Stretching along Italy’s Adriatic coast, the Abruzzo boasts pretty coastal coves and dramatic landscapes of soaring mountains, rolling verdant hills, deep valleys and ancient castles. It's a favourite spot for holidaying Italians, but is otherwise little known. Yet its extensive vineyards produce a range of deliciously accessible wines – creamy, plum-filled Montepulciano reds, citrusy Trebbianos and this fruity Pinot Grigio. This white addition to our Farinelli range provides excellent value, yet over the vintages it’s scored an amazing 93 points at the IWC competition and won four medals. Enjoy here a lovely balance of ripe peach and apple fruit with citrusy zip. It makes an ideal apéritif and goes well with lemon chicken and creamy pasta.

This fine, silky Sicilian barrel-matured blend blends a little juicy Cabernet with Nero d’Avola from high old vineyards. Nero d’Avola is one of the hero grapes of Sicily. Much of it was grown around the island’s high village of Poggioreale. One prime vineyard belonged to Dino Taschetta’s grandfather. Here he grew fruit with deep, rich flavours that greatly impressed the young Dino. Disaster struck, however, in 1968 when an earthquake hit the area. The vines were abandoned, but today Dino is restoring the vineyard to its former glory. He uses these Nero d’Avola grapes to make his much loved Tenuta Fenice wines, adding to this fine Riserva a portion of juicy Cabernet and ageing it all in barrel. Now with three years’ maturity, this Riserva has gathered complex, savoury, smoky tobacco and spice notes to flatter the dark cherry flavours. Perfect with roast lamb.

Cru Bourgeois is a prestigious term used for Bordeaux reds from estates outside the 1855 classification that consistently deliver wines of outstanding quality and value. Estates are reviewed every five years to retain the standing. This classic blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and a dash of Petit Verdot, is one of the top Cru Bourgeois buys. It’s from an estate family owned since 1870, located in Cussac-Fort-Médoc, close to the iconic Bordeaux appellations of Margaux and St-Julien. The wine is aged for 12 months in French oak barrels (30% new), and delivers with blackcurrant, plum and cedar spice, supple tannins, freshness and a long, elegant finish. It’s finely structured, and offers sheer Bordeaux charm. Certainly approachable now, but with the potential to age gracefully for a decade or more.

Top winemaker Andrea Bernardini knows how to get the most from the Nero di Troia grape. The result? Deliciously dark and velvety Corsiero – winner of two Golds and huge 97pt score. No need to blend Nero di Troia with softer varieties – gently pressed and carefully vinified, it delivers a seductive, deeply flavoured, fruit-driven red wine. The grape takes its name from the town of Troia in northern Puglia, said to have been founded by the Greek hero Diomedes, famed for helping defeat Troy in Asia Minor (yes, the grape really is that old!). Enjoy brooding black fruit aromas, rich plum, blackberry, violet and smoky vanilla flavours, and a gloriously long finish. It’s perfect with hearty pasta dishes, game or a slow-cooked stew.

Our range of Portuguese wines is unparalleld and has helped put dramatically raise the popularity of this great wine producing country. Vale Perdido ws one of the very first in that range, from the Grand family estate, Casa Santos Lima, The lost valley – Vale Perdido – is part of José Oliveira da Silva’s estate in the beautiful, centuries-old wine country north of Lisbon. It is a fabulous fourth-generation winery, one with the Midas touch too. It has won well over 1,000 medals – of which over 500 have been Gold. This 2022 vintage is tasting as delicious as ever., with lots of lovely ripe blackberry and raspberry fruit, and cinnamon and chocolate notes too. A subtle lick of oak adds to a satisfyingly long finish.

We managed to secure the last stocks of this Trophy and double Gold-medal winning vintage. In the winery: Selected bunches were hand picked in the third week of March and gently crushed into open top fermenters.In the glass: Vibrant, dense red black.On the nose: Appealing mix of super-ripe black fruit with classic mint herbaceousness. On the palate: Excellent balance with a powerful black fruit core cloaked with bright spice and herb and underlying cedary oak.

Fresh, crisp and dry as it always is upon release. Finishes clean and dry with just a hint of textural grip.

Attractive stone fruit and citrus aromas with complexity from maturation on fermentation lees. The palate is fine and long with persistent flavour supported by oak structure and length. Will drink well over the next 5 years.