Drinker Discoveries: Six Refreshing Sips for a Sizzling Summer

We’re lucky enough to taste all kinds of drinks given what we do and in Drinker Discoveries, we pick the best of the bunch. This week, I bring you a wealth of stunning sippers for the sunshine, from European aperitifs to perfect pinks and even a new generation of cocktail cherry.

Enjoy!

Helena x

Rosé Wine Star

Le Grand Cros ‘Aurelia’ 2019

This rosé wine stood head and shoulders above its peers in a recent tasting; I was blown away! Hailing from the Côtes de Provence, it was a wine created by Julien Faulkner at Le Grand Cros to showcase the very best of their terroirs and he named the wine after his eldest daughter, Aurelia. Made in a fuller-bodied, creamier style thanks to lees ageing, more skin maceration and a touch of oak ageing, it’s packed full of fresh peach and ripe strawberry with a subtle note of rose and red appleskin. Its rich texture makes it an ideal gastronomic rosé and one that can be tasted all year round. This is going to be my Christmas lunch wine!

Find it here at Faulker Wines for £28.95

Awesome Aperitifs

Graham’s Blend no. 5 White Port (19%)

Port & tonic is the refreshing aperitif they’ve been drinking in Portugal for years, but it’s now making a splash in the UK. If you're thinking ‘how can Port be white?’, it’s when white grapes are used to make this famous fortified wine, such as Malvasia Fina, Rabigato, Códega, Sercial and Viosinho. White Ports are usually made to be drunk young and work really beautifully with all sorts of tonics. This very pretty one from Graham’s was created with Port and tonic in mind, so it’s citrusy and floral with notes of lime, orange and subtle fresh herbs. A great gin alternative.

Find it at Waitrose and Master of Malt for £21.99 - £24.99

La Gitana Manzanilla En Rama 2020 (15%)

Following the fortified wine theme, this savoury, dry sherry is a special version of Manzanilla called ‘en rama’. This is a style that’s released more in its natural state than standard Manzanillas, and so has more texture and complexity. Sherry lovers go mad for them and their twiglet-esque, yeasty notes. Made with pure, free run juice directly from the barrel, it boasts concentrated but tangy flavours of salted almonds and baked bread with a classic chamomile note. The perfect aperitif in hot weather and an ideal drink for salty snacks and cheeses.

Find it at Virgin Wines for £16.99

No and Low

Fortnum & Mason Rosé Sparkling Tea (0% abv)

This elegant looking bottle is the perfect, non-alcoholic replacement for Champagne and Prosecco  in looks and taste. Made with a blend of eight of Fortnum’s certified organic teas, it’s a delicious drop that feels like a treat thanks to the complex aromas and flavours from all the teas as well as a very wine like tannic grip. Aromatic, with stronger notes of jasmine tea and hibiscus, it’s light in its feet and a great food drink too. I’m stocking up! 150mg Caffeine per 1L

Find it here. For £16.95

Something and Nothing Seltzers (0% abv)

Finally! Something lighter and drier than a soft drink and that tastes all natural. These look great too with their super smart, matte white packaging. These elegant drinks are made with fresh, carbonated spring water and infused with subtle, all-natural flavours. They are incredibly refreshing alternatives to tonics and more sugary, soft options and come in three flavours: Cucumber, Yuzu and Hibiscus and Rose. Try them alone or go from day to night and mix it up with a spirit or Prosecco in spritzers. As a bonus, these are low calorie, vegan and come in recyclable aluminium cans and cardboard packaging.

Find them here on their website  in cases of 12 for £23.75.

Drinky Product

Cocktail Cherries (400g or 1kg)

The cocktail cherry is back and it’s absolutely delicious! Made by hotel Starlino based in Piedmont, Northern, Italy, these Italian Marasaca cherries are sourced from Naples and are bright and plump, delivering a concentrated hit of sweet cherry and a natural tang to keep it all fresh. De-stoned and ready to go, they make the perfect garnish for Manhattans, Negronis or other cocktails but you could also use them in desserts too -on top of cheesecakes or ice cream particularly. Yum! 

Find the 400g pot at Amazon for £8.89.

Like these? See our other Drinker Discovery articles here and here!

