2022 Showdown ‘Man with the Ax’ Cabernet Sauvignon
Regular price £12.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%The ‘Man with the Ax’ is the nickname for the King of Diamonds in Poker-parlance, and in California, Cabernet is undoubtedly ‘King’. Rich cassis fruit and a good lick of oak make this a plush, easy-drinking example of why it is so highly prized.'.
Tasting Notes
Nose
Ripe blackcurrant and wild berry fruit on the nose complemented sweet vanilla oak.
Palate
Rich cassis and black cherry fruit on the palate with a soft, juicy, yet long finish. Framed by the subtle American oak.

Production
This wine is sourced from vineyards in the northern part of California’s Central Valley. The region around Lodi and Manteca enjoys significant influence from San Joaquin and Sacramento river deltas, which act as a natural cooling system to the often-searing heat. The effect is to provide freshness to the ripe, fruit-charged Cabernet grapes. Individual Cabernet blocks are vinified separately and then blended to produce a wine that reflects the right balance between fruit and structure. The wine then spends 6 months in oak to provide a broad frame for this rich wine.
Producer
Boutinot has been working with growers in California for over 10 years, finessing our offering from vintage to vintage, increasingly with specific estates sourcing old vine material and site-specific fruit.
The current range of wines are sourced from the warm region of Lodi in Central California, to which Samantha Bailey brings her esteemed palate and decades experience to hone these elements into the brightest wines of The Sunshine State.
Alan's Tasting Notes
"Outstanding - really easy on the palate with loads of smoky blackcurrant fruit, a hint of spice and a glug of vanilla from the oak ageing giving a really well balanced, smooth drinking red!"
Awards
- Silver at the Sommelier Wine Awards 2019 (2017 Vintage)
- Silver at Catavinum 2018 (2015 Vintage)
- Silver at the IWSC 2018 (2015 Vintage)
Specifications
| Year | 2022 |
| Bottle Size | 750ml |
| Cultivar | 100% Cabernet Sauvignon |
| Country | USA |
|
Alcohol content
|
13.5% alc vol
|
| Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.1 units |
| Type | Red Wine |
| Features | Vegetarian, Vegan |
| Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
| Food Matches | Almost any red meat, especially served rare, is going to do the trick! |
| Origin | California |
| Appellation | Central Valley |
2021 Cabaret Frank No.2 'The Aviary' Old Vine Cabernet Franc
Regular price £12.49 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%
A marvellous, lean, moustached celebration of the mighty Cab Franc. Meet Captain Francis Frobisher, otherwise known as CABARET FRANK. A celebration to the marvellous, lean and mighty Cabernet Franc grape variety.
Tasting Notes
Nose
Bright notes of juicy red fruits are complemented by blackcurrant leaf notes so typical of Cabernet Franc.
Palate
Smooth, medium-bodied and easy-drinking wine that strikes a lovely balance with its blackberry, plum and dark cherry fruit characters coupled with classic varietal leafy tones.

Production
Made predominantly from Old Vine Cabernet Franc (85%), the balance being a harmonious blob of sibling Cabernet Sauvignon. The grapes are harvested from 'old vines' (45 years) sourced from the single biggest Cabernet Franc vineyard in the world located in Lodi, Central California. The wine has spent just two months on oak to enable the true flavours and characters of the Cabernet Franc (and touch of Cabernet Sauvignon) to shine through.
Alan's Tasting Notes
"Perfect pizza wine - full-bodied and flavoured with sweet cherry fruit and a slight smokiness. Well-balanced and very moreish - and the most interesting packaging - a real handlebar delight!" July 2022
Specifications
| Year | 2021 |
| Bottle Size | 750ml |
| Cultivar | 85% Cabernet Franc, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon |
| Country | USA |
|
|
|
| Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.5 units |
| Type | Red Wine |
| Cellaring Potential | Good for now and up to 20 years |
| Allergen Information | Contains Sulphites |
| Dietary Information | Vegetarian, Vegan |
| Barrel Ageing | 100% French, 26% New |
| Food Matches |
This is a food wine that really lends itself to vegetarian dishes. Try it with grilled eggplant or zucchini, or with meals containing green peppers (capsicums), cabbage, or herbs (particularly sage, thyme, rosemary or saffron). A versatile wine that is also fantastic with tomato based dishes; lighter meats such as turkey or chicken, along with game meats like duck; amd richer beef based dishes like steak or veal. |
| Origin | California |
| Appellation | Lodi |
2023 Tohu Awatere Valley Sauvignon Blanc
Regular price £16.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Sourced entirely from vineyards located in Marlborough’s stunning Awatere Valley, this vibrant wine displays aromas of ripe tropical fruit and passionfruit with lifted notes of currant and tomato leaf.
The concentrated palate is layered with flavours of sweet juicy pineapple, pink grapefruit, fresh green apple and hints of black olive. With herbal notes and a zesty minerality, this wine leads to a pure, lively and focused dry finish that has both freshness and length.

Viticulture
Grapes for this wine are sourced from blocks located in the upper, mid, and lower areas of the Awatere Valley. The Awatere Valley is cooler, drier and windier overall than other sub-regions of Marlborough, with a longer and cooler growing season. These climatic factors combined with vineyards located on young, fertile river terraces result in distinctive wines with a mineral drive and fruit-forward flavours. The 2018/2019 growing season in the Awatere began with unsettled weather resulting in lower yields overall, however a warm and dry summer with perfect growing conditions. grapes were able to be picked at optimal ripeness over harvest resulting in a wine with outstanding aromatics, palate weight and texture.
Vinification
Select blocks from the Awatere Valley are harvested using modern machine harvesters allowing ultimate extraction of flavour and aroma compounds from the skins of the grapes. Once at the winery the grapes are pressed into stainless steel tanks for cold settling, before being gently racked and inoculated with select yeasts chosen to naturally enhance the aromatic and flavour profiles of the wine.
Fermentation is carried out at cool temperatures allowing the wine to retain its bright aromas; with each batch fermentation typically lasting around 21 days. After fermentation is complete the wines are left to settle on their yeast lees for a short period before being racked again into stainless steel tanks for maturation. Meticulous classification of each batch results in a final blend that truly captures the exceptional characteristics of the vineyards. Once blended the resulting wine is stabilised and filtered without the need for fining, ready for bottling in mid-July 2019.
Producer
Tohu produces award-winning New Zealand wine crafted from grapes grown in our breathtakingly beautiful, Awatere Valley vineyard. When Tohu launched in 1998 we were the world's first Maori-owned wine company. Since then we’ve grown a reputation for producing premium wine in a range of varieties, winning awards for our Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Riesling, Pinot Noir and Méthode Traditionnelle.
Alan's Tasting Notes
"I haven’t tasted this since it came in last year - and boy has it changed! Last year it was all fresh, clean, refreshing acidity and subdued fruit - but with some time in bottle all that citric acidity has died down and really lets the passion fruit and pineapple flavours we associate with Marlborough Sauvignon shine through - absolutely delicious.
I think this is now our best value New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. Vegan & vegetarian too is a bonus!" March 2022
Specifications
| Year | 2023 |
| Bottle Size | 750ml |
| Cultivar | 100% Sauvignon Blanc |
| Country | New Zealand |
|
Alcohol content
|
13.5% alc vol
|
| Units of alcohol per bottle | 9.8 units |
| Type | White Wine |
| Allergen Information | Contains Sulphites |
| Dietary Information | Vegan & Vegetarian Approved |
| Food Matches |
Mussel fritters with lime zest, caper and fresh basil aioli |
| Appellation | Marlborough |
2023 Novas Gran Reserva Riesling
Regular price £13.69 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%"Amazingly delicious organic Riesling from Chile. Fresh limes with a mineral and saline undertones with a hint of developed Riesling kerosene - stunningly complex and a real steal at this price!" Alan's personal notes.
Tasting Notes
Expressive Chilean Riesling with a broad appeal.
Nose
Quietly complex on the nose with fresh lime notes combining with a steely minerality and gentle honeysuckle flora.
Palate
The palate is mid-weight and off-dry with persistent flavours of lime, there is a natural salinity which gives contrast yet lovely balance. It finishes clean with a lingering flinty character.

Production
Vines were planted in 1993 at the Fundo Quitralman, Mulchén vineyard in the Bio-Bio Valley, 500km south of Santiago. Grapes are handpicked then placed in a pneumatic press to obtain the different musts, which were kept separate. Once ferment was complete, the wine was left in contact with its fine lees in stainless steel tanks for 5 months, with periodic stirring (batonnage) before being fined and bottled.
Producers
Voted by Wines of Chile as "Winery of the Year 2016", Emiliana is one of Chile's most exciting producers and pioneers in organic and biodynamic winemaking. Since 1998, this Chilean winery has been producing award-winning wines from almost 1,000 hectares of vineyards in prime sites including Casablanca, Maipo, Cachapoal, Colchagua and Bio Bio.
Its spectacular biodynamic vineyard and winery at Los Robles is a model that attracts visiting viticulturalists and winemakers from across the world. Emiliana's innovative and natural-leaning wines are made with great care and attention and the results are inspiring.
Sustainable
Emiliana began its conversion to organic production in 1998, and today 100% of its properties are organically managed. It is the world’s largest organic winery. It holds organic certifications in accordance with the standards of the United States, Canada (NOP), Brazil, Chile, Japan, South Korea, China, and Europe. In 2006, Emiliana was the first winery in Latin America to produce a wine with biodynamic certification. Since then, the use of biodynamic practices at its farms and cellars has been accredited and today 100% of its properties are certified. Emiliana received its Fairtrade and Fair For Life certifications in 2011 and 2017 and has been selling fair trade wines since 2012.
Emiliana was a pioneer in the implementation of the Wine of Chile Sustainability Code certification in 2012. This standard was developed for the Chilean wine sector to support the implementation of sustainable practices at a national level, as well as social and environmental responsibility at Emiliana.
Emiliana is certified to use the Vegan Society trademark, which attests that its wines are produced without any animal-derived products.
Emiliana also produces an annual sustainability report.
Awards
- Bronze - Sommelier Wine Awards 2018 (2016 vintage)
Specifications
| Year | 2023 |
| Bottle Size | 750ml |
| Cultivar | 100% Riesling |
| Country | Chile |
|
Alcohol content
|
13.5% alc vol
|
| Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.2 units |
| Type | White Wine |
| Cellaring Potential | Awaiting info |
| Features | Vegetarian, Vegan, Organic, Sustainable |
| Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
| Food Matches | Oysters and shellfish, white meats and smoked salmon. Also great with vegetarian dishes and Asian cuisine. |
| Origin | Bio-Bio Valley |
| Appellation | D.O. Valle de Bio Bio |
2022 Novas Gran Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon
Regular price £13.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Classic fruit-driven Maipo Cabernet sourced from some of the best organic vineyards in the valley.
Tasting Notes
Colour
Ruby red in colour.
Nose
The nose is intense, with a pronounced presence of blackcurrant backed up with notes of cherries and strawberries as well as a hint of chocolate.
Palate
Medium-bodied and well balanced with ripe black fruits, smooth tannins and refreshing acidity, resulting in a juicy and approachable Cabernet.

