— Red —
Wagram, Austria
■ Zweigelt
Bright ruby with a youthful rim: juicy red cherry and plum, a light peppery spice and gentle herbal lift, soft tannin and a fresh, balanced finish. An easy, food-friendly red from Karl Fritsch's Wagram vineyards. Certified organic and biodynamic (respekt-BIODYN).
Sainte-Colombe, Castillon, France
■ Merlot (carbonic maceration)
Whole-bunch carbonic maceration turns right-bank Merlot into something altogether bouncier — fresh kirsch, young strawberry and sour cherry, light in body and tannin with a faint natural spritz and a bright acid finish. Made with no added sulphites. Serve cool.
Sainte-Foy-Bordeaux, France
■ Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot
A ripe but fresh Right-Bank-style red (the estate's "CDT" cuvée, labelled Vin de France): dark cherry, forest fruits, a hint of spice and dark chocolate, framed by fine, ripe tannins. Certified organic (Ecocert) and farmed biodynamically. Made by Corinne and Jean-Michel Comme.
IGP Pays d'Hérault, France
■ Cinsault, Carignan, Syrah, Grenache
Deep garnet, with an expressive smoky, spiced nose over red berry fruit. Smooth and harmonious on the palate with silky tannin and a juicy, fresh finish — a Cinsault, Carignan, Syrah and Grenache blend from the Serin family's Hérault vineyards. Certified organic since 2009.
France
■ Pinot Noir
Named after the ruined Cathar castles of the Haute Vallée de l'Aude, this Pinot Noir shows fine, elegant red fruit — redcurrant, raspberry and cherry — with a subtle savoury spice from ageing in old oak.
■ Cabernet Sauvignon
A bright, refreshing Cabernet Sauvignon from the Côtes de Thau, Languedoc. Juicy blackcurrant with a soft, appealing mouthfeel — easy drinking with real character.
Georgia
■ Saperavi (qvevri fermented)
Old-vine Saperavi fermented on skins in buried qvevri and matured a further six months in clay. Deep ruby with a violet core: ripe plum, black cherry and blackberry compote, cocoa and warm spice over supple tannin and a long dark-fruited finish. From Shilda's Rustaveli range, named for Georgia's great medieval poet.
Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG, Italy
■ Corvina, Corvinone, Rondinella
Deep ruby to garnet, with cherry jam, dried fruit cake and vanilla. Concentrated and full-bodied from appassimento-dried grapes — ripe black fruit, coffee and toast over a warm, structured finish, softened by time in oak. Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG at 15%.
Italy
■ Nero d'Avola, Merlot
An easy-drinking Sicilian blend of Nero d'Avola and Merlot. Deep ruby with liquorice and raspberry — a great everyday red for pizza, pasta or a simple charcuterie board.
Terre Siciliane IGP, Italy
■ Frappato, Nerello Mascalese
A vibrant, medium-bodied Sicilian red splitting Frappato and Nerello Mascalese half and half, from the hills behind Marsala. Wild berry and gentle spice over soft, well-integrated tannin, part of the blend barrel-aged for texture, finishing long and savoury. Certified organic.
Assisi, Italy
■ Sangiovese
High-altitude Sangiovese from the Monte Subasio park above Assisi, farmed without herbicides or pesticides. Bright red cherry with a savoury tomato-leaf edge, tannins already well integrated and fresh acidity keeping it lively — good with a light chill. Umbria IGT, imported by Les Caves de Pyrène.
Cima Corgo, Alijó, Portugal
Field blend
Super-light chillable red from high-altitude old vines (70+ years) on schist and granite at 650m. Bright red fruit, herbal notes, refreshing acidity. Whole-cluster foot-stomped in granite lagars, 3 days maceration. Organic farming, minimal intervention.
South Africa
■ Cinsault
Organic, dry-farmed bush-vine Cinsault from the Paarl-Swartland border. Wild florals, cranberry and cherry with a spicy, juicy finish — a crunchy, chillable red.