Sip Like a Celeb: 13 Celebrity Wines Available Right Now

Words by Helena Nicklin

Perfume lines and clothes ranges amongst A-listers are so 2018. It’s all about launching a wine brand nowadays; preferably something that says ‘down to earth sophistication’ that you don’t need a new mortgage to buy. While Cameron Diaz’s ‘clean wine’ and Snoop Dog’s ‘Cali Red’ make their way across the pond, here are some of the best celeb sippers you can buy right now.

Sarah Jessica Parker

Invivo X Sarah Jessica Parker, Sauvignon Blanc, £12 Sainbury’s (UK), $ 18.99 wine.com (US)

Classic, Kiwi Savvy B, this is ‘girls’ night in’ kind of wine with punchy, tropical fruit aromas, but smooth on the palate and not too tart. You can drink this alone or it will sing with salty snacks and goats cheese. 

Invivo X, Sarah Jessica Parker, Rosé, $19.99 from wine.com. Coming soon to the UK!

From the sun drenched coast of Saint Tropez, SJP’s pretty pink is a blend of Grenache, Cinsault and Syrah and is an elegantly perfumed, softer style of pink with lots of ripe strawberry and red fruit flavours. Great alone, but it would work very nicely with fruit salad.

Graham Norton

Graham Norton's Own Sauvignon Blanc, £8 Tesco

Also made by Invivo, the same producer as SJP’s wine, Graham’s Sauvignon has less upfront fruitiness and more savoury, smoky, saline notes while still rocking that classic, grassiness the grape is famous for. A good picnic wine this and a great crowd pleaser. 

Graham Norton’s Own Prosecco, £11 at Sainsbury’s 

The first celebrity Prosecco, Graham has gone for a classic ‘Extra Dry’ style which, ironically, means it has a decent dollop of sweeter fruit rather than actually being dry. Go figure. In any case, these are brilliantly balanced bubbles with indulgent notes of ripe pear and baked almonds. Fantastic party fizz.

Kylie Minogue

Kylie Minogue Rosé, currently £7 down from £9 at Tesco until Aug 10th.

Pale, pretty and perfectly packaged, this easy-drinking pink is from Southern France, but not the usual Provence. Made from a beefier blend of Carignan and Cabernet Sauvignon grapes, it’s grippy enough for cold cuts, but light enough to enjoy alone. Think crunchy, red fruit flavours and a summer berry scent. Cracking value, Kylie! 

Phillip Schofield

Philip Schofield Benvenuto IGT Falanghina, £24.99 (2.25 litres. Equiv £8.33 per 75cl) from Waitrose

Philip went to Italy for his pair of premium, bag in box wines and has produced two delightfully different drops from native Italian grapes. This eco-friendly white, made with fabulous Falanghina from the South of the country, is easy to love: citrusy and crisp with stone fruit and pear notes, it’s an easy going, summer sipper that’s perfect for parties. 

Phillip Schofield organic Nero di Troia IGT Puglia, £24.99 (2.25 litres. Equiv £8.33 per 75cl) from Waitrose

Earthy, smoky and rustic, like grandma’s homemade jam, this is a great little holiday, red wine, made with grapes native to Southern Italy. Serve it slightly chilled with some grilled meats or cold cuts to get the best out of it. 

Bon Jovi

Hampton Water, South of France Rosé 2019, £19.51 from Winebuyers.com

Made in Southern France’s Languedoc with the help of superstar winemaker Gérard Betrand, Bon Jovi’s super cool pink was voted the ‘best rosé in the world’ by a top wine magazine when it first arrived. A brilliant balance of fresh peach, strawberry and citrus with a cool slick of saline, this bottle is well worth the price tag. The only question is, why did he not call it ‘Le vin on a prayer?!’ Lolz.

Sir Ian Botham OBE

Botham & Balfour, English rosé 2018, £12 from Tesco

Is this the first celebrity wine made in England? Produced by renowned winery Hush Heath in Kent, this collaboration with one of England’s greatest cricketers, Sir Ian Botham OBE, is delicate and aromatic with crunchy red fruit flavours, an apple skin tang and a quintessentially English leafy note. 

