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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 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)

A refreshing Pinot Grigio from Trentino

Rocca Murer Pinot Grigio, Trentino 2022 (Italy)

Located in the foothills of the Alps in northern Italy, the Trentino region benefits from a moderate climate with dry summers and low rainfall. Pinot Grigio is one of the two main grape varieties, together with Chardonnay, that are grown in this region.

Pinot Grigio from Trentino tends to have greater depth of flavour than the mass-produced wines of the Veneto region and this wine is a smooth, elegant and well-balanced wine with refreshing acidity and a lasting finish.

With aromas of white blossom on the nose and flavours of apple, peach and apricot on the palate, this is a very good value wine which can be enjoyed by itself or with fish, salad or a light pasta dish.

Available from Sainsbury’s (£8.25)

A very good value Malagousia from Greece …

G & L Malagousia 2023 (Greece)

An aromatic grape variety from Greece, Malagousia is known for its citrus and peach aromas, and stone fruit flavours. Grown from grapes cultivated at an altitude of 700m in the mountainous Aegialia region in the Peloponnese, this is a good introduction to the variety and very good value for money.

With lemon, apple and peach on the nose, and citrus, apple and peach on the palate, this is a well-balanced wine with a lively acidity and a lingering finish.

Try it as an apéritif with some olives, or as a pairing with chicken or fish. It’s also a perfect match for a Greek salad.

Available from The Wine Society (£8.95)

A great value Viognier from Languedoc

Abbotts & Delaunay Viognier Les Fleurs Sauvages 2020 (France)

Stretching along the Mediterranean coast from Italy to Spain, the vineyards of southern France offer a huge diversity of wine styles, both red and white. Many of the wines of the Languedoc-Roussillon area of this region of France have the Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) designation Pays d’Oc, as in the case of this Viognier 2020.

Though Viognier is best-known as a grape variety in the Northern Rhône, where the Condrieu wines are the celebrated appellation, there are significant plantations in Languedoc and this 2020 vintage from Abbotts & Delaunay won Silver in the International Wine Challenge (IWC) Awards in 2022. And deservedly so.

With pronounced aromas of peach, apricot, nectarine and blossom on the nose, and ripe stone fruit flavours and a hint of honey and almond on the palate, this is a fresh, lively wine with balanced acidity. An elegant wine with a creamy mouthfeel and a lengthy finish, this is perfect as an aperitif, and will go well with fish, or a vegetable dish.

Available from Majestic (£9.99, Mix Six £7.99)

Wine of the Month: an outstanding Siegerrebe from White Castle Vineyard in Wales

White Castle Vineyard Siegerrebe 2021 (Monmouthshire)

My Wine of the Month is this outstanding Siegerrebe from White Castle Vineyard in Monmouthshire, Wales. Though not a particularly common grape variety, Siegerrebe grows well in cooler climates and so is very much at home in the UK, and Robb and Nicola Merchant at White Castle have produced another fine wine with this 2021 vintage. Indeed, the wine was awarded Silver in the recent WineGB Awards 2022.

A dry wine with refreshing acidity, this has pronounced aromas of honey, blossom and muscat on the nose, leading to flavours of peach, lychee and nectarine on the palate. Smooth and elegant, it’s a fresh, well-balanced wine with a touch of spice on the finish, and can be enjoyed by itself, or with a fish or chicken dish. It will also go well with light, slightly spicy Asian dishes. We enjoyed it with a smoked salmon starter.

Though the wine is now out of stock at the vineyard, it is still available from several stockists including Grape Britannia, Cashells, Blas ar Fwyd, and Noble Grape. (£20-£22). Grab a bottle (or two) while stocks last!

A crisp, refreshing wine from Cambridgeshire

Chilford Hall Vineyard Legacy 2019 (Cambridgeshire)

Set amongst the rolling chalk hills of the Cambridgeshire downs, Chilford Hall Vineyard in Linton is one of the oldest established vineyards in England. The estate planted its first vines in 1972 and celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. The Legacy wine is so called to remember the founder of the vineyard, Sam Alper, and the Müller-Thurgau and Schönburger grapes used in the blend were the first grape varieties planted.

An off-dry wine with fresh acidity, the wine has aromas of apple, honeysuckle and peach on the nose, and lime, pineapple and green apple on the palate. A refreshing, well-balanced wine, the Legacy can be drunk by itself or paired with a fish or chicken dish.

