Lockdown List: Companies running virtual wine & spirits tastings

With Lockdown not ending again for a while, we may as well try to see friends online over a glass or six. If you’ve been thinking about doing any form of online tasting, check out my tips for running your own wine tasting here. If you’d like a pro to lead you through the process and sort all your drinks for you, then here are some companies to support. Email me at helena@thethreedrinkers.com if you want to be listed!

If you’re a company looking for a private online tasting, please click here to get in touch. We are constantly updating this list.

Here are some other companies that offer mix of tastings you can join in with and private tastings you can do at home, online with your mates.

** 8th April - tasting tour of Stauning Distillery. **

Guests will be led on a tour of the beautiful state of the art, premium whisky distillery on Denmark's west coast as they uncover the unique and curious ways Stauning makes its wonderful whiskies - think floor malting, 24 small (and gorgeous) copper pot stills - resulting in truly special spirits. Stauning's very own storyteller Pernille Nielson, will guide guests through the tasting, as they explore the distillery and discover the world of this innovative Danish spirit. It's a super exciting and rare opportunity to see this Danish distillery, particularly with the travel bans at the moment, as well as enjoying some delicious drams. Each tasting kit includes three 50ml samples - one of each of Stauning's whiskies, Rye, Kaos and Peat - and a special Stauning tasting glass. Tickets are £35 and are available to purchase on Design My Night. The tour will start at 6:30pm.

Online Wine Tasting Club

Brand new venture, Online Wine Tasting Club send you five incredible wine samples every month through your letterbox, in their unique mini bag-in-box packaging. You can join a live wine tasting show / masterclass where they introduce you to the stories behind the wines, explain winemaking to you and take you on virtual tours of the vineyards and wine regions. Great fun and jargon-free, it is enjoyed by more than 1000 people every month. Prices start from £20 a month or £32 for a couple. Winner of a 2021 Drinks Retailing Award. Support a new, lockdown-born business!

onlinewinetasting.club

Feel Good Grapes

Run by the brilliant Mike Turner, Feel Good Grapes runs relaxed, private tastings for you, your friends and colleagues. Ideal for groups of 8-25, they can theme the tasting for you and send out all the wines based on your budget.

feelgoodgrapes.com

Huxley's Bar

Huxley's Bar UK, provide fun wine tasting and whisky tasting events in a virtual format. Our beautifully presented boxes delivered to your door are great as a group tasting or as a gift. You will receive our professionally made videos for each of your drinks or you can make your experience V.I.P and one of our experts will attend your Zoom Call. Huxley's Bar UK also provide pre-made cocktails delivered to your door.

Huxleysbar.co.uk

FORTIFY

FORTIFY is a wine & spirits appreciation and education company founded by Ali Finch, Drinks Director for the Angela Hartnett restaurant group. Hosting bespoke group tastings as well as one-off special events, these virtual masterclasses combine Sommelier insight and hospitality. Open discussion and questions are actively encouraged, from myth-busting & revealing insider knowledge, to offering pairing suggestions and getting downright nerdy when required.

fortifyws.com

Plonk Wine Co.

Join us for an exclusive, unforgettable, bespoke, virtual wine tasting event — tailored to impress, surprise and delight your clients, colleagues and customers. What sets us apart from the competition? Well, it’s simple. No one else offers the kind of wines that we do. 

plonkwine.co

The English Vine

You, your family, friends or colleagues, some amazing English wines and us. These aren't your usual stuffy wine tastings. We'll bring our best chat and let you really discover what our wines are about in a way that everyone can understand, even your Auntie Dora. We’ll even ask you to bring a beer (you’ll find out why on the day).

theenglishvine.co.uk

VineDrops

VineDrops is a virtual wine tasting platform that partners with independent vineyards to offer virtual events directly with the vineyards. Explore the history and heritage of these vineyards as you enjoy their wines in these interactive sessions.

www.vinedrops.co.uk

TastingOnline.co.uk

Bespoke tasting experiences with a crack team! Hold a tasting of anything, anything from wine, cider, beers, cocktails, Sake to no/low or a mix of all of them.

tastingonline.co.uk

Get Tasting

Get Tasting started almost 18 months ago (pre-lockdown) listing wine tasting experiences both virtual and in-person. We also list online and on-demand courses and have over a thousand wine tasting resources.

gettasting.com/virtual-wine-tasting-events

The Vine Untangled

Join experienced wine & spirit educator Tim Haslam for customised online tastings for you and your friends, relatives and work colleagues. Fun and informal, Tim will take you behind the scenes of the wine trade to understand some of the factors professional wine buyers take into account to bring the world's finest wines & spirits to your door!

thevineuntangled.com

Manchester Wine School

Owned by the wine writer and presenter Simon Woods, the Manchester wine school offers a range of online sessions, some in partnership with independent wine merchants, some “byo” style on a theme, specialist courses and masterclasses as well as WSET qualifications. We also offer private sessions for corporate clients and virtual private parties at home.

