9 Amazing Wines Not Made From Grapes

The world of fruit wines has evolved significantly from those days where it was labelled as country wine and the most renowned product may have been scrumpy. But fruit wines, and here we are specifically referring to those not made from grapes which also excludes ciders, may be a quintessential summer drink that is increasing in popularity. These wines may conjure up images of fruit picking from farms or foraging within countryside and making homemade versions of wine from strawberries, brambles and other fruits that may be found in your garden. However, the market for fruit wines has become more sophisticated as consumers broaden their palates and seek locally grown produce in their efforts to increase sustainability but also to enjoy healthier but tasty options. Fruit wines will also undergo a fermentation process similar to wine, which will involve yeast, but that may be where the similarity ends as the different types of fruits will vary in their production methods.

Fruit wines are an exciting addition to the world of wines, on an international scale, and may appeal more to younger generations but also to those that might feel daunted by the plethora of choices and complexities within grape wines and the snobbery that may surround them. You can even go on a fruit wine tour across your region to explore and enjoy these creative wines without having to travel too far. Well, we don’t know about you but we can’t wait to discover more about the wide range of options for fruit wines. You certainly don’t need to stop at just a few types to sample as there are a myriad of flavours, we would certainly encourage you to traverse your region and visit local farms and open spaces to discover as many as you can. Here are a few fantastic fruit wines that we thought to highlight within our selection.

Wine That’s Fruit (WTF) Whitecurrant Wine

This limited edition whitecurrant wine will be the closest taste that you can imagine to a dry, white wine, but without the grapes! Wine That’s Fruit started in 2019, are based in Herefordshire and specialise in making their wines using fruit juices that are not concentrated. The fruits themselves are sourced locally and the company name’s acronym suggests a cheeky spirit to this family run brand! This wine is intriguing, not least as whitecurrants appear so rarely in drinks that many people might wonder what they are! Whitecurrants are part of the same family as blackcurrants but have a flavour profile resembling gooseberries or grapes.

As such, this whitecurrant wine has a tart, dry taste with a natural wine flavour profile with hints of pear on the palate. It is slightly fizzy to provide that refreshing sensation and will pair well with cheese and sardines. It is in a handy can size for a mindful drinking session. You can buy a pack of four or buy a taster pack in which you can be spoilt for choice to sample other flavours from the WTF fruit wines range!

Size: 250ml
ABV: 13%
Find here: - £19.40 for 4

Wine That’s Fruit (WTF) Strawberry Wine

This is a slightly sparkling variety in the WTF range but it is amongst the sweetest. Still, its appearance is similar to a Rosé wine from riper climates and on the nose there is that sensation of juicy, ripe strawberries. There are subtle bubbles within this strawberry wine which would be ideal as an aperitif and would therefore appeal to fans of Rosé Champagne and Kir Royale cocktails. This summery, fruit forward concoction is a crowd pleaser and will pair well with some strawberries and cream at Wimbledon! It is also vegan friendly, gluten free, with no preservatives, no sulphites and it is served in an eco friendly, recyclable can for added benefits!

Size: 250ml
ABV: 11%
Find here: £19.40 for 4

Cairn O’Mohr Spring Oak Leaf Wine

This medium sweet fruit wine is likely to surprise many as it’s not made out of flower blossoms or fruits but is made from actual leaves, which will definitely be a good talking point if you bring this to a summer party! This Perthshire based winery has been crafting award winning fruit wines since 1987 and is certainly worth a visit during its tours on Wednesdays and weekends. Their ingredients are obtained locally through foraging, with the local landowner’s permission, of course! 

A winemaking process lasting 2-3 years is undertaken in the creation of these wines which involves the harvesting, fermentation and storage. The Spring Oak Leaf Wine is a delightful blend of leaves and citrus fruit juices which is dangerously quaffable and it’s unbelievable that this is not a grape wine as its flavour profile is similar to a Viognier and is a fruity refreshing taste on the palate.  This is an intriguingly tasty wine to drink by itself before or after dinner. Plus, there are no added preservatives, low level sulphites, it’s vegan friendly and gluten free to provide that healthier drinking option overall!

Size: 750ml
ABV: 13.3%
Find here: £9.40

Lindisfarne Ginger Wine

This caramel coloured ginger wine is made on the Holy Island of Lindisfarne, which has a monastery that was founded in 643AD as an inspiration. However, another source of inspiration for this brand, whose production goes back as far as the 1950s, is also that of the Lindisfarne Gospels, which can be seen via the Medieval style font on these Lindisfarne wine bottles. All of this history, plus a Viking connection, proves to be a draw to visitors to this remote location, which is only connected to England by a causeway!