La Parrilla, Valladolid, Spain
■ Tempranillo, Cabernet Sauvignon
Intense cherry-red Tempranillo and Cabernet Sauvignon grown at 1,000m on calcareous soils near Valladolid. Concentrated blackcurrant and dark fruit with cracked pepper and gentle oak spice — powerful but poised, finishing long and well balanced.
Rioja Alavesa, Spain
■ Tempranillo, Graciano, Viura, Garnacha
Bhilar's flagship single-vineyard Rioja: a tiny plot of centenarian bush vines on steep, pure limestone, worked by horse. Foot-trodden, partly whole-bunch and aged up to two years in new French oak — cherry and violet, dried herbs, graphite-fine tannin and remarkable length. Around a thousand bottles a year. Certified organic and biodynamic.
■ Tempranillo, Graciano, Viura
Deep ruby Rioja Alavesa from old-vine Tempranillo, Graciano and a splash of Viura, whole-bunch fermented with native yeast in open-top vats. Around eighteen months in French oak and foudre brings dark cherry, balsamic herbs and chalky, fine-grained tannin. Certified organic and biodynamic.
Ribera del Duero DO, Spain
■ Tempranillo (Tinto Fino)
Bright purple Ribera del Duero from 40-year-old Tinto Fino on clay loam, briefly macerated then six months in French oak. Wildflowers and morello cherry on the nose, fresh acidity carrying muscular dark fruit to a lightly oak-spiced finish. A more approachable style of Ribera. Certified organic.
Rioja Alavesa, Spain
■ Graciano
Single-varietal Graciano from the high limestone vineyards of Rioja Alavesa, hand-harvested and fermented in concrete with native yeasts. Redcurrant, pomegranate and black cherry meet eucalyptus, violet and crushed-rock minerality, with juicy acidity and a cocoa-tinged finish. Demeter-certified biodynamic.
DOP Cebreros, Sierra de Gredos, Spain
■ Garnacha
Sierra de Gredos Garnacha off granite soils around Burgohondo, some vines over 70 years old. Partial whole-bunch ferment in steel, unoaked, bottled unfined and unfiltered: ripe cherry, wild strawberry and mountain herbs with crisp, mineral-edged acidity.
Manchuela DO, Spain
■ Bobal (old vines)
Cherry red with violet tones, from old Bobal vines planted in 1941 in Manchuela: black fruit, cherry and redcurrant with a mineral edge, a fleshy palate, noble tannin and bright acidity. The 2022 vintage took a Silver medal (94 points) at the Decanter World Wine Awards 2024. Certified organic.
Slovakia
■ Pinot Noir
Light-bodied and vibrant with bright red cherry, herbs and a gentle freshness. Best served slightly chilled. A natural wine that punches well above its price, and great for Burgundy lovers. Certified organic.
■ Pinot Noir
Classical interpretation of Pinot Noir from Central Slovakia's volcanic terroir. Elegant red fruit, fine tannins and a mineral backbone. A refined, food-friendly red. Certified organic.
■ Pinot Noir
Cherry-ruby in colour with an elegant, slowly unfolding nose of red berries, raspberry and minerals. Medium-bodied, dry and harmonious with silky fine-grained tannins and a long mineral finish. Spontaneously fermented and aged 12 months in barriques. A beautifully crafted Pinot from volcanic terroir.
■ Alibernet (Alicante Bouschet x Cabernet Sauvignon cross)
Deep, dark and full-bodied with blackberries, black pepper and cloves. Alibernet was bred at the Tairov Institute in Odesa in 1948, crossing Alicante Bouschet with Cabernet Sauvignon, and has become something of a Slovak speciality: intense colour and a distinctly Cabernet-like character. For bold red lovers.
Rioja Alavesa, Spain
■ Tempranillo
Everyday drinking at its best. Juicy red fruit, soft tannins and a smooth finish. Tempranillo is Spain's most celebrated red grape — think cherries, plums and a gentle earthiness. Brilliant value.