Manchester Wine School

Jackson and Seddon

Jackson and Seddon wine tastings are run by Rob the business owner and focus on the stories behind the wines and his experiences in finding each one personally and the people that put their heart and soul into producing them.

www.jacksonandseddon.com

Brixton Wine Club

This is not your Mum and Dad’s wine club. Brixton Wine Club sells premium wines, but in cans. Choose from a one off box or a monthly subscription and wine delivered straight to your door with tasting notes.

www.brixtonwineclub.com

VINGIN

Wine and gin cocktail tastings for private parties, corporate business and charitable tastings. We also run a weekly wine and gin club, which is currently a BYO format related to a theme, but soon moving to a postal service whereby we supply the wines and gin samples.

www.vingin.co.uk

Bolney Wine Estates

Bolney are offering a range of virtual tasting experiences including Classic & Luxury virtual tastings and private virtual wine tastings.  Afterwards, you can compete to become wine champion as your guide puts your newfound knowledge to the test with a fun quiz to finish! Bookable tastings as well as virtual tasting vouchers are available.

BolneyWineEstate.com

Rose Murray Brown MW

Regular online wine tastings (sometimes with winemaker as guest host) on some classics, such as Tuscan Reds, Christmas wines, Bordeaux, Burgundy, Small French Growers etc.

Rosemurraybrown.com

ThirtyFifty

This events team is hosting a series of virtual wine tastings via Zoom which are educational yet fun and a great way to socialise while increasing your wine knowledge during the current lockdown period. Vouchers available too!

www.thirtyfifty.co.uk

BiB Wine Company

BIB Wine Co are offering tasting boxes with 6 x 100ml samples as well as online tastings in December. One coming up on the 3rd Dec!

www.bibwine.co.uk

Brianne Cohen

Brianne runs a monthly public #virtualvino class as well as individual tastings. Her signature is a small-format tasting set sent to each attendees home for the class.

Briannecohen.com

Newcastle Wine School

Newcastle Wine School regular online tastings with local wine merchants and winemakers. 

Newcastlewineschool.com

Winebound

Entertaining wine tasting classes with wines delivered. led by Fabio Adler and his company.

winebound.designmynight.com

Caviste

Wine, spirits and festive tastings from this merchant based in Hampshire.

caviste.co.uk

Tipple-Talk

Tipple Talk is a virtual wine club covering a new region each month. 6 mini bottles delivered in advance of a webinar zoom. No subscription needed. Run by Katrina; an award-winning wine professional with over 8 years experience in the industry.

tipple-talk.com

Vineyards Wine Shop

Dorset wine shop running Instagram Live tastings and private tastings. Coming up: a Sherry tasting in a with Gonzalez Byass, plus ‘drinks cabinet staples’ in Dec and more!

Vineyardsofsherborne.co.uk

Virtual Tastings

Offering private tastings showcasing our collection of unique, lesser-known wines (as well as ciders and gin!)

virtualtastings.co.uk

Enjoy Discovering Wine

Tastings for fun and WSET courses online! Open to all in the UK & Europe. WSET Diploma worldwide.

enjoydiscoveringwine.com

Unicorn & The Vine / Wine At Home

Luisa is a certified WSET Wine Educator who runs interactive virtual tastings for corporates or to connect friends and family. Wines and cheeses delivered to the door! Wine from Wine at Home.

Unicornandthevine.com / wineathome.org

BeerGinVino

Occasional masterclasses on Gin, Wine, Beer and other Spirits. Next up: SkyWave Gin on 3rd Dec. beerginvino.com

Occitanie Wine School

An 11-episode series that’s easy to catch-up with on YouTube. offering and insight into the wine regions of Occitanie, bringing to life its top performing, distinctive appellations. 

suddefrance.co.uk

Online Spirits Tastings and Masterclasses

Sky Wave Gin

Sky Wave Gin create bespoke gin themed corporate virtual events for you and your clients or friends through the magic of the internet. Our virtual events can run for 1 hour as a stand alone event or can  incorporate a new product demo or corporate announcement followed by a 45 minute Virtual Gin Tasting session – both are led by Sky Wave Gin’s Master Distiller with a curated gin tasting, quiz, fun facts and a Q&A section. Follow them on Instagram @SKYWAVEGIN and see more on the web address below.