This ginger wine has received plaudits during the Winchester Drinks Festival and has been recognised as a perfect pairing with whisky for those whisky cocktails. Indeed, its ginger smell is pronounced on the nose and its sweet flavour profile suggests that it may appeal to those lovers of ginger liqueurs as there is almost a candied taste. This ginger wine would also work well as a substitute for ginger beer to make a boozier rum cocktail but could equally be drunk by itself, on the rocks, and evokes those images of cosier nights leading up to the festive season.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 15%
Find here: £9.95

Lyme Bay Winery Cherry Wine

The Lyme Bay Winery is located in Axminster in Devon and is close to Lyme Regis, which was the home of the famous palaeontologist and fossil hunter, Mary Anning. You could therefore visit on a day trip to see the sights and indulge in a wine tasting tour to sample some of their fruit wines too!

This is a sweet wine with an instantly detected authentic cherry aroma which resembles black cherries. Plus, there is a hint of almonds, in the flavour profile, with a slightly dry aftertaste which conjures up that image of a slice of Bakewell tart and indeed this would pair well with desserts! As an award winner of a gold prize in the Taste of the West in 2022, this will be a good drink to add to your digestif collection.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 11%
Find here: £10.99

Lyme Bay Elderflower Wine

Another wine that we’re highlighting from the many fruit wine flavours is its elderflower variety. This is a light, crisp, easy drinking wine that is ideal for those outdoor summer celebrations! It is an elegant off dry wine which is best served chilled for picnic season. Tangy on the palate and floral on the nose this is an ideal wine to serve whilst lounging in the garden or having flirty walks by the river or beach. You can drink this by itself or for that extra twist, this could be added to an Elderflower Spritz cocktail! This wine is made using local ingredients and on the Lyme Bay website there is even a recipe to make some homemade elderflower wine yourself!

Size: 750ml
ABV: 11%
Find here: £12.79

Cairn O’Mohr Gorse Wine

Fields of yellow gorse flowers instantly spring to mind with this wine which is made from foraged wild gorse flowers! This is a medium sweet wine which has been awarded 2 stars at the Great Taste Awards. With a golden honey colour, this wine has a slightly sweet flavour with hints of honey and depicts that summer meadow  joy. Its aftertaste is reminiscent of a light fruit brandy and this Gorse wine pairs well with peppered mackerel and as it does not oxidise as readily this can still be enjoyed within 7-10 days of opening.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 12.2%
Find here: £14.60

Lindisfarne Elderflower Wine

As Elderflower wines are quite popular, it is exciting to explore the range in their taste and flavour profiles. This elderflower wine from Lindisfarne is medium sweet and a golden yellow colour with higher alcohol content. It is described as an aromatic wine and is slightly sweeter on the palate and resembles mead in taste. As such, it will be ideal to drink during or after a meal as it is full bodied in nature and could also be enjoyed with tonic or lemonade or as a winter’s version as a mulled cocktail.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 14.5%
Find here: £9.95

Nudist Drinks Rabarba Brut Organic 2022

We are extremely delighted to include this entry within our selection as I discovered this delicious sparkling rhubarb wine whilst on holiday in Tallinn, Estonia sitting on a summer’s day at the Nudist winery. Indeed, its UK distributors Winestorrs Limited had made a similar discovery of this sparkling rhubarb wine in Tallinn and sought to bring this over to the UK market as a distributor and so we are delighted that you are also able to sample these wines easier now too! Although, you might still wish to visit Tallinn too for a spot of wine tourism at the winery as these wines are fermented and made onsite. 

Surprisingly, this is Estonia’s first organic sparkling wine and it has been rewarded for its efforts with the prize of 2019’s Best Organic Drink award from the Ministry of Rural Affairs. This organic sparkling rhubarb wine resembles Champagne but has a tart flavour profile with that fruity taste of rhubarb and it is an unfiltered wine. Its fermentation process is through cold pressed Estonian rhubarb juice and it will be just as suitable for all of your celebrations!  

This is a playful, new age alternative which even has the hashtag #fakechampagne to encourage you all to take this journey to discover Champagne alternatives and we will be there with you! There are also lower ABV and alcohol free versions of this sparkling rhubarb wine which may be available for international sales at future stages, fingers crossed!

Size: 750ml
ABV: 11.5%
Find here: £16

The final treat in our selection is a hybrid, as we always like to give you that bit extra! This product is a blend of fruit and wine that is revolutionising the market with its youthful, fun energy to appeal to younger generations. Let’s enter the world of the brand, Joy.

Joy Orange Spritz

Bursting on to the ready to drink cocktail scene in August 2023, the Joy brand epitomises the energetic spirit of the fruit wine market. It is a wine within the Concha y Toro portfolio, which also includes the red wine Casillero del Diablo. This Orange Spritz is the recipient of the Product of the Year award in a consumer survey of product innovation and it is easy to see why with this tasty, tangy marmalade blend with white wine, with a good price point, which will appeal to fans of Aperol Spritz as that go to summer drink.