Production
Grapes for this wine are organically grown in very deep soils on terraces of alluvial origin with loam to clay-loam textures and abundant stones in the profile that provides excellent drainage. The Alto Maipo zone has ideal conditions for growing Cabernet Sauvignon. The Maipo River naturally regulates the temperatures and prevents extreme cold or frost as well as excessive summer heat. The absence of rainfall in the spring encouraged good fruit set and excellent plant health. It turned cloudy as summer began, however, and rainfall in early April forced an early harvest. The early harvest returned wines that are perfumed, expressive, and elegant. Vinification begins with a 4–5-day pre-fermentation cold soak at 8ºC followed by alcoholic fermentation in stainless steel tanks with native yeasts at 26ºC and a pumpovers program determined by enological criteria. Malolactic fermentation takes place naturally in tanks and barrels, where the wine is aged at controlled temperatures for 12 months. It is neither fined nor stabilized; it is just lightly filtered prior to bottling. The wine is aged for 12 months, 60% in French oak barrels, 10% in a French foudre, and 30% in stainless steel.
Producer
Voted by Wines of Chile as "Winery of the Year 2016", Emiliana is one of Chile's most exciting producers and pioneers in organic and biodynamic winemaking. Since 1998, this Chilean winery has been producing award-winning wines from almost 1,000 hectares of vineyards in prime sites including Casablanca, Maipo, Cachapoal, Colchagua and Bio Bio.
Its spectacular biodynamic vineyard and winery at Los Robles is a model that attracts visiting viticulturalists and winemakers from across the world. Emiliana's innovative and natural-leaning wines are made with great care and attention and the results are inspiring.
Sustainable
Emiliana began its conversion to organic production in 1998, and today 100% of its properties are organically managed. It is the world’s largest organic winery. It holds organic certifications in accordance with the standards of the United States, Canada (NOP), Brazil, Chile, Japan, South Korea, China, and Europe. In 2006, Emiliana was the first winery in Latin America to produce a wine with biodynamic certification. Since then, the use of biodynamic practices at its farms and cellars has been accredited and today 100% of its properties are certified. Emiliana received its Fairtrade and Fair For Life certifications in 2011 and 2017 and has been selling fair trade wines since 2012.
Emiliana was a pioneer in the implementation of the Wine of Chile Sustainability Code certification in 2012. This standard was developed for the Chilean wine sector to support the implementation of sustainable practices at a national level, as well as social and environmental responsibility at Emiliana.
Emiliana is certified to use the Vegan Society trademark, which attests that its wines are produced without any animal-derived products.
Emiliana also produces an annual sustainability report.
Awards
- Silver - 2018 International Wine Challenge (2015 vintage)
Alan's Personal Notes
"Full-on classy damson and cherry fruit - beautifully balanced with a touch of oak. Such a good glass of wine for £9.95 a bottle - organic & vegan to boot!"
Specifications
| Year | 2022 |
| Bottle Size | 750ml |
| Cultivar | 100% Cabernet Sauvignon |
| Country | Chile |
|
Alcohol content
|
13.5% alc vol
|
| Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.1 units |
| Type | Red Wine |
| Cellaring Potential | Awaiting info |
| Features | Vegetarian, Vegan, Organic, Sustainable |
| Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
| Food Matches |
Ideal with meat-based dishes and stews, slow-cooked beef, and pastas such as gnocchi with blue cheese.
|
| Origin | Maipo Valley |
| Appellation | D.O. Valle del Maipo |
2023 Waterkloof 'Circumstance' Sauvignon Blanc
Regular price £14.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Tasting Notes
Nose
Crushed laurel on the nose with more than a nuance of residual seaside salt.
Palate
This has a big and textured palate with stone fruit and fennel hints – it is rich and minerally, showing even a slight rocky quality about it. As bracing as the wind through the vines at Waterkloof.

Production
Living soils and a natural approach to winemaking means that each of the single-varietal wines in the Circumstance range is truly defined by the circumstances influencing the chosen varietal and vineyard blocks, including soil, aspect, altitude, and vintage. These factors combine to produce low yields, balanced grapes, and wines with a true sense of place. The Sauvignon Blanc is from three windswept, south-facing (less sun exposure) blocks 270-300m above and a mere 2 miles from The Atlantic. The vines are 20 years old and production was a miserly 4 tons per hectare. Waterkloof follows a traditional, minimalistic approach in their gravitational cellar which means interfering as little as possible with the winemaking process. This allows the flavours prevalent in that specific vineyard to ultimately express themselves in the wine. To achieve this goal, all grapes are whole-bunch pressed, which ensures that juice is extracted in the gentlest way. The juice is then settled naturally for 24 hours. Naturally present wild yeast is employed to ferment the juice, mainly in old 600litre barrels (90%). This leads to a longer fermentation process with a slow release of aromas and a more structured palate. The natural fermentation process took 7-8 months to complete, after which the wine was left on the gross less for another 6 months. There are no added acid or enzymes during the winemaking process, with only a light filtration and a small addition of sulphur added as a preservative prior to bottling.
Awards
- The Wine Merchant Top 100 2019 - 2017 Vintage
Specifications
| Year | 2023 |
| Bottle Size | 750ml |
| Cultivar | 100% Sauvignon Blanc |
| Country | South Africa |
|
|
|
| Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.1 units |
| Type | White Wine |
| Cellaring Potential | Awaiting info |
| Features | Vegetarian, Vegan, Sustainable, Natural |
| Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
| Food Matches | Ideal with fresh oysters or fresh crayfish on the grill. Great with a goat's cheese too. |
| Origin | Stellenbosch |
| Appellation | South Africa |
2024 Painted Wolf The Den Chenin Blanc
Regular price £12.29 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Winemaking
This wine was made from ripe grapes picked to deliver a rich flavour and texture. It is made up from 3 different tanks produced in different ways. Approximately 50% of the wine was made with standard tank fermentation, and about 30% being fermented with a small number of French oak staves and the balance a “funky” ferment with lots of lees in the tank and a very slow fermentation to build glycerol and texture in the wine. The final blend was put together from these components.
The Background
In 2005, Emma and Jeremy Borg's vinous adventure began when they were approached to make their own wine. Despite Jeremy's two decades of experience in the world of winemaking and Emma's expertise with wine photography, the couple was thrown into the deep end and had to bottle and cork the bounty of their friend's surplus grapes by hand.
The endeavor sparked their dreams of creating their own brand and so Painted Wolf was born. The inspiration came from the endangered African wild dog - highly social, organised, persistent and efficient hunters true to Emma and Jeremy's own vineyard hunts for their expanding range of wines.
Consequently, a percentage of profits from each bottle is donated to support charities dedicated to the conservation of the species, and the painted wolf proudly graces each of their labels. From organic Swartland vineyards to Cape South Coast cool climate sites, the couple has since established a network of esteemed growers and winemakers to ensure quality as grapes are hand-selected and some wines are
TPainted Wolf Wines supports the conservation of the highly endangered painted wolf (African wild dog) and the protection of the diminishing wild spaces of Africa, through its donations to the EWT – www.ewt.org.za and Tusk – www.tusk.org.
Awards
- 3.5 stars – Platter's Wine Guide 2020
Alan's Personal Tasting Notes
"Yet another triumph from the winemaking genius that is Jeremy Borg. It astounds me how much flavour he gets out of his wines. A real winemaking and blending skill. Beautiful tropical fruit, a soft but constant stream of refreshing acidity and enough wood/lees ageing to give fabulous texture and heaps of complexity & balance for the price point. At £12 this is a real triumph, this mouthfeel and flavour usually costs around £20 - at least. Works well either on its own or with food - just astounded by the flavours, texture and complexity at the price point. Painted Wolf range delivers with every drop." Tasted October 2023
Specifications
| Year | 2024 |
| Bottle Size | 750ml |
| Cultivar | 90% Chenin Blanc, 10% Viognier |
| Country | South Africa |
|
Alcohol content
|
12.5% ABV |
| Units of alcohol per bottle | 9.4 units |
| Type | White Wine |
| Allergen Information | Contains Sulphites |
| Dietary Information | Vegan & Vegetarian Approved |
| Food Matches | Complementing such classic dishes as coronation chicken, trout with almonds, or even macaroni cheese. Great value for good everyday drinking with enough class for special dinners, high days, and holidays. |
| Appellation | W.O. Swartland |
2023 Coterie by Wildeberg Cabernet Franc Malbec
Regular price £13.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Wildeberg’s rationale is to source the finest vineyards available to us across Franschhoek and the Coastal Region, from which cuvées the eyes are plucked to make Wildeberg and the Terroir Series releases In doing so there remains a small yet definitive expression of all the vineyards we worked with, and its these cuvees that are again selected to go into Coterie by Wildeberg. All fruit is hand-harvested in February from selected sites in Franschhoek and Paarl. Both cultivars are fermented whole bunch, with some whole berry fruit, there is no crush, just a daily pump over during the natural fermentation. We want to express place over cultivar so this slow, gentle extraction gives wines truer of origin than winery. The components are racked to French and Austrian oak, new and old, for 20 months before blending and bottling.
Producer
The Earth’s mantle thrusts up above the gentle town of Franschhoek, a wild slice of untamed mountain on which sits a farm named Wildeberg. An established wine region for some 350 years, sensible generations never thought to plant a vine here until a happy band of idealists recently craned their necks up at this hillside and, dizzy with hope, decided to give it a go. Franschhoek is on the very edge of the south-eastern corner of the Cape’s venerable Coastal Region, indeed Wildeberg’s property border runs over the top of the mountain where the Coastal Region gives way to the baboon-strewn road to Grabouw and the wider Western Cape.
The Wildeberg wines express the most captivating Franschhoek Valley fruit. In our Wildeberg Terroirs bottlings we look beyond our home to a clutch of exceptional sites of other origin.
A mountain rich in metaphor with the visual heft to flatter any wine, releases of Wildeberg and Terroirs express our continued purpose – exceptional wines of place, however humble the origin. If the abiding memory of our wines remains a textural sense of place then we are portraying the Cape as hoped.
Sustainability
Wildeberg is a 144ha wine farm set against the backdrop of the dramatic Franschhoek mountains, on the very edge of viticultural possibilities. To farm here you have to be in tune with nature, respecting the earth and the elements, creating wines which truly express the terroir with minimal intervention.
This special area is home to 4 endangered Fynbos species, and a key mission of Wildeberg is to conserve this vegetation type as they are critical to the biodiversity of the Western Cape. This work entails clearing invasive alien trees which can overwhelm the Fynbos and contribute to the threat of forest fires. Fynbos covered mountains like those at Wildeberg are thought to be responsible for delivering one glass of water in five in South Africa, due to the plants allowing up to 80% of rainwater to run off into rivers and reservoirs rather than being absorbed into the soil.
Water is precious in South Africa, and waste water from the winery passes through a natural wetland with indigenous reeds and plants before being pumped into our irrigation dam. We then use this water to irrigate the vines.
All Wildeberg wines are certified as part of South Africa’s sustainability accreditation, the ‘Integrated Production of Wine’ (IPW) system. The IPW scheme, started in 1998, consists of a set of audited guidelines specifying agricultural practices, manufacturing practices and bottling activities.
Wildeberg is also a proud member of the Cape’s Old Vine Project (OVP), which preserves blocks of vines which are 35 years and older. The project encourages producers to farm as close to nature as possible whilst raising awareness of the inherent potential of old vines to produce outstanding and expressive wines.
Awards for 2021 Vintage
- Bronze - 2023 Decanter World Wine Awards
- Silver - 2022 Decanter World Wine Awards
Specifications
| Year | 2023 |
| Bottle Size | 750ml |
| Cultivar | 67% Cabernet Franc, 33% Malbec |
| Country | South Africa |
|
Alcohol content
|
|
| Units of alcohol per bottle | 10.5 units |
| Type | Red Wine |
| Allergen Information | Contains Sulphites |
| Dietary Information | Vegan & Vegetarian Approved |
| Food Matches | Grilled meats, especially lamb and spiced meat dishes. |
| Appellation | W.O. Coastal Region |
2022 Smalltown Vineyards 'The Next Big Thing' Chardonnay
Regular price £13.49 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%
Tasting Notes
With the faintest whiff of biscuity oak this bright, tangy Barossa Chardonnay is an absolute delight. It has that classical Barossa charm, elegance, poise, tang and naggingly more-ish elusive something-or-other which makes one wonder why there isn't more Australian Chardonnay.
Production
Grapes are hand-harvested from an old block on the Binder family Barossa vineyards. Small batches of Chardonnay are picked and pressed through a tank press with some skin contact. 25% is fermented in French puncheons and American hogsheads for 6 months, aged on lees then blended with the 75% unoaked juice, settled, and bottled. Into the main Barossa blend, a small component of Eden Valley Chardonnay is blended and the whole sees a tiny bit of secondary use oak for some fine structure.
Producer
Smalltown Vineyards express many of the Barossa’s prized districts form Gomersal, Kalimna as well as the Eden Valley and beyond. We work with exceptional vineyards simply expressed using minimal intervention, basket press where relevant, natural ferments in open-top fermenters to best capture the Barossa’s magical flavours. We have a lot of fun with labels because, well because we can. It’s only wine after all…
A note about Sustainability
As of the 1st July, 2019, Australia changed from its previous sustainable programme called EntWine to Sustainable Winegrowing Australia. Smalltown Vineyards is a participant in this programme, which assists with tools and resources to enhance business sustainability, meeting customer sustainability requirements and sustainability claims made by participants.
Specifications
| Year | 2022 |
| Bottle Size | 750ml |
| Cultivar | 100% Chardonnay |
| Country | Australia |
|
Alcohol content
|
13.5% alc vol
|
| Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.1 units |
| Type | White Wine |
| Cellaring Potential | Awaiting info |
| Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
| Food Matches | Anything with chicken, pork, prawns, seafood... Brilliant as a quaffer or perfect with a lovingly cooked meal. |
| Origin | South Australia |
| Appellation | Barossa Valley |
2022 Te Awanga Estate 'Wildsong' Organic Pinot Gris
Regular price £17.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Pear, lychee and quince, muddled with loquat, almond and nectarine. An attractive textured palate with a balanced, dry finish that suits drinking chilled on its own or served alongside pretty much anything.