Botham 80 Series Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon, £7 down from £11 at Tesco

Sir Ian Botham is a huge fan of the grape and named his ‘80 Series’ wines in homage to his greatest year in cricket: 1980. This classic Coonawarra Cabernet packs a punch with juicy blackcurrant notes and a mouth filling, minty finish. Smooth enough to drink alone but ideal with beef at your barbecue. 

Angelina Jolie & Brad Pitt

Miraval Rosé,  £19.99 (£14.99 mix six price) from Majestic (UK) or $21.99 from wine.com (US)

Angelina and Brad loved this winery so much, they bought it. As beautiful on the outside as it is on the inside (and we are still talking about the wine here), this cool and elegant rosé set the benchmark for celebrity wines. It’s a beautifully balanced blend that manages to capture that seductive Provençal salinity so well. 

Studio by Miraval, £9 at Tesco

The baby sister of Miraval above, Studio does a smashing job of offering similar glamour and quality at a much more attainable price. Named as a nod to the recording studio still on site where Pink Floyd recorded their iconic albums, this dreamy drop is smooth and dry with subtle notes of peach and melon. For the money, it’s magic.

Sting & Trudie Styler

When We Dance Chianti, il Palagio, 2018. £12.99 from www.vintageroots.co.uk

A classic Chianti that’s light to medium-bodied with tangy, sour cherry notes and a characteristic whiff of sage and dried herbs. Made with organically grown grapes in the heart of Tuscany at Sting and Trudie’s very own Il Palagio estate, this vino is romantically rustic. A great wine for a picnic and perfect with cheese and salami on focaccia.

Have you tried any celeb wines recently? Let us know over Instagram @TheThreeDrinkers. If you liked this, try hilariously unfortunate drinks names and 6 cracking canned drinks for summer.

3 Wines for Romantic Moments

Words by Helena Nicklin

As the sun returns, we’re feeling the love! I spoke to Kevin O’Sullivan on talkRADIO recently about the best kinds of wines for romantic times. My thoughts turned to three styles of wines that can take you from day to evening and each choice with a little story to tell. Enjoy…

Rosé Wine - Jardin de Roses

Outdoor dating is big this summer and the perfect pink will see you through from daytime to evening. Relaxed but sophisticated, think fresh flowers, crisp, linen tablecloths, outdoor scented candles and a fruity, floral bottle of rosé chilling in a silver ice bucket. For this, you’ll want a rosé wine that looks as good as it tastes. We love this pale and elegant looking pink from Languedoc in the South of France. Made with 70% Syrah and 30% Grenache, it has a little more peachy fruit than those from its Provençal neighbours and a lovely, rose petal nose. This one, with its uniquely patterned bottle, translates as ‘bed of roses’ and it comes in six labels, each with an image of different species of rose. Beautiful - and it gives a whole new meaning to the term ‘bouquet’...

Find Jardin de Roses, £13.49 at Waitrose.

Red Wine - Thistledown, Thorny Devil Old Vine Grenache

Light the candles, put the roses in water and snuggle up with a Grenache. If Pinot Noir is the ‘heartbreak grape’, then Grenache is the grape of romance, making wines that are smooth and velvety, with notes of wild strawberry, fig and warm spice. It’s an easy style to love without too much of those astringent tannins and lots of fruit. Grenache from old vines is particularly special as older vines yield fewer grapes and have deeper roots, which means what grows has a gorgeous concentration of flavour and complexity. Try one from the ultimate home of old vine Grenache (aka Garnacha): the region of Cariñena in Spain or one from its spiritual home in Barossa, Australia.

Find Thorny Devil Old Vine Grenache, £15.99 at Virgin Wines

Fizz - Ambriel Rosé 2014

We couldn’t talk about romantic wine without mentioning something sparkling, but how about something other than the standard Champagne? Popping the cork on an English sparkling wine shows that you’ve put a little more thought into your drinks choice. Make it a gorgeous, pale pink little number like this elegant fizz from Ambriel in Sussex. It’s made in exactly the same way as Champagne using 100% Pinot Noir (also one of the Champagne grapes) and has a beautiful perfume of red apple and rose with a quintessentially English, redcurrant crunch. Corney and Barrow describe it as ‘the perfect English rosé with its classic bone structure and cut glass accent’ and we could not agree more. This is an English wine producer to watch!

Find Ambriel Rosé 2014, £28.95 at Corneyandbarrow.com.

