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. Â
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)
This Assyrtiko wine from Crete is a dry wine with a crisp, refreshing acidity. It has pronounced aromas of honey, together with apple and peach, on the nose, and flavours of apple, pear and peach on the palate.
Available from Majestic (£12.99, Mix Six £10.99)
Grove Mill, Wairau Valley, Marlborough 2021 (New Zealand)
This aromatic Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand is a real treat.
Pronounced aromas of elderflower, peach, lychee and guava on the nose herald flavours of lime, nectarine and passion fruit on the palate. The layers of fruit are well supported by the bright acidity and lasting finish, and a hint of minerality adds a further level.
A delightful wine offering great value for money.
Available from Co-op (£10.50)
Chapel Down Bacchus 2022 (Kent)
This Bacchus wine from Chapel Down vineyard in Kent, one of England’s leading wine producers, is an excellent example of what this grape variety is capable of.
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 or salad. It also pairs well with Wensleydale cheese.
Available from Grape Britannia (£16.99)
Cracking red wines
Les Hauts de Saint Martin, Saint Chinian 2021 (France)
This Saint-Chinian wine from vineyards located in the Languedoc-Roussillon region of southern France is a smooth, rich, full-bodied wine. A blend of Syrah, Grenache, Carignan and Mourvèdre grapes, this is a dry wine with medium acidity, medium tannins and a lengthy finish.
With bramble, plum and cherry on the nose, and an array of red and black fruits, and a hint of spice on the palate, this is a very appealing wine that pairs well with a roast meat dish, or roasted vegetables.
Available from Co-op (£10)
Yalumba Y Series Tempranillo 2020/21 (South Australia)
This Tempranillo wine from South Australia adds a little Antipodean twist to this grape variety generally associated with Rioja. Produced by Yalumbawinery, one of Australia’s oldest wineries, this is a deliciously smooth wine which can be enjoyed by itself, and goes really well with duck or lamb.
With aromas of cranberry, cherry and bramble on the nose, and flavours of blackberry and plum, with a hint of chocolate and spice, on the palate, this is a balanced wine with a long finish.
Available from Majestic(£10.99, Mix Six £8.49)
White Castle Regent 2021 (Wales)
This wonderfully expressive wine from White Castle Vineyard in Wales is an outstanding red wine. Made from Regent grapes, it is a well-balanced wine that’s an ideal match for the complex blend of flavours associated with a traditional Christmas lunch.
With aromas of cherry, blackberry and a touch of smokiness on the nose, and ripe fruit flavours of blackcurrant and plum on the palate, this is a wine with depth and complexity.
This luscious Cypriot dessert wine has a history dating back to the Crusades and is an outstanding dessert wine. With aromas of dried fruit and spices, and flavours of caramel, honey and nuts, Commandaria can be enjoyed by itself, or with cheese or desserts. It is a particularly good match for a rich, creamy dessert.
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!
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.
Gutter & Stars, Strange News from Another Star, Bacchus 2021 (Cambridge)
This is an outstanding Bacchus wine from Gutter & Stars urban winery in Cambridge. Produced from grapes grown in the Crouch Valley in Essex, the wine was awarded ‘Bacchus of the Year’ last year. And deservedly so.
A refreshing, crisp wine with aromas of jasmine, apple and citrus fruits on the nose, and green apple with subtle hints of peach and minerality on the palate. This is a well-balanced wine which can be enjoyed by itself, with seafood, white meat, a vegetable dish or light risotto.
It is a fresh, elegant wine with pronounced aromas of blossom, apple and peach, and a touch of white pepper on the nose, leading to a delicious burst of apple, lemon, peach and nectarine on the palate. A tinge of effervescence adds a little sparkle to the mix and the mineral notes and refreshing acidity make for a very well-balanced wine. This is a dry wine with a lengthy finish which will get your Christmas lunch off to a fine start!
Available from Majestic (£10.99, Mix Six £8.99)
Grove Mill, Wairau Valley, Marlborough 2021 (New Zealand)
This aromatic Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand is a real treat. Pronounced aromas of elderflower, peach, lychee and guava on the nose herald flavours of lime, nectarine and passion fruit on the palate. The layers of fruit are well supported by the bright acidity and lasting finish, and a hint of minerality adds a further level. A delightful wine offering great value for money.
Available from Co-op (£9.50)
White wines
Paco & Lola Albariño 2021 (Spain)
Year after year, Paco & Lola come up trumps with their Albariño to create award-winning wines.
This is a fresh, crisp wine, high in acidity, with aromas of blossom, lemon and apple on the nose, and flavours of apple, peach and nectarine on the palate. It is a well-balanced, medium-bodied wine with a lengthy finish, which matches perfectly with white meat and fish dishes.Â
Available from Tesco, Sainsbury’s (£12- £14)
Vavasour Sauvignon Blanc 2021 Awatere Valley (New Zealand)
This elegant Sauvignon Blanc from Marlborough’s smaller, cooler Awatere Valley is an ideal wine to go with seafood or white meat.  An aromatic wine with notes of citrus and peach on the nose leading to stone fruit flavours and a refreshing minerality on the palate, it has a lively acidity, a creamy mouthfeel and a long finish.