Alicante, Spain
■ Garnacha
Single-vineyard Garnacha, whole-bunch fermented in concrete with zero added sulphites. Summer pudding and kirsch on the nose, juicy red fruit and Mediterranean herbs on the palate. Unfined, unfiltered and utterly natural.
Rhône Valley, France
■ Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre
The classic Southern Rhône blend — red berries, Provençal herbs and a warm, spicy finish. Generous and food-friendly. Perfect with lamb, charcuterie or a hearty stew.
South West France, France
■ Duras, Braucol (local South West varieties)
Made from rare indigenous varieties found almost nowhere else. Rustic yet charming, with dark fruit, earthy depth and a lively finish. A real discovery for adventurous wine drinkers.
Corbières-Boutenac, France
■ Carignan, Grenache Noir, Mourvèdre
Corbières-Boutenac is one of the Languedoc's finest appellations. Deep garnet with rich dark fruit, garrigue and hints of dark chocolate. Full-bodied with well-integrated tannins, and a serious wine. Certified organic since 2006.
Puglia, Italy
■ Negroamaro, Malvasia Nera
The sun-drenched heel of Italy produces this rich, deep red. Dark plums, dried figs and a warming spice with a characteristically slightly bitter Negroamaro finish. Exceptional value for money.
Sicily, Italy
■ Nerello Mascalese, Nerello Cappuccio
Anna Martens is one of Etna's most celebrated natural producers. Nerello Mascalese is often likened to Pinot Noir — pale ruby, silky and hauntingly perfumed with red fruit and volcanic minerals.
Mendoza, Argentina
■ Malbec
Argentina's flagship grape at a great price. Rich blackberry and plum fruit with dark chocolate and a smooth, velvety finish. The altitude of Mendoza keeps the acidity fresh and the wine lively.
Marlborough, New Zealand
■ Pinot Noir
From Marlborough's cooler inland valleys, this organic Pinot Noir shows red cherry, raspberry and gentle earthiness with a long, silky finish. The Henri Bourgeois family brings Loire precision to the Southern Hemisphere.
Loire Valley, France
■ Pinot Noir
Red Sancerre is a revelation — pale, delicate and perfumed with red fruits and flinty minerality from the famous flint and limestone soils of the Loire. Far lighter and more elegant than most red wines.
Piedmont, Italy
■ Nebbiolo
The 'King of Italian wines.' Tar, roses, dried cherry and leather, with the silky, approachable tannins that mark out the 2018 vintage. Open and generous, drinking beautifully now rather than needing years in the cellar. Worth decanting.
Adelaide Hills, Australia
■ Sangiovese
Gareth and Rainbo Belton's Sangiovese, made at Basket Range in the Adelaide Hills. Bright red fruit and red florals with dusty, chalky tannins and a lifted, puckering acidity. Old World in style, high-altitude Australian in origin. Minimal-intervention winemaking. As good as lunch wine gets.
Barossa Valley, Australia
■ Shiraz (Syrah)
Barossa Shiraz dialled down: fresh, peppery and medium-bodied with blackberry compote, black pepper and savoury herbs. Made by winemaker Xavier Goodridge from naturally fermented, sustainably farmed fruit, with just a touch of sulphur at bottling.
— White —
Wagram, Austria
■ Grüner Veltliner
Pale straw with a green tinge: yellow orchard fruit and citrus zest lifted by white pepper and herbal spice. Fresh and rounded, with lively acidity driving a clean, moreish finish. Certified organic and biodynamic (respekt-BIODYN).
Côtes de Gascogne IGP, France
■ Colombard, Gros Manseng, Sauvignon Blanc
Bright, aromatic Gascon white — ripe stone fruit, grapefruit, lychee and pineapple, bone dry with fresh, clean acidity and good length.
France
■ Chardonnay
From the same Pyrenean foothills as its Pinot Noir sibling, this Chardonnay is fresh and food-friendly with orchard fruit and a clean finish.
■ Viognier
Bright, aromatic Viognier from the Côtes de Thau in the Languedoc, grown by the lagoons of the Bassin de Thau. Fresh stone fruit and floral notes with a soft, rounded finish.