Like this? See these other wine guides: 5 new drinks products for socially distanced gatherings, English Wines to Rival Champagne, What You Should Be Drinking With Curry.

Two Wine Stories You Never Knew About the Royal Family

Words by Aidy Smith
(Follow Aidy @Sypped)

As we continue with our Best of British issue, I bring you two tales of a family who sit at the crown jewels of our nation, quite literally, before delving into some of the most beautiful British drinks I’ve had the fortune of discovering. 

For the former, our two stories may both have something to do with the tipple, but not in the way you’d expect – read on and arm yourself with some great dinner party conversation. 

The Not-So Grape Escape

While Queen Elizabeth is quite partial to her martini’s, it turns out she was stirred in quite a different way. Our story takes us back to the evening Friday 9th July 1982, where we uncover one of the only successful break-in attempts to Buckingham Palace.

A chap called Michael Fagan (who may not have been all there if you know what I mean), decided that on this fair evening he would climb a 14ft wall surrounding the palace, managing to somehow get past both the spikes and barbed wire, before climbing a drainpipe into an open window in the palace itself. 

While his intention was indeed to visit our dear Betty, this didn't stop him from doing a little exploring first. Making his way to the pantry, he got a little thirsty, so decided to grab some crackers and cheese (as you do) before continuing along the corridors to what was Prince Charles' bedroom, upon where he found a bottle of Californian Wine. Strange, I had Charles down as more of a Burgundy type of chap, but I don’t blame him, Californian wine can be stunning.  

He indulged his palate with a little Cabernet Sauvignon before deciding to continue his meander through the palace to have a little chat with ol' Elizabeth. Sadly, she didn't feel the same way. After disturbing a curtain, she awoke, running out of the room to go find security. Oddly enough, even when the guards finally arrived at the room, sources say Michael was offered a glass of whisky because he “looked like he needed one."

Lucky for him at this particular time in history, it was not illegal to enter Buckingham Palace through a hidden clause. He was however charged with theft for the wine, but this was later dropped as he was deemed psychologically unfit. As for Queeny, let's just say the armed guard protecting her bedroom wasn’t there for much longer. 

His Majesty's Royal Wine Mobile 

Being the Queen, you can pretty much do whatever you want – apart from drink wine out of a beer glass, that would be treason (I jest, I jest). With her darling son's 21st birthday just around the corner, the Queen decided to do what any loving multi-millionaire mother would: Buy her son an Aston Martin. That was over 50 years ago.

Since then, it would seem Prince Charles has decided to be a bit more creative, taking his love for wine a little beyond the glass.

How you ask? By converting this beautiful vehicle into running solely on surplus British wine stocks. A pretty ballsy move, especially as we could be drinking that wine, right? Well actually, winemakers have certain quotas they have to go by as per British legislation. Rather than allowing this to go to waste, Prince Charles is actually doing these wineries a favor, purchasing the wine to then use it as an eco-friendly fuel source. You'll be excited to know that since his first conversion, the wino-loving prince now has a fleet of wine cars, doing his own little part to help the environment.

This content was originally published in Oracle Time Magazine under Aidy’s Drinks Column. You can subscribe to the online magazine here to view online or order the magazine in print format.  

Drinker Discoveries: CBD Bitters, New Spirits, Great Wine and Gadgets

At The Three Drinkers, we are lucky enough to receive various samples of new drinks and lifestyle products over time. In these Drinker Discovery guides, we pick our absolute favourites as well as entertaining drinks news snippets we’ll think you’ll appreciate. Here are some that I have particularly enjoyed recently.

OTO CBD bitters

Not just good for cocktails, I have this in my morning coffee. OTO’s non-alcoholic, CBD bitters adds a warming, spiced aromatic note and depth of flavour to many types of drinks and none of that acrid, hemp note. The CBD element is a huge added bonus that really does feel like it calms anxiety and assists sleep. I love this. Find it and other luxury CBD products including face creams and roll on oils here. RRP £79 for 100ml (2500mg CBD).

Instagram: @oto_cbd

Winesave Pro

We’re always interested in products that can prevent us wasting wine and recently, I’ve been using the Winesave Pro when I’ve already popped a cork (usually on that extra bottle I probably shouldn’t have opened). Simply stick the thin tube in the bottle and give it a couple of squirts so the Argon gas can replace the oxygen and keep your wine fresh for longer (make sure you replace the cork or screw cap straight away). I tested it on various styles of wine over three weeks and was really impressed. A great, budget wine saving product. Find it here for £29.99.

