Showing 1–12 of 16 results

Barbaresco, Produttori del Barbaresco, Piemonte

£43.95
In 1958, the priest of the village of Barbaresco, recognizing that the only way the small properties could survive was by joining their efforts, gathered together nineteen small growers and founded the Produttori del Barbaresco. The first three vintages were made in the church basement, and then in the winery built across the square from where the Produttori is still located. United once again, the small growers continued the work started by Domizio Cavazza, producing only Barbaresco wine and enhancing both the reputation of the wine and the village. The Produttori del Barbaresco now has 50 members and 100 hectares (250 acres) of Nebbiolo vineyards in the Barbaresco appellation, which amounts to almost a sixth of the vineyards of the area. The most important thing, however, is that quality is always the highest priority and in Aldo Vacca, they have one of the World's most respected winemakers. We buy this wine every year and it never disappoints; every vintage is different, reflecting the year itself, but has the hallmark of class and quality. The thing I like most about this is the amazing perfume; great Nebbiolo has a unique nose that is hard to beat! These wines age gracefully for decades and really represent great value in the context of Piemonte's top producers. A great wine for the cheeseboard but also, venison and duck; when young the tannins are firm, so the food does need some richness and fat. As they age, the tannins soften but strong, hard cheeses (Old Winchester, Double Barrel, Cornish Kern...) are still my favourite match.       

Terlaner Cuvee, Cantine Terlano

£26.95

Cantina Terlano is well known in Italian wine drinking circles for producing Italy’s longest lived white wines. Many memorable wines from the 1950s and 1960s, which rank amongst the greatest white wines of the world, were made here.

Located in the heart of the Terlan wine-growing region and founded in 1893, it is one of the oldest Alto Adige cooperatives. At that time, 24 growers set themselves the goal of joint production and sales marketing. Recognition and prosperity blossomed from there. Today Terlano has approximately 100 members, it farms 150 hectares and has an annual production of roughly 1.2 million bottles.

Under the expert eye of winemaker Rudi Kofler, the wines are sold and marketed according to three different quality categories. Furthermore, special older vintages have been stored in the valuable 'vinotheque', so that today roughly 12,000 bottles from 1955 to the present day are stored and some date back to even earlier days. This wine collection of older vintages is absolutely unique in Italy and proves that Terlano’s wines are able to age harmoniously for decades.

Brilliant pale yellow colour with green nuances. On the nose green apple and white peach combine with fine nuances of lemon balm and mint to create the typical aroma of the classic Terlano. On the palate the peach is very strong, too, lending the Terlano its lively but at the same time very mellow character. The multifaceted, well structured flavor derives from an interplay of freshness and minerality and also has a wonderfully persistent finish.

Great now, but this wine will gain richness and complexity with ageing. A perfect match for grilled fish and asparagus but this very food-friendly wine is remarkably versatile and can stand up to strongly flavoured dishes.

Ceresuolo di Vittoria, Gulfi, Sicily

£25.95
A 50/50 blend of Nero d'Avola and Frappato di Vittoria, which were replanted by Gulfi and trained according to the traditional Alberello system. The Nero d'Avola is harvested at the end of September and Frappato in the first week of October. The two varieties are fermented separately, with a short maceration on the skins. After fermentation, the wines are blended and bottled after two months.Ceresulo refers to the vibrant colour and perfume of the wines, with cherries bursting from the glass.Frappato is light, perfumed and light on tannins while Nero d'Avola is richer and more full-bodied. Together they make a really interesting style of wine and Gulfi's is one of the best examples.A delicious wine that suits outdoor eating; grilled meats from the bbq are perfect, as are cold meats and cheeses.

Lugana ‘i Frati’, Ca dei Frati

£23.95
The Dal Cero family has transformed their Ca' dei Frati property, situated on the southern shores of Lake Garda, into a model Italian estate over the past two decade, they remain the best producer in Lugana.The quality of the wines is attributable directly to Igino Dal Cero's obsession with detail. All their fruit is picked by hand and he ensures there is no skin contact as he wants to retain the delicate perfumes and enhance the supple texture of the whites.Made solely from the Turbiana variety (related to Verdicchio, it was formerly known as Trebbiano di Lugana and then Lugana), the wine has depth and zip that few wines from this area demonstrate.Perfect with grilled fish, light pasta dishes or antipasti.

Vermentino, Cantine Lunae

£21.95
Cantine Lunae is one of the best producers in Liguria, making white wines of exceptional quality. This unoaked Vermentino is beautifully perfumed, with lots of floral and stone fruit aromatics. The palate is fresh and crisp but with layers of subtle fruit flavours. Imagine you were sitting in a restaurant on the Ligurian Coast with a bowl of Spaghetti alle Vongole and a chilled bottle of this…heaven! Amazingly, it also works at home or in the garden!

