Wine Spectator calls Portugal “the most exciting wine place on the planet”, with its terrific range of native grape varieties and wines that always offer standout value. The rich, mouthfilling Lobo e Falcão fits firmly in that category. It’s made at a 17th century estate owned by the Lobo de Vasconcellos family, once the location of the king’s falconry. Special barrels of wine were kept for the king when he visited. Today, talented winemaker Joana Lopes makes this red specially for us, blending Syrah with Portugal’s exciting native grapes. Previously awarded a Wine Enthusiast Best Buy Award, the 2018 has lovely intensity of flavour due to another low yield year. Generous wild berry fruit and spice with a velvet texture – a very moreish red.

When you ask Alessandro Gallici if he comes from a family of winemakers, he laughs gently at the notion – no, his father was a truck driver. However, he was born in Friuli and his family had a little bit of land and a few rows of vines that had been theirs for generations. They vinified the fruit in a shed just for their own consumption. Now, for a number of years he’s been president of an important local winery, but in 2010 he started up on his own. Made with grapes selected from top areas – Colli Orientali and Grave – this wine delivers delicate pear fruit and crisp minerally ‘zing’. Enjoy solo or match with salads, mushroom ravioli or creamy linguine.

Santa Cristina offers a red colour with purple highlights. The nose shows notes of ripe cherries, typical aromas both of Sangiovese and of Syrah well integrated with the balsamic sensation of mint which characterize merlot. Pleasurable sensations of vanilla and coffee complete the bouquet. The palate is soft and ample with a fruity finish and aftertaste. The grape varieties were fermented separately. After destemming and a soft pressing, the grapes were macerated on their skins for approximately one week in stainless steel tanks. During this phase, the wine finished its fermentation at a temperature held to a maximum of 77 degrees Fahrenheit (25 degrees centigrade). The wine was then racked and terminated its malolactic fermentation by the end of the year. The wine aged for a few months in small oak barrels and began to be bottled in November of 2018. Antinori is a name synonymous with wine in Italy, the equivalent of the royal family of wine in the country. Intimately involved in the wine industry of Italy since 1385, initially in Tuscany, but in more recent years their influence has grown seeing them involved in wine-making projects across the country. They were instrumental in the renaissance of Chianti and their portfolio of wines includes some stellar names such as Tignanello - the Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc blend that was most influential in the Super Tuscan movement, Solaia - the Cabernet dominant blend also from the Tignanello Estate and the beautiful Peppoli Chianti Classico.

Portuga is made by Casa Santos Lima, a grand Portuguese estate in the Lisboa region, just north of the capitol. João Santos Lima founded it in the 19th century and it has been in the same family for three generations. Diogo Sepúlveda is the winemaker today. He has worked vintages all across the world, including Bordeaux's prestigious Pomerol and California's Napa Valley. He is a talented winemaker, who relaxes in his spare time by wrestling bulls (all muscle, no knives!). Portuga is a rich, velvety blend of traditional native varieties, with Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah, aged gently in oak. Delicious either served on its own, with rich pork dishes, or tangy tomato pasta. It's an ideal wine for a barbecue too or with mature hard cheeses.

Mencia is an up and coming grape variety due to it's versatility and approachability. This smooth and balanced expression displays notes of intense cherries, rasperries and flowers with fine tannins that makes it so approachable and well-rounded.

A 100% Verdicchio from the Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi DOC, located in the central Italian Marche region. Elegant notes of white flowers, bergamot and yellow grapefruit on the nose, with a well-defined acidity perfectly balanced by structure and body on the palate, finishing with a subtle yet pleasant, bitter almond note on the finish. An ideal pairing with fish dishes such as carpachio, sushi, and deep fried seafood.

Matsu, a Japanese word that means ""wait,"" conveys the philosophy of this project: waiting for nature to take its course, for the vineyards to turn 100, and for the perfect moment to open a bottle of wine. This project, rooted in Spain’s Toro region, pays homage to the generations of viticulturists who have worked the land. By focusing on ancient Tinta de Toro vines (Tempranillo) and collaborating with local growers, Matsu preserves the region's rich viticultural history. Each bottle features a portrait of a local winemaker representing the wine’s personality.Pícaro (The Rogue) represents the younger generation strong, brave, and full of energy. Vinified in concrete tanks to preserve the wine's fruit-forward character, it displays an explosion of dark fruit, including blackberries, blueberries, and damson plums. The palate is supple and round, with a juicy mouthfeel and soft tannins. It is an approachable wine that captures the unbridled power of Toro in a youthful, vibrant style.

Wine Making Process - The leggero appassimento (light drying) technique consists in reducing the water present in the grape. Dehydration produces an increase in the sugar content of the grape. The resulting wine exhibits exuberant hints of red fruits and a complex and elegant tannic texture. After the harvest, the grapes undergo a soft pressing, followed by maceration at a controlled temperature. Once fermentation is complete, the wine rests in stainless steel vats before completing its maturation in the bottle. Colour - Solco catches the eye with its intense red, enriched with precious purple shades. Bouquet - The nose reveals unmistakable aromas of red fruits, among which cherry and black cherry stand out, wrapped in the gentle embrace of sweet spices. Flavour -A full body wine that never loses its refined elegance. The silky tannic texture offers the palate a pleasant sensation of softness with a long and persistent finish. Recommended With - It goes perfectly with roasts, red meats, game and cheeses. Serving Temperature - 18 – 20 degrees C.