Viticulture
Our Maraekakaho Vineyard is planted on an ancient river terrace that was formed by the Ngaruroro River which now flows around 60 meters below the vineyard. With its headwaters in the Kaweka Ranges to the west of Hawkes Bay, the river has created the landscapes through glacial melts, floods and droughts over the last few hundred thousand years. The old terraces that remain are made up of greywacke (a compressed sandstone) boulders and gravels from the ranges, and a topsoil borne of windblown loess, volcanic ash and humus created by ancient forests and vegetation.
The arrival of the New Year brought with it the long, hot, sunny summer days with moderate-cool nights for perfect ripening conditions, whilst preserving fresh acidity. Superb harvest climatic conditions provided the luxury of optimal picking decisions not hurried by the threat of rain. The result is an outstanding year for our Hawke’s Bay wines. Yields are slightly down, but with exceptional quality across all varieties. Full flavour and tannin ripeness in reds, with moderate alcohol levels. Acid retention and exciting flavour spectrums in whites.
Vinification
Producer
Specifications
| Year | 2022 |
| Bottle Size | 750ml |
| Cultivar | 100% Pinot Gris |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Alcohol content | 13% alc vol |
| Units of alcohol per bottle | 9.8 units |
| Type | White Wine |
| Cellaring Potential | For immediate enjoyment |
| Allergen Information | Contains Sulphites |
| Dietary Information | Organic, Vegetarian & Vegan |
| Food Matches |
Spicy Food, Chicken, Fish, Veal, Creamy Sauces |
| Appellation | Hawkes Bay |
2024 Mayfly, Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, New Zealand
Regular price £13.79 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%The Mayfly, so symbolic of the first warmth of summer, drift down New Zealand's crystalline streams and rivers providing food for the voracious trout that have made this a mecca for fly-fisherman the world over. This crisp Sauvignon is sure to have you hooked!
Tasting Notes :
No tricks here, just a youthful and exquisite Sauvignon Blanc with prominent asparagus, mature peach and exotic fruit notes on the nose. Fresh and deliciously crisp with excellent natural acidity and a long citric and peach aftertaste as well as a rounded body and good structure.

Viticulture
All of the fruit comes from the single Kerseley estate vineyard from vines planted between 1991 and 2008. Grown on a VSP trellis system, the vineyards are in the Dillons point area around half a mile from the sea.
Winemaking
Fermentation in stainless tank at low temperature with natural yeasts to ensure the single site is expressed in the wine.
Specifications
| Year | 2024 |
| Bottle Size | 750ml |
| Cultivar | 100% Sauvignon Blanc |
| Country | New Zealand |
|
Alcohol content
|
12.5% alc vol
|
| Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 9.4 units |
| Type | White Wine |
| Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
| Food Matches | Enjoy with Grilled fish, Asian style seafood, even Thai! |
| Origin | Marlborough |
2024 Man Meets Mountain, Malbec, Mendoza
Regular price £12.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%"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
| Year | 2024 |
| Bottle Size | 750ml |
| Cultivar | 100% Malbec |
| Country | Argentina |
|
|
|
| Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.5 units |
| Type | Red Wine |
| Cellaring Potential | Awaiting info |
| Ageing in Barrels | No Oak Ageing |
| Suggested Serving Temp | Between 16°C and 18°C. |
| Food Matches | Delicious with all barbequed and grilled red meats. |
| Allergen Information | Contains sulphites, Vegetarian, Vegan |
| Appellation |
|
2023 Coterie by Wildeberg Semillon Sauvignon Blanc
Regular price £13.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Production
Wildeberg’s rationale is to source the finest vineyards available to us across Franschhoek and the Coastal Region, from which cuvées the eyes are plucked to make Wildeberg and the Terroir Series releases. In doing so there remains a small yet definitive expression of all the vineyards we worked with, and its these cuvées that are go into Coterie by Wildeberg. Semillon from Franschhoek is barrel fermented in 600 litre French and Austrian oak then aged for 10 months in barrel. Sauvignon Blanc is fermented in stainless steel and kept on the gross lees for 10 months. Once the blend is decided the wine is allowed to marry in tank for 6 weeks prior to coarse filtration and bottling. Semillon is aged in 36% new barrels, 44% 2nd fill, 20% stainless steel.
Producer
The Earth’s mantle thrusts up above the gentle town of Franschhoek, a wild slice of untamed mountain on which sits a farm named Wildeberg. An established wine region for some 350 years, sensible generations never thought to plant a vine here until a happy band of idealists recently craned their necks up at this hillside and, dizzy with hope, decided to give it a go. Franschhoek is on the very edge of the south-eastern corner of the Cape’s venerable Coastal Region, indeed Wildeberg’s property border runs over the top of the mountain where the Coastal Region gives way to the baboon-strewn road to Grabouw and the wider Western Cape.
The Wildeberg wines express the most captivating Franschhoek Valley fruit. In our Wildeberg Terroirs bottlings we look beyond our home to a clutch of exceptional sites of other origin.
A mountain rich in metaphor with the visual heft to flatter any wine, releases of Wildeberg and Terroirs express our continued purpose – exceptional wines of place, however humble the origin. If the abiding memory of our wines remains a textural sense of place then we are portraying the Cape as hoped.
Sustainability
Wildeberg is a 144ha wine farm set against the backdrop of the dramatic Franschhoek mountains, on the very edge of viticultural possibilities. To farm here you have to be in tune with nature, respecting the earth and the elements, creating wines which truly express the terroir with minimal intervention.
This special area is home to 4 endangered Fynbos species, and a key mission of Wildeberg is to conserve this vegetation type as they are critical to the biodiversity of the Western Cape. This work entails clearing invasive alien trees which can overwhelm the Fynbos and contribute to the threat of forest fires. Fynbos covered mountains like those at Wildeberg are thought to be responsible for delivering one glass of water in five in South Africa, due to the plants allowing up to 80% of rainwater to run off into rivers and reservoirs rather than being absorbed into the soil.
Water is precious in South Africa, and waste water from the winery passes through a natural wetland with indigenous reeds and plants before being pumped into our irrigation dam. We then use this water to irrigate the vines.
All Wildeberg wines are certified as part of South Africa’s sustainability accreditation, the ‘Integrated Production of Wine’ (IPW) system. The IPW scheme, started in 1998, consists of a set of audited guidelines specifying agricultural practices, manufacturing practices and bottling activities.
Wildeberg is also a proud member of the Cape’s Old Vine Project (OVP), which preserves blocks of vines which are 35 years and older. The project encourages producers to farm as close to nature as possible whilst raising awareness of the inherent potential of old vines to produce outstanding and expressive wines.
Awards
- 2022 - Silver at the Decanter World Wine Awards (2021 Vintage)
- 2023 - Silver at the Decanter World Wine Awards (2022 Vintage)
Specifications
| Year | 2023 |
| Bottle Size | 750ml |
| Cultivar | 80% Semillion, 20% Sauvignon Blanc |
| Country | South Africa |
|
Alcohol content
|
12% ABV |
| Units of alcohol per bottle | 9.4 units |
| Type | White Wine |
| Allergen Information | Contains Sulphites |
| Dietary Information | Vegan & Vegetarian Approved |
| Food Matches | Great with white fish, roast chicken dishes, or tiger prawns with chilli. |
| Appellation | W.O. Coastal Region |
NV Cramele Recas, Solara, Orange
Regular price £12.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%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
| Year | NV |
| Bottle Size | 750ml |
| Cultivar |
Feteasca Alba 51% Sauvignon Blanc 19% Others 30% |
| Country | Romania |
|
|
|
| Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 8.7 units |
| Type | Orange Wine |
| Features | Vegetarian, Vegan |
| Cellaring Potential | Awaiting info |
| Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
| Food Matches | Hard and semi hard cheese, tuna steak and chicken. |
| Origin | Romania |
| Appellation |
Romana |
2023 Coterie by Wildeberg Grenache Syrah
Regular price £13.69 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Wildeberg’s rationale is to source the finest vineyards available to us across Franschhoek and the Coastal Region, from which cuvées the eyes are plucked to make Wildeberg and the Terroir Series releases. In doing so there remains a small yet definitive expression of all the vineyards we worked with, and its these cuvees that are again selected to go into Coterie by Wildeberg. All fruit is hand-harvested in February from selected sites in Franschhoek and Paarl. Both cultivars are fermented whole bunch, with some whole berry fruit, there is no crush, just a daily pump over during the natural fermentation. We want to express place over cultivar so this slow, gentle extraction gives wines truer of origin than winery. The components are racked to French and Austrian oak, new and old, for 8 months before the blend is decided. This blend is then allowed to marry for 6 weeks prior to coarse filtration and bottling on the farm.
Producer
The Earth’s mantle thrusts up above the gentle town of Franschhoek, a wild slice of untamed mountain on which sits a farm named Wildeberg. An established wine region for some 350 years, sensible generations never thought to plant a vine here until a happy band of idealists recently craned their necks up at this hillside and, dizzy with hope, decided to give it a go. Franschhoek is on the very edge of the south-eastern corner of the Cape’s venerable Coastal Region, indeed Wildeberg’s property border runs over the top of the mountain where the Coastal Region gives way to the baboon-strewn road to Grabouw and the wider Western Cape.
The Wildeberg wines express the most captivating Franschhoek Valley fruit. In our Wildeberg Terroirs bottlings we look beyond our home to a clutch of exceptional sites of other origin.
A mountain rich in metaphor with the visual heft to flatter any wine, releases of Wildeberg and Terroirs express our continued purpose – exceptional wines of place, however humble the origin. If the abiding memory of our wines remains a textural sense of place then we are portraying the Cape as hoped.
Sustainability
Wildeberg is a 144ha wine farm set against the backdrop of the dramatic Franschhoek mountains, on the very edge of viticultural possibilities. To farm here you have to be in tune with nature, respecting the earth and the elements, creating wines which truly express the terroir with minimal intervention.
This special area is home to 4 endangered Fynbos species, and a key mission of Wildeberg is to conserve this vegetation type as they are critical to the biodiversity of the Western Cape. This work entails clearing invasive alien trees which can overwhelm the Fynbos and contribute to the threat of forest fires. Fynbos covered mountains like those at Wildeberg are thought to be responsible for delivering one glass of water in five in South Africa, due to the plants allowing up to 80% of rainwater to run off into rivers and reservoirs rather than being absorbed into the soil.
Water is precious in South Africa, and waste water from the winery passes through a natural wetland with indigenous reeds and plants before being pumped into our irrigation dam. We then use this water to irrigate the vines.
All Wildeberg wines are certified as part of South Africa’s sustainability accreditation, the ‘Integrated Production of Wine’ (IPW) system. The IPW scheme, started in 1998, consists of a set of audited guidelines specifying agricultural practices, manufacturing practices and bottling activities.
Wildeberg is also a proud member of the Cape’s Old Vine Project (OVP), which preserves blocks of vines which are 35 years and older. The project encourages producers to farm as close to nature as possible whilst raising awareness of the inherent potential of old vines to produce outstanding and expressive wines.
Awards for 2022 Vintage
- Bronze - 2023 Decanter World Wine Awards
Specifications
| Year | 2023 |
| Bottle Size | 750ml |
| Cultivar | 67% Grenache, 33% Syrah |
| Country | South Africa |
|
Alcohol content
|
14% ABV |
| Units of alcohol per bottle | 10.5 units |
| Type | Red Wine |
| Allergen Information | Contains Sulphites |
| Dietary Information | Vegan & Vegetarian Approved |
| Food Matches | Grilled meats, especially lamb and spiced meat dishes. |
| Appellation | W.O. Coastal Region |
2024 Amauta Absoluto Malbec
Regular price £13.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Tasting Notes
Attractive and intense ruby red colour with a contemporary perfumed nose of violet and fresh red berry fruits - strawberry, raspberry and cherry. There are gentle spice and fresh herb notes with a real purity of fruit on the palate topped off by soft tannins and a juicy finish.