Kröv, Germany
Single varietal
Classic dry Mosel Riesling from an estate whose history runs back to 862 AD, when King Lothar II granted the Kröv property and its wine tithes to the Abbey of Stavelot — which is where the name comes from. Pure and mineral with green apple, lime zest, stone fruit and a waft of slate. Clean, easy-drinking and versatile. Fermented and aged on lees in stainless steel. Certified organic (ECOVIN).
Terre Siciliane IGP, Italy
■ Zibibbo (Muscat of Alexandria)
A dry Sicilian white from aromatic Zibibbo, briefly cold-macerated on its skins before pressing to lift the aromatics. Brilliant pale straw, with ripe apricot, almond and orange blossom on the nose, a soft palate and a long, persistent finish. Dry, despite the grape's sweeter reputation.
Falerio DOC, Italy
■ Trebbiano, Passerina, Pecorino
Delicate and soft, with green apple, honeysuckle and light floral notes over a gentle mineral, well-balanced acidity. An easy, seafood-friendly white. Certified organic.
Friuli Colli Orientali DOC, Italy
■ Friulano
From the Perusini family's vineyards on the Gramogliano hill in Friuli's Colli Orientali, fermented in stainless steel and left six months on its lees. Bright yellow-green, with elderflower and white rose over apricot, kiwi and gooseberry, closing dry and sapid on the classic Friulano note of bitter almond.
Italy
■ Pecorino
Abruzzo Pecorino given a short cold maceration on skins before fermenting entirely in stainless steel. Pale yellow with golden lights: crisp apple and grapefruit, yellow orchard fruit and white flowers, with genuine mineral drive and a clean, refreshing finish. Certified organic.
Lima, Portugal
■ Loureiro
Loureiro from Vasco Croft's Aphros estate in the Lima valley, certified biodynamic (Biodyvin). Spritzy and citrus-driven with a saline edge and a light natural prickle — the sort of Vinho Verde that tastes of the Atlantic rather than of sugar. Bottled for the Terroirs Project.
Vinho Regional Tejo, Portugal
■ Fernão Pires
A textured Tejo white from ODE's own Fernão Pires, half of it aged five months in new 500-litre French oak. Bold but fresh, with ripe tropical fruit and a herbal lift, the oak lending gentle structure to a rounded, persistent finish. Estate-grown, farmed to organic and regenerative principles.
South Africa
■ Palomino
A rare single-varietal Palomino from old bush vines planted in 1977, originally grown for brandy. Zesty and saline with notes of almond, fennel and white flowers. Naturally fermented, low-intervention.
Spain
■ Sauvignon Blanc, Verdejo
Organic Sauvignon Blanc and Verdejo from high-altitude limestone vineyards in Almansa. Tropical fruit and citrus with a clean, mineral, long finish — a real crowd-pleaser.
Manchuela DO, Spain
■ Chardonnay
Pale-lemon Chardonnay from high-altitude chalky clay in DO Manchuela. White peach, pear and citrus blossom, full-bodied and rounded on the palate, with fresh acidity carrying through to a soft orchard-fruit finish. Certified organic.
Kamptal, Austria
■ Grüner Veltliner
A characterful Grüner Veltliner from Kamptal with a little skin contact giving extra texture and intrigue. White pepper, citrus peel and a savoury, mineral edge. Grüner is Austria's great white — crisp, food-friendly and distinctive.
East Sussex, England
■ Chardonnay
Ben Walgate's Chardonnay, made at his Rye winery from two clay sites in the south east — one farmed biodynamically, one conventionally. Whole-bunch pressed and fermented in a mix of stainless steel and oak barrels of varying size and age: fleshy apricot and taut ripe citrus up front, salty and nutty underneath.
Picpoul de Pinet AOP, France
■ Picpoul (Piquepoul Blanc)
Picpoul — often glossed as 'lip-stinger', though the Occitan more likely points at hens pecking the grapes — is the Languedoc's great shellfish white. This organic cuvée comes from vineyards above the Étang de Thau: lemon zest, white blossom and a saline, mineral finish. The classic match for oysters.
