Cortese Frappato genuinely has its own unique style, as the Frappato grapes come from ancient clones developed on our own estate. Light, lifted and beautifully expressive, a true Frappato classic. Why not try it chilled also!

Tasting Notes

A beautiful light cherry colour, with a fresh and vibrant bouquet, reminiscent of wild strawberries and a beautifully balanced palate, with silky smooth fruit, a real freshness running through it and a surprisingly long finish.

Vineyards & Vinification

The grapes are chilled overnight in a refrigerated room to lower the temperature to 6-8°C, in order to preserve the particular qualities of the Frappato. After a very gentle destemming and crushing the grapes are fermented at a temperature of about 18-22°C for 10-12 days. The wine is separated from the skins and malolactic fermentation is allowed to take place naturally.

Producer

At Cortese, we produce wine in the most traditional and natural way to reflect the true character of the estate’s terroir and its grape varieties. Taking tradition as our inspiration, we started to employ ancient wine-making techniques such as fermentation in terracotta. The resulting wines reflect the combination of modern technology and traditional techniques, with every nuance of the terroir showing through.

Specifications

Floral, zesty with lemon brightness, and wonderfully crisp, this Picpoul is shaped by the sea.

Tasting Notes

Typical pale yellow color with silver highlights. Beautiful acidity balanced by the amplitude given by this very dry vintage which is particularly successful in the piquepoul. The nose is expressive, floral on acacia, lily and lemon blossom. The palate is tender and tangy.

Production

Producer

On the edge of the Thau Lagoon, facing Sète, the domain « Félines Jourdan » is a family Estate. The vineyard benefit from the cool marine breezes which tempered the summer heat. The vineyard is divided into 3 terroirs where the soils and microclimates are different (Pliocene clays and reddish conglomerates of the upper cretaceous). Eleven grape varieties including piquepoul, a unique PDO grape Picpoul de Pinet. Thanks to the beautiful maturities of the grapes and the careful winemaking, from mother to daugther, the wines are fresh and fruity

Alan's Personal Tasting Notes

"Not our cheapest Picpoul undoubtedly our best value. Unctuous citric and stone fruits are punctuated by a zingy acidity. But it’s the depth, length & complexity that astounds me. The flavour just sits there forever. Delicious with or without food. Don’t think it will be cheap but this is the best Picpoul I have ever tasted in my 45 years working in wine" August 2026

Specifications

A crisp Prosecco with fine bubbles making it the perfect match for all celebrations!

Each day is a celebration!

Tasting Notes

Pale straw in color with fine, delicate bubbles, it offers fresh aromas of green apple, pear, and white flowers. The palate is crisp and lively, with bright citrus notes and a clean, dry finish.

Producer

Production

Glera grapes from the hills of Veneto are harvested at optimal ripeness, with moderate yields ensuring freshness, balance and aromatic purity. Gently pressed must is fermented at 18 °C, then re-fermented in autoclave by the Charmat method at 14–15 °C before stabilisation and bottling.

Specifications

Tasting Notes

 The Chardonnay grape gives body and structure while the Viura adds freshness and acidity. The yellow color with greenish highlights shows its youth. On the nose and palate we find aromas of citrus fruits, apple, pear, and notes of stone fruit. Accompanying the fruit is a fresh scent of white flowers. Vibrant acidity that refreshes the mouth.

Production

 To capture the freshness at the edge of the Bardenas desert, an early harvest looking for acidity as well as floral and white fruit aromas. After a gentle pressing, the must ferments in stainless steel tanks. After fermentation, the wine rests on its own lees for 4 months, after which it is bottled and ready to be enjoyed.

Producer

The sixth generation of a family of winemakers and vine growers. Together with their team, they care for the vineyard daily with the goal of creating timeless wines that connect people. The values and knowledge passed on by the family have brought them to where they are today. Now, Adriana and Beatriz, represent this new era of Ochoa with courage, pride, and our unique style full of resilience, tradition, honesty, friendship and joy.