skywavegin.com/virtual-gin-tasting

York Gin

York Gin are running regular events on Zoom featuring all six of our gins, mixers and garnishes, snacks and surprises. Hosted by two of our experts who normally do the tastings in our beautiful Tudor shop in York.
yorkgin.com/product/york-gin-night-in-tasting-zoom

TastingOnline.co.uk

Bespoke tasting experiences with a crack team! Hold a tasting of anything, anything from wine, cider, beers, cocktails, Sake to no/low or a mix of all of them.

tastingonline.co.uk

Liberated Liquid

Fine Whisky, Gin & Rum masterclasses by @LiberatedLiquid using stocks from their city bars. Liberatedliquid.com

BeerGinVino

Occasional masterclasses on Gin, Wine, Beer and other Spirits. Next up: SkyWave Gin on 3rd Dec. beerginvino.com

Virtual Tastings

Offering private tastings showcasing our collection of unique, lesser-known wines (as well as ciders and gin!)

virtualtastings.co.uk

Online Beer Masterclasses

BeerGinVino

Occasional masterclasses on Gin, Wine, Beer and other Spirits. Next up: SkyWave Gin on 3rd Dec. beerginvino.com

TastingOnline.co.uk

Bespoke tasting experiences with a crack team! Hold a tasting of anything, anything from wine, cider, beers, cocktails, Sake to no/low or a mix of all of them.

tastingonline.co.uk

not an online virtual whisky tasting as such, I still think it is relevant to the lockdown list considering the product was developed during and for the purposes of lockdown!

Angel Share Artworks

We are reinventing the whisky flavour chart to enhance the whisky tasting experience at home. Whether you are looking to train your senses or display unique whisky wall art, an Angel Share Artwork is a fantastic addition to the enthusiasts’ collection. While not an online tasting, it will enhance any that you do!

www.AngelShare.Art

For a list of tastings you can join in with, Spitbucket.net have compiled a huge database of tastings that are happening online, with over 7400 tasting listed since May! Check out VirtualWineEvents.com. Another list to peruse is grapegathering.com

5 Women in Drinks to Toast!

Words by Helena Nicklin

The world of wine and spirits has traditionally been male-dominated through the years, from winemakers and distillers to salespeople and communicators of all kinds. Happily, we’re seeing more women take the lead creating safe, communicative spaces for others and with the rise of digital media, we are seeing a wave of younger women enter the communications space too. This is all having a knock on effect on our opening up drinks to new consumers and is to be celebrated. Here are some ladies in wine and spirits that we would like to applaud. 

Barbe-Nicole Ponsardin: The Original Wine Woman 

Barbe Nicole Ponsardin, known better to most people as the widow, ‘veuve’ Clicquot, smashed the glass ceiling two hundred years ago at the tender age of 27 after her husband died, refusing to sell the family wine business and building it into a world famous Champagne brand. This tenacious, single mother insisted on getting more training in wine making and made several bold choices, inventing techniques along the way that are still used today: riddling, to clarify the wine and stop it being cloudy like everyone else’s and blending. She created the first ever rosé Champagne. It’s thanks in large part to Barbe-Nicole and her technique for making clear, elegant wines that Champagne gained such a strong reputation around the world. 

Try: Veuve Clicquot, La Grande Dame Rosé 2008

92% Pinot Noir, 8% Chardonnay, Veuve Clicquot’s Grande Dame, vintage Champagne was named in homage to Barbe-Nicole herself. Think smoky, ripe, red fruit with aromatics of rose petal and blackcurrant. A powerful yet elegant wine. 

Find here: UK £254 // US $385.58

Nichole Johnson - Rusty Rabbits Drinks Distribution & Champagne Producer

The formidable Nichole Johnson is not only the youngest, but the only African-American, female-owned liquor importer, exporter and distributor in the world. Her business, Rusty Rabbit International, was formed to create and curate premium drinks brands and to promote them globally. It’s a dynamic, adaptable and forward thinking drinks company, founded, as she says, ‘by rebels willing to shake up the norm and take the world by storm.’ Despite the challenges of 2020, Nichole managed to bring eight new brands on board to her business and the international drinks market. Her clients include some of the most exciting, new global drinks products but she herself is a force to be reckoned with in her field, having also just launched her very own Champagne called Lapin Rouillé, after ‘rusty rabbit’. Definitely a woman to watch. 

Try: Lapin Rouillé Champagne

Made unusually from 100% Pinot Meunier, Lapin Rouillé is richly fruited, ripe and aromatic with notes of red berries; a vibrant, easy-drinking Champagne with a cool, mineral core helping to maintain its freshness. With its bright red bottle and rabbit logo, it really stands out on the shelf! Limited to just over 3,000 bottles, you can find Lapin Rouillé on the RRI website, at Harvey Nichols and London retailer Gerry’s.

