Learning about and discovering new wines
PepperBox Chardonnay 2022 (South Eastern Australia)
Though an oaked Chardonnay may not be to everyone’s taste, this PepperBox Chardonnay from the Casella winery in New South Wales, is a very good wine.
With pineapple, mango and vanilla aromas on the nose, and tropical fruits on the palate, this is a wine with plenty of character, a creamy mouthfeel, and a smooth buttery finish.
It can be enjoyed by itself, or with a seafood or poultry dish.
Available from Sainsbury’s (£9)
Little Cricket Grüner Veltliner 2021 (Hungary)
Though Grüner Veltliner is perhaps best known as Austria’s signature grape, this very good wine from neighbouring Hungary is a fine example of this grape variety.
This is a refreshing, crisp wine with aromas of green apple and pear on the nose, and flavours of apple, melon, citrus fruits and a hint of pepper on the palate. A dry wine with a lengthy finish, this is a very agreeable wine to drink by itself, or as an ideal match for a salad or seafood dish. It will also go well with a slightly spicy Asian dish.
Available from Cambridge Wine Merchants (£8.99)
Chapel Down Bacchus 2022 (Kent)
First established as a vineyard in 1977, Chapel Down in Kent has since undergone a number of iterations to become one of England’s leading wine producers.
An aromatic wine with notes of melon and citrus on the nose, and flavours of apple, melon and grapefruit on the palate, this is a crisp, refreshing and well-balanced wine with a long finish.
Enjoy by itself or with seafood, salad or Thai food. It also pairs well with Wensleydale cheese. If you like New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, why not give Bacchus a try!
Available from Grape Britannia (£16.99)
Gutter & Stars ‘Fight the Power’ Ortega 2022
This is another outstanding wine from Cambridge’s urban winery, Gutter & Stars. Made from 100% Ortega grapes grown at Yew Tree Vineyard in Oxfordshire, the wine was fermented in oak barrels before further ageing on the lees.
The result is a perfectly balanced, inviting wine with a velvety mouthfeel and a lengthy finish. It is, quite simply, a real pleasure to drink!
With honeysuckle, peach, and pear drops on the nose, and peach and citrus fruit flavours on the palate, this is a wonderful expression of the Ortega grape. Enjoy it as an apéritif, or with a seafood, chicken or vegetable dish.Â
Available from Gutter & Stars and Grape Britannia (£25-£30)
Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Classico 2022 (Italy)
A dry white wine with crisp acidity from the Marche region of central Italy, this Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi wine is a very good example of the fresh, zesty wines from the Verdicchio grape.
Aromas of pear, citrus and honey on the nose lead to flavours of pear, lemon and a faint note of almond on the palate, with a long mineral finish. This is a very good value wine which is perfect as a refreshing aperitif and also pairs well with a seafood dish. A perfect accompaniment to grilled salmon and spaghetti al limone!
Available from Co-op (£7)
Freedom of the Press Compendium 1 – Dry White Blend 2021
This excellent wine from Freedom of the Press winery, an urban winery located in the Cotswolds, 15 miles outside Oxford, is just the ticket for these lovely summer days.
A blend of Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris and Bacchus grapes, this is a refreshing, aromatic wine with medium acidity and a long finish. With aromas of elderflower and peach on the nose, and a compendium of flavours, including peach and raspberry, with a hint of strawberries and cream, on the palate, it is a very appealing wine.
Enjoy by itself or with chicken, seafood or salad. It will also pair well with Asian dishes.
Available from Grape Britannia (£13.99)
Jean Vincent Pouilly-Fumé 2021 (Loire Valley)
Produced from Sauvignon Blanc grapes grown on the flinty soil of the Central Vineyards of the Loire Valley, this is a very appealing Pouilly-Fumé.
With aromas of honeysuckle, apple and pear on the nose, and flavours of gooseberry and citrus fruits on the palate, this is a smooth, well-balanced wine with a lengthy finish and the smoky, flinty characteristics of a Pouilly-Fumé.
Perfect as an aperitif, this wine will also go well with seafood, a vegetable dish, or goat cheese.
Available from Majestic (£21.99, Mix Six £18.99)
Created in 1975 at the Freiburg Wine Institute in Germany, Solaris is an early ripening, frost-resistant grape variety that is particularly suited to cool, damp climates and is very much at home in the UK and other parts of Northern Europe.
This Solaris from Burn Valley Vineyard in North Norfolk is outstanding. It is an aromatic wine with pronounced notes of vanilla on the nose, leading to peach, nectarine and honey on the palate, and has a rich, buttery mouthfeel.
Refreshing and well-balanced, this is a delightful wine which can be enjoyed as an aperitif, or with seafood or white meat. We had it with grilled salmon and it was a perfect match.
Available from Grape Britannia (£24.99)
Main Divide, Riesling 2019 (New Zealand)
Although we might automatically think of Germany when we think of Riesling, the grape is very adaptable and is grown in many different parts of the world. With a preference for cooler, more temperate environments, it is quite at home in the Waipara Valley region on New Zealand’s South Island. And this Main Divide 2019 is a fine example of New Zealand Riesling.
With floral, honey, orange peel notes on the nose and flavours of citrus fruits, nectarine and honey on the palate, this is an off-dry wine with lively acidity and an unexpected but very pleasant spritzig touch to it. A medium-bodied, well-balanced wine with a long finish, it will go well with seafood, duck or a slightly spicy Asian-inspired dish.
Available from Majestic (£13.99, Mix Six £10.99)