Specifications

Tasting Notes

Bright and refreshing, with delicate notes of green apple, pear, and citrus. Crisp acidity balanced by subtle sweetness, leading to a clean and lively finish.

Producer

Casa Vinicola Botter was founded in 1928 by Carlo Botter, a negociant selling to restaurants at the time and, is still a family run winery now in its third generation. During the 1950’s brothers Arnaldo and Enzo transformed the company, increasing its size and shifting to sales of their own bottles. Botter cooperates with the most qualified producers in Veneto, Apulia, Molise, Abruzzo and Sicily. A strong relationship that begins in the vineyards and goes through all the production cycles until the bottling. The focus is very much on innovation through environmentally friendly policies

Production

Grapes come from vines with an average age of 15 years. Both hand and machine harvests are used. Grapes are gently pressed, and the juice is stored in stainless steel tanks. It is then racked and inoculated with selected yeasts, undergoing fermentation at a controlled constant temperature of 18°C for up to 10 days. Second fermentation with Martinotti method) at a controlled temperature of 14-15°C in a pressure tank.

Awards

• International Wine Challenge:  AWC Vienna Gold 2022

Specifications

When the first Western explorers arrived in New Zealand, they described the land as rising from thick banks of cloud. These clouds shape the country’s climate, inspire its Maori name, and play a crucial role in ripening the flavours of its signature grape varieties: Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir.

Tasting Notes 

This coastal fruit captures a breezy finesse over the classic cranberry and red current aromas giving us a wine with enough bite and texture to be foody but with enough generosity of fruit to be a delicious glass on its own. A touch of oak in the winemaking lends a little soothing creaminess.

Production

From maritime vineyards in Marlborough’s south easterly extremes in the Blind River Valley. Our Pinot Noir came from 2 vineyards - 87% Rapaura Gravels and 13% Omaka Valley clay soils which included a number of clones, 667,777,115, Abel and Clone 5. Both vineyards were pruned to 2 cane VSP and yields were naturally around the 7T/Ha mark. After green thinning on the vine the fruit was harvested over a period of 10 days from late March through to early April . Each parcel was kept separate and fermented in small open top tanks and hand plunged up to 4 times daily. Post pressing, wine was sent to a mixture of stainless steel and French oak for malolactic fermentation and ageing.

Producer

Boutinot's New Zealand wines are sourced from vineyards in each sub-regions of Marlborough - the Awatere, Waihopai and Wairau Valleys, as well as the breezier region of Waipara. These valleys have their own micro-climates and terroir which give a unique personality to the vineyards, grapes and finished wines.

Samantha Bailey brings her blending expertise and experienced palate to the fore in expressing the loveliest Boutinot wines from The Land of the Long White Cloud.

Sustainability

Wines made by Boutinot New Zealand are certified sustainable under the "Sustainable Winegrowing New Zealand" programme (SWNZ), an industry-wide certification programme led by New Zealand Winegrowers. This means that these wines are made from grapes grown in 100% SWNZ-certified vineyards and produced in 100% SWNZ-certified winemaking facilities. To be SWNZ certified, all members must complete annual submissions and undergo regular on-site audits conducted by an independent verification company. Annual submissions are made through an online questionnaire covering off impacts across the industry's six focus areas, which are Soil, Water, Plant Protection, Waste, People and more recently Climate Change. Vineyard members must also submit a full spray diary annually, which documents all agrichemical applications made to the vineyard that season. Spray diaries are processed for compliance to ensure that only approved products have been used and specific rules of use have been adhered to. New Zealand is at the forefront of Sustainability in wine with a roadmap to Net Zero by 2050 in place.

If Frappato is Vittoria’s signature grape, then Rina Russa di Santa Tresa perfectly captures its essence.  “Rina Russa” means “red sand” in Sicilian dialect.  Rina Russa features the black figures found on ancient Greek vases, a tribute to the meeting of peoples and cultures.

Tasting Notes 

Fresh, elegant and effortlessly French fizz which offers a sea-breeze sparkle with southern soul.

Tasting Notes

Producer

The Florensac terroir is one of the oldest planted vineyards on the Mediterranean coast and unusually for the South of France, it specialises in producing white wines that rely on cooling sea breezes to moderate the summer heat.