Find here: UK £42.99

Ellie Webb - Founder of Caleño, Alcohol-Free Spirit

Frustrated by the lack of decent alcohol-free drinks on the market and with a desire to step away from corporate life and create something entirely of her own, Ellie Webb founded a company to produce something special and delicious that was inspired by the colourful culture of her Colombian homeland. Caleño was born; a zesty, tropical and aromatic ‘free spirit’ as she calls it, which did so well that at just three months in, it was launched into 500 Sainbury’s stores. Such was the success of her white ‘free spirit’, Ellie recently developed a sister for it, based on a spin on dark spirit. Caleño now has two official forms: Light & Zesty and Dark & Spicy and they come in various sizes and gift box options. 

Try: Caleño duo bundle (2 x 50cl)

Both the Caleño drinks are deliciously different. The Light & Zesty is based on Juniper with citrus notes and an exotic splash of Inca berry. The Dark & Spicy is warming and, naturally, spicy with moreish notes of kola nut, ginger, vanilla and cardamom.

Find here: UK £32

Robin Christenson, Blinking Owl Distillery

In 2016, entrepreneur Robin Christenson launched the first craft distillery in Orange County since prohibition together with her husband Brian. With Level 3 WSET (Wine and Spirit Education Trust) certification to her name, Robin wanted to approach their spirit production at Blinking Owl with the same attention to terroir as wine and committed herself to working as part of California’s sustainable farming community. She has since been lauded for her distillery's ‘grain-to-glass’ influence. We can expect to see Blinking Owl seriously going places in 2021, especially as it is also part of Rusty Rabbit International’s stable.

Try: Blinking Owl Four Grain Bourbon.

Made with organic California corn, wheat, rye and malted barley, the whiskey is distilled and left to age for two years in New, American charred, white oak casks. It’s sweet and spicy with powerful notes of aromatic vanilla, citrus peel and toast. 

Find here: UK £42.99

Jill Russell - Winemaker at Cambria Estate Winery

Having grown up in Castro Valley, California, Jill worked at a winery while at high school before going on to study wine and viticulture in San Luis Obispo high school. Since then, she’s travelled globally, soaking up as much experience as she can and now with ten years of winemaking under her belt, she has brought her skills and energy to Cambria in Santa Barbara, where her very first vintage of the famed, Cambria Katherine’s Vineyard Chardonnay was selected as one of Wine Spectator’s Top 100 wines of 2019. A new jewel in the renowned Jackson Family Wines crown, Jill is a winemaker to watch, especially where it concerns maintaining the fine traditions of world class, cool-climate wine making.

Try: Cambria Katherine's Vineyard Chardonnay 2018

An elegant blend of ripe peach and crisp, citrus fruit, with a refreshing, cool salinity, this is a sunshine Chardonnay that is anything but blousy. Subtle oak pops through on the palate in the form of cooking spices and a touch of smoke, creating a flavoursome wine in perfect balance. 

Find here: UK £19.99 // US $19.99

Taste This! 

Want to taste whisky, support women and raise some money for charity? 

We wanted to mention this fantastic Women in Whisky box, which is accompanied by a live tasting panel on 10th March. It features miniature whiskies made by six women and is a special charity edition in aid of both a local Bristol women’s charity and the Drinks Trust, timed to coincide with International Women’s Day 2021. The boxes are being sold on a not-for-profit basis by The Dram Team, with proceeds all going to the charities. In the box: Tamnavulin, Double Cask, J.J. Corry, The Hanson, Nc'nean, Organic Single Malt, Compass Box, Hedonism, Penderyn, Celt and Cardrona, Just Hatched.

Find here: £32.99

To find out more about the original wine women herself, click here!

Mother’s Day Gift Guide For Drinks Lovers

Words by Helena Nicklin

With Mother’s Day right around the corner, I wanted to share some of the cheeky treats that have caught my eye over the past month. Be it subscriptions, bottles, chocolates or glassware, there is a little something here to suit everyone, whether you are a mum or not!

Stir-Up Cocktail Subscription Membership

How about getting her a cocktail subscription box for 1, 3 or 6 months? Each smart Stir-Up box contains the ingredients needed to make 4 cocktails and is delivered directly to the recipient’s door with easy to follow instructions included. Learn how to mix a new classic cocktail each month and discover fun facts about the drink, the best place to drink them, and enjoy their curated playlist to put you in the mood for stirring and shaking. There’s also a follow along ‘how to’ video for each month’s featured cocktail. 

Find here: £29.95 a month

Women & Wine prints

I discovered Judith Clara on Instagram recently and fell in love with her Women & Wine prints, each drawn by hand in a single stroke. Choose from red or white wine, landscape or portrait formats and three different sizes. I bought three to make a trilogy! They are just beautiful and it’s a great way to support an up and coming artist.