Languedoc, France
■ Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, Mauzac
A blend of Chardonnay, Chenin and Mauzac from Etienne Fort's vines at Bouriège, up at 450m on clay-limestone in the hills of Limoux. Fresh and lively, with orchard fruit, citrus zest and a clean, dry finish. Stainless steel, very low sulphur. Great with seafood.
Campania, Italy
■ Fiano, Greco
From the ancient vineyards of Campania, this blend of Fiano and Greco brings peach, toasted nuts, honeysuckle and a rich, almost waxy texture. Southern Italy's white wines are seriously undervalued.
Bergerac, France
■ Sémillon, Sauvignon Blanc, Muscadelle
The flagship white from a family estate in Bergerac, now run by the next generation of the de Conti family. A classic Sud-Ouest blend — Sémillon for roundness, Sauvignon for lift, Muscadelle for floral aromatics. White peach, acacia blossom and a mineral finish. Organic. Brilliant value.
Côtes de Gascogne, France
■ Colombard, Ugni Blanc
Crisp, unfussy and brilliantly refreshing. A blend of Colombard and Ugni Blanc from Plaimont, a Gascon co-operative of several hundred family growers. Lemon zest, orchard fruit and a clean finish. A fridge-door regular. Sauvignon drinkers take note.
Awatere & Wairau Valleys, New Zealand
■ Sauvignon Blanc
A thinking-person's Marlborough Sauvignon from a small family-run, certified organic estate. Passionfruit, guava and elderflower with fresh basil and lime, softened by 10% old-oak ferment for texture. Juicy, mineral and properly elegant — a world away from the supermarket style.
Guerrouane, Morocco
■ Chardonnay
Moroccan Chardonnay from an organic estate at the foot of the Middle Atlas. Deep yellow and tropical on the nose — custard apple, quince and green almond — with a subtle oak caress and a long musky finish. Big, generous and genuinely distinctive; a curiosity worth taking seriously.
— Orange —
Gols, Neusiedlersee, Austria
■ Traminer (Gewürztraminer)
Skin-contact Traminer from Judith Beck's biodynamic estate at Gols, on the eastern shore of the Neusiedlersee. Around eight to ten days on the skins and a rest in used barriques turn the grape's natural exuberance — rose petal, orange peel and warm spice — into something drier and gently grippy. Certified biodynamic (respekt-BIODYN). A brilliant match for spiced and aromatic food.
Georgia
■ Rkatsiteli, Kisi, Mtsvane (native Georgian varieties)
A traditional Georgian amber wine from Kakheti, blending Rkatsiteli, Kisi and Mtsvane fermented in qvevri clay vessels. Dried apricot, citrus blossom and toasted almond with soft, structured tannins.
Stellenbosch, South Africa
■ Pinot Gris (skin contact)
Amber-gold with a copper blush after four days on skins: ripe peach, grapefruit and a touch of green apple, with a light savoury grip of tannin and a clean, dry finish. Wild-yeast fermented and low-intervention, from vineyards above False Bay. Unfined and vegan.
Paarl, South Africa
■ Semillon (skin macerated)
Burnished amber with a creamy texture: ripe peach and apricot, citrus pith and a whisper of honey blossom, framed by fine tannin from daily punch-downs and bright acidity. Wild-fermented on skins and aged in concrete egg. Small-batch and low-sulphur.
Rioja Alavesa, Spain
■ Viura, Garnacha Blanca, Malvasía (skin contact)
Amber-gold skin-contact white from old-vine Viura, Garnacha Blanca and Malvasía on Rioja Alavesa's white limestone. Two months fermenting on skins in concrete, then a year in French foudre, gives a grippy, waxy texture with dried apricot, orange peel and honeyed spice. Certified organic and biodynamic.