Instagram @Winesavepro

Aloha 65

This brand new, spirit-based drink blew my minds when I tasted it as it does not fit into any regular drinks box easily. With its vibrant packaging, it promises a taste experience that delivers too. The team infuse spirits at 27% abv with fresh pineapple with lemon, ginger and other herbs and spices as well as local chillies for a fabulous kick. It’s vegan too. Have it as chilled shots or in a plethora of cocktails. They make an epic hot sauce too. Summer barbecues, here we come! Find it here for £26 for 70cl.

Instagram @alohasixtyfive

White Wine: Mar de Frades Albarino 2019

White wine of the week for me is this citrussy, saline Albariño (that’s the grape) made by the winemaking legend that is Paula Fandiño in Rias Baixas in northwestern Spain. This is THE region for world class Albariño and this vintage from Mar de Frades also has peachy, tropical flavours underneath those Atlantic, wet rock and sea spray notes. It’s a must with fish and seafood even on a cloudy day. A little blue ship appears on the bottle when its chilled to perfection too. Lovely touch! Find it here for £18.95.

Instagram @mardefrades

Red Wine: DV Catena Malbec 2018

My red wine of the week punches so far above its price tag, I had to look twice at it. Rich and concentrated with notes of cocoa, coffee bean, grilled meat and violet, this is a serious red wine that will love a barbecue. While it is drinking very well now, you could actually leave this for a couple of years to mellow further. Truly excellent value. Find it here at Sainsbury’s for £10 (down from £12) on offer for July.

Instagram @catenawines

In The News: God Save The Clean!

This tickled me. I love how carpet stain remover company Dr Beckmann commissioned artist Fanny Gough to paint a portrait of the queen in red wine on a carpet to demonstrate how good it was. I’m stocking right up. It’s got my vote! Find it here for £11.26

Like this? Check out some of our other guides : Gift Ideas for Drinks Lovers, Best Gins for a Martini and Must-Know Premium Californian Wine Producers.

12 Hilariously Unfortunate (and Downright Naughty) Drinks Names

It’s one of our greatest joys, finding products that have brilliantly funny unfortunate translations, from Fanny Tuna and Soup for Sluts to Golden Gaytime Ice Cream. As drinks is what we are all about however, here are some of our favourites; some intentional, some definitely not. Enjoy - and let us know if you find any more! 

Vergina Beer

You may have read our article about vagina beer, but it turns out that it existed already! This beer, which was first bottled in 1998 by the Macedonian Thrace Brewery apparently heralded the start of the craft beer trend in Greece. Spoiler: there are no actual ‘verginas’ in it. 

Chateau d’Arse

From a real producer in Fitou, southern France and rather a tasty wine, this red is a blend of Carignan, Grenache and Syrah. You can also find their other wine labels ‘Seigneurie d’Arse’.

The Jew’s Ear Juice

The producers of this Chinese drink explained that nationals refer to themselves as ‘the jews of China’ if they are ambitious and ‘think outside the box’. It’s a drink made with a fungus and they have now apparently decided to rebrand it to ‘Black Fungus Juice’. I think you’ll agree that this sounds way more tasty. Not.

Cunto Wine

Very much a real wine, this Italian tipple ‘Cunto’ made by Alois in Campania is a concentrated red wine made with the lesser known Parallegro grape. ‘Cunto’ means little story or fable in Italian. A little sadly, they’ve now given it a new name ‘Murella’ for the US market. 

4Skins wine

We suspect that this wine name might be deliberate but it really shows the humour of those winemakers from Nova Scotia who are experimenting with hybrids and lesser known grape varieties. Their 4skins wine is a blend of the four top grapes from Nova Scotia: Castel, Marechal Foch, Leon Millot, and Lucie Kuhlmann.

Gross Sauvignon Blanc

Producers Sultz in Austria really should have done a little more research for the name of this wine, which is actually a rather delicious Savvy B.