Available from Co-op (£11)
Hazel End Vineyard Bacchus Dry 2014 (Hertfordshire)
This 2014 Bacchus Dry from Hazel End Vineyard in Hertfordshire is a real delight. With aromas of grapefruit, elderflower, lime and a touch of petrol on the nose, leading to a burst of lime and peach on the palate, this older Bacchus has a hint of Riesling about it. It is a smooth, refined wine with good acidity and a long finish, and goes well with a seafood or chicken dish.Â
This delightful red wine made from Rondo grapes grown in Hampshire is an ideal match for the complex blend of flavours associated with a traditional Christmas lunch. Deep ruby in colour, this is a rich, smooth, medium-bodied, well-balanced wine. With blackberry, plum and black cherry aromas, and notes of cinnamon and vanilla, on the nose, and rich black fruit flavours with savoury notes on the palate, it’s a wine with depth and complexity.
This is a Beaujolais from one of the region’s most experienced winemakers, Georges Duboeuf, and it is a very good wine. It has pronounced aromas of raspberry and strawberry, together with hints of cream and blossom on the nose, and intense red fruit flavours on the palate. A light, refreshing medium-bodied wine, with medium acidity and a long finish, it will go particularly well with cold meats, duck or a plant-based dish.Â
Available from Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Majestic (£11-£13)
This is a well-balanced Bordeaux red from the Left Bank.  A Cabernet Sauvignon-dominated blend, it has bramble, cooked fruit and blackberry aromas on the nose, together with hints of vanilla and spice, and black fruit flavours and a touch of earthiness on the palate. A full-bodied wine which will go well with roast meat or roasted vegetable dishes.Â
Available from Majestic (£16.99, £14.99 Mix Six)
A perfect match for Christmas pudding or other rich dessert, and mature cheese, it can also simply be drizzled over vanilla ice cream for another-worldly experience!
Available from Sainsbury’s (£8)
Campbell’s Rutherglen Muscat (Australia)
The lusciously sweet Campbell’s Rutherglen Muscat is another treat. Made from a blend of vintages of Muscat à petit grains rouges (Rutherglen Brown Muscat), it has flavours of fruitcake, dates and nuts, and is a smooth, wonderfully balanced wine. It is a perfect match for cheese or dessert.
Available from Waitrose (£10.49)
Merry Christmas!
Look out for more wine suggestions from around the world in 2023.
Hazel End Vineyard Bacchus Dry 2014 (Hertfordshire)
It’s unusual to find an English white wine that has aged a few years but this 2014 Bacchus Dry from Hazel End Vineyard in Hertfordshire is a real delight. 2014 was generally a good year for English wine. Eleven out of twelve months were warmer than average and there was also a reasonable amount of rain. The result was a bumper 2014 harvest with plenty of healthy, high-quality grapes. And several years on, this wine still has lots to offer.
With aromas of grapefruit, elderflower, lime and a touch of petrol on the nose, leading to a burst of lime and peach on the palate, this older Bacchus has a hint of Riesling about it. It is a smooth, refined wine with good acidity and a long finish, which can be enjoyed by itself, or with a seafood or chicken dish. Great value for a 2014 wine!
This excellent wine from Freedom of the Press winery, an urban winery located in the Cotswolds, 15 miles outside Oxford, is a new discovery for me. And it certainly ticks all the boxes.
Set up by Gavin Carver in 2020, Freedom of the Press aims to ‘make small batches of beautiful still wines from exquisite English grapes, selecting techniques and vessels best suited to crafting each wine’s distinctive style’. And they have certainly achieved that with this outstanding Bacchus.
With aromas of apple, pear, peach and blossom on the nose, and lemon, apple, pineapple and grapefruit on the palate, this is a splendid first Bacchus vintage for the winery and augurs really well for the future.
Produced from grapes grown in Essex, principally the Crouch Valley, it is a well-balanced wine, with lively acidity and a smooth, lengthy finish.
Enjoy by itself, with seafood, or with sheep and goat cheese. It will also pair well with spicy Asian dishes.
Gutter & Stars ‘The Good Mixer’, Blonde on Blonde Blend 2021
In anticipation of the start of English Wine Week on 18th June, this very impressive wine from Gutter & Stars in Cambridge, made from grapes grown in Oxfordshire, is a perfect demonstration of just how remarkable English wine can be.
Following Gutter & Stars’ highly acclaimed first releases of their Bacchus, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay wines last year, I was eagerly awaiting the release of ‘The Good Mixer’, Blonde on Blonde Blend 2021, which is just out.
And it is simply outstanding.
Made from a blend of Ortega and Bacchus grapes grown at Yew Tree Vineyard, this is a smooth, well-balanced wine with a creamy mouthfeel, an inviting acidity and a lovely finish. Pale lemon in colour, with aromas of jasmine, apple and peach, and flavours of strawberry and cream, honey, lemon sherbet and nectarine, it is an absolute delight. Pure genius, a top-quality wine.
If you are looking for a wine to drink during English Wine Week, this has to be it!
Enjoy ‘The Good Mixer’ as an aperitif, or with a seafood or chicken dish. Cheers!