The vineyards are on high ground consisting of clay and limestone soils and the vines are harvested at night to preserve the aromas and freshness of the fruit. Once fermented, the wine is aged on fine lees with regular stirring to bring out its characteristic richness and roundness.

Production

Grown on high ground in vineyards that are planted on clay and limestone soils, with sustainable agricultural practices rather than chemical intervention is at the heart of everything the Vignerons de Florensac do. Day time temperatures can be harsh, so a machine harvest is carried out at night to avoid any oxidation of the grapes and to keep them cool.  An eco-friendly producer, Oenologist Roques Stephane employs green techniques to control pests in the vineyard, and the Vignerons de Florensac reduce carbon emissions by drawing energy from their vast bank of solar panels. These are used to power the refrigeration units required to keep the grapes and juice cool for maceration and fermentation. After maceration the grapes are gently pressed in a pneumatic press, and the juice fermented in stainless steel at low temperatures using cultured yeasts.

Specifications

A rich and polished Portuguese red, crafted for lovers of bold flavour and finesse.

Tasting Notes. 

Duris Reserva has an intense ruby color with violet hues. Aromas of red fruits, with floral and spicy nuances. In the mouth, it is a balanced wine with round tannins and a long and pleasant aftertaste.

Production

Producer

Founded in 1917 in the Vinho Verde region, Calçada Wines is one of the oldest producers in the region focused especially on the production of still white and rosé wines and sparkling wines and is now the 3rd generation of the family to lead the business. In addition to producing high quality wines, Calçada brand is also synonymous with the art of hospitality - Casa da Calçada is a XVI palace converted into a luxurious hotel - it is a reference in hospitality and within the property we still proudly have what is considered the oldest vineyard in the region.

Specifications

A bold and expressive Portuguese red blend.

Tasting Notes.

Duris Selection has an intense ruby color with violet tones. Aromas of red black fruits, slight floral with balsamic. In the mouth, it is a wine with a good volume, lively acidity and round tannins, with a persistent finish.

Production

Producer

Founded in 1917 in the Vinho Verde region, Calçada Wines is one of the oldest producers in the region focused especially on the production of still white and rosé wines and sparkling wines and is now the 3rd generation of the family to lead the business. In addition to producing high quality wines, Calçada brand is also synonymous with the art of hospitality - Casa da Calçada is a XVI palace converted into a luxurious hotel - it is a reference in hospitality and within the property we still proudly have what is considered the oldest vineyard in the region.

Specifications

A deliciously rich expressive red!

Tasting Notes

Specifications

A beautifully, elegant Rose - such a food friendly wine that will have even the hardened sceptics seen the wine through rose tinted specs!

Tasting Notes

La Vie en Rose is a beautifully elegant wine and now it comes with refreshing new packaging to match. Fresh, summery and pale in colour, this dry rosé has hints of summer fruits such as strawberry and wild raspberry and mouth-watering acidity. Food friendly and delicious.

Viticulture

Top category grapes from the Puichéric area from the best qualitative plots and vines averaging 25 years old. 150m above sea level, the vines are protected from wind and receive plenty of sunshine. Grapes mature slowly developing an aromatic profile.

Winemaking

The grapes are selected among the coolest vineyards to ensure good natural acidity. Harvest is during the coolest hours of the day, early morning and the grapes are directly pressed into airbag presses. The juice is cold settled and goes though fermentation at cool temperature for 2 weeks. The wines are then quickly cleared off their gross lees and are kept in stainless steel tanks on fine lees only until bottling, in order to keep maximum fresh fruit and freshness..

Specifications

Tasting Notes

Vibrant purple hues, typical of its youth combine with fresh red fruits and firm acidity. On the palate aromas of strawberry and raspberry  along with aromatic herbs from the vineyard, such as lavender, rosemary, and thyme.

Production

The grapes ferment with the native yeasts from our vineyard in stainless steel tanks. This wine spends a few months in the cellar, softening its tannins naturally, without any additives offering the purest and fruitiest expression of this Tempranillo..