Fart by Hellena

The word ‘fart’ is Polish for ‘luck’! This lovely looking, fruit-based beverage is so lucky, they’ve covered the label in the word. The fact that it’s produced by a company called Hellena is doubly funny to us, natch. Thanks tastytart.com for the pic.

Urinal Hot Drink

This cranberry based drink that you can have hot or cold does what it says on the tin and helps with bladder problems. We’re not sure how popular it is outside of Poland, however!

Bitch Wine

Beautifully Australian in sentiment, this rich and brooding red wine made from Grenache in the Barossa Valley was so named because ‘life can be a bitch but it’s hard to get upset about it when the wine is so good’. Indeed. 

Ménage à Trois

What do you get when you take three single varietals and leave them alone together? The answer is a ‘luscious threesome’, apparently. This American wine brand is actually pretty decent and its original blend is Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, though they now produce several other wines. 

You Fuck My Wine

With a name inspired by the song ‘You Fuck My Wine’ by Whodunit, this is quite a serious red wine. Hailing from the French region of Cahors, though it can only be called a vin de France, it's a natural red wine made from Jurançon Noir and a touch of Malbec by producer Mas del Périé, Fabien Jouves.

Penetration Cabernet

Now we’re just getting silly. Naked Winery in Oregon have a range of provocative wine labels from Booty Call Muscat to Foreplay Chardonnay and this ‘solidly satisfying’ Penetration Cabernet that’s not too tannic and heavy. Clever marketing. Well, we noticed it! 

Stone Arrogant Bastard Ale

A big shout out to Gary from the Netherlands for sending us this one! Bier & co also stock multiple other entertaining ranges so if you don’t feel like an Arrogant Bastard then you could try yourself a Flying Dog ‘Raging Bitch’ IPA or ‘Doggie Style’ Pale Ale and if you are searching for more excitement still then an ‘Owl F*ck the Caravan is on Fire!’ Wheat Ale will surely do the trick!

Found any more? Send them to us at sophie@thethreedrinkers.com

If you like this, check our our pieces on Vagina Beer, Sour Toe Cocktail and Would You Drink Dead People?

Premium Californian Wine: 3 Must-Know Producers

What does Californian wine mean to you? In the UK at least, it's not the easiest to find the real gems. I’m talking about those exclusive, hand-made wines; the ones sought after by wine lovers the world over. Strawberry-scented Pinot Noirs, sunshine-in-a-glass Chardonnays and powerful, brooding Cabernets are some of California's wine highlights these days and there are certain producers you can rely on to create something exceptional. Here are three that you should get to know for a real taste of premium California wine: Orin Swift, Talbott Vineyards and Bear Flag.

Orin Swift

Orin Swift is the personal project of esteemed, self-made winemaker Dave Phinney, who has very quickly managed to create one of the most exciting and highly prized, new wave wine brands in California. Named in homage to his parents (Orin was his father’s middle name and Swift, his mother’s maiden name), the winery started as a small project and grew in reputation quickly thanks to Dave’s excellent wines and their iconic, head-turning labels for which he has become known. His particular visual style grew from an appreciation of all kinds of art during his youth, from the fine masters his parents taught him about, to the funky, punky, street art of the ‘80s with which he grew up. This love of art translates to his labels and Dave thinks of each one as a unique piece of art, each with its own story that in turn, helps tell the story of the wine the label adorns. You can listen to the stories yourself by seeking out these Californian gems from Orin Swift:

Sauvignon Blanc

Orin Swift ‘Blank Stare' 2016

California is becoming known for oaked Sauvignon Blancs that turn this zippy grape into something gloriously tropical. Barrel fermented partly in new French oak, this Sauvignon has exciting layers of lime, jasmine and lemon meringue pie with a zinging, fresh core of acidity and a cool mineral spine. Drink it alone or with lightly spiced Thai food.

Find it at Vinum Fine Wines from July for £36

Chardonnay

Orin Swift Mannequin Chardonnay 2016

The idea behind Mannequin was to create a modern, fresh style of Chardonnay while not losing the characteristics that made the world fall in love with this full-bodied grape in the first place. The result is a honeysuckle-scented, golden wine packed with lush notes of vanilla and butter thanks to some delicate oak and lees aging, perfectly balanced by a refreshing vein of lemon rind, apple skin and peach.

