Bright, intense ruby red, Tasca Lamuri Nero d'Avola displays rich aromas of cherry, blackberry and mulberry. Vanilla bean, tobacco and aromatic herbs on the palate lead into dark forest fruits and oak adding a beautifully balanced flavour. Good structure and pleasantly fruity with red and black berries.

Not only has this family estate won 60 Golds in a decade, but also 'Best Wine in the World'. That was for their 2005 Shiraz in 2008! The secret to this weighty, spice packed red is the sandy soils, which hold little rain for the vines, plus the unrelenting hot sun. The result is a modest yield of small berries crammed with juicy flavour. With this style of wine, award winning winemaker Jaime Quendera is now forging a reputation for Setúbal's rich, bold reds. Mostly Shiraz along with a splash of local variety Alicante, Jaime finished the wine in expensive oak barrels to add a gorgeous spicy vanilla lift to the blueberry, blackberry and peppery fruit. A fine treat to serve with spicy chorizo sausages, a hearty stew or the Sunday roast.

The word 'Nacional' is reserved for treasures that fly the flag for Portugal. Touriga Nacional certainly does that. Ten years ago the Freitas family planted the grape on their acclaimed Fava vineyard. In 2015 it produced a wine so special that it was bottled under the vineyard name for the first time ever. It won a string of Gold on its debut - making over 60 Golds in 10 years for this fine family estate. The 2016 won Grand Gold, and the 2017 here has won Gold, Double Gold, Grand Gold and Best in Show ... ! Dating back to 1920, Casa Ermelinda Freitas is run by fourth generation Leonor Freitas, who has been awarded a 'Comendadora' (equivalent to a Dame) for her services to Portuguese wine. Her daughter Joana follows in her footsteps. Aged in barrel, this rich red is packed with spicy berry, herb and mineral character. A top match with slow cooked beef or lamb.

A frequent Gold medal winner, Stones & Bones is so-called because it’s grown in a landscape littered with ancient boulders and dinosaur fossils. In the modern Portuguese tradition, the wine is a blend of local and international grapes. Touriga Nacional, the backbone of vintage port, joins forces with Syrah, Tinta Roriz and Alicante to produce truly mammoth, rich fruit flavours. Equally impressive is the winemaker, Diogo Sepúlveda, who relaxes after work by cycling or playing football, or, more unusually, bull wrestling! Having worked in Pomerol, then in the Barossa with heirloom Shiraz vines, his credentials for making this rich, old vine Portuguese red are second to none. For maximum enjoyment, decant and serve with a rich beef casserole.

Portugal offers wine drinkers terrific value in the wine drinking stakes, as well as an awe inspiring range of native grapes. The country’s winemakers are also adept at producing some cracking wines with international stars. Take Aluado from one of Portugal’s top names. José Neiva Correia is a doyen of Portuguese wine with many awards to his name. Having consulted for many of the country’s top cellars, he now has his own estate, and combines generations of tradition with an inquisitive spirit undimmed by decades of experience. Using grapes from vineyards close to the coast, Aluado has lovely ripe peach fruit balanced by a zing of stony crispness. Just what you want, as a glass on its own, or served with seafood, salmon or chicken dishes.

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.

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.

Served neat or on ice, or mixed in cocktails. Try a spash in your pot of beer for something different.

Cockburn's Fine Tawny Port is sourced from fruit grown in the lower Douro region that produces a lighter, more fragrant style of fortified wine. Losing a touch of its colour during maturation in oak, the tawny takes on flavours of butterscotch and a nice nuttiness. Perfect as an after-dinner dessert wine, or chilled down and served with an array of fine nuts such as almonds and walnuts.

Torresella Rosé is made from Pinot Grigio which has been grown in Northeastern Italy for over a century. Fresh delicate aromas on the nose, followed by mellow fruit and well balanced acidity on the palate. The perfect accompaniment for fish and seafood.