Producer

The sixth generation of a family of winemakers and vine growers. Together with their team, they care for the vineyard daily with the goal of creating timeless wines that connect people. The values and knowledge passed on by the family have brought them to where they are today. Now, Adriana and Beatriz, represent this new era of Ochoa with courage, pride, and our unique style full of resilience, tradition, honesty, friendship and joy.

Specifications

Tasting Notes

Bright ruby with purple tinges; fragrant perfume with hints of cherry and other red fruits; soft tannins and medium body, good acidity and medium finish of red fruits.

Vinification

Specifications

Tasting Notes

Bright yellow color with greenish reflections. Delicate hints of apple, citrus and nuances of white fruits. Fresh and salty, with a long and elegant finish.

Vinification

Specifications

Tasting Notes

A delicious red with plenty of ripe and juicy berry fruit, but all balanced by well-judged oak, pleasant tannic structure, enough acidity to keep things fresh and some bottle age for added complexity.

Vinification

Specifications

Tasting Notes

Deep ruby color with violet tinges; pronounced aromas of spices, black pepper and cloves, and red fruits like cherry and raspberries; medium body, elegant smooth tannins, well balanced with a good acidity. Lingering finish of spices and red fruit.

Vinification

Specifications

Tasting Notes

Deep ruby red with violet tinges; pronounced aromas of ripe red fruit, currant jam and raspberries with hints of plum and black pepper; full-bodied, well balanced and fresh. Medium long fnish, with a fruity and spicy aftertaste.

Vinification

Specifications

 A beautifully integrated oak aged Chardonnay which punches above it's weight for the price.

Tasting Notes

Bright straw-yellow colour. Floral scents with notes of acacia and orange blossoms accompanied by tropical fruit, peaches and vanilla. An elegant, full and savory palate, with a well-balanced acidity and a persistent finish.

Producer

The 40 hectare Tenuta Aquilaia estate in Maremma (southern Tuscany), close to Scansano, was acquired by Azienda Uggiano in 2019. Only 15ha are currently dedicated to vineyards - of average age 15 years - although they have recently added a further 1.5 hectares to bring this total nearer to 17ha. Here they produce five red grape varieties: Sangiovese, Ciliegiolo, Alicante, Merlot and Petit Verdot; plus white varieties Vermentino and Chardonnay.

The area was an old Etruscan settlement and site of ancient winemaking, and several mementos of the Etruscan era are still visible.

Production

Cold Maceration of the must for 12-15 hours at a temperature of 10-12 degrees. Soft pressing and fermentation of juice (free-run must) at a temperature of 18-22 degrees. Elevation in French oak barriques for 6 months and subsequent ageing in steel tanks.

Although famed for its red wines, white wines have a long heritage in the southern Rhône valley, where the locals enjoy an occasional glass at the start of a warm evening. La Fleur Solitaire is a solitaire amongst the rubies of our Boutinot Rhône range; a white Côtes du Rhône made from traditional southern Rhône white grape varieties.

Tasting Notes

Proper white Côtes du Rhône; fresh, medium-bodied, vinous. The nose is pretty and delicate, with a waft of fennel tops and hints of hedgerow flowers. The flavours are nuanced and refined rather than overt. Careful use of oak adds texture and structure without masking the freshness of this very drinkable white.

Production Method

Following an experiment with a micro cuvée crafted from seven barrels back in 2009, we now source grapes from selected vineyards in the southern Rhône. Each parcel is picked separately in the cooler early daylight hours for gentle pressing that same morning, and each is fermented at a low temperature. To a base of Grenache Blanc, we blend Viognier along with co-fermented pairs of Roussanne/Marsanne and Bourboulenc/Clairette. Over the years we have increased the proportion vinified in stainless steel, with just under a third of the wine now vinified and matured for 6 months French oak barrels (mostly 3rd fill but some new) to add complexity and creaminess.