Production
Grapes are grown in the Finca Río Seco vineyards located 1,700 mts above sea level in Cafayate, Salta meaning that the intense sunlight of the day is followed by bracingly cold nights. The end result is a wine beautifully balanced between flavour inducing sugars and precise acidity. Surrounded by ancient and magnificent cacti, the 18 year old vines produce approx. 8 tons per hectare. Grapes are hand harvested into 20kg containers during the first and second week of March. Cold pre-fermentative maceration for 4 days at 5 ºC. Alcoholic fermentation for 14 days at a controlled temperature between 26 ºC and 28 ºC. Post-fermentative maceration for 15 days. Spontaneous malolactic fermentation.
Producer
El Porvenir de Cafayate is one of Salta's premium but very affordable, high altitude wine producers. This small, family-owned winery in Cafayate, specialises in Torrontes, Malbec, Tannat and red blends from 45-50 year old vineyards which are amongst the highest in the world at 1900m asl and surrounded by 20ft, 200+ year old monster cacti. Colour in the reds here is profound due to the exposure to prolonged mountain sunlight, with soft tannins thanks in part to the extreme diurnal temperature differences... some mornings the catcti are thick with frost but within a few hours temperatures soar to the mid/high 20s!
El Porvenir – “the future” has been the name of this estate since it was founded in 1890. The winery and vineyards were restored by the Romero-Marcuzzi family in the 1990s and the main team is made up of company Director, Lucía Romero Marcuzzi, Winemaker Francisco 'Paco' Puga, and Agricultural Engineer Daniel Guillén, whose joint goal is to capture the essence of Cafayate's unique high altitude characters through their remarkable range of wines.
Sustainability
El Porvenir de Cafayate are in the process of being certified to international sustainability and organic standards. In collaboration with the renowned certifier ECOCERT, they are working hard to meet the standards required and hope to be fully certified soon.
Soil health is prioritised across all vineyards by using techniques that minimize erosion and promote biodiversity with a proactive approach to reducing herbicide use. Since 2022 they have welcomed a flock of 50 sheep to the farms. These lovely companions play a fundamental role in sustainable agriculture. By grazing the vineyards, they contribute to reducing carbon dioxide emissions and minimizing soil compaction. As they move, they weed and fertilize naturally, helping to maintain a balanced ecological cycle. As a result, soils are enriched with increased oxygenation and microbial life.
Specifications
| Year | 2024 |
| Bottle Size | 750ml |
| Cultivar | 100% Malbec |
| Country | Argentina |
|
|
|
| Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.5 units |
| Type | Red Wine |
| Food Matches | What can we say....Malbec was just made for steak! |
| Cellaring Potential | Awaiting info |
| Dietary Information | Vegetarian & Vegan approved |
| Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
| Appellation |
|
2020 MOKOBlack Pinot Noir Marlborough
Regular price £13.19 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Nose
This Pinot Noir reveals a bright nose of fresh cherries and raspberry jelly.
Palate
On the palate, there's dark cherry flavours with a lick of oak.

Production
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 Malo and ageing.
Specifications
| Year | 2020 |
| Bottle Size | 750ml |
| Cultivar | 100% Pinot Noir |
| Country | New Zealand |
|
Alcohol content
|
13% alc vol
|
| Units of alcohol per bottle | 9.8 units |
| Type | Red Wine |
| Allergen Information | Contains Sulphites |
| Dietary Information | Vegan & Vegetarian Approved |
| Food Matches |
Serve slightly chilled with delicate, rich and aromatic food such as duck dim sums, tempura fried vegetables and oriental salads. |
| Appellation | Marlborough |
2023 Pablo Walter Malbec
Regular price £13.29 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%A celebration of Mendoza - the colour, culture and flavour and a celebration of friendship. Visit Mendoza in Argentina and you can't help but be struck by the vibrant street life of this exciting city. This wine was created to reflect the vibrancy and life Mendoza oozes.
It's the lovechild of Argentinean winemaker Walter Bressia and Boutinot winemaker Guillaume Letang. We've been working with Walter for many years (the Pablo referring to our original owner, Paul Boutinot) and this Malbec is the perfect way to celebrate their long friendship.
Tasting Notes
A really pure expression of Malbec, deep red almost purple in colour and wonderfully aromatic with lifted violet, red currant and cassis notes. Muy, muy fantasticó – richly bloody, vibrant, Latin and velveteen.

The Estate
Established in 2000 the Vinecol estate is located in La Paz at the eastern end of Mendoza. Their 60 hectares adjoin the UNESCO-protected biosphere at Nacunan and thus benefits from its unpolluted waters. At around 1000m, their 100 hectares are all hand-harvested and are planted mostly with Malbec, Cabernet, Chardonnay, and Torrontes. They've invested in their local environment with a reforestation programme and have a vegetable garden for their staff and sponsor local schools!
Production
Produced from 25-year-old vines in the Agrelo district of Mendoza, close to Walter’s bodega in the rain shadow of the Cordon del Plata. The unwooded Malbec vinified in stainless steel to preserve the freshness and brightness of the fruit. Walter bought three spankingly new 25000-litre steel tanks specifically for this project and subsequently somehow crow-barred them into his small family bodega.
Awards
Bronze - Sommelier Wine Awards 2020 (2019 Vintage)
Specifications
| Year | 2023 |
| Bottle Size | 750ml |
| Cultivar | 100% Malbec |
| Country | Argentina |
| Alcohol content | 14 % alc vol |
| Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.8 units |
| Type | Red Wine |
| Food Matches | A juicy steak, churrasco de chorizo marinated with garlic, parsley and olive oil, grilled vegetables with chimichurri sauce. Or try it chilled - seriously, a cool version of this wine opens up a whole new world! |
| Dietary Information | Vegan & Vegetarian approved |
| Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
| Appellation |
Agrelo |
2023 Amauta Absoluto Torrontés
Regular price £12.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Tasting Notes
Bright and appealing with lovely fresh tropical fruit and citrus blossom notes. This is exotic stuff with lovely Eastern nuances of rose-petal, lemon grass and ginger. The palate is rich and aromatic, fresh and beautifully structured, with lovely rich ripe fruit and crisp acidity.

