeel and a lingering finish that offers very good value for money.

A wine that can be enjoyed by itself, or as an excellent match for salads, or a seafood or chicken dish.

Available from The Wine Society (£7.50)

A well-balanced wine with a lingering, herby finish …

Cru des Côtes du Rhône Vinsobres 2021 (Southern Rhône)

Situated at the northern tip of the southern Rhône, where the grapes benefit from mountain breezes and cool summer nights, Vinsobres, one of the seventeen ‘crus’ of the Rhône valley, produces fresh, smooth, fruity wines with notes of garrigue.

This is a full-bodied wine with aromas of cherry, raspberry and vanilla on the nose, leading to blackberry, cassis, liquorice and chocolate on the palate. A blend of Syrah and Grenache grape varieties, it is a well-balanced wine with a lingering, herby finish.

A perfect match for a Sunday roast, grilled meats or with ripe cheeses.

Available from Sainsbury’s (£12)

A delightful Cabernet Franc from the Loire Valley

Saumur Rouge ‘Les Plantagenêts’ Cabernet Franc 2022 (Loire Valley)

The Loire Valley offers a hugely diverse range of wines, red, white and rosé, and each of the four sub-regions along the length of the river are subject to different climatic influences which are reflected in the wine styles, but overall the Loire Valley has a cool climate.

Cabernet Franc is well suited to the Loire since it flowers and ripens early, and this wine from The Wine Society is a very good example of the light-medium bodied, fruity and flavourful wines typical of Saumur.

With herbal notes, strawberry and cherry on the nose, and blackcurrant and a hint of spice on the palate, this is a balanced wine with medium tannins and acidity.

A wine to enjoy by itself or with grilled / roasted meats or vegetables. It will also go well with cold cuts or soft cheeses.

Available from The Wine So ciety (£9.25)

A perfect summer wine …

The Society’s Exhibition Santorini Assyrtiko 2021 (Greece)

Santorini, a windswept volcanic island in the Aegean, is particularly known for its dry white wines made from the Assyrtiko grape variety and this example from the Wine Society displays the perfumed aromas and concentrated flavours of citrus and stone fruits for which the grape is renowned.

A full-bodied, smooth wine with rose blossom and citrus on the nose, and citrus and peach on the palate, this is a crisp, refreshing wine with high acidity and a lingering finish. A well-deserving Silver Award winner in the Decanter World Wine Awards 2023.

Enjoy it as an aperitif with a few olives, or as a perfect pairing for a fish or chicken dish, or a Greek salad.

Available from The W ine Society (£17.50)

Looking for something different? Try this Grüner Veltliner from Austria …

Funkstille Grüner Veltliner, Niederösterreich 2023 (Austria)

Grüner Veltliner is the most widely-planted native grape variety grown in Austria, particularly in Lower Austria (Niederösterreich) and Burgenland, and typically a Grüner Veltliner wine is crisp and fresh, thanks to its naturally high acidity.

A dry wine with a lengthy finish, this Funkstille Grüner Veltliner has aromas of green apple, grapefruit and pear on the nose, and flavours of apple, melon, and citrus fruits on the palate. It’s a very pleasant wine to drink by itself, or as an ideal match for a salad or seafood dish. It will also pair perfectly with a Wiener Schnitzel!

Available from Cambridge Wine Merch ants (£14)