January 2025 - It Must Be Wine O'clock

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)