Manchuela DO, Spain
■ Macabeo
Skin-contact Macabeo from D.O. Manchuela, given a full two months on its skins. Stone fruit and white blossom, with a soft, textured palate and a mineral finish. Vegan and low-intervention, and made in tiny quantities — around 6,500 bottles in 2022.
Columbia Gorge AVA, USA
■ Riesling, Gewürztraminer blend
A unique crossover between orange and rosé — made with extended skin contact on aromatic white grapes. Floral, zesty and gently tannic with a saline, mineral finish. One of the most original wines on the list.
Alicante, Spain
■ Moscatel, Malvasía
A skin-contact white from Casa Balaguer: Moscatel from the salt flats at Torrevieja blended with Malvasía from Villena, fermented on its skins for a full 30 days. Golden-orange in the glass, with orange peel, medlar, white flowers and a gently grippy, mineral finish. A very friendly way in to skin-contact wine. Certified organic (CAECV) and biodynamic (Demeter).
— Rosé —
IGP Pays d'Hérault, France
■ Cinsault, Grenache, Syrah
Pale peachy pink, a Cinsault, Grenache and Syrah blend from the Serin family's Hérault vineyards. Redcurrant, strawberry and white peach with a citrus edge, dry and crisp with vibrant acidity and a refreshing finish. Certified organic since 2009.
France
■ Grenache, Cinsault, Syrah
A gastronomic Southern Rhône rosé made using the gentle 'rosé de presse' method. Rosehip, wild berries and cherry with ripe, balanced acidity.
Ourém, Portugal
■ Moreto, Aragonez
Strawberry-pink rosé from the Vinha da Malhada plot at Ourém, on the limestone hills at the northern end of the Lisboa region. Crushed and fermented in steel with no skin contact, so the colour comes off the press alone — bone dry, intensely fruity, fresh red berries and a medium finish. Certified organic with Ecocert-Portugal, as the whole estate has been since 1997.
Manchuela DO, Spain
■ Bobal
Pale strawberry-pink rosé from old-vine Bobal in the Cabriel Valley, Manchuela. Ripe strawberry and red fruit on the nose, fresh and intense on the palate with good acidity and a dry, easy-drinking finish. Certified organic.
Corbières, France
■ Grenache, Syrah, Cinsault
A classic pale Provence-style rosé from one of the Languedoc's finest estates. Delicate strawberry, white peach and citrus with a bone-dry finish. Elegant and refreshing — brilliant price.
Sicily, Italy
■ Nerello Mascalese
Pale salmon pink with delicate red fruit, citrus and a fine saline lift. This is refined, dry and deeply food-friendly rosato from one of Sicily's most thoughtful minimal-intervention growers.
— Sparkling —
Limoux, France
■ Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, Pinot Noir
A traditional-method sparkler from Limoux with citrus, syllabub and lime-blossom notes, a limestone-driven saline freshness and a gentle bitter twist on the finish.
Gutturnio DOC, Italy
■ Barbera, Croatina
A lightly sparkling red from the Piacenza hills — bright ruby with a soft, gentle fizz, juicy blackcurrant, wild strawberry and violet, light grippy tannin and a clean, dry finish. Serve cool, with charcuterie. Bottled in the local style, hand-tied with string.
Ortrugo dei Colli Piacentini DOC, Italy
■ Ortrugo
Pale straw with a green hint and a delicate, gentle fizz: fresh mint, white flowers and citrus, light and easy on the palate with the soft bitter twist that marks out the Ortrugo grape. A Colli Piacentini classic, hand-tied with string.
Corpinnat, Spain
■ Macabeo, Pinot Noir
Mother-of-pearl pink with a fine, lively bead: ripe raspberry and strawberry, a generous entry settling into a dry, firm finish with a touch of red-fruit-skin tannin. Traditional method, eighteen months on lees. Certified organic, bottled under the Corpinnat mark.
■ Xarel·lo, Macabeu, Parellada
Pale gold with a fine, persistent bead; white flowers, pear and pastry giving way to brioche, cream and toasted almond, with fresh acidity and a dry, structured finish. Traditional method, a minimum two years on lees in Penedès. Certified organic, and bottled under the stricter Corpinnat mark rather than Cava.