Find it at Great Western Wine from July for £41  (or £36.90 in a mixed case of 12)

Cabernet Sauvignon

Orin Swift Palermo Cabernet Sauvignon 2017

Cabernet, along with Chardonnay, was what put California wine on the world wine map after the famous ‘Judgement of Paris’ blind tasting back in 1976 where California took on the French and won. This is exactly the kind of Cabernet that did that: Full-bodied and bold, this is a long and complex wine with generous notes of blackberry, graphite and even tea leaf. Give it some air before drinking and it sings with barbecue beef.

Find it at Wine Rack now or Majestic Wine from July for £49.99 (or £39.99 in a mixed case of 6).

Talbott Vineyards

If you love your dreamy, soft and silky California Pinots and Chardonnays, reach for a wine from Talbott Vineyards. With vines based in the prestigious Santa Lucia Highlands AVA in Monterey County, conditions are cool and mild, perfect for these premium grape varieties. Within the rolling hills surrounding the estate, lies Talbott’s iconic Sleepy Hollow Vineyard. With full control over the growing process and production of wines from this plot, winemaker David Coventry leads the team to lovingly craft the greatest expression possible out of this exceptional fruit. 

Chardonnay

Talbott Vineyards Kali Hart Chardonnay 2018, Monterey

If you’re after a morning sunshine style Chardonnay, then this Kali Hart Chard is it. Crisp and bright thanks to the super cool microclimate where the grapes are grown, this wine showcases tropical notes with a touch of vanilla and an incredibly refreshing finish. Try it with creamy pasta dishes like carbonara or squash ravioli with a sprinkling of parmesan. Delicious!

Find it in store at Majestic wine from July for £24.99 (£19.99 in mixed case of 6) 

Pinot Noir

Talbott Vineyards Kali Hart Pinot Noir 2017, Monterey

Soft and approachable but not without complexity, this Pinot Noir is elegant but generous, with notes of cola nut, cinnamon spice, ripe blackberries and a hint of smoke. Easy-drinking enough to have alone, but it sings with mushrooms and roast chicken with all the trimmings.

Find it in store at Majestic wine from July for £24.99 (£19.99 in a mixed case of 6)  

Bear Flag

Bear Flag wine celebrates the brave souls who stand their ground, grabbing the most out of life and being who they want to be. Aaron Piotte, Bear Flag’s winemaker and a Sonoma County native, thought this spirit would best embody the wines he wanted to make. Choosing to harness the power of the region's wild and untamed vines, he crafts bold and beautiful wines from Zinfandel as well as Cabernet and a plethora of other grapes in honour of those who do not wish to waste one moment of this glorious life.  

Zinfandel

Bear Flag Zinfandel Sonoma County

Zinfandel is California’s flagship grape and the area of Dry Creek Valley is one of the most renowned for it in the whole of California. This is thanks to its day to night temperature swings, which concentrate the aromas and flavours and keep a beefy, flavoursome wine fresh. Concentrated, dark and toasty, with notes of fig jam and blueberry pie this wine is bold, yet brilliant. If it were a person, it would be Marlon Brando and it loves a meaty barbecue.

Find in store at Wine Rack for £24.99 or Majestic for £24.99 (or £22.49 in a mixed case of 6).

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English Sparkling Wines to Rival Champagne: Names You Need To Know

Words by Helena Nicklin

This article produced by Helena was originally written for and published by Luxurious Magazine in January 2020.

You may have heard about the rise of English fizz; you may still be sceptical, but having kept a close eye on the industry over the last sixteen years, I can tell you that we’ve now, officially, nailed it. Our relatively new English wine industry has observed the successes and failures of hundreds of years of winemaking globally, waiting patiently until the time was right; until temperatures had increased just enough to put England on a par climatically with the world’s most famous sparkling wine-producing region. In some parts of the English south coast, the soils are almost identical to those of the Côte des Blancs in Champagne. Couple that with an almost identical climate in places, the same grape varieties, same ‘traditional method’ used, cutting edge equipment, experienced winemakers and vines that are finally coming of age and you’ll see precisely how we are now creating world-class bubbles to rival Champagne and in some cases, dare I say it, outclass it.

The best way to learn about wine is to taste it, so here are a few of the biggest names in English sparkling wine that you absolutely need to know, along with some of their more exclusive, limited-edition wine offerings to seek out.