Producer

Boutinot’s love affair with the Southern Rhône spans thirty years of making wine in the region. In 2010, the relationship was sealed with the purchase of a winery and vineyards above the village of Cairanne. Domaine Boutinot’s seven vineyards are planted with classic southern Rhône grape varieties – old vine Grenache Noir and Syrah, Mourvèdre and Carignan Noir – and they all sit within the Cairanne Cru boundaries, sanctioned in 2016 when Cairanne was granted its own appellation status.

Working with our vigneron neighbours we are helping to revive traditional grape varieties such as Cinsault and Counoise, and in the cellar we prefer time-honoured winemaking methods such as a long cuvasion aided only by natural yeasts, gentle remontage, manual pigeage and patient maturation in a nursery of French oak barrels.

Sustainability

In July 2021 Domaine Boutinot Rhône achieved the Haute Valeur Environnementale (HVE 3) certification This certification recognises a high level of commitment to protecting and enriching the environment with the focus on biodiversity conservation, plant protection strategy, management of fertiliser use and management of water.

Specifications

Where tropical brightness meets herbal elegance, crafted to refresh and delight every sip!

Tasting Notes : 

Bright and aromatic bursting with tropical fruits with underlying herbal notes on the nose. On the palate the full refreshing punch of the herbal notes shines through.

Production

Machine Harvested, Juice cold settled or floated to clarify, cool fermentation in stainless steel tanks

"Great things are done when men and mountains meet, this is not done by jostling in the street”.

Tasting Notes 

The quest for higher quality has seen Argentina's most ambitious winemakers push into the Andes foothills where the higher altitude and meagre soils produce the finest grapes. Man Meets Mountain celebrates those that face up to and conquer the challenges posed by nature and brings to you a harmonious Malbec, packed full of blueberry, blackcurrant and plum and a complex and delicious finish.

Producer

"Great things are done when men and mountains meet, this is not done by jostling in the street”.

The quest for higher quality has seen Argentina's most ambitious winemakers push into the Andes foothills where the higher altitude and meagre soils produce the finest grapes. Man Meets Mountain is one of our own production projects in Argentina made in conjunction with our consultant winemaker Sebastian San Martin.

Winemaking

Fermented in stainless steel tanks and concrete vats. Traditional red wine fermentation with commercial yeasts, open tank pump overs and the fermentation conducted at 28ºC.

Specifications

A beautiful glass of white wine Spain's La Mancha, this Verdejo stands out from the rest.

Tasting Notes

Expressive nose of gooseberry, apple and white fruit. Fruity wine with a nice balance of white fruit and fresh acidity.

History

El Convertido loosely translates to 'the converter' and tells the story of La Mancha, the world's largest wine region, which is gradually transitioning to a more sustainable future. The conditions are ideal for organic viticulture and that is what family business De Haan Altés wants to show with this Verdejo. 

Specifications

A deliciously elegant, smooth prosecco to be enjoyed anywhere, anytime!

Tasting Notes

Salmon pink with a fine and persistent perlage. Intense and aromatic on the nose with hints of red currant, wild strawberry and rose petal. This is elegant, smooth and velvety on the palate with a harmonious dry finish.

Production

All of the grapes come from within the DOC Veneto region. The cultivation density is around 3,500 to 4,000 vines per hectare and grown simple or double espalier. Only traditional pruning methods are carried out. The annual yield is about 100 tons. The Pinot Nero is mostly planted in the extreme eastern part of the Verona province, where it is most suited to the climate and soil conditions to express itself to its full potential.

Harvest is carried out by hand and in order to avoid any skin or acetic fermentation, the grapes are immediately carried to the vinification cellar during the first few hours of the day. Destalking and soft pressing at controlled temperature then the must is kept in small stainless-steel tanks until fermentation is completed. The blend of the two varieties is made before the refermentation process, to increase the intensity of the aroma. Fermentation is partially interrupted trough the cold-process, and transferred into small stainless-steel tanks. Around 4 months after vinification, re-fermentation is allowed following the typical procedure used for spumante (in autoclaves that keep up to 6 atmospheres of pressure).

Producer

The Biscardo Family have been making wine from their base in Soave for over 150 years and are currently led by brothers Maurizio and Martino.

