Andresen passionately believe that port is one of the world’s finest wines – and have won a host of awards from international competitions. Thanks to their dedication to quality at all levels their ready to drink ruby port is seductively luscious. Established in 1849, Andresen are one of the last remaining family owned and run port houses. They have built a stellar reputation based on using an ultra rigorous grape selection to make only the finest wines. Owner Carlos Flores de los Santos presides over a magnificent collection of aged ports, resting in barrel in his extensive cellars, and is ably assisted by chief winemaker Alvaro Van Zeller – the former Head of Tasting at the Port Wine Institute. Ruby is the youngest, fruitiest style of port, aged for no more than two years. This strikingly powerful cousin of the vintage style can be enjoyed without decades of ageing. Andresen Ruby makes a delightful after dinner tipple, delicious as a glass on its own or with mature Stilton.

As Robert Parker says, “Spain leads the world for sensational wine bargains of character and soul”, none more so than its mature reds. Nowhere else produces mellow, barrel-aged wines of such remarkable quality and price. Take Palacio del Conde – a gorgeously complex, oaky 2015 from Valencia. Part of this region is close to the coast, while the more southerly part is inland, up in the hills, and dry. It’s there that winemaker Marta Martínez selects the finest, hand harvested – from 50 year old vines – Tempranillo grapes for this Gran Reserva, then ages the wine for three years in oak barrels. A wonderfully fragrant, silky red with mature redcurrant and strawberry fruit and a rich, toasty character. Sublime with roast lamb or tapas. Its three recent Gold wins show its drinking beautifully now.

"A super example of Adelaide Hills Cabernet Sauvignon. It’s from Clarendon, an area consistently producing some of the finest red wines in the region. This has everything – poise, power, elegance and style – all delivered with a smooth deft touch. 95pts"(Wine Pilot). It has a dash of Shiraz, which adds to the complexity and spends a full 24 months in oak lending it "vanillin oak, cake spice and cigar characters on the nose" and making it "Flavoursome and highly enjoyable" (Sam Kim, Wine Orbit).

Montepulciano is the top red grape of Italy’s Abruzzo, in La Chiamata showing off all its deliciously silky, ripe red fruit and juicy plum charm. And this has just won 90pts: “An inviting and generous example, full of succulent black fruit, backed by notes of cinnamon and vanilla spice. Polished tannins and attractive, balanced acidity make for a very enjoyable wine” - IWSC.

A complex, vibrant nose with attractive aromas of charcuterie overlaid by intense floral and spice notes. Very bright, intense black fruit flavours on the palate, lots of spice like cinnamon and vanilla custard notes. Blueberry fruit creamy texture. Very long velvety finish.

In 1962 Alfred Liebich’s love of fishing led him from Barossa, where his family settled in 1852, to the Murray River. His ‘left bank’ vineyards produce plush Petite Sirah brimming with blueberry, black cherry and spice.

Bleasdale is “one of the most historic wineries in Australia... in 2015 celebrating 165 years of continuous winemaking by the direct descendants of the founding Potts family.” (Halliday). Among many major awards, they’ve won the Jimmy Watson Trophy and they recently made the 2023 Shortlist for the Halliday Wine Companion's Best Value Winery. Winemaker Paul Hotker, a “master blender”, was named Halliday’s Winemaker of the Year 2018. This fine red is another example of why Langhorne Creek Shiraz is regarded by many as delivering Australia’s best-value reds, vintage after vintage. Intense aromas of blackberries, plums and Asian spice. Juicy dark fruits define the medium-to-full palate, with clove and liquorice notes dancing up back. Soft tannins.