Find here: From 15 EUR

Gosnell’s BEE KIND TO YOURSELF bundle

Created by the team behind the premier modern mead brand Gosnells, this little bundle of luxury includes two mead-scented bath bombs, a beeswax candle, a can of chilled mead and a mini pot of orange blossom honey. Hops have long been used in beer (and mead) production, but they have relaxing properties of their own and Hibiscus Flowers can be used in skin treatments to give a stunning, natural youth-boost! Choose your bundle in either Hopped green or Hibiscus pink and get a handwritten note with it. 

Find here: £16 (+p&p) 

Set of 2 Geometric Glasses

Perfect for making any drink feel like a treat, even a simple glass of water! I love this pair of gold, geometric glasses from Root7. Thick, 100% hand-blown glass gives them a sturdy feel while the lip has been crafted to provide a satisfying drinking experience. Available with a gold edge or a matte black edge.

Find here: £20.75

Laylo - Beautiful Boxed Wine

Boxed wine can be beautiful both inside and out and a box is infinitely more sustainable than heavy glass bottles. This delicious, easy-drinking Rioja punches well above its price tag and looks beautiful on your countertop at the same time. The first in the range, the Laylo team source the wines directly from smaller producers they know and love and are dedicated to more environmentally packaging. The wine also stays fresh for up to six weeks  - not that you will have much left by then! 

Find here. £34.99

Wild Life Botanicals - Ultra-low alcohol ‘Bubbles with Benefits’

The perfect fizz when you want a drink but don’t want the hangover. These two, immensely refreshing 0.5% alcohol wines have super fine, elegant bubbles and complex aromas and flavours from a plethora of benefit-giving herbs and extractions, from Ashwagandha to Zinc. There is a sweetness there but not too much and they really do feel like a treat. They comes in white (nude) and blush (rosé) and are beautifully packaged. Perfect for gifts and super with Sunday lunch. 

Find here: £15 each

Amedei Chuao Chocolate X Gusbourne Sparkling Rosé

Cartografie are the new, sophisticated chocolatiers in town who think of terroir for chocolate just like winemakers do for wine. In this limited edition Mother’s Day pack, Kae and Sven have taken the silkiest Venezuelan chocolate from Amedei, turned it into a water ganache with a slight sprinkle of sea salt and perfumed it with an English blackcurrant eau de vie from Capreolus. It’s fruity and tangy with a thin shell. They say “think about a kirsch chocolate bonbon but with flavours of an English country garden.” Yum! Match these 12 gorgeous, hand-made chocolates with a bottle of one of England’s finest sparkling rosé wines from Gusbourne in Kent. Gift wrapping available too. 

Find here: £35 for the Chocolates or £80 with the Gusbourne too

100 Prosecco Recipes Book + Bottega Prosecco Gold Bottle

From aperitifs to desserts, this book is a collection of recipes accompanied by many stories and curiosities. More than that though is a journey through the Prosecco hills, just north of Venice. Put together by Sandro Bottega of the well-loved Prosecco brand Bottega. Proud of the land and the riches it offers, Sandro wanted to pay homage to the straightforward, hard-working people who live there and who have created and still preserve its cuisine and its culture. With its stunning, mirrored gold cover, it makes the perfect gift along with the iconic golden bottle itself. 

Find the Bottega Gold Prosecco gift pack with two glasses here: £34.99
Find the recipe book here 

Kylie Minogue Wild Rosé Hamper

A perfectly pitched, limited edition hamper where every touch was personally selected by Kylie herself. Inside the large wicker hamper with its hand embroidered lining and detail, you’ll find a  bottle of Kylie Minogue Côtes de Provence Rosé, her Signature Rosé, a Kylie corkscrew, 2 bespoke wine glasses, the Fine Cheese Co English farmhouse cheddar, chutneys for fig fruit, rosemary & sea salt dark chocolate, Yorkshire chardonnay crisps, Yorkshire sweet and salty popcorn, rosemary olive oil, orange candy and mandarin orange crisps. Bring it on!

Find here: £149

Best Wines for a Beef Sunday Roast

Fluffy Yorkies, crispy spuds, slivers of tender beef… who doesn’t love a Sunday roast? And it tastes even better when you’re washing it down with a cracking wine. Read on for some top grape varieties guaranteed to match the meaty gorgeousness of a beef Sunday roast, whether or not you choose to smother yours in gravy…

Cabernet Sauvignon

Are you a Sunday roast purist? Then you can’t go wrong with Cabernet Sauvignon – perhaps the most classic match there is. It really makes the beef shine; the wine’s tannins and structure hold up brilliantly against the meat’s robust texture and help bring out its flavour. Styles of Cabernet vary quite a bit depending on where they’re from, so shop (and sip) around to find one you like. Those from Bordeaux are typically lighter than those form the sunny ‘New World’ and are often blended with Merlot, so expect a balance of lovely black and red fruit. California, meanwhile, is known for bold and powerful, age-worthy fruity numbers and if you want something in the middle, look to South Africa, Chile or Southern France.