This is a zesty, aromatised blend with bitters and a fruity profile which is best served chilled and with ice in time for Apéro hour and to imagine being on a sunny, coastal holiday.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 8%
Find here: £7

Hopefully, this selection will now entice you to explore the wider world of wines outside of grape based wines. There are many types of fruits, berries and leaves locally grown to provide that inspiration and we would love to know which new wines you have now tried within this burgeoning industry propelling fruit forward wines. You can stay local to become immersed in the innovation of emerging fruit winemakers or travel internationally to discover fruit wines within the US, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Bulgaria and more countries, which sounds very exciting to us to see this wine evolution!

By Latoya Austin

8 Cannes Film Festival Inspired Cocktails To Try

Come with us to the South of France for the summer, soaking up the glitzy French Riviera, as the arrival of the Cannes Film Festival, each year, truly signals the start of the summertime! Now, in its 77th edition, but still retaining its glamorous edge, the Festival was originally set up to rival the International Venice Film Festival and takes place for two weeks annually in May - it attracts the international glitterati, plus there is lots of sun, sea and fun to experience whilst traipsing up and down the famous La Croisette promenade at Cannes, hoping to see and be seen!

If you are able to book a flight and obtain a ticket to this prized event for the summer, there are free open air evening film screenings at the Beach Cinema that are also available for the public to watch. You can expect to see Hollywood stars for the 77th edition, with Meryl Streep being a guest of honour at the opening ceremony - also director Greta Gerwig, of Barbie fame, heads up the jury and the opening night film will be the comedy The Second Act from French director, Quentin Dupieux starring Léa Seydoux (previously seen in the James Bond film No Time To Die). Judith Godrèche’s short film Moi Aussi (Me Too) will appear at the Un Certain Regard programme’s opening ceremony, with Canadian director Xavier Dolan as the chair of this programme’s jury.

You might be wondering why we’re just focusing on a French film festival, but, did you know that not only does the Cannes Film Festival have official wine and sprits suppliers, such as Campari and Rémy Cointreau, but there are also many cocktail parties occurring throughout the festival? Starting with the exclusive opening night cocktail do, there are many after parties, dinners and drinks events each night of the festival as cocktails, wine and films truly make great pairings! The Carlton Hotel on the Croisette and other venues are known to create special Cannes Film Festival cocktails as part of the excitement for the festival. 

Sometimes, there might even be new celebrity drinks’ launches too at Cannes – Brad Pitt launched his French Riviera inspired gin, The Gardener Gin, at the Carlton Hotel during the 76th Cannes Film Festival!  However, if you are not visiting the French Riviera for the festival but still wish to experience some of the luxury, and have that excuse to dress up, then we’ve got you covered with our Cannes Film Festival inspired selection of gorgeous cocktails to try in some beautiful cocktail bars or to make at home (or at your accommodation in between film screenings), the choice is yours!

Birdcage

Nestled within an art deco setting in the stylish Palm Court restaurant of the Sheraton Grand London Park Lane, the Birdcage cocktail is representative of the hotel’s history and is also inspired by Charles Beaker’s ‘Jigger, Beaker and Glass’ and ‘Knife, Fork and Spoon’ books. Legend states that the cocktail’s name is in memory of the fact that birds nestled within the eaves of the bar’s roof! That sounds cosy to us and rather apt for a film script, you heard it here first! The cocktail is served within a bird shaped glass and is actually presented in a gilded birdcage to add to the magic of these gorgeous surroundings to make you feel every bit the film star! Created by Salman Ullah and designed to recreate that golden era of travel, it is a tart but soft, well blended cocktail with the botanicals from the gin providing that extra flavour and an orange peel garnish as the bird’s tail. Featuring Melifera gin, Grand Marnier, lemon juice, sage honey and lavender bitters, this cocktail will transport you to the French coast as the French Melifera gin is inspired by the Immortelle flower from an island on the French Atlantic coast!

Price: £20
Address: Piccadilly, London W1J 7BX
Website: https://www.marriott.com/en-gb/hotels/longr-sheraton-grand-london-park-lane/dining/

Tot & Voltaire

A visit to the underground Hokus Pokus bar, in London’s King’s Cross area, unveils an air of mysticism with a steam punk vibe which resembles a sci-fi film setting and is so gorgeous that it will take your breath away! Its focus on creativity within mixology will leave you feeling like a guest of honour at a magical drinks lab! Trust us, this bar has that wow factor and amongst its potions is the Tot & Voltaire cocktail, which contains peach infused Black Tot Carabian Blend Rum, white vermouth, green apple and Xin and Voltaire Aurelie Sorbet. The Xin and Voltaire sorbet provides that deliciously creamy sensation within this refreshing, citrus cocktail and is a French brand offering a frozen whisky cocktail. The added wow comes as Tot & Voltaire is served with a complementary  Molecular Sphere of house made orange potion and caviar of pomegranate. This cocktail will provide that ‘je ne sais quoi’ to your evening within an innovative bar!