Jenkyn Place Blanc de Blancs 2015 – Hampshire

If you’re looking for quintessentially English charm, Jenkyn Place, owned by the Bladon family in the North Hampshire Downs, has it in spades. While the family has been making wine with the classic Champagne grapes (Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier) since their first vines were planted in 2004, this ‘blanc de blancs’ (with sparkling wines, this usually means made with 100% Chardonnay) is the very first Chardonnay-only wine, thanks to the exceptional quality of the harvest; they didn’t want to blend it! Think ultra-fresh citrus balanced by ripe orchard fruit and shortbread notes with rich, creamy bubbles. An elegant English rose of a wine. RRP £38 from www.jenkynplace.com

Gusbourne Blanc de Blancs 2014 – Kent

As far as awards go, Charlie Holland, winemaker for Gusbourne, has been cleaning up over the past few years. Gusbourne’s wines are consistently excellent with a tell-tale purity that sets them apart from their peers. The blanc de blancs is the flagship wine of the estate, made with 100% Chardonnay and aged for at least forty two months on its lees (the dead yeast cells leftover from fermentation) to give biscuity notes and a rich, creamy texture. This 2014 has an incredibly complex palate packed full of candied fruit and notes of hazelnut and baked apple with a refreshing, mineral core. Fabulous. RRP £59 Gusbourne Website

Hattingley Valley King’s Cuvée 2013 – Hampshire

Another much-loved, family-owned winery in Hampshire that since the very early days have also been winning countless awards. The winemaking team lead by Emma Rice, often like to use a bit of oak for added spice, texture and toastiness and this extremely limited release is no exception. A blend of 70% Chardonnay and 30% Pinot Noir, the wine was barrel fermented and then aged in oak, giving it a weighty feel and a palate rich with sweet spice, waxy lemon peel and fragrant, red apple skin notes. Will age beautifully. RRP £80 Hattingley Valley Website

Harrow & Hope Blanc de Noirs 2015 – Buckinghamshire

This bijou, family-run winery is still pretty new (just 7 years old), but wine has been in the blood of winemaker Henry Laithwaite his entire life. After travelling the world learning how to make it, Henry and his wife Kaye decided to settle back in England, finding an ideal spot in the Chiltern Hills to create their own world-class fizz. While still young, these wines have caught the attention of the top wine writers for their elegant purity and exceptional ageing potential. ‘Blanc de noirs’ means ‘white from black’, i.e. white wine made with black (red) grapes only, and while the 2015 is starting to open up now, with its cool minerality and tangy, red fruit notes and spice, if you lay it down for another year or so, you will see it truly blossom. RRP £38 from Harrowandhope.com

Pink English Fizz

Ambriel Rosé 2014 – Sussex

There’s something unique about the wines from Ambriel – a relative newcomer on the English wine scene. Based on the sunny South Downs in Sussex, Wendy and Charles Outhwaite have swapped a hectic, legal life for a slice of countryside heaven, complete with tiny sheep (ouessants) who graze between the vines during the winter. Ambriel bubbles have the class of champagne with an undeniable English accent thanks to a slightly unusual way of making sparkling wine, using skin contact rather than blending red wine with white. The result for The Ambriel Rosé 2014 is vibrant, ripe and juicy wine, packed with wild strawberry fruit and a moreish leafy aroma. Wendy describes it as ‘an English garden party in a glass’ and I wholeheartedly agree. I had to double-check the price as it’s worth twice this… RRP £26.95 from Corney & Barrow

Hambledon Premiere Cuvée Rosé – Hampshire

Hambledon, to my mind, have been leading the charge in Hampshire, if not the whole of England, with richer styles of sparkling wines that have been grabbing headlines. Having released their elegant, classic cuvée rosé last year to great applause, this year’s offering is a quirky, very limited edition of pink made with 100% Pinot Meunier – the grape that even in Champagne is usually only used in blends and even then, only in small quantities. Deep pink, almost red in fact, with an intriguing, smoked meat quality balanced by ripe, morello cherry notes, this sparkler is bone try with a wonderful sappy texture and toastiness. Beguiling and unique, you could easily match this with meat dishes too. Grab a bottle if you can find it! RRP £69 from Hambledon Vineyard Website