During the course of Maurizio's long and illustrious career, he has consulted for well known wineries around Italy and in doing so he came across the vineyards for their Puglian wines. Both the Pugliese and Veneto wines are characterised by an irresistible drinkability, aromatic purity and exceptional value for money.

Specifications

A juicy red which is sure to be a hit, a real crowd pleaser!

TASTING NOTES

A ruby red hue with abundant notes of ripe cherries, mulberries, dried fruit, and spice. The palate is juicy and generous.

Producer

Casa Vinicola Botter was in 1928 by Carlo Bot, a wine merchant selling restaurants at the time and remains a family-run winery now in third generation the 1950s, brothers Arnal andzo transformed the company, expanding size and shifting to sales of their bottles. Botter collaborates with most qualified in Veneto, Apulia, Molise, Abr, and Sicily, maintaining a strong relationship that begins in the vineyards and continues through all production cycles until bottling. The focus is very much on innovation through environmentally.

Alan's Personal Tasting Notes

Specifications

 Sophie te'Blanche, a nickname given by those including our workers, who can't pronounce Sauvignon Blanc, is the inspiration behind this much loved wine, produced from grapes grown by dedicated farmers in Elgin and the Cape South Coast.

Tasting Notes 

Floral notes with a complex medley of tropical fruits, mingled with subtle lime and gooseberry undertones. The palate is balanced and rich, showing cut green apples with great minerality and texture. 

Producer

At 420m above sea-level, set high above the picturesque Elgin Valley Andrew Gunn founded Iona. It is here overlooking the Atlantic ocean that he has secured some of the coolest vineyards in the Cape.  In a country where cool climate vineyards are like gold dust, these vineyards are veritable nuggets. There is an extremely long growing season, allowing Andrew to create wines with complex flavours and a fresh, elegant style. The approach is hands off and the land is farmed according to organic and biodynamic practices with a particular focus on ensuring the health of the soils whilst pests are kept under control by the resident flock of geese that roam the vineyards.

Production

Grapes were hand harvested at optimal ripeness during the season. Grapes are crushed and pressed immediately. Juice was settled overnight before being inoculated with a variety of selected yeast. After fermentation, wines are racked and spend 4 months on the fine lees before blending and bottling.

Specifications

Discover a wine that embodies the essence of nature's touch, meticulously balanced and structured, yet exuding a purity and freshness that is simply captivating.

Tasting Notes

Colour

Dark straw in colour with orange hints. 

Nose

The nose is a delicate mélange of quince, poire william and a hint of vanilla. 

Palate

A complex and structured wine, with elegant but discreet fruit flavours of stone fruits, backed up with a powerful tannin structure and long finish.

Production

Refreshing like a white wine, with the complexity of red wine. This orange wine is made by leaving the grape skins and seeds in contact with the pressed juice, creating a deep orange-hued finish. The wine ferments naturally without the addition of yeasts, sulphur or any other additions. The different varieties are then blended and before a natural cold stabilisation, and bottled unfiltered and unfined.

Producer

Back in 1988, three families decided to invest in a winery in Romania, starting with 650 hectares of slightly unloved vineyards and a rusty, once state-owned winery.

Yet Englishman Philip Cox and his Romanian wife Elvira, have turned the Cramele Recas Estate into the most successful winery in Romania. Recas are now recognised globally for their impressive scale and breadth of fascinating wines, including natural and orange wine from organic grapes. Despite the scale the emphasis is on making good wines that over-deliver, and as a result they’ve struck on a magic formula that has seen sales and demand boom. Vineyards are a combination of evolved plantings from 1447 and more recent planting, whilst the winery has seen significant investment and boasts state of the art facilities where innovation thrives. Recas are in every way a modern, dynamic winery, whose open minded approach and quality sets them apart … a winery you really can’t ignore.

Specifications

Tasting Notes

Nose

Bright ruby to dark purple in colour, it promises plenty of power.The nose is complex with powerful aromas of blackberry and blueberry with, rose, rosemary, violets and floral notes as well as a hint of spice. 

Palate

The palate is nicely concentrated and with fine tannis. The flavours of blueberry, plum and blackberry are big, with hints of bittersweet cocoa and a subtle stimulating flavour of mint and violet, dark cherry, blackberry, red plum, earth, espresso, tobacco, dark chocolate, black pepper, black tea, violet. Very complex.

Producer

Owner & winemaker, Rosalia Molina, makes organic wines in one of Spain's highest altitude wineries. Her mission is to make wines that express the typicity of DO Manchuela: the vineyard, the altitude and the varieties planted.

This is a climate on the edge of what is possible: at 1,100 metres above sea level, the grapes experience a large diurnal range that encourages even ripening and helps to retain natural acidity. Rosalia's vineyards are certified organic, she uses only natural fertilisers, promoting biodiversity by welcoming chickens, sheep and pigs from local farms to roam the vineyards freely. Grapes are hand harvested and vinified as naturally as possible with native yeasts and little other intervention. The wines are then aged in clay amphora and some in French oak to give texture and complexity.

Winemaking

Never harvested before the 12th October and always by hand. The colour is extracted in 6000 litre inox tank. Skin contact for 2 to 3 weeks at a controlled temperature before an alcoholic fermentation which is spontaneous, with gentle pumping over for 5 weeks. Pressed directly to 3rd use, 225 Litre French oak barrels, where the malolactic fermentation takes place, also in a natural and spontaneous way for about 4 months. Aged for 4 months in 50% oak barrel and 50% in clay amphoras. Stabilisation is also natural and during the coldest months, temperatures can go to minus 15º C.

Specifications

A delightful, fresh, and crisp example of Sauvignon Blanc.

Tasting Notes

Bright lemon-green in colour. Intense and fruity, with lovely aromas of green apple and grapefruit. Very refreshing on the palate

Viticulture

Gascony is both wild and beautiful all at the same time... With its rolling countryside dotted with maritime pine and cypress trees, its luxurious vineyards and medieval hilltop towns, the area is one of the most preserved French treasures. Home to viticulture since Roman times, the IGP Côtes de Gascogne shares the same area of production as the Armagnac appellation. Gascony is also famous for its rich gastronomy and its “douceur de vivre” or easy-living atmosphere. The Colombard and Sauvignon Blanc grapes are predominantly produced in the Côte de Gascogne area of the South-West of France. The region has a fantastic reputation for fresh white wines. Capable of adapting to the hot climate, it provides nice acidity with lovely flavours. The resulting wines are crisp and fresh, with very intense aromas of lime, nectarine and grapefruit.

Production

The winemaking process is designed to preserve freshness and to enhance the aromatic potential of the wine. The berries are harvested at night, when temperatures are low, as soon as they have reached optimal maturity. The crop is then pneumatically pressed in order to extract only the premium juices. The fermentation process is carried out at a low temperature to preserve aromatic intensity. All these steps create a fragrant and refreshing white wine!

Alan's Personal Tasting Notes

'This is an interesting wee find from a very good wine co-operative in the s of France. Dry, fresh and crisp with a dollop of citric & tropical fruit giving great mouthfeel, complexity and balance without breaking the bank. I reckon this will become a successful crowd pleaser for our community - so get your order in quick as stocks are limited - so says the wine doctor.

 A delightful easy drinking little number - perfect with any seafood or chicken dish - or salads.'  November 2024

Tasting Notes

The wine has an immensely appealing bouquet of rosewater and Turkish Delight, intertwined with orange blossom and musk. The spritzy palate is brightly fruity, displaying fresh strawberry and Turkish Delight flavours, combining zesty fresh acidity with around 80g/l of residual sugar to deliver a supple, fresh and delicate finish.

Producer

This boutique winery in the heart of Margaret River creates idiosyncratic named ranges like Suckfizzle in a low interventionist and organic way keeping their approach as simple as possible to allow their cherished vineyards to show their quality.

It is not merely in the names where these wines are memorable, as once you have tasted them you will see why Luke Jolliffe, the winemaker, continues to receive recognition and awards from around the world for wines that have that wonderful Margaret River restraint and elegance, but are bound together with a fruit purity that makes them delectable.