Production
Grapes are grown in the Finca El Retiro vineyards located 1,650 mts above sea level in Cafayate, Salta. Surrounded by ancient and magnificent cacti, the vineyard age is 65 years vines produce approx. 15 tones/hectares. Harvest takes place by hand in three batches between end of January when just ripe; 2 weeks later when just right; and one week after that which adds complexity. Use of selected yeast. Maceration in press with carbonic for 4 hours. Alcoholic fermentation for 25 days at a temperature between 13 ºC & 15 ºC. Non spontaneous malolactic fermentation.
Producer
El Porvenir de Cafayate is one of Salta's premium but very affordable, high altitude wine producers. This small, family-owned winery in Cafayate, specialises in Torrontes, Malbec, Tannat and red blends from 45-50 year old vineyards which are amongst the highest in the world at 1900m asl and surrounded by 20ft, 200+ year old monster cacti. Colour in the reds here is profound due to the exposure to prolonged mountain sunlight, with soft tannins thanks in part to the extreme diurnal temperature differences... some mornings the catcti are thick with frost but within a few hours temperatures soar to the mid/high 20s!
El Porvenir – “the future” has been the name of this estate since it was founded in 1890. The winery and vineyards were restored by the Romero-Marcuzzi family in the 1990s and the main team is made up of company Director, Lucía Romero Marcuzzi, Winemaker Francisco 'Paco' Puga, and Agricultural Engineer Daniel Guillén, whose joint goal is to capture the essence of Cafayate's unique high altitude characters through their remarkable range of wines.
Sustainability
El Porvenir de Cafayate are in the process of being certified to international sustainability and organic standards. In collaboration with the renowned certifier ECOCERT, they are working hard to meet the standards required and hope to be fully certified soon.
Soil health is prioritised across all vineyards by using techniques that minimize erosion and promote biodiversity with a proactive approach to reducing herbicide use. Since 2022 they have welcomed a flock of 50 sheep to the farms. These lovely companions play a fundamental role in sustainable agriculture. By grazing the vineyards, they contribute to reducing carbon dioxide emissions and minimizing soil compaction. As they move, they weed and fertilize naturally, helping to maintain a balanced ecological cycle. As a result, soils are enriched with increased oxygenation and microbial life.
Alan's Personal Tasting Note
"Fresh & beautifully aromatic, the tropical fruit laced with lemongrass& ginger. Good acidity, medium bodied & an exciting discovery off the beaten track for Sauvignon Blanc drinkers. Fresh as a daisy🌼🌼🌼high altitude, cool climate, high diurnal fluctuation, early picking & stainless steel fermentation all contribute to this fresh, attractive style - try it, it’s a beaut, and glorious value" JULY 2025
Specifications
| Year | 2023 |
| Bottle Size | 750ml |
| Cultivar | 100% Torrontés |
| Country | Argentina |
|
|
|
| Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 9 units |
| Type | White Wine |
| Food Matches | Delicious with hot and sour Asian dishes, or ceviche. |
| Cellaring Potential | Drink young, at a temperature of between 7°C and 10°C. |
| Dietary Information | Vegetarian & Vegan approved |
| Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
| Appellation |
|
2022 Schieber Pincészet Trilógia Kadarka
Regular price £14.29 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Kadarka is a very interesting grape. Most often used in Bikaver (Bulls Blood) blends, it can also produce distinctively vibrant, pale and juicy - even chillable - red wines such as this.
Tasting Notes
With a beautiful vibrant colour this wine has characteristic spicy notes on the nose along with crushed red berry fruit. Gentle handling of this dark skinned grape has resulted in a crisp and juicy pale red that is very quaffable .

Producer
The winery was established in 1978 as a family enterprise, under the name of Schieber Winery.
Vineyards are mainly located in two places – in the Baranya – valley and in the very famous Görögszó vineyard. Kadarka and Kékfrankos are mainly coming from the Baranya – valley , which is closed valley from the north. So it is very well protected from the cold northern winds. In the Baranya-valley they have ~40ha of vineyard and it has aspects for the east, west and south.
Schieber pay extra attention to producing excellent quality entry level wines, and use eco-friendly integral growing technology in the production system. The winery consists of 3 cellars with 3000 hectolitres of storage space, mainly quality red wine mellowed in wood barrels.
Production
Fermentation is in stainless steel tanks , using selected(cultured) yeast. The yeast used is a Terroir selected BIO yeast, which helps to elevate the characteristics of the terroir. Fermentation is controlled and takes about 2 weeks. With these varieties we have alcoholic and malolactic fermentations together, and this is what creates the super fruity and juicy notes in these wines! Around 10% goes to barrels so as not to overpower the varietal characteristics, but to add a bit of depth and complexity. The wine is filtered, while clarification is only done when it is necessary.
Specifications
| Year |
2022 |
| Bottle Size | 750ml |
| Cultivar | 100% Kadarka |
| Country | Hungary |
|
Alcohol content
|
12.5% alc vol
|
| Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 9,37 units |
| Type | Red Wine |
| Cellaring Potential | Awaiting info |
| Allergen Information | Contains Sulphites |
| Dietary Information |
Vegetarian, Vegan
|
| Food Matches | Pairs well with roast duck, and game dishes or, stuffed mushrooms. |
| Origin | Szekszárdi Borvidék |
2023 Strange Kompanjie Cinsault
Regular price £13.69 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%From mature, unirrigated bush vines in Paarl, this old dame is remarkably light on her feet. Inestimably life-affirming and a pure joy to drink.
Tasting Notes
Nose
The nose is alluringly bright with aromas of fresh cranberry and raspberry.
Palate
The palate reflects these with vibrant, crunchy red berry fruit, tangy acidity and warm, gently spicy notes. An immediately appealing and quaffable style with a serious streak of quality thanks to the low yielding bush vine fruit.

Production
28 year old, dry grown bush vine Cinsault from organically farmed blocks, brought to Wildeberg where roughly 30% of the fruit is carbonically macerated due to some whole bunch material in the press. The juice is then allowed to ferment naturally in older French oak. A naturally produced wine with no fining or filtration and low sulphur levels.
Producer
What’s this then? SKU is a casual band of happy ferments. A circus tent of the Cape’s stranger grapes and blends. We will champion the unfashionable, experiment with the known and express the found before it gets lost. Mistakes are likely, fun certain. Welcome to Strange Kompanjie, a Kultivar Club for the Underdog.
Specifications
| Year | 2023 |
| Bottle Size | 750ml |
| Cultivar | 100% Cinsault |
| Country | South Africa |
| Alcohol content | 13.5%alcohol |
| Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.2 units |
| Type | Red Wine |
| Features | Vegetarian & Vegan |
| Dietary Information | Contains Sulphites |
| Food Matches | Lightly chilled with Mediterranean dishes, chargrilled veg, pan-fried shrimp or Asian-inspired dishes. |
| Appellation | Paarl |
2021 Tohu Awatere Valley Unoaked Chardonnay
Regular price £16.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Nose
Untouched by oak, this richly textured Marlborough Chardonnay displays aromas of ripe nectarine, melon and bright citrus underpinned by complex nutty butterscotch gained from both extended time on lees and malolactic fermentation.
Palate
On the palate fresh flavours of peach and tropical fruit are balanced with subtle creaminess and great length; leading to a smooth, fresh and focused finish.

Viticulture
The grapes for this wine were sourced solely from the Rothay vineyard located in the Marlborough’s Rapaura sub-region of the Wairau Valley. Trained using a spilt-canopy trellising system, the vines were managed throughout the growing season with practices including shoot thinning, trimming and leaf plucking, allowing for an open canopy and reduced disease pressure. The vineyard’s warm daytime temperatures and stony free-draining soils helped the grapes to ripen in a difficult season, with pristine, ripe fruit was harvested earlier than average on the 30th April 2018.
Vinification
Machine harvested and fully fermented and aged in temperature controlled stainless steel tanks, this wine has been created to allow the fresh complexities of the fruit to shine through without the need for any oak influence. After harvesting the grapes for this wine were transported a short distance to the winery before being gently pressed. Cold settled over 48 hours, the resulting clear juice was racked into tanks for inoculation with yeast carefully selected to retain fruit purity. After fermentation at reasonably cool temperatures, the wine then underwent secondary malo-lactic fermentation before being aged in tank. Lees stirring was employed to build texture and complexity while still retaining fruit freshness, before being filtered and bottled in February 2019 without the need for any fining.
Producer
Tohu produces award-winning New Zealand wine crafted from grapes grown in our breathtakingly beautiful, Awatere Valley vineyard. When Tohu launched in 1998 we were the world's first Maori-owned wine company. Since then we’ve grown a reputation for producing premium wine in a range of varieties, winning awards for our Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Riesling, Pinot Noir and Méthode Traditionnelle.
Specifications
| Year | 2021 |
| Bottle Size | 750ml |
| Cultivar | 100% Chardonnay |
| Country | New Zealand |
|
|
|
| Units of alcohol per bottle | 9.8 units |
| Type | White Wine |
| Allergen Information | Contains Sulphites |
| Dietary Information | Vegan & Vegetarian Approved |
| Food Matches |
Sweet chilli-spiced fishcakes with coriander hollandaise sauce |
| Appellation | Marlborough |
2023 Waterkloof 'Circle of Life' Red
Regular price £14.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%A rewarding and satisfyingly juicy mix of Cab Franc, Petit Verdot and Syrah. Circle of Life tells the story of Waterkloof: a once conventionally farmed property transformed into a living, breathing organic and regenerative vineyard by Farm Manager Christiaan Loots and his team.
Tasting notes
A harmonious blend that combines the spiciness of Syrah, the ripe, youthful fruits of Petit Verdot and the juiciness from Cabernet Franc. The beginning is fresh and full of fruit with good acidity, evolving into riper flavours with lightly spicy notes. Elegant tannins and fine, bright acid on the finish.