Affordable: Apothic Cabernet Sauvignon UK £9 // US $8.98
Mid-Tier: Slingshot Cabernet Sauvignon UK £21.50 // US $25.19
Top-End: Mt Brave UK £79.99 // US $99.99

Malbec

This one’s a bit of a no-brainer. Argentina, where some of the world’s best Malbecs are made, also produces some of the world’s best beef so, obviously, the two will go together! Inky and rich, Malbec’s soft tannins and juicy, ripe sweetness make it a good pairing with everything else you’ve got going on the plate too, such as roasted carrots and crisp roasties. Don’t just stick to Argentina though; try Malbecs from Chile or for a more savoury, structured style, head to Cahors in the south of France, which is in fact the grape’s original homeland (and where it is known as cot).

Affordable: Tesco Finest Argentinian Malbec £8
Mid-Tier: Bramare Malbec Lujan de Cuyo £29.44 // US $39.99
Top-End: Catena Zapata Malbec Argentino UK £81.95 // US $119.99

Shiraz / Syrah

Whether in its more concentrated, richly-fruited, juicy and peppery form (Shiraz) or a more meaty, herbaceous style (Syrah), this versatile grape variety is a delicious match for beef. Old-World style Syrahs such as those from the grape’s original home in the Northern Rhône, can often be quite savoury and earthy, so make a good match for the all-important side veg (carrots, parsnips, you name it). Meanwhile, wines labelled as Shiraz, usually from Australia, are typically robust and juicy enough to make the beef stand out. Great halfway styles between the two classics can be found in California or cool climate, Northern Chile.

Affordable: McGuigan Reserve Shiraz £6
Affordable: The Black Stump Durif Shiraz £11.99
Mid-Tier: Penfolds Bin 28 Kalimna Shiraz UK £29.95 // US $27.99
Top-End: Mclaren Vale Yangarra Estate Ironheart Shiraz UK £89.97 // US $121.88

Grenache

It’s not hard to love Grenache. This grape’s got plenty of body, great for meaty dishes like Sunday roast beef but, thanks to soft tannins and lower acidity, it’s also seriously approachable and fruity (read: dangerously drinkable) with notes of wild strawberry and spice. You can easily sip it before, during and after the meal – it’s just as tasty on its own as it is with food, so it’s a prime pick if you’re draining a few bottles with friends over a pub meal where everyone has ordered something different. Spanish wines will label it as Garnacha, while Australian or Rhone ‘GSM’ blends see it blended with Syrah/Shiraz and Mourvedre, aka Mataro.

Affordable: Waitrose Cotes du Rhone Villages £7.99
Mid-Tier: Anayón Garnacha £22.15
Top-End: Orin Swift 'Abstract' UK £39.99 // US $37.99

Tempranillo

One word: Rioja. Savoury, spiced and bursting with strawberry, licorice and leather notes, this medium-bodied wine basically goes with loads of different foods and that means every bite of your sautéed cabbage (if you like that kind of thing with your roast) is going to taste just as great as those roasted potatoes or green beans. While the region of Rioja offers us the most famous expression of Tempranillo, you’ll also find the grape grown elsewhere in Spain and in countries like Australia, where styles are sometimes fuller and more juicy, with chocolate and black fruit notes.

Affordable: Il Carretto IGT Rosso di Puglia £8.75
Mid-Tier: Altos de Baroja Rioja Joven £10.95
Top-End: Marqués de Murrieta Gran Reserva Rioja £48.95

Pinotage

South Africa’s flagship red grape, brooding, earthy Pinotage will give love to the roasted, charred flavours on your plate with its plum, blackberry and dark cherry flavours. Don’t be put off by the ‘burnt rubber’ character that it’s sometimes described as having; the very best-made wines have plenty of fruit, structure and, as they age, develop notes of smoke and spice., especially when you choose a more premium wine made from older vines.