Available from Grape Britannia (£9.95)

A celebration of English and Welsh wines

As we celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee this month, there are two more great reasons to crack open a bottle or two in June – Welsh Wine Week (4-12 June) and English Wine Week (18-26 June). Here are a few suggestions to tempt your palate. Iechyd da! Cheers!

Winbirri Solaris 2020 (Norfolk)

Winbirri Vineyard near Norwich is well-known for its award-winning wines and produces a range of still and sparkling wines.

The Solaris 2020 is a smooth, refreshing, slightly off-dry wine with medium acidity and a lengthy finish. With elderflower, apple and peach on the nose, and honey and nectarine on the palate, the wine also has its own character which distinguishes it from a Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay or Bacchus.

If you are looking for an appealing wine with a difference to go with your seafood or chicken dish, this is certainly one to try.

Ancre Hill Estates Rosé 2018 (Monmouthshire)

Although we might automatically think of France when we think of rosé, there are plenty of other wine regions around the world producing some fine examples, including this Ancre Hill Estates Rosé 2018 from Wales.

This is a well-balanced wine with lots of flavour and a lively acidity. Pale pink with a tinge of yellow in colour, it has aromas of strawberry, bramble, apple and grapefruit on the nose, and flavours of strawberry, rhubarb, cream soda and grapefruit on the palate.

A crisp, fresh wine with low alcohol which is perfect by itself and also goes well with canapés or fish, particularly oily fish.

Halfpenny Green Penny Red NV (Staffordshire)

This recent discovery is a fine example of a wine produced in the heart of the Black Country in the West Midlands. One of the largest vineyards in the country with almost 30 acres, Halfpenny Green benefits from well-sheltered south-facing slopes and light, sandy free-draining soil to grow a wide variety of grapes.

The off-dry Penny Red is a blend of Pinot Noir, Regent and Rondo grapes. A smooth, velvety, well-balanced wine with soft tannins and a long finish, it has aromas of bramble, cherry and blackcurrant, and flavours of blackberry, damson and plum. A wine to enjoy by itself or with lamb or cheese.

White Castle Vineyard Pinot Noir Précoce 2019 (Monmouthshire)

This is a very impressive wine from White Castle Vineyard, located near Abergavenny in Wales.

A combination of the Black Mountains, the three local rivers, the relatively low levels of rainfall, the clay and loamy soil, and the gently sloping, south-facing aspect of the vineyard all converge to create a unique micro-climate.

Made from Pinot Noir Précoce grapes, this is a light, well-balanced wine. With aromas of red berries and vanilla, and a hint of oak and smokiness on the nose, and ripe red fruit flavours of raspberry and strawberry on the palate, it’s the perfect match for Welsh lamb, duck or a cheese platter.

All the above wines are available from Grape Britannia

A crisp, refreshing wine from Southwest France

The huge diversity of grape varieties and wine styles in Southwest France makes it an interesting wine region to explore. Tucked away between the Pyrénées and the Massif Central, with Bordeaux to the north and the Atlantic Ocean to the west, it enjoys a warm, sunny climate with short, mild winters.

Here, you will find, for example, the ‘black wines’ of Cahors, the Gaillac blends of local grape varieties, the deep-coloured reds of Madiran, and the sweet and dry wines of Jurançon. You will also find the Côtes de Gascogne IGP (Indication Géographique Protégée) wines. The IGP designation provides growers with a geographical indication for their wines but with less-rigid winemaking requirements than those required for the Appellation d’origine controllé designation.

These are predominantly white wines, produced from local grape varieties such as Gros Manseng, Colombard and Arrufiac, and often blended with Sauvignon and Chardonnay. The Plaimont Côtes de Gascogne Colombard Sauvignon Blanc 2020 is a very good example.

A crisp, refreshing wine with pleasantly perfumed aromas, this is a classic Gascony blend of Colombard and Sauvignon Blanc. Pale lemon in colour, it has apple, honeysuckle and pineapple on the nose, and lemon, lime, melon and peach on the palate. With medium acidity and a lengthy finish, it is a well-balanced wine offering very good value for money.

You can enjoy this as an aperitif, or pair it with fish, or goat’s cheese.

Available from Sainsbury’s (£8)