Price: £18
Address: The Megaro Hotel, 1 Belgrove Street Underneath, London WC1H 8AB
Website: https://www.hokuspokus.co.uk/menu

Peach Bamboo

Step inside the downstairs bar of the multi-level Dram Bar as a new addition to the London cocktail bar scene which opened in November 2023. Using sustainable ingredients within its cocktails, the Peach Bamboo created by Chris Tanner is a tasty fusion of fruit from the naturally fermented peach alongside Tio Pepe, Carpano Bianco and the renowned French St Germain Elderflower Liqueur. This is a twist on the classic Bamboo Cocktail with that distinct flavour of the vermouth and the fino sherry combining to create a refreshing and light profile to tantalise your taste buds. Its elegant, luxurious taste will evoke that Mediterranean desire and you can even sit outside on the terrace to enjoy the Peach Bamboo or indulge in a game of pool, there are many options at Dram Bar!

Price: £14
Address: 7 Denmark St, London WC2H 8LZ
Website: https://www.drambar.co.uk/

Royal Vesper

This is a sparkling cocktail developed in the glamorous Sheraton Grand London’s Palm Court restaurant and has film star history carved into it! The Royal Vesper is an adaptation of the Vesper cocktail of James Bond fame from Ian Fleming’s Casino Royale novel, and the subsequent films, and is named after Bond’s first love. This cocktail contains gin, of course, Sauvelle Vodka, Lillet Blanc, Supasawa, lavender syrup and champagne for that truly French connection! Tangy and fruity like a rosé champagne cocktail with a dried lime garnish, its balanced but strong flavour profile holds its own against savoury snacks such as rice crackers and wasabi.

Price: £20
Address: Piccadilly, London W1J 7BX
Website: https://www.marriott.com/en-gb/hotels/longr-sheraton-grand-london-park-lane/dining/

French Riviera 

Of course, this French Riviera cocktail is aptly named for our selection and it was created in a cocktail class at TT Liquor Bar (now known as TT) in Shoreditch, London. Its inspiration comes from the South of France and also a classic cocktail bearing the same name, which was created by head bartender Tom Byrne in 2015 at the former Charlotte’s Bistro in Chiswick. Its ingredients include Hennessy and honey with the French Cognac depicting the South of France’s charm and the honey providing the sweetness to the palate. The French Riviera is a refreshing citrus blend that you can re-create at home to take out in to the garden and showcase your cocktail making flair!

Ingredients
40ml Hennessy
15ml White Rum
15ml Lemon Juice
1 Spoonful of Apricot Jam
1 Spoonful of Runny Honey

Method
Add the cognac, rum and lemon juice to your cocktail shaker.
Add a big spoonful of apricot jam and a big spoonful of the honey to the mixture and stir all ingredients vigorously.
Fill the cocktail shaker with ice cubes and shake hard for approximately 10-15 seconds. Strain the mixture in to a glass and add new ice cubes.
Add a dehydrated orange slice to garnish.

You can also pop in to TT, as it has a cinema and a shop, and you can be taken downstairs to its renowned Cellar Bar and visit its caverns and indulge in more cocktails! Presently, there is a hip hop inspired cocktail menu  for music lovers, where the delicious Liquid Swords cocktail can be sampled. This blend of Hennessy, Pedro Ximenez Sherry, maraschino and Moët champagne, sounds sweet but as it is connected to the rapper GZA and the 1995 Liquid Swords album it will definitely surprise many! This cocktail will appeal to Kir Royale lovers with its sweet and sour profile and don’t forget to keep the music pumping!

Price: £14 (Liquid Swords)
Address: 17B Kingsland Rd, London E2 8AA
Website: https://tt-london.co.uk/cocktail-bar-shoreditch/

French Garden

Here’s another French based cocktail that you could make at home to capture that French Riviera glamour.  The French Garden cocktail was created by Raphaelle Chaize, who is the Beverage Expert at Giffard. Giffard is a recognised French liqueur and syrups specialist and its rhubarb liqueur features within this cocktail and offsets the lemon juice perfectly to create a nicely tangy blend.

The French Garden is a light tasting cocktail, that is not overly sweet, and the sparkling wine adds that extra kick to this concoction. This will be an ideal cocktail for those balmy, late summer evenings, whilst dancing to Europop classics, and will appeal to fans of the classic French 75 cocktail.

Ingredients
1 teaspoon pink berries
20ml Melifera Gin
20ml Giffard Rhubarb Liqueur
15ml Lemon Juice
10ml Honey Syrup
Champagne/ Crémant to top

Method
Crush the pink berries in the cocktail shaker and combine with the honey syrup.
Add all of the ingredients, save for the champagne, into a shaker.
Fill the shaker with ice cubes to the two thirds level. Shake the mixture vigorously for approximately 7 to 10 seconds.
Strain into a chilled glass and top with a champagne or crémant float 

Bees Knees

As you sit by the beach or else on a party boat cruising up and down the Côte d’Azur or perhaps you might be indoors preparing for an al fresco summer party, you can quickly prepare the Bees Knees cocktail to add a sting to your plan!  This cocktail uses the French Melifera gin, honey water and lemon juice – it really is as simple as that!  The lemon and honey provide a sharply sweet contrast as a refreshing flavour against the juniper taste within the gin. This will be the ideal cocktail to make and bring to an outdoor cinema screening, on the beach or elsewhere! Bees Knees will pair perfectly with some mackerel based canapés or sliders!