Affordable: Swartland Private Collection Pinotage £8.29
Mid-Tier: The Bernard Series Bush Vine Pinotage £22.90
Top-End: Hamilton Russell Ashbourne £37.95

Sangiovese

Even if you’re not fully ‘au fait’ with the Sangiovese grape, you’ve probably drunk it. For example, ever had Chianti or a Brunello? This Italian grape’s fresh acidity and earthy character makes it infinitely matchable with food, and it can take on a trad British roast just as successfully as Nonna’s finest lasagne. It’s also one of the rare grapes that loves acidic tomato sauces, If you’re looking for something quirkier, try Sangiovese grown in California (you’ll find some interesting takes in the Napa Valley) or Australia. 

Affordable: Caparzo Sangiovese Toscana UK £11.15 // US $12.99
Mid-Tier: Le Volte dell' Ornellaia £28.99
Top-End: Antinori Tenuta Tignanello 'Marchese Antinori' Chianti Classico Riserva UK £34.79 // US $49.99

Looking for some fun Easter drinks gifting? Why not try these Delicious Chocolate Alcoholic Drinks and while you’re at it why not check out these Epic Whisky and Chocolate Pairings?

A Wine Theme Park, You Say?!

Move over, Disneyland! Changyu, China’s largest and oldest winery, has announced the opening of a new wine theme park in Shanghai. Based in the newly popular North Bund – near the city’s must-see historic waterfront and skyscraper-stuffed business district Pudong – the 7,000 square metre boozy wonderland, or ‘Changyu City Winery’ as it’ll technically be called, is set to open this August. 

Sound too amazing to be true? Well, despite the liberal use of the word ‘theme park’, we wouldn’t necessarily book tickets expecting corkscrew-inspired roller coasters. While the park’s designs aren’t yet finalised, the info released so far suggests that it’s going to be more educational than high thrills. First, an immersive experience will walk you through how wine is produced, showing off seasoned barrels from Changyu’s 13 wineries and providing a virtual tour of its vineyards (some of which are set around ridiculously opulent Bordeaux-style châteaux in inland China). A separate dining area will – surprise – let you actually taste the wines and discover how they pair with food.

Of course, no matter quite what form it ultimately takes, Changyu City Winery will probably make a fun part of a wine-themed day out in Shanghai. If for no other reason than when you finish the tour, you’re a mere bottle’s toss from some of the city’s best restaurant vino lists – ideal for getting stuck into some serious tastings. L’Atelier de Jöel Robuchon has a novel-long list that includes the likes of Dom Pérignon Plenitude 3 1971, while at the Ritz-Carlton Pudong’s Flair Bar your glass of Gaja comes with sweeping views over Shanghai’s glittering nightscape.

For more quirky booze reads check out these hilarious (and sometimes downright naughty!) drinks names.

Perfect Drinks for Date Night

Words by Aidy Smith and Helena Nicklin

The biggest date night of the year is upon us, so be it still wine, bubbles, vodka or gin that you like to drink the most, here is Helena and Aidy’s selection of top picks to make your night the best yet, whether it’s a romantic date for two or a pamper date for one...

Cupid’s Perfect Sparkle

Taittinger Prestige Rosé Champagne

A deeply coloured, exceptionally vibrant rosé champagne produced using top class Pinot Noir from Montagne de Reims and Les Riceys and a fair whack of Chardonnay that rounds everything out beautifully. Youthful in appeal, it’s a wine packed with bright red berry fruit with an elegant, smooth body and creamy mousse. This is no wallflower champagne. It demands attention! HN

Size: 75cl
ABV: 12.5%
Find here: UK £38

Rathfinny Sparkling Rosé 2017

Rathfinny Estate is located on a prime, south-facing slope in East Sussex, where world class sparkling wines are produced largely from Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier. Their sparkling rosé 2017 is a blend of 63% Pinot Noir, 19% Chardonnay, 18% Pinot Meunier. It has an elegant, cherry blossom pink hue with notes of crunchy red berries and a subtle, spicy finish. HN

Size: 75cl
ABV: 12.5%
Find here: UK £36 (includes a complimentary gift box for Valentine’s Day.)

Hattingley Valley Sparkling Rosé 2017

Internationally renowned for its delicious English sparkling wines, Hattingley Valley has created its first-ever limited edition label just in time for Valentine’s day. A blend of Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Pinot Noir Précoce this award-winning 2017 sparkling rosé has delicious notes of strawberry coulis, a creamy texture and perfectly balanced acidity. Pair this with clam chowder - trust us, you won’t regret it. AS

Size: 75cl
ABV: 12.5%
Find here: £41

White & Rosé Wonders

Gran Moraine Chardonnay 2017

There’s nothing quite like a good Chardonnay to sip as you wind down in the evening and right now this beauty from Oregon is piquing our intrigue. Deriving from the Yamhill-Carlton AVA, this rich, fruity and balanced Chard is bursting with flavour and the most important thing for me in a wine like this – texture. Some people love oak, others don’t, but this has the perfect balance, making it incredibly well rounded and sumptuous. Rich, but not overpowering you can expect to taste apricot, buttery lemon, kiwis and clementines. For those who love Chardonnay, this is for you. For those who don’t, I’d dare say it will convert you. AS

Size: 75cl
ABV: 13%
Find here: £43

Kylie Minogue, Rosé 2019

Super easy-drinking, fruity and soft, Kylie’s first wine project is still an absolute smash hit. Made from Carignan and Cabernet Sauvignon from the South of France, Kylie has manage to create a beautifully packed, pretty, pink drop that knocks it out of the park for value.

