A native variety from France, a mutation of Pinot Noir. Small, cylindrical, compact bunch. Grey-blue, bloom-covered grapes; small, three-lobed leaves. The wine: Strong straw yellow colour. This wine opens with an aromatic bouquet. Fresh aromas of white pulp fruit, accompanied by light floral notes, foreshadow a rich and enveloping sip. This Pinot Grigio is characterised by delicate minerality, balanced by lively acidity that lends freshness to the wine.

The Allegrini Valpolicella is a blend of Corvina Veronese 65%, Rondinella 30% and Molinara 5%. It is ruby red in colour, with fragrant red cherry, pepper and fine herbs on the nose. The palate is juicy and vibrant with fresh berry notes and a herbal, peppery element. This wine is an elegant and approachable blend made from some harder to find varietals,

About the producer:

"Established in 1823, our sixth-generation family-operated winery is located in Magrè, Alto Adige. We embrace biodynamic farming and offer three product lines. Our winery works with 30 grape varieties, and we’ve got a thousand and one ideas whirling through our heads – with plenty more to come."

About the Wine:

"We like fresh wines. That’s why we’ve been growing Lagrein in the little-known area of the Magrè talus cone for the last ten years. The dolomite limestone in the soils of the cone is crucial for developing the fruity, fresh and well-rounded profile of our wine. The name Conus comes from the Latin word for “cone”, alluding to the geological formation of the Magrè talus cone."

Grown 230-320m above sea level on gravel & sand with a high dolomitic lime content, vinified in cask & stainless steel.

Great Aromas of Plum, Cocoa, Licorice, spice, violet & red rose florals with woody spices.

About the Grape:

Lagrein is the decendent of Teroldego & cousin of grapes like Marzemino & Syrah.

Imagine a cool climate Syrah with high acidity & lots of gorgeous spice & savoury characteristics accompanied by violet florals.

Dolcetto is a one of the hidden treasures of Piemonte with its smooth rounded mouthfeel and impressive body and drinkability. This is a deliciously complex example from Dogliani in the region. 

Plantings of this grape declined in the 1990?s in favour of the more expensive, easier to market Barolo and Barberescos. It came down to money, not quality and quietly the wine world mourned. Luckily a few faithful enclaves remained faithful to the grape like in Dogliani just south of Alba.

The wine is jet black in colour with a sumptuous nose of blackberries dusted with exotic spices - fruity with great length and structure.

This lovely smooth Chardonnay is made with grapes grown on the Castello della Sala Estate, which surrounds the medieval castle at Castello della Sala in the region of Umbria, which borders Tuscany. 

The vineyards here are planted in Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, which both grow well in the clay soils here. 

The 2019 Bramìto Chardonnay is characterized by delicate white flower notes followed by light sensations of citrus fruit. The palate is crisp, fresh and full bodied with lovely mineral notes which provide a long finish with flavours of ripe peach and notes of soft creaminess. 

This wine is sealed with a screwcap; a modern touch used on many wines from Marchese Antinori. 

A great Italian red from one of the oldest family owned wineries in the world, which has produced wine since the 1200s. This expressive Chianti Classico is dense and complex with piquant spicy aromas, firm impressive tannins and the energy of a great red from one of the world's classic wine regions.

"Impenetrable dark ruby. Deep, concentrated marasca cherry and cherry liqueur with a minty, oaky note and a hint of cinnamon. A concentrated cherry-fruit palate layered with minty oak notes and lots of sandy tannins building up on the tangy finish. Will disappoint no one."

16.5/20 – Jancis Robinson Purple Pages

This is one of Marchese Antinori's top Tuscan wines and is made from the Peppoli Vineyard in the Chianti Classico DOCG. This wine was first made in 1985 and is a full bodied Chianti Classico with firm smooth tannins and high acidity, which is balanced by the ripe dark fruit characters and silky finish. 

It was aged in large Slovenian oak barrels with a small portion aged in stainless steel to retain fresh fruit flavours and balance. 

THE CHIANTI CLASSICO APPELLATION

Chianti Classico is the heart of the wider Chianti production zone and its wines are distinguished by a trademarked black rooster on their labels. The wines of Chianti Classico are higher in quality and noticeably so in taste than wines labelled Chianti, which come from a broader area in Tuscany. The wines taste better because the vines are planted on hillsides with a higher degree of  iron rich soils and a greater diurnal temperature range, which provides more powerful, riper fruit flavours, which are balanced by higher acidity thanks to the cooler night time temperatures. 

The Sangiovese grape must make up 80% of all wines labelled Chianti Classico compared to 70% Sangiovese for wines labelled Chianti. 

Chianti was first defined as a wine producing sub region within Tuscany in 1716 by the Grand Duke of Tuscany Cosimo III, whose wanted to protect the integrity of the wines and prevent fraud. The Chianti Classico Wine Consortium was formed in 1924 with the distinctive Black Rooster trademark chosen to feature on the labels. 

Smooth, fruity Italian red blend of Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah grapes. This Tuscan wine is a lovely introduction to the great world of Italian reds in the Antinori stable; a family company that has been continuously producing wine back to the 1300s.

What the critics say...

"It's delightfully fruited and fragrant on the nose with dark plum."

Sam Kim, Wine Orbit

Arianna Occhipinti SP68 Bianco is a distinctive and complex white wine from Sicily.

 It is made from a blend of two native grape varieties: Albanello and Zibibbo. The grapes are handpicked from sustainably managed vineyards and fermented with natural yeasts. The resulting wine displays aromas of citrus, white flowers, and herbs, coupled with a minerality and saline character that is characteristic of the Sicilian terroir. It has a rich, full-bodied texture and a crisp acidity that balances out the wine's unique character. This wine pairs well with seafood, light pasta dishes, and fresh salads. It's a must-try for those who appreciate authentic and expressive wines.

This is a top notch everyday sparkling wine from the epicentre of the world's most popular bubbles today, the Veneto, in north east Italy - home to Prosecco.

Clean, fresh and lemony in taste, it offers a medium bubble and lingering lightly fruity finish, making it very good value for money for high quality Prosecco.

Hand harvested grapes were selected to make this lovely dry, next level Prosecco, which is produced by the Bortolin family - now in its fourth generation of winemaking. 

Dry, light bodied Pinot Grigio from the Veneto region in north east Italy. The Botter winery has wrapped this wine in recycled paper to draw attention to its certified organic credentials and environmentally friendly ethos.