Ingredients
50 ml of Melifera gin 
10 ml of lemon juice 
15 ml of honey water (a spoonful of honey diluted in hot water)

Method
Pour all of the ingredients into a shaker. Add ice cubes and shake the ingredients vigorously. Pour the cocktail through a sieve in to a glass and serve. 

Clarendelle Rosé Spritz

French rosé wine truly epitomises that essence of the French Riviera and its lifestyle as well as being that renowned pale pink Provençal style of rosé, which hails from the South of France. Clarendelle Rosé also neatly falls in to our selection and flexes its wine muscles as it was a wine partner for the Oscars film awards! Domaine Clarence Dillon is Clarendelle’s family company and supplied all of the wines for the awards ceremony. But, as we are talking about cocktails, you can’t go wrong with a rosé spritz- make it yourself or opt for a Cannes specialty of a rosé and champagne cocktail near the Croisette! This rosé spritz is intended to evoke that special spark for your dining experience, it is sensual, not overly sweet and the added presence of bubbles amplifies that sense of occasion! The fruitiness of the rosé is not diluted within this cocktail and pairs well with the elderflower as that match made in Heaven! A twist on a Hugo Rosé Spritz and a French Spritz, you can indulge in this well balanced cocktail before an afternoon of retail therapy! 

Ingredients
25 ml Giffard Elderflower Syrup or St Germain Elderflower Liqueur
75 ml Clarendelle Rosé wine 
1 tablespoon lemon juice
50ml Champagne/ crémant to top 
Splash of sparkling water to top
Mint leaves (if required)
Add lime wedge garnish (if required)

Method
Mix the rosé wine, elderflower syrup and fresh lemon juice and gently stir.
Add ice cubes to a glass and pour in the rosé mixture. Top with champagne/ crémant. Add sparkling water (or elderflower flavoured tonic water) to taste, as a float.
Stir all of the ingredients.
Garnish each glass with mint and lime wedges, if required.

As we like to spoil you, we have one more addition to our Cannes Film Festival inspired selection! For that extra special French luxury treat which will lavish you with that royal treatment and wrap you up in its effervescence in Cannes or at home, you just can’t beat a glass of classic champagne, such as Pommery Brut Royal!

Pommery Brut Royal

An elegant, cool glass of Champagne brings out that excitement in everyone, as the quintessential drink of luxury which instantly conjures up images of being pampered! A flute of Pommery is ideal for those red carpet style moments and celebrations. This Champagne house utilises the traditional method with a blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier.

It is a pale lemon colour non vintage Champagne and those notes of biscuit and brioche are instantly on the nose combined with the green apple and pear aromas. Pommery’s fine, dry but smooth finish ensures that a glass will be perfect as an aperitif for those formal evening events and it will ensure that your night starts on the right notes!

Size: 750ml
ABV: 12.5%
Price: £45 (currently on special offer at £35.99 until 21 May 2024)

Et voilà, these cocktails should conjure up the spirit of the joy of the French Riviera and the glitz of the Cannes Film Festival for you, whether or not you decide to travel to France! Plus, it is the ideal opportunity to try some new cocktail bars and French drinks, which sounds good to us too, during the summer months with or without a film pairing session. There’s no excuse needed really – Santé!

By Latoya Austin

6 Great British Rosé Wines to Try in Your Glass

The Great British wine revolution has been hitting the recent news headlines with increased popularity amongst wine lovers as more people discover that British wines actually taste good! Champagne houses such as Pommery and Taittinger have been in on the action too and are known to have purchased land in Hampshire and Kent, within Great Britain, as the British climate is also favourable for sparkling wines.

Similar grapes to those used in luxury champagne (Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier) are grown on UK soils and are now also used to make English sparkling wine via the traditional method, but at a fraction of the cost for those of us enjoying those bubbles at home. However, most of the attention has remained focused on those tasty sparkling and still British white wines, such as Bacchus, so we’re here to shine the spotlight on delightful British rosé wines… perfect for Great British Rosé Week, at any time during rosé wine season or indeed at any other time of the year - there’s no reason needed!

Rosé wines are typically made using the same winemaking processes as red wines but the main difference is that the red grape skins are only in contact for a few hours rather than the weeks taken for red wines, resulting in that light pink colour that we all know and love!  There are many British vineyards to discover for a summer’s day trip with a tour and wine tasting – some vineyards might also offer accommodation if you wish to make a night out of it. In the meantime, let’s dive in to some British Rosé to tease your taste buds!