Production
Circle of Life Red is neither defined by grape varietals, nor indeed a specific block within the vineyard, but instead encapsulates the myriad soils, aspects, altitudes and grape varieties found on this windswept, biodynamic farm. The windswept vineyard blocks are all south facing (less sun exposure), 200-350m above sea-level and a mere 2 miles from The Atlantic. These factors combine to produce low yields, balanced grapes and wines with a true sense of place. Production is a miserly 4 tons/hectare. Grapes are hand-harvested and brought to the cellar by horses for hand-sorting. Bordeaux varietals are de-stemmed, whilst Rhone varietals are whole bunch pressed. Fermentation takes place spontaneously with wild yeast in large, open-top wooden fermenters with foot-pressing or manual punch-downs 1-2 times per day. The wine is left on skins for 30 days before going through malolactic fermentation in mainly old barrels, then ageing for 20 months in the same vessels. The components are then blended and the wine ages futher in large wooden foudre. No fining, just a light filtration. No additons other than sulphur. Vegan friendly, biodynamic wine.
Producer
Founded by Paul Boutinot in 2004, Waterkloof is a family-owned farm using organic practices. The farm is perched high up on the windswept Schapenberg, overlooking False Bay and The Atlantic Ocean. Living soils, naturally low yields and a long growing season help provide talented Cellarmaster Nadia Barnard with naturally balanced grapes that are imbued with a truly defining sense of origin. Those grapes are then transformed into wine with a minimum of intervention. The resulting wines are fine, inimitable and best enjoyed with food.
Sustainability
As well as being ECOCERT certified as organic, and working biodynamically, Waterkloof goes much further than many in its efforts to be a highly sustainable winery. A member of The Integrated Production of Wine Scheme, a voluntary environmental sustainability scheme established by the South African wine industry in 1998, and of The Wine and Agricultural Ethical Trading Association, a multi-stakeholder, non-profit voluntary organisation which actively promotes ethical trade in the wine industry, it is has also been a member of the World Wildlife Fund’s Biodiversity & Wine Initiative from its inception. Through a partnership between the IPW and the BWI, Waterkloof is a WWF Conservation Champion and has in place a formal nature conservation plan that includes: clearing approximately 55 hectares of land from alien invader species and restoring the Cape’s precious indigenous flora and fauna; re-establishing natural vegetation in previously disturbed areas; introducing preventive erosion control measures; providing migration corridors for species between isolated areas of natural vegetation; mulching of winter cover crops to create a healthy environment for the natural predators of vine pests and installing perches for birds of prey for natural rodent control measures.In the vineyards, drip irrigation is used only on young vines as a more efficient system to conserve water. Most of Waterkloof is dry-farmed; the biological control of pests is employed as an alternative to chemical spraying; annual legume cover crops are sown to add nitrogen to the soil and annual grain cover crops are sown in alternate rows as a carbon source and to return nutrients to the soil; earthworms are farmed and their casts are used to make a tea, which is used on the cover crops and soil as a living fertiliser; 380-400 tons of compost a year are made each year to boost carbon matter in the soil, to enhance its water holding capacity, and to boost the level of microbes in the soil keeping it fertile and alive; and, as part of the estate’s biodynamic regime, various foliar feeds are made. No damaging herbicides, pesticides or fungicide are used, only natural predatory fungi and metabolites to control mildew and to build the plants’ immunity. Six Percheron horses are used to plough, compost, spray and harvest the vineyards to reduce damage to the soil and vines and to reduce carbon emissions. Using the horses also teaches the handlers the rare skill of training these horses. A flock of chickens reduces the number of pests in the vineyard and returns nitrogen to the soil and compost, as well as providing fresh, free-range eggs for the restaurant. A small herd of cows is kept, which is key to producing biodynamic composts and teas, and a flock of sheep and a herd of goats are allowed to graze in the vineyards in winter to naturally reduce the level of weeds and vegetation between vine rows, as well as to put nitrogen back into the soil.
In the cellar, waste water gets pumped through a stainless-steel filter into a bioreactor where it is combined with the rest of the waste water from the building. Aerobic bacteria remove most of the contaminants before the water is pumped into a sand bed to remove any solids. From there, it runs into a reed bed for a final clean up and it is then used to irrigate the young vines. Peroxide is used a cleaning agent in the cellar as it breaks down in water after 15 minutes, leaving no residue. The cellar itself is built into the hillside to maintain a stable temperature, to avoid pumping the wines and hence reducing energy usage. Used boxes, dividers, bottles, screwcaps, plastics, paper and labels are recycled with an external company that take everything away for recycling. Old, unused bottles are sold to bottle recyclers who wash and resell them.
Specifications
| Year | 2023 |
| Bottle Size | 750ml |
| Cultivar | 38% Cabernet Franc, 28% Merlot, 18% Syrah, 16% Petit Verdot |
| Country | South Africa |
|
Alcohol content
|
12.5% alc vol
|
| Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 9.4 units |
| Type | Red Wine Blend |
| Cellaring Potential | Awaiting info |
| Features | Vegetarian, Vegan, Sustainable, Natural |
| Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
| This very versatile wine will complement numerous dishes from a tomato based stew to meat on the bone. | |
| Origin | Stellenbosch |
| Appellation | WO Stellenbosch |
2023 Ventisquero Reserva Sauvignon Blanc
Regular price £12.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Colour
Pale yellow in color with light green hints.
Nose
This Ventisquero Reserva Sauvignon Blanc wine has complex and elegant nose offers up aromas of lime, grapefruit, pineapple and pear complemented by floral and mineral touches.
Palate
In mouth it is fresh, well-balanced with a rich acidity and soft body, where citric and tropical fruits reappear with mineral finish that delivers complexity and elegance.

Background
Ventisquero began making wine in 2000. Today, the winery is led by a young, creative team of entrepreneurs who guide us to a single purpose: creating distinctive, high quality wines. They look for innovative ways to communicate with their target audience and to market our products around the world.
Under the guidance of head winemaker Felipe Tosso, the winery was built in the Coastal Maipo Valley, where grapes for their first wines were produced. Three years later, they ventured into the Casablanca Valley and the prestigious Apalta Valley, the source today for Vina Ventisquero's premium wines.
With estate-owned vineyards in Chile's top wine producing areas – Coastal Maipo, Casablanca, Leyda and Colchagua – and extensive research to uncover the secrets of the country's unique terroir, Vina Ventisquero seeks to produce wines of the highest quality and consistency.
Awards
- 2017 Vintage: Commended – International Wine Challenge
- 2016 Vintage: Bronze – International Wine Challenge
- 2007 Vintage: Commended – International Wine Challenge
- 2008 Vintage: Silver – Mundus Vini
- 2006 Vintage: Commended – Decanter World Wine Awards
- 2005 Vintage: Gold – Concours Mondial de Bruxelles
Specifications
| Year | 2023 |
| Bottle Size | 750ml |
| Cultivar | 100% Sauvignon Blanc |
| Country | Chile |
|
|
|
| Units of alcohol per bottle | 9.4 units |
| Type | White Wine |
| Allergen Information | Contains Sulphites |
| Food Matches |
This wine is ideally paired with salads, shellfish, cebiches and mild, white fish in lime or lemon preparations. It goes wonderfully with fresh cheese or cream-based dishes and white meats, but can also be enjoyed on its own as an aperitif. |
| Appellation | Valle De Casablanca |
2022 Dornier Cocoa Hills Sauvignon Blanc
Regular price £14.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Among them was Long Ben – as fierce as he was tall,
he looted and pillaged and scavenged from all.
Ben fast became known for being up to no good,
and so fled from the seas and gave up his loot.
He planted some vines, as was the way,
and peered out towards the ocean almost every day.
Long Ben would have gazed longingly at the vista of Table Bay
from where our vines grow today, on Cocoa Hill.
Tasting Notes
This Sauvignon Blanc is made from grapes from the Stellenbosch and Elgin area. The wine has an attractive green tinge in the glass with intense aromas of gooseberry, ripe passion fruit and lime. The mouthfeel is lively with tastes of green melon and lemon with a lingering aftertaste.

Dornier aims to make a wine that is fresh, youthful and abundant. Balance between the fruit, alcohol and acidity is of utmost importance.
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.
Fermentation & Aging
Grapes were harvested between 19° and 23° Balling to ensure fresh acidity and riper flavours in the wine. Fermentation was at 14° Celsius with further time on the lees to add to complexity and texture.
In the Vineyard
Growing conditions during the 2022 season were almost hassle-free. The cold and wet winter season was followed by a cool spring and early summer that led to excellent flavour development in the grapes.
Specifications
| Year | 2022 |
| Bottle Size | 750ml |
| Cultivar | 100% Sauvignon Blanc |
| Country | South Africa |
|
Alcohol content
|
13% alc vol
|
| Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 9.8 units |
| Type | White Wine |
| Cellaring Potential |
Up to 2 years |
| Food Matching |
With its refreshing character this wine pairs well with salads, seafood and other Mediterranean dishes. |
| Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
| Origin | Stellenbosch & Elgin |
| Appellation | WO Western Cape |
2024 Strange Bru Fernao Pires
Regular price £12.49 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Tasting Notes
Nose
A mineral nose of crushed granite, peach kernel and petrichor.
Palate
On the palate, the sandy seam underpins ripe, juicy stonefruit flesh. The wine finishes tight and bright with a clean, lightly floral finish.

Production
Of the last blocks of Fernao left in the Cape this is the oldest at 30-something years old. Originally grown for yield and brandy this Portuguese immigrant certainly found its feet but fell out of favour. Which is where we all come in.. Before we lose ‘em let’s use ‘em. All the rock-stars are sniffing around this block now which is good for its future but here is an accessibly-priced expression of the loveliness of the Found before it gets Lost. In Portugal the variety is also known as Maria Gomes, which is strangely sexy in itself. Best drunk in its youth this wine is not for later, it’s definitely Fernao.
Specifications
| Year | 2024 |
| Bottle Size | 750ml |
| Cultivar | 100% Fernao Pires |
| Country | South Africa |
|
|
|
| Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 9.8 units |
| Type | White Wine |
| Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
| Food Matches | Coconut infused curry, fish with a mango salad, pan roasted chicken. |
| Origin | Western Cape |
| Appellation | WO Western Cape |
2021 Logan Apple Tree Flat Shiraz
Regular price £12.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Once upon a time, in a little town called Apple Tree Flat, a humble winemaker created quality, true varietal wines that were affordable enough to enjoy every day.
Luckily, this story is true.
The beauty of these wines can be found inside the bottle and out. The labels feature hand-drawn illustrations depicting the people, places and experiences of our winemaker’s home and winery. Whilst inside the bottle you'll find fruit driven wines with excellent regional expression that represent astounding value for mone
Despite such humble beginnings, Apple Tree Flat wines make big waves in Australia and around the world.
Tasting Notes
The lovely 2021 Apple Tree Flat Shiraz has inviting aromas of raspberry, bayleaf and a slight floral lift, before a warm welcome to the palette of red berries, clove, smooth peppers and soft tannins.