Size 75cl

ABV: 12.5%

Find here: £9

Marques de Murrieta Primer Rose 2017 

Imagine the most beautiful rosé you’ve had from Provence, something along the lines of Domaine Ott? Well, say hello to the Spanish equivalent. Honestly, it doesn’t get much better than this. Strawberries, cream and raspberries erupt from the glass and with it so much texture. You’ll often hear me harp on about that word – but for whites and rosés, texture is key for me! This is the wine to be popping the cork on when the sun shines outside (and when I want it to shine inside, too). AS

Size: 75cl
ABV: 13%
Find here: UK £29.35

Changyu Moser XV Blanc de Noir 2016

Allow us to introduce you to the first white Cabernet Sauvignon from China – and my god is it beautiful. Firstly, the vines are around 15 years old – which is pretty unheard of when it comes to rosé. The vines themselves are located in the Ningxia province with Lenz M. Moser continuing to establish his name as a pioneering force of nature for Chinese wines. Estate bottled for that final seal of quality, you can expect grapefruit peel, exotic fruits and an array of crushed raspberries and apple. Zippy and refreshing with texture – and as you know, texture is everything. AS

Size: 75cl
ABV: 13.5%
Find here: £18.99

Romantic Red Wines

Saint Amour, Domaine Des Côtes de la Roche, Beaujolais, 2018

No date night is complete without a bottle of Saint-Amour. This vibrant, perfumed and fruity wine made with the Gamay grape hails from one of the lesser known and smallest of the ten Beaujolais ‘Crus’. It’s refreshing and lively with notes of concentrated blackcurrant and dark cherry with a whiff of wild strawberry and a slick of slate. Very easy, very pretty wine. HN

Size: 75cl
ABV: 13%
Find here: UK £11.50

Maruxa Mencia, Virgen del Galir, 2019,

Mencia is a grape that we will see exploding onto the wine scene soon as more and more people look towards lighter, crunchier, more refreshing red wines styles. Hailing most famously from Northwestern Spain, Mencia has similar strawberry and cherry-like qualities and high acidity, like Pinot Noir and Gamay, but add to the mix a touch of licorice and plum spice and a cool minerality with this one, which is made in tiny quantities by the same people responsible for the fabulous Contino Rioja. HN

Size: 75cl
ABV: 14%
Find here: UK £12.99 per bottle (£10.99 mix six).

Bolney Estate Pinot Noir 2019

Pinot Noir has garnered a reputation as the heartbreak grape as it needs contact care and attention to flourish, but when it does, it certainly gives the love back. This Pinot from Bolney Estate is light, elegant and silky, with understated notes of cherry and red plum with just the slightest hint of spice. Perfect if you’re after wine with a lighter touch and it goes perfectly with cold cuts, smoked salmon and hard, mature cheese. HN

Size: 75cl
ABV: 11.5%
Find here: UK £19.99

The McGuigan Reserve Shiraz

If a more easy-going, rich and juicy wine is what you’re after, then an Australian Shiraz will be your vinous comfort blanket. The Mcguigan Reserve Shiraz is our go-to, easy drinker thanks to its chocolatey texture and notes of blackcurrant, mint and damson conserve. Concentrated and spice, it’s a warm hug in a glass - one of the very few dry wine styles that can take chocolate and pairs perfectly with a snuggle on the sofa. HN

Size: 75cl
ABV: 13%
Find here: UK £7.

English Wine Gifting: Hampers, Tastings, Tours & More

Gusbourne X Cartografie Chocolate

The ultimate, elegant, English pairing featuring one of the most exciting wine producers in the UK and an emerging, boutique chocolatier, hand crafting beautiful, single origin, single bean chocolates. This duo features the stunning, 2016 rosé from Gusbourne in Appledore, Kent with its notes of crips apple, cherry and strawberry and a Cartografie box containing 4 hand-crafted, ganache filled chocolates. HN & AS

Find here: here

Rathfinny Estate: Hampers, Accommodation mid vines, Tasting packs.

Rathfinny are also offering Valentine’s day hampers packed full of fresh, local produce and a Valