Spain's great offering to the world of sparkling wine is called Cava and it is made in the same way as champagne and this exceptional bubbly spends the same amount of time ageing in the bottle on yeast lees as most champagne. That long ageing process is 15 months and it results in a wine with fresh baked bread and yeasty aromas, which are tempered by citrusy freshness and depth of flavour from the complex combination of both. This makes it stunningly good value for money. 

The producer is Gonzales Byass, the largest sherry producer and owners of the great classic, Tio Pepe Fino. 

This bubbly comes from grapes grown on a vineyard planted in 1991 in Espiells, the highest, windiest area of the municipality of Sant Sadurní d’Anoia. 250 metres above sea level. Bordered to the south by the Coastal Serralda and to the north by the Montserrat mountains, the vineyard benefits from an exceptional microclimate. The soil is alluvial and comprises three layers;; of clay and silt, pebbles and loose stones and fine sand that compacts down and is called “sauló”. Together, they produce a cava with very warm climate characters which are balanced by a touch of saltiness. The Parellada vineyard is located at 700 metres above sea level in the municipality of La Llacuna, considered to be one of the highest in Penedés.

Deeply rooted in Eastern soil, Johnny R. Saadé and his family translated their passion for terroir and vines into Château Marsyas, in the Southern part of the Bekaa Valley.

65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20%, Syrah, 10% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot

Winery notes:

"Very dense, well maintained red. The nose is very refined, caramel notes, leather and red fruits. On the pallet, expressive tannins. The final shows a good acidity that brings a lot of freshness."

A Burgundian styled Chardonnay from the Languedoc-Roussillon region in the south of France. This wine offers the depth and elegance of the classic Burgundian Chardonnays, but at a fraction of the price. This is a medium-bodied wine, with great fruit purity and a soft-textured palate. Stone-fruit and citrus notes are balanced with nutty elements and a chalky minerality.

Pares Balta has made a name for itself on our market thanks to its accessible bubblies of great purity. Working with the Xarel-lo grape variety in maceration for this cuvee, the estate offers a remarkably fragrant orange wine whose profile will appeal to both fans of the genre and anybody curious about the style. Great choice to mix things up as an aperitif or to bring a new twist to a Thai dinner.

Commercial description

The late Greg Trott saw many of his unusual dreams realised at Wirra Wirra. Yet one vision eluded him - to build a medieval siege machine, or trebuchet. Why? To use as a catapult to bomb neighbouring wineries with bottles of wine of course. This wine is part of a range, the RGT collection which remembers the pioneering spirit of Richard Gregory Trott.

Colour - Rich mulberry with plum-purple at the edge.

Bouquet - Lovely fresh plum and raspberries with notes of cinnamon, cocoa, clove, cardamom, nutmeg and dried ginger. A warm, vibrant and inviting nose. 

Palate - A delicious offering of blueberries, raspberries and plums are layered with patisserie-like notes of baking pastry, vanilla bean, butter biscuit and spice. The palate is generous with f lavour and supplies an ample measure of tannin that is smooth and fine, with mouth coating persistence. 

Vinification Fruit was gently crushed and destemmed en route to fermenter. Early temperatures were maintained at 20-22 degrees, rising to 25-28 degrees at peak of ferment. In general, ferments were pumped over two to four times daily to assist flavour and colour extraction, as well as spreading heat through the cap and body of the ferment. Nearing completion and having achieved the desired flavour and tannin extraction, pump-overs were reduced to once or twice daily to keep the cap moist. Close to dryness, wine was drained from the fermenter and the remaining skins were pressed via tank or basket press. Wines completed their secondary malolactic fermentation in tank then filled to oak with barrel selection and maturation times tailored to each parcel – those showing a more powerful structure receiving a longer maturation time in oak before blending.

Oak Maturation - Approximately 70% French and 30% American. A combination of new and seasoned oak is used, blending to about 20% new oak in the final wine.

Drink - Drink now to 2030 Food Match Eggplant involtini  

This cheeky little quaffer has a fresh and fragrant nose of red fruits and toasty elments. The palate is supple and balanced with silky tannins and further notes of red fruit.

80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Mourvèdre, 10% Syrah

Planted 60km from Beirut on the alluvial plains of the Bekaa Valley at the foot of Mount Barouk with an altitude that touches 990 metres, Château Marsyas’ 35 hectares of vineyards are steeped in history, dating back to the ancient civilisations. Owned by the Saadé family, Château Marsyas believes that ‘wine is rooted in the earth’ and staying true to this philosophy, Sandro Saadé produces superbly elegant wines with a unique character.

Winery Notes (2016 Vintage)
"Blending finesse and minerality, B-Qā de Marsyas is defined by rounded tannins created by 8 to 10 months of gentle barrel aging. It is made with the same philosophy and attention to detail as its "big brother" Château Marsyas. Cited by Strabo & Pliny the Elder, Marsyas was the ancient name of the Beqaa Valley."

ZENKURO - This is New Zealand's first ever sake, handcrafted since 2015, in Queenstown.  Our fresh, Premium grade junmai style of sake is pure, nothing added, but give a unique twist with the use of Manuka timber, NZ's own miracle tree.

Our brand is Zenkura - while 'zen' means all, 'kuro' means black - a simple but powerful combination born in NZ.  We start with water from the snow-capped Southern Alps and special sake rice that has been milled to remove the outer 30-40%, leaving only the best part of each grain for the fermentation to begin.

15% ABV.

95% Malbec and 5% Merlot from Cahors in the south of France. This is a juicy and concentrated wine with ample fruit flavours. Notes of plums and cherries are supported by subtle spiciness and a distinct minerality. This is a great value wine from a lesser known appellation.

Umani Ronchi is an excellent Italian wine producer in the Abruzzo region of central Italy. It's a company that makes a wide range of wines, including this incredibly delicious Montepulciano, which massively over delivers in taste. 

Big, bold and deep in colour, it has powerful dark fruit flavours held together in a smooth full bodied style with spicy notes adding complexity. Medium acidity adds balance to the blend, making for a beautifully integrated wine which is stunning value for money.

Sealed with a screwcap for freshness.

This is a deep-maroon red wine. The nose is refreshing and complex with herb and spice coupled with savoury earthy notes of mushroom, dark chocolate and toasted wood. The palate is concentrated in flavour but well resolved in structure with an excellent silky texture. Dark berry and herb and licorice notes on the palate meet cedar and light smoke, with gentle mouth-coating tannins.

From its deep colour to its savoury aromas and complex layers of flavour - liquorice, spice and black olives - Blacksmith Cabernet Sauvignon is a full bodied and smooth wine with a great fruit presence and a long, spicy finish.

Langmeil is owned by the Lindner family, which has been making wine for six generations in the Barossa Valley.