Winemaking
After crushing the grapes were fermented in stainless steel. The cap was pumped over twice a day during the 7- day fermentation period, then 100% matured in stainless steel. The wine was filtered before bottling.
Vintage
The Shiraz grapes for this dry red were harvested at 12.63° Baumé on the 29th March 2021. The 2021 growing season was a tough one in the NSW Central Ranges, although overall quality was high. Yields in the Orange region were pitifully low, about 10-15% of an average year, due to a hangover from the 2018-2020 drought, snow in November and some large rain events late in the growing season which required us to remove any mould or fungus affected grapes.
Yields in Mudgee were healthier but still a little down on average. Temperatures were cooler than average leading to slow, steady ripening, however the sunshine throughout produced clearly varietal wines, generally with lower alcohol levels.
Specifications
| Year | 2021 |
| Bottle Size | 750ml |
| Cultivar | 100% Shiraz |
| Country | Australia |
| Alcohol content | 13% |
|
Units of Alcohol per Bottle
|
9.75 units |
| Type | Red Wine |
| Features | Sustainably Farmed |
| Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
| Origin | Australia |
2024 Waterkloof Seriously Cool Chenin Blanc
Regular price £11.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Tasting Notes
A bright, vibrant style of Chenin with aromas of citrus, white flowers and a hint of honey. Ripe and full flavoured with a rounded mouthfeel thanks to long fermentation and extended lees contact. Nice concentration of stone fruit characters with hints of dried apricot and mango. Good balancing acidity on the clean, fresh finish.
Production
Crafted from 30-40 year old bush-vine vineyards in the Helderberg area supplemented by fruit from another dry grown block in Stellenbosch. The vineyards are close to the ocean, which ensure a long growing season and allows for ripe fruit with good concentration and a balanced acidity. Production from these grand dames of South African viticultural heritage is a miserly 4 tons/hectare. Waterkloof follow a traditional, minimalistic approach in their gravitational cellar which means interfering as little as possible with the winemaking process. This allows the flavours prevalent in that specific vineyard to ultimately express themselves in the wine. To achieve this goal, all grapes are whole-bunch pressed, which ensures that juice is extracted in the gentlest way. The juice is then allowed to settle for 24 hours after which it is racked from the settling tank into stainless steel tanks, concrete eggs and older 600 liter barrels. They do not inoculate the juice with commercially cultivated yeast, but allow the wild yeast prevailing in the vineyard to ferment the juice. No additional acid or enzymes are added during the process. The natural fermentation process took 5 months to complete and only a light filtration was used prior to bottling. The only addition is a small amount of sulphur before bottling.
Producer
Founded by Paul Boutinot in 2004, Waterkloof is a family-owned farm using organic practices. The farm is perched high up on the windswept Schapenberg, overlooking False Bay and The Atlantic Ocean. Living soils, naturally low yields and a long growing season help provide talented Cellarmaster Nadia Barnard with naturally balanced grapes that are imbued with a truly defining sense of origin. Those grapes are then transformed into wine with a minimum of intervention. The resulting wines are fine, inimitable and best enjoyed with food.
Sustainability
As well as being ECOCERT certified as organic, and working biodynamically, Waterkloof goes much further than many in its efforts to be a highly sustainable winery. A member of The Integrated Production of Wine Scheme, a voluntary environmental sustainability scheme established by the South African wine industry in 1998, and of The Wine and Agricultural Ethical Trading Association, a multi-stakeholder, non-profit voluntary organisation which actively promotes ethical trade in the wine industry, it is has also been a member of the World Wildlife Fund’s Biodiversity & Wine Initiative from its inception. Through a partnership between the IPW and the BWI, Waterkloof is a WWF Conservation Champion and has in place a formal nature conservation plan that includes: clearing approximately 55 hectares of land from alien invader species and restoring the Cape’s precious indigenous flora and fauna; re-establishing natural vegetation in previously disturbed areas; introducing preventive erosion control measures; providing migration corridors for species between isolated areas of natural vegetation; mulching of winter cover crops to create a healthy environment for the natural predators of vine pests and installing perches for birds of prey for natural rodent control measures.
In the vineyards, drip irrigation is used only on young vines as a more efficient system to conserve water. Most of Waterkloof is dry-farmed; the biological control of pests is employed as an alternative to chemical spraying; annual legume cover crops are sown to add nitrogen to the soil and annual grain cover crops are sown in alternate rows as a carbon source and to return nutrients to the soil; earthworms are farmed and their casts are used to make a tea, which is used on the cover crops and soil as a living fertiliser; 380-400 tons of compost a year are made each year to boost carbon matter in the soil, to enhance its water holding capacity, and to boost the level of microbes in the soil keeping it fertile and alive; and, as part of the estate’s biodynamic regime, various foliar feeds are made. No damaging herbicides, pesticides or fungicide are used, only natural predatory fungi and metabolites to control mildew and to build the plants’ immunity. Six Percheron horses are used to plough, compost, spray and harvest the vineyards to reduce damage to the soil and vines and to reduce carbon emissions. Using the horses also teaches the handlers the rare skill of training these horses. A flock of chickens reduces the number of pests in the vineyard and returns nitrogen to the soil and compost, as well as providing fresh, free-range eggs for the restaurant. A small herd of cows is kept, which is key to producing biodynamic composts and teas, and a flock of sheep and a herd of goats are allowed to graze in the vineyards in winter to naturally reduce the level of weeds and vegetation between vine rows, as well as to put nitrogen back into the soil.
In the cellar, waste water gets pumped through a stainless-steel filter into a bioreactor where it is combined with the rest of the waste water from the building. Aerobic bacteria remove most of the contaminants before the water is pumped into a sand bed to remove any solids. From there, it runs into a reed bed for a final clean up and it is then used to irrigate the young vines. Peroxide is used a cleaning agent in the cellar as it breaks down in water after 15 minutes, leaving no residue. The cellar itself is built into the hillside to maintain a stable temperature, to avoid pumping the wines and hence reducing energy usage. Used boxes, dividers, bottles, screwcaps, plastics, paper and labels are recycled with an external company that take everything away for recycling. Old, unused bottles are sold to bottle recyclers who wash and resell them.
Specifications
| Year | 2024 |
| Bottle Size | 750ml |
| Cultivar | 100% Chenin Blanc |
| Country | South Africa |
|
Alcohol content
|
13% alc vol
|
| Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 9.8 units |
| Type | White Wine |
| Cellaring Potential | Awaiting info |
| Features | Vegetarian, Vegan, Sustainable, Natural |
| Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
| Food Matches | Great with seafood, pasta, salads, chicken... just give it a go with anything you want. |
| Origin | Stellenbosch |
| Appellation | South Africa |
2023 Doña Paula Unique Organic Malbec
Regular price £13.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Moments, stories and shared drinks are Unique. This wine knows the only way is that of sustainability, is Unique.
Nose
Unique is an organic wine of intense red fruit aromas and herbal notes reminiscent of peppermint and wild herbs, with some spice.
Palate
In the mouth, it’s a medium-bodied wine, with fine-textured tannins and balanced acidity.

Vinification
Wine fermented with native yeasts and aged in concrete vessels for 10 months. It has not been aged in oak barrels, which accentuates the fruity character of this Malbec.
The Estate
Trellised, 15 years old, with traditional irrigation and grapes harvested by hand.
Specifications
| Year | 2023 |
| Bottle Size | 750ml |
| Cultivar | 100% Malbec |
| Country | Argentina |
|
|
|
| Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 9.4 units |
| Type | Red Wine |
| Aged | Oak aged |
| Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
| Features | Vegan and Vegetarian, Sustainable practices |
| Food Matches | Pairs well with both red and white meat. Cheese, nuts and sauces. |
| Appellation | Mendoza |
2021 The Big Top Old Vine Zinfandel
Regular price £12.29 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%
Tasting Notes
Aromas of vanilla, cracked black pepper and dark damson fruit. On the palate this wine is round and fleshy, beautifully balanced and packed full with robust red fruit flavours and a lick of oak.

Production
The grapes are selected from old vine Zinfandel vineyards in the Lodi region of central California. Vinified in stainless steel tanks and sees a little oak ageing.
Producer
Boutinot has been working with growers in California for over 10 years, finessing our offering from vintage to vintage, increasingly with specific estates sourcing old vine material and site-specific fruit. The current range of wines are sourced from the warm region of Lodi in Central California, to which Samantha Bailey brings her esteemed palate and decades experience to hone these elements into the brightest wines of The Golden State.
Specifications
| Year | 2021 |
| Bottle Size | 750ml |
| Cultivar | 100% Zinfandel |
| Country | USA |
|
|
|
| Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.1 units |
| Type |
Red Wine |
| Allergen Information | Contains Sulphites and no other allergens |
| Food Matches |
Great with roasts and BBQs. |
| Appellation | Lodi, Central California |
2024 Pequeñas Fermentaciones Naranjo Torrontes/Moscatel [Orange Wine]
Regular price £18.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Tasting Notes
The subtle aromatics of this accessible orange wine, lead to a burst of flavour on the palate which is alive with texture, clementines and citrus oil zestiness. The heady exotic, lychee aromatics and natural richness of the two varieties, are beautifully offset by the natural acidity and sandy texture of the orange wine making process. A genuine orange wine.
![2024 Pequeñas Fermentaciones Naranjo Torrontes/Moscatel [Orange Wine]](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0174/5118/8278/files/3_Images_43_1024x1024.png?v=1747952803)
Production
This wine was made with Torrontes and Pink Moscatel planted in 1945. The grapes were fermented in contact with the seeds and skins in concrete eggs for six months.
Producer
El Porvenir de Cafayate is one of Salta's premium but very affordable, high altitude wine producers. This small, family-owned winery in Cafayate, specialises in Torrontes, Malbec, Tannat and red blends from 45-50 year old vineyards which are amongst the highest in the world at 1900m asl and surrounded by 20ft, 200+ year old monster cacti. Colour in the reds here is profound due to the exposure to prolonged mountain sunlight, with soft tannins thanks in part to the extreme diurnal temperature differences... some mornings the catcti are thick with frost but within a few hours temperatures soar to the mid/high 20s!
El Porvenir – “the future” has been the name of this estate since it was founded in 1890. The winery and vineyards were restored by the Romero-Marcuzzi family in the 1990s and the main team is made up of company Director, Lucía Romero Marcuzzi, Winemaker Francisco 'Paco' Puga, and Agricultural Engineer Daniel Guillén, whose joint goal is to capture the essence of Cafayate's unique high altitude characters through their remarkable range of wines.
Sustainability
El Porvenir de Cafayate are in the process of being certified to international sustainability and organic standards. In collaboration with the renowned certifier ECOCERT, they are working hard to meet the standards required and hope to be fully certified soon.
Soil health is prioritised across all vineyards by using techniques that minimize erosion and promote biodiversity with a proactive approach to reducing herbicide use. Since 2022 they have welcomed a flock of 50 sheep to the farms. These lovely companions play a fundamental role in sustainable agriculture. By grazing the vineyards, they contribute to reducing carbon dioxide emissions and minimizing soil compaction. As they move, they weed and fertilize naturally, helping to maintain a balanced ecological cycle. As a result, soils are enriched with increased oxygenation and microbial life.
Specifications
| Year | 2023 |
| Bottle Size | 750ml |
| Cultivar | Torrontes 60%, Moscatel 40% |
| Country | Argentina |
|
|
|
| Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 9.75 units |
| Type | Orange Wine |
| Food Matches | Try with roasted cauliflower or grilled halloumi dishes. |
| Cellaring Potential | Awaiting info |
| Dietary Information | Vegetarian & Vegan approved |
| Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
| Appellation |
|
2024 Amauta Absoluto Tannat
Regular price £13.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Tasting Notes
Intense purple in colour with a dark framboise nose, exotic spice and hints of ripe fig. Given the density of colour the palate is bright, fresh and fluid, with notes of ripe plum and dark cherry compote over a long, very gently mineral finish that is sewn-through with a distinctly saline thread.

Production
Grapes are grown in the Finca Río Seco vineyards located at 1.700 meters above sea level in the Valley of Cafayate, Salta. Surrounded by ancient and magnificent cacti, the vines are 15 years old and produce approx. 7 tones/hectare. Grapes are harvested in the 3rd week of April, by hand in bins of 20 kg. Pre-fermentative maceration for 6 days at 4 ºC. Alcoholic maceration for 15 days at a controlled temperature between 26 ºC and 28 ºC. Post-fermentative maceration for 10 days. Spontaneous malolactic fermentation.
Producer
El Porvenir de Cafayate is one of Salta's premium but very affordable, high altitude wine producers. This small, family-owned winery in Cafayate, specialises in Torrontes, Malbec, Tannat and red blends from 45-50 year old vineyards which are amongst the highest in the world at 1900m asl and surrounded by 20ft, 200+ year old monster cacti. Colour in the reds here is profound due to the exposure to prolonged mountain sunlight, with soft tannins thanks in part to the extreme diurnal temperature differences... some mornings the catcti are thick with frost but within a few hours temperatures soar to the mid/high 20s!
El Porvenir – “the future” has been the name of this estate since it was founded in 1890. The winery and vineyards were restored by the Romero-Marcuzzi family in the 1990s and the main team is made up of company Director, Lucía Romero Marcuzzi, Winemaker Francisco 'Paco' Puga, and Agricultural Engineer Daniel Guillén, whose joint goal is to capture the essence of Cafayate's unique high altitude characters through their remarkable range of wines.
Sustainability
El Porvenir de Cafayate are in the process of being certified to international sustainability and organic standards. In collaboration with the renowned certifier ECOCERT, they are working hard to meet the standards required and hope to be fully certified soon.
Soil health is prioritised across all vineyards by using techniques that minimize erosion and promote biodiversity with a proactive approach to reducing herbicide use. Since 2022 they have welcomed a flock of 50 sheep to the farms. These lovely companions play a fundamental role in sustainable agriculture. By grazing the vineyards, they contribute to reducing carbon dioxide emissions and minimizing soil compaction. As they move, they weed and fertilize naturally, helping to maintain a balanced ecological cycle. As a result, soils are enriched with increased oxygenation and microbial life.
Specifications
| Year | 2024 |
| Bottle Size | 750ml |
| Cultivar | 100% Tannat |
| Country | Argentina |
|
|
|
| Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.5 units |
| Type | Red Wine |
| Food Matches | Red meat is the order of the day, with salt-marsh lamb or chargrilled steak being a good match. |
| Cellaring Potential | Awaiting info |
| Dietary Information | Vegetarian & Vegan approved |
| Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
| Appellation |
|
2021 Dornier Cocoa Hill Ruby Red
Regular price £14.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Among them was Long Ben – as fierce as he was tall,
he looted and pillaged and scavenged from all.
Ben fast became known for being up to no good,
and so fled from the seas and gave up his loot.
He planted some vines, as was the way,
and peered out towards the ocean almost every day.
Long Ben would have gazed longingly at the vista of Table Bay
from where our vines grow today, on Cocoa Hill.”
Tasting Notes
Aromas of raspberry, cherry and a hint of eucalyptus. The palate is full, fresh and lively with a subtle and well-balanced tannin structure.