Halfpenny Green English Rosé 2022

With 30 years of farming divided amongst a family involved with the Halfpenny Estate and with south western facing slopes within the Severn Valley in South Staffordshire, this Rosé has that fashionable Provençal hue but packs in the fruitiness. There is a pronounced intensity of strawberries and stone fruits with a zesty contrast providing that refreshing taste that would be ideal for a trip to a summer’s meadow. As it is an off dry rosé wine blend with a hint of minerality, this Rosé will pair nicely with some cheese, crackers and light Mediterranean style salads.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 11%
Find here: £12.25

Tuffon Hall Beatrice Pinot Noir Rosé 2022

Beatrice is the name of the winemakers’ second daughter and therefore this is a very personal touch felt with this Tuffon Hall rosé, from North Essex, that bears her name. With four and a half generations working on this estate’s land, there is a genuine sense of the labour of love that pervades this wine. The land itself can be detected in the wine with an earthy smell balancing out the strawberries, raspberries and cherry in this medium bodied Pinot Noir rosé. This dry, tart but elegant award winning rosé will be one to share with friends, if you feel so inclined!

Size: 750ml
ABV: 11.5%
Find here: £16.99

Hattingley Valley Still Rosé 2022 

This Hampshire based Pinot Noir Rosé has been winning a plethora of awards such as the Best Still Rosé with good reason! It is served with a screwcap, with a bright pink hue and whilst it is light to drink that does not mean that its moreish strawberries and cranberries fruit flavour are not appreciated in providing that enhancement to its light intensity with a subtle, dry finish and tangy bite. This Rosé will complement seasoned fish dishes well.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 12%
Find here: £20

Simpsons Estate Railway Hill Rosé 2022

From the North Downs of Kent, the Simpsons Estate was established in 2014 and its chalk soil forms part of the same chalk ridge that is located between Southern England and Champagne, in France, and even stretches as far as to Burgundy! It is therefore not surprising that this Rosé from their Railway Hill vineyard was a silver winner of the International Wine Challenge in 2020. This Pinot Noir Rosé is a slightly deeper pink than a Provençal style rosé but the bouquet of summer fruits is enticing on the nose. With a pronounced intensity of strawberries and cream with citrus to provide that refreshing, crisp texture this is a juicy Rosé that could be enjoyed alongside a packet of salted crisps!

Size: 750ml
ABV: 12.5%
Find here: £20

Denbies Rose Hill Rosé

Denbies has become the UK’s first vineyard and winery to achieve Net Zero status in wine production as part of its sustainability efforts. You can therefore visit this Surrey vineyard knowing that it is carbon positive and intentional about reducing its carbon footprint. Plus, this fruity Rosé is a balanced blend of Dornfelder and Pinot Noir grapes from the vineyard which highlights the natural sweetness. It is an easy drinking, off-dry rosé to drink for apéro hour with its full flavour, medium bodied, smooth texture and that added citrus hint. For a full weekend visit, you could combine your Denbies wine tasting experience with some cycling in nearby Box Hill!

Size: 750ml
ABV: 11%
Find here: £11.99

Oastbrook Rosé 2022

Being described as similar to a cult winery in the Vines in a Cold Climate book, which discusses the English wine revolution, the Oastbrook Estate’s reputation precedes it! It is a Sussex based vineyard, which is an area that recently received Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) status, and is close to the river Rother and within easy reach of British beaches on which to enjoy this late harvest succulent Rosé! The estate does have onsite accommodation too such as lodges and glamping, if you book quickly, meaning that you could be served this rich balanced rosé directly to your own private space. Slightly pink orange in colour with strawberry, melon, citrus and stone fruits aromas, this is an extremely palatable off-dry Rosé wine which can be drunk by itself and conjures up images of strawberries and cream and Wimbledon! Plus, having the bottle number on its label, from this small production, does make purchasing this Rosé seem like an extra special treat and you’re worth it!

Size: 750ml
ABV: 12%
Find here: £18.50

You can’t say that we’re not generous as we have an extra treat, which does make this the lucky 7 recommendations! But, if you haven’t tried a Mirabeau wine before then it is definitely worth adding to your shopping lists! Technically, it’s not a British wine as it is grown in Provence but the owners of the estate are English winemakers who moved their family to France to set up their winery and fulfil their dream of making good quality rosé. So, without further ado, let’s explore a glass of Mirabeau…

Mirabeau X Côtes de Provence Rosé 2022

This quintessential Provençal salmon pink rosé blend, from the area that is north of Aix-en-Provence, is designed to impress with its delicate profile. It is a well-rounded vegan friendly Rosé, with a light intensity which becomes more profound over time to reveal crisp, fruit forward aromas combining strawberries, grapefruit, stone fruits and a degree of minerality with a long finish. It is a very quaffable, sophisticated and stunning wine which will be perfect for those lunchtime occasions at work or play or for those moments when you catch yourself daydreaming and imagining that you are by the French riviera!