Production

The Muscat grapes are hand picked then cooled before crushing in the press and remain on their skins for around 6 hours to extract colour and flavour. After pressing, the juice is settled bright, and then fermented at approximately 12 degrees c with an aromatic yeast strain. When the desired alcohol level is reached, the fermentation is stopped by rapid cooling in order to maintain the natural grape sugars and the carbon dioxide gas evolved during the fermentation process. Bottling occurs in May of the vintage year, in time for a spring release.

Specifications

A lively, bright Touraine Sauvignon Blanc from one of the region's top producers.

Tasting Notes

Nose

A pleasant aromatic and pithy blend of gooseberry, white flowers and citrus on the nose. 

Palate

Complemented by quite a rich peachy and lemon palate that has lovely texture and a moreish, slightly grippy finish.

Production

Grown on flint, clay and limestone soils, the Sauvignon Blanc grapes are destemmed and crushed in an pneumatic press. After controlled settling, the juice undergoes alcoholic fermentation at about 18-19°C with selected yeasts. Ageing then takes place on the fine lees with no malolactic fermentation.

Producer

Formed in 1973, Pierre Chainier is both a négociant and the owner of some 250 hectares of vines in the heart of Touraine, from which it sources classic Loire varieties. Its eight Touraine estates include Domaine de la Bruyère in the newly established appellation of Touraine-Chenonceaux. Conversely, Clos de Nouys, its 25 acre Vouvray estate, is one of the oldest in the appellation. Here, vines average 35 years of age in vineyards that were already listed amongst the best sites on geological maps dating from 1907.

Sustainability

This is an approachable and unoaked style of Primitive with bright acidity.

Tasting Notes

Palate

Specifications

Specifications

a

A great wine with character, elegant and typical, honouring the historic grape variety and king of the southern Rhône Valley: Grenache Noir.

Tasting Notes 

Tasting Notes 

This wine has a soft, salmon pink colour and is bursting with aromas of strawberries and rose petals. The palate is vibrant with a good balance between the bright acidity and flavours of Turkish delight, strawberries and red cherries. The finish is juicy and dry and the wine has a pleasant length.

A fresh, dry and vibrant Rosé made via direct pressing of Cabernet Sauvignon providing a wine with an alluring salmon colour and appealing drinkability.

Vintage Conditions

2022 was an excellent vintage for the Rosé on Dornier. The ripening season was cooler than the previous vintage. The result of this cooler season was that the grapes ripened at lower sugar levels and with a fresher natural acidity and more delicate flavours. 

Fermentation and Ageing

The Cabernet Sauvignon ripened in late February. The grapes were handpicked and pressed directly after destemming in order to obtain light pink juice. The resultant light pink juice fermented for 14 days at 12 degrees Celsius and spent a further four months on full lees to provide fullness and body to the wine. 

History

Dornier is a family owned winery situated in The Golden Triangle area of the upper Blaauwklippen Valley Stellenbosch. The primary focus at Dornier lies in the production of premium quality wines with minimal intervention which are expressive of the unique terroir of The Golden Triangle whilst showcasing the complexity and finesse of the noble grape varieties planted at Dornier. Reverence for tradition is salient at Dornier as is difference where it leads to improvement.

Dornier Wine Estate is located on 3 different farms in the Upper Blaauwklippen Valley namely Groenkloof, Heldemeer and Stellenrust (Homestead) the latter of which includes a historic Sir Herbert Baker designed homestead and one of the first wine cellars ever built in Stellenbosch in the late 1600s.

Dornier proudly boasts an A rating with IPW (Integrity and Sustainability) given its ongoing efforts incorporated and devotion towards sustainable farming practises with integrity. 

Dornier also holds an A Rating with WIETA - a pro-active world-class and sustainable ethical trade programme for the South African wine industry and aligned sectors. given its efforts incorporated and devotion towards facilitating fair working conditions and sustainable ethical trade within the wine industry and its aligned sectors.

Specifications

Specifications

Specifications