Slovakia
■ Welschriesling, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir
A fascinating hybrid method — part Pét-Nat, part traditional Champagne method. Hazy with citrus, brioche and minerals. Lovely fine bubbles and a complex, easy-drinking character. Great with or without food.
Veneto, Italy
■ Glera (Prosecco grape)
Frizzante means gently sparkling — less fizzy than Prosecco but just as charming. Fresh pear, white flowers and a clean, light finish. An approachable crowd-pleaser at a great everyday price.
— Pét-Nat —
Novi Izvor (Plovdiv), Bulgaria
■ Mavrud
Pale, cloudy pink with lively frothy bubbles; bright raspberry and strawberry fruit with fresh herbs and a hint of almond and citrus. Fresh, dry and gluggable — a fun, funky ancestral-method pét-nat. Natural, wild-yeast.
Plovdiv, Bulgaria
■ Pamid, Merlot
Bright, juicy red fruit with a herbaceous Balkan edge — a lighter, savoury red pét-nat leaning toward cool-climate Pinot in character. Easy-drinking, ancestral method, unfined and unfiltered. Tiny production.
Champcerie & Chinon, France
■ Apple, Cabernet Franc (co-ferment)
An experimental pét-nat co-ferment (75% apple, 25% Cabernet Franc) made with Chinon winemaker Boris Desbourdes. Crafted as a 'vin de soif' — lower-alcohol and easy-drinking; juicy, funky and fruit-forward. One for fans of funky pét-nats. Serve chilled, but not too chilled.
Aveiras de Cima, Portugal
■ Arinto, Fernão Pires, Olho de Lebre (white and red grapes together)
A pét-nat from João Pratas's smallholding at Aveiras de Cima, on the sandy soils of the Tejo — white and red grapes brought together and bottled with their own fermentation still running, never disgorged. Deep amber-orange in the glass and gently sparkling, with citrus and floral aromas over a bright, mineral palate. It may throw a deposit in time; that is meant to be there. Made naturally, with sulphur the only addition.
Cima Corgo, Alijó, Portugal
Field blend
Natural sparkling pét-nat made using the ancestral method from old-vine field blend. Wild strawberry, cherry, grapefruit, and a gentle fizz. Cloudy, unfiltered, undisgorged, no added sulphites. Fun, energetic, and refreshing.
Swartland, South Africa
■ Pinotage
Pale coppery-pink with a lively, frothy natural fizz; crunchy red apple, strawberry and cherry with a distinctive salty, savoury tang. Dry and gently textured — a fun, funky ancestral-method Pinotage pét-nat off Swartland's coffee-stone soils. Decanter scored the 2023 vintage 89 points. Vegan.
— Other —
Němčičky, Czech Republic
■ Moravian red grapes with botanicals
A craft Moravian vermouth with a beautiful rosy pink colour, built on a rosé base of Frankovka, Zweigeltrebe, Svatovavřinecké and Merlot. Aromatic and complex with herbs, spice and floral notes, and properly sweet. Serve over ice with a slice of orange, or use in cocktails.
Catalonia, Spain
■ Catalan red and white varieties, with botanicals
Partida Creus are cult natural wine producers in Penedès. MUZ is their extraordinary vermouth: intensely herbal, bitter-sweet and complex, built on a blend of young red, barrel-aged red and oxidative white from their own vines. Unmissable.
Provence, France
■ 0% ABV — organic Sencha green tea, pomelo, rose distillate, hibiscus
Not a wine — but a brilliant one for non-drinkers. Made in Provence by Myrko Tépus and Nicolas de Groot on the same philosophy as their wines: organic ingredients, careful fermentation, no added sulphites or finings. Organic Sencha green tea and pomelo, with a distillate of Damask rose and Rose de Grasse and organic hibiscus flowers. Rose-hued, with hibiscus and wild meadow grass over a fine, delicate fizz. 0.0% ABV.