Size: 750ml
ABV: 12.5%
Find here: £13

Rosé can truly be drunk at any time of year and gone are the days when you might only see a Pinot Grigio Blush or White Zinfandel on pub and restaurant menus, thankfully! What is your go to glass of rosé? We would love to find out your preferences and whether you now feel inspired to traverse the British countryside on a Rosé journey!

By Latoya Austin

Cheers to Tea Time: 5 Tasty Alcoholic Teas for Your Next Celebration

Having a cup of tea with a meal or a quick snack is one of life's simple pleasures – so much so that it merits its own celebration, such as National Tea Day. Drinking tea is a ritual embedded in many cultures. Tea culture apparently dates back to 2737 BC in China, according to legend, but there are now so many fashionable flavours to be found worldwide such as fruit teas and caffeinated or non-caffeinated tea varieties which go beyond the traditional builders tea or dreaded tasteless milky teas! There is truly a type of tea for everyone these days and that includes cocktail lovers too as there are tea infused cocktails to satisfy most tastes.

Believe it or not, but there are tea cocktails to suit each stage of your dining experience from eating starters right the way through to indulging in desserts! If that piques your interest (and why wouldn’t it), here are five alcoholic teas that will absolutely satisfy both tea drinkers and cocktail lovers alike!

Tios Hard Tea Light & Stormy

Tios hard tea is a sparkling tea infused entry in the RTD (ready to drink) cocktails market and is designed to be drunk on the go! It is made with organic white tea with a twist to provide a variation of your favourite cocktails such as Dark and Stormy. This rum based tea cocktail is a light brown colour which would look familiar to ice tea lovers with an intense ginger flavour profile providing that tangy sensation on the nose and palate. Well blended without being sugary, this is a vegan certified product that will go well by your side at afternoon tea and summer festivals as an aperitif!

Size: 250ml
ABV: 4.4%
Price: £16.99 for 6 cans

Riddles Mango Ice Tea

A sparkling ice tea rum blend that is slightly orange tinged and infused with Nigerian Moringa tea. According to folklore, there are health benefits associated with drinking Moringa tea and this works well with the fruity mango flavour to produce an easy drinking, light cocktail without reducing the flavour! It is so smoothly blended that neither the rum nor the tea dominate, but then again that will make it ideal to pair with the well-seasoned Caribbean Sunday dinner of rice, peas and chicken!

Size: 250ml
ABV: 4%
Price: £2

Masons of Yorkshire, Tea Edition

Tea drinkers and gin lovers will rejoice with this ideal combination of flavours for the Tea Edition of this gin! Mason’s Tea Edition blends dry Yorkshire tea with the botanicals and juniper flavours from the gin profile. It will be an excellent drink for both cosy nights in, as the warmth and alcohol strength will keep the cold weather at bay, and it will be suitable for the spring and summer climates too with its refreshing citrus and slightly sweeter taste. Look no further, If you are seeking that Trou Normand as that palate cleanser between dishes - this Tea Edition would be good for that or you could simply have it as a shot or on the rocks, as we said - it will please many!

Size: 700ml
ABV: 42%
Price: £33.95

Noveltea Whisky & Oolong Tea

Coming on to that after dinner time, when you might still be craving a night cap, this tea liqueur from Noveltea combines whisky with the lighter, fruity oolong tea variety. This is a boozy cocktail which is best served chilled with ice. It is as dark in colour as a traditional Scotch whisky, but without the high alcohol content! Smooth on the mouth, without being overpowering, with a subtle, smoky whisky aroma and a hint of lemon – this digestif combination is a natural partnership that will make you want more as the night draws to a close!

Size: 500ml
ABV: 15%
Price: £27.50

Tipsy Tea Spiced Chai

You might enjoy having a cuppa before bed and this spiced chai liqueur is perfect for those cosy moments to unwind at home. Packed full of spices, this alcoholic tea is designed to be mixed – you can be adventurous and try it hot or cold! Simply add a shot of hot water or sparkling cold water with a slice of lemon and away you go! Its golden colour also provides that sense of warmth in this fruity blend which tastes just like a herbal tea but with that added kick! It’s the perfect drink for catching up with the gossip with friends after that night out or dinner party!

Size: 350ml
ABV: 20%
Price: £15

Even if you may not be a regular tea drinker, these alcoholic teas explore its versatility for all meal times, tastebuds and special occasions. These will definitely satisfy those cocktail lovers searching for a lighter but flavourful alternative to their favourite cocktails and for tea drinkers seeking the tea version of an Irish coffee! The burning question now is – which boozy tea will you try first?

If you want to make some of your own boozy tea combinations, here are some suggestions to get you started.