Frizzante Rosato Unfiltered, Int3gral3, Veneto

£16.95
This is a group of young like-minded growers and winemakers who've decided to do something fun, of the moment and very different. For these two cloudy wines, they draw on old parcels of indigenous grapes in the Euganean Hills, best described as the toe of the Dolomites dipped in the Venice Lagoon. This is important as most vines in this area are planted on flat, fertile land which gives crude simplistic flavours, whilst these vines toil away in the tougher hills.This business model is part of a new wave of a young generation whose conservative parents wont take this kind of risk with the family name, so they band together to use what they can lay their hands on.The grapes used are Raboso, Marzemino, Corbinella, Turchetta.A wonderful wine that drinks as beautifully as it looks, full of fresh summer fruit flavours.Organic 

Negroamaro Rosato, Cantele, Puglia

£15.95
Having fallen in love with Puglia, Giovanni Battista Cantele and his wife Teresa Manara decided to move to Salento to

Soave Classico, Monte Tondo

£15.95

Monte Tondo is a family estate located in the beautiful hillside vineyards of Soave. Here the soils range from volcanic to chalky, which alongside the varying microclimates, gives the wines distinct flavour characteristics and individualistic style.

Alongside his family, winemaker Gino Magnabosco is part of the third generation to run the estate. They believe that hard work, drive, and determination are key to obtaining the best results from their land. Maintaining, nourishing, and cherishing the land of their ancestors is of utmost importance. And although not certified, they farm using organic practices and an environmentally friendly approach to both viticulture and vinification. No chemicals are used in their production and they recycle everything excess coming from the vineyard (stems as fertilizers, skins for grappa, pruned branches for heating and fertilizer).

Small proportions of other varieties are allowed in the production of Soave, but Monte Tondo focus their concentration purely on Garganega. Garganega is a variety so versatile and easily culinary matched but also with the ability to produce complex wines with age-ability.

A very good example of Soave at a very good price. This over-delivers.. Perfect with salads and light fish and shellfish dishes.

Frappato, Mandrarossa, Sicily

£15.50

The Mandrarossa wines come from a selection of the best sites from Cantine Settesoli’s 6,000 hectares of vineyard, situated in southwestern Sicily and planted with 32 different grape varieties. The vineyards are split between the 2,000 members of the co-op, and cover the area around Selinunte, the hauntingly beautiful ruins of a Greek town founded 2,600 years ago. Cantine Settesoli helps to support the restoration of this archaeological site.

First produced in 1999, Mandrarossa has opened its own winery in 2021, a completely sustainable winery fed by solar panels and well integrated with the surrounding hills. The winery has increasingly focused on single-site wines, as it was conceived after the diverse soils of the vineyards were mapped, enabling the winemakers to focus on what were then ranked their best sites. Under the leadership of co-operative president Giuseppe Bursi, consultant winemaker Alberto Antonini has sought to improve viticulture, which has resulted in better wines.

This Frappato (grape variety), is perfumed, light and fresh. Lots of juicy red fruit flavours and great balance make this a versatile food wine. Perfect with pizza and light meat dishes, it can also be chilled and drunk with fish dishes.

Verdeca, Cantele, Puglia

£14.95
Cantele make some of the best value wines in Southern Italy; World class wines.Verdeca is a grape variety indigenous to Puglia, making wines of great freshness and purity. This is a great example and if you're a bit tired of Sauvignon, this is really worth a try.Perfect garden wine, or with salads or light fish dishes.

Custoza, Monte del Fra

£14.95
Monte del Fra is a great family winery based just south of Lake Garda in the Veneto region, north-east Italy. Run by the Bonomo family since 1958 and now in the hands of brothers Eligio and Claudio, it is one of the most progressive and quality-minded producers in the area. This wine is one of our all-time favourites! A blend of Garganega, Trebbiano, Trebbianella and Cortese, it is clean and fresh but with a lovely depth of juicy citrus and pineapple flavours. Delicious. Similar in style to a Soave or Lugana, this is a perfect aperitif, garden wine or a very classy party wine; it is also very versatile with food and is one we reach for more than most in the summer as it is perfect with salads, shellfish and light fish dishes. I've never met anyone that doesn't like this wine...one to stock up on!

Gran Passione Rosso, Veneto, Italy

£14.95
Made from partially dried Corvina and Merlot grapes in the Veneto region of North-East Italy, this wine certainly delivers a lot of ‘bang for your buck’! Like a baby Amarone, this has buckets of rich, intense dark fruit flavours with a long, lingering. Very smooth and very comforting… great with hearty dishes, especially game and perfect with strong cheeses such as Vintage Lincolnshire Poacher and Stilton from Cropwell Bishop.