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.
Fermentation & Aging
All components of this blend were fermented separately in vineyard specific batches with pump-overs for colour and tannin extraction being performed five times daily. The wine was barrel matured for 12 months in French oak barrels and a small un-oaked component was used to provide a fresh and lively character.
Vintage Conditions
The vines are planted on our Groenkloof farm on the slopes of the Stellenbosch Mountain. The soil is composed of coffee coloured decomposed granite. The vines get full sun which allows for optimum development of rich berry characters in the grapes.
Accolades
- 4.5 John Platter Stars
- TOP 100 SA Wines
- Veritas Silver Outstanding
Specifications
| Year | 2021 |
| Bottle Size | 750ml |
| Cultivar |
Merlot (34%), Shiraz (30%), Cabernet Sauvignon (19%), Malbec (14%) and Petit Verdot (3%) |
| Country | South Africa |
|
Alcohol content
|
15% alc vol
|
| Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 11.3 units |
| Type | Red Wine |
| Cellaring Potential |
Up to 5 years |
| Food Matching | Braised oxtail, Boeuf bourguignon, charcuterie platter and smoked kudu Carpaccio. |
| Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
| Origin | Stellenbosch |
| Appellation | WO Western Cape |
2021 Logan Apple Tree Flat Chardonnay
Regular price £12.49 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Once upon a time, in a little town called Apple Tree Flat, a humble winemaker created quality, true varietal wines that were affordable enough to enjoy every day.
Luckily, this story is true.
The beauty of these wines can be found inside the bottle and out. The labels feature hand-drawn illustrations depicting the people, places and experiences of our winemaker’s home and winery. Whilst inside the bottle you'll find fruit driven wines with excellent regional expression that represent astounding value for mone
Despite such humble beginnings, Apple Tree Flat wines make big waves in Australia and around the world.
Tasting Notes
Floral honeysuckle, peach and pear make up the aroma, with a smooth palate of lemon, nashi pear and nectarine before a long lingering finish.

Winemaking
After crushing and gentle pressing, the juice was clarified by flotation. The pressings were oxidatively handled as juice while the free run was treated anaerobically. The fermentations were carried out by wild yeasts and took place over 18 days in stainless steel tanks. The wine remained on yeast lees for 8 months
Region
The chardonnay grapes for this dry white were harvested at 12.5° Baumé on the 26th February and 14th March 2019 in Mudgee and Orange, New South Wales. The chardonnay vineyards were 46 and 19 years old respectively.
The 2019 growing season was warm and very dry in the NSW Central Ranges, however enough well-spaced rain events across the season allowed the grapes to progress through to ripeness without suffering undue stress. These conditions resulted in a compact harvest period with clean fruit and yields per vine a little lower than average. Ripeness occurred at low sugar levels resulting in generally low alcohol in the wines.
One vineyard is trained to Geneva Double Curtain Trellis type, with the other being Vertical Shoot Position (VSP).
Diane's Personal Tasting Note
“ Beautiful sunshine fruit flavours with a complex ‘leesy’ creaminess and enough acidity to keep it fresh & balanced. At this price point and this age many contenporaries would have died before now. The fact that it’s still a decent, well balanced glass shows fabulous winemaking. It will probably be decent for another 6-12 months. In the meantime enjoy sunshine in a glass!” December 2024
Specifications
| Year | 2021 |
| Bottle Size | 750ml |
| Cultivar | 100% Chardonnay |
| Country | Australia |
| Alcohol content | 12.5% |
|
Units of Alcohol per Bottle
|
9.4 units |
| Type | White Wine |
| Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
| Appellation | Mudgee & Orange Regions |
| Origin | Australia |
2023 Waterkloof Circumstance 'Seriously Cool' Cinsault
Regular price £12.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Tasting Notes
Vibrant red fruits on the nose with a savoury, fynbos finesse. On the palate it has ripe, black cherry fruit offset by cranberry freshness and texture with taut acidity on the finish.

Production
Seriously Cool Cinsault is crafted from 30 to 35 year old bush-vine vineyards on the outskirts of Stellenbosch. The vineyards are close to the ocean, which ensure a long growing season and allows for ripe fruit with good concentration and a balanced acidity. Production from these grand dames of South African viticultural heritage is a miserly 4 tons/hectare. Grapes are hand-harvested and brought to the cellar, where the bunches are hand-sorted and fermented whole-bunch in large wooden fermenters. Alcoholic fermentation starts spontaneously inside the berry from the naturally occurring yeast. After around 3 days of this intracellular fermentation the grapes are punched down twice daily with feet to ensure that the berries are broken slowly and softly and not over extracted. The wine is kept on the skins for a minimum of 30 days. ‘Powered’ through gravity alone, the wine runs down to a tank below. The remaining berries, fall into the basket press where they are gently pressed. The soft pressing and the free-run are then placed together in second and third fill 600L French oak barrels to finish malolactic fermentation and the wine is then aged for 8 months. This wine expresses the grapes in their purest form and no fining agents were added. Only sulphur was added and no other additions, such as tartaric acid or enzymes were allowed.
Producer
Founded by Paul Boutinot in 2004, Waterkloof is a family-owned farm using organic practices. The farm is perched high up on the windswept Schapenberg, overlooking False Bay and The Atlantic Ocean. Living soils, naturally low yields and a long growing season help provide talented Cellarmaster Nadia Barnard with naturally balanced grapes that are imbued with a truly defining sense of origin. Those grapes are then transformed into wine with a minimum of intervention. The resulting wines are fine, inimitable and best enjoyed with food.
Sustainability
As well as being ECOCERT certified as organic, and working biodynamically, Waterkloof goes much further than many in its efforts to be a highly sustainable winery. A member of The Integrated Production of Wine Scheme, a voluntary environmental sustainability scheme established by the South African wine industry in 1998, and of The Wine and Agricultural Ethical Trading Association, a multi-stakeholder, non-profit voluntary organisation which actively promotes ethical trade in the wine industry, it is has also been a member of the World Wildlife Fund’s Biodiversity & Wine Initiative from its inception. Through a partnership between the IPW and the BWI, Waterkloof is a WWF Conservation Champion and has in place a formal nature conservation plan that includes: clearing approximately 55 hectares of land from alien invader species and restoring the Cape’s precious indigenous flora and fauna; re-establishing natural vegetation in previously disturbed areas; introducing preventive erosion control measures; providing migration corridors for species between isolated areas of natural vegetation; mulching of winter cover crops to create a healthy environment for the natural predators of vine pests and installing perches for birds of prey for natural rodent control measures.
In the vineyards, drip irrigation is used only on young vines as a more efficient system to conserve water. Most of Waterkloof is dry-farmed; the biological control of pests is employed as an alternative to chemical spraying; annual legume cover crops are sown to add nitrogen to the soil and annual grain cover crops are sown in alternate rows as a carbon source and to return nutrients to the soil; earthworms are farmed and their casts are used to make a tea, which is used on the cover crops and soil as a living fertiliser; 380-400 tons of compost a year are made each year to boost carbon matter in the soil, to enhance its water holding capacity, and to boost the level of microbes in the soil keeping it fertile and alive; and, as part of the estate’s biodynamic regime, various foliar feeds are made. No damaging herbicides, pesticides or fungicide are used, only natural predatory fungi and metabolites to control mildew and to build the plants’ immunity. Six Percheron horses are used to plough, compost, spray and harvest the vineyards to reduce damage to the soil and vines and to reduce carbon emissions. Using the horses also teaches the handlers the rare skill of training these horses. A flock of chickens reduces the number of pests in the vineyard and returns nitrogen to the soil and compost, as well as providing fresh, free-range eggs for the restaurant. A small herd of cows is kept, which is key to producing biodynamic composts and teas, and a flock of sheep and a herd of goats are allowed to graze in the vineyards in winter to naturally reduce the level of weeds and vegetation between vine rows, as well as to put nitrogen back into the soil.
In the cellar, waste water gets pumped through a stainless-steel filter into a bioreactor where it is combined with the rest of the waste water from the building. Aerobic bacteria remove most of the contaminants before the water is pumped into a sand bed to remove any solids. From there, it runs into a reed bed for a final clean up and it is then used to irrigate the young vines. Peroxide is used a cleaning agent in the cellar as it breaks down in water after 15 minutes, leaving no residue. The cellar itself is built into the hillside to maintain a stable temperature, to avoid pumping the wines and hence reducing energy usage. Used boxes, dividers, bottles, screwcaps, plastics, paper and labels are recycled with an external company that take everything away for recycling. Old, unused bottles are sold to bottle recyclers who wash and resell them.
Alan's Personal Tasting Note
"This is divine - lots of vibrant soft attractive fruits - but are they black or red or a combo of both? There’s also a lovely savouriness to the palate plus prominent herb notes - all kept fresh with a beautiful balancing activity. Real quality winemaking and lots of moreish flavour for the price. Fabulous value. It is seriously cool and serving it cool sounds attractive. It’s more a bright, vibrant lunchtime summer red than a heavier, warm, rich autumnal style." tasted August 2024
Specifications
| Year | 2023 |
| Bottle Size | 750ml |
| Cultivar | 100% Cinsault |
| Country | South Africa |
|
Alcohol content
|
13% alc vol
|
| Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 9.8 units |
| Type | Red Wine |
| Cellaring Potential | Awaiting info |
| Features | Vegetarian, Vegan, Sustainable, Natural |
| Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
| Food Matches | Would pair nicely with duck, pigeon and also a rack of lamb. Lightly chilled it's a great match with a plate of spicy charcuterie. |
| Origin | Stellenbosch |
| Appellation | South Africa |