By Latoya Austin

7 Beautiful Bottles of Red Wine You Need To Try This Spring

Springtime may not be the season you typically associate with red wine as the milder weather prompts reaching out for a cold, refreshing drink - typically a white wine, beer or cocktail. But, did you know that there are many lighter red wine blends that are perfect to enjoy during these warmer months too?

We’re thinking of fruity reds that would pair well with cherry blossom season as they contain that hint of cherry within them, as well as food-friendly reds that work well with light tomato-based dishes and salads. The possibilities are endless but to narrow down the list, here are seven red wines that you absolutely must try this spring!

Yellowtail Jammy Red Roo

Jammy by name and jammy by nature! This is an Australian Shiraz blend with Cabernet Sauvignon and other varietals which will attract those with a sweet tooth! You can enjoy this by itself with its fruity flavour profile and chocolate undertones as it’s a versatile, uncomplicated wine to suit most palates and believe it or not, it also works well after being chilled! But, if you do wish to pair this with a meal, then take it along to those BBQs for the start of the barbecue season. Or, simply treat yourself to this wine and dessert at the end of a meal. Like we said, so versatile!

Size: 750ml
ABV: 12%
Find here: £7.75

The Ned 2020 Pinot Noir

A Pinot Noir from the southern valleys of Marlborough, in New Zealand, which is already a unique selling point for this wine as well as it being an IWC award winner. It is a lighter bodied purple wine with a berry fruits flavour on the nose and a complex spice combined with an oaky characteristic to provide that balance. This Pinot Noir is certainly one to enjoy with food such as peppered mackerel or duck breast!

Size: 750ml
ABV: 14%
Find here: £14.99

McGuigan Black Label Red 2022

The McGuigan wines have been winning the IWSC’s best winemaker awards for years and with this red wine blend, which includes Cabernet Sauvignon grapes, it is easy to see why! This medium bodied, Australian all rounder is an easy drinking wine bursting full with flavour and ideal for lunchtime or unwinding after work. Its blackberry, fruity profile also provides a soft finish to the wine with hints of cherry and plum. We wouldn’t blame you for wanting this all to yourself but it strikes us as a crowd-pleasing wine suiting all occasions! It’s also easy to carry around as it’s served with a screwcap - always handy.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 12%
Find here: £7.25

Domaine La Clef du Récit - Sancerre Rouge – 2021

Coming from a young winemaker (the Clef du Récit estate in France only opened in 2012), this is a red Sancerre that you need to add to your shopping lists! It’s an Upper Loire red appealing to many with its combination of freshness, red berry profile and fine tannins. Simply smooth, quaffable and elegant, this is a medium bodied wine that will be an ideal springtime gift.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 13%
Find here: £28.50

Clos de la Molénie, Cuvée Michelot, Bordeaux Supérieur 2021

This is an organic estate located in Ruch in southeast Bordeaux and the winemakers only produced their first vintage wine in 2020. Their Bordeaux blends differ from the normal tastes associated with this type of wine as you would not usually believe that a Bordeaux would be suitable to drink during springtime! But, this 60% Merlot blend also features in the 2024 Guide of the Best Wines in France. It is a fruit forward wine with an immediate detection of its dark fruits and a hint of spice that provides an even finish. This will be a fascinating vineyard to add to your list to visit for wine-tasting in the spring holidays!

Size: 750ml
ABV: 13%
Find here: £24.95

The King’s Wrath 2021 Pinot Noir

Medieval history enthusiasts will enjoy the stories behind this King’s series of wines! Legend has it that in 1242 William de Marisco was found guilty of treason against King Henry III and was executed at the Tower of London alongside his accomplices. Parts of his body were scattered across the kingdom’s four corners as evidence of the King’s wrath! This will be a good dinner party tale to tell when pouring this award winning Marlborough Pinot from the namesake Marisco vineyards! This wine received the Champion Wine of the 2022 Marlborough Wine Show award and a gold award from The Drinks Business in 2022. It’s medium bodied with a rich and fruity palate that offers a soft finish and slight acidity to make it a well balanced party companion!

Size: 750ml
ABV: 14%
Find here: £15.99

La Masseria Del Borgo Primitivo Manduria 2022

This deep Italian red focuses on the Zinfandel variety and whilst it might be one of the pricier Primitivo wines found in the supermarkets, it lives up to it. It has a complex profile with black cherry, tobacco and a blend of spices, plus there is an obvious hint of tannins providing a dry, velvety texture. It is this spiciness that means that it works well with cheeses, particularly mature cheddar, for that ideal combination on your wine and cheese nights with friends!

Size: 750ml
ABV: 13.5%
Find here: £12.50

Well, you heard it here first, these red wines will be the ideal Easter treat, alongside those Easter eggs, of course, and are perfect in your glass to celebrate the joys of spring! There’s now no need to wait until winter to enjoy a great glass of red, so all that remains is the burning question - which one will you be tempted to try first?

If you’re interested in more quality drinks for the return of sunny days, then ready-to-drink cocktails have never been better - here are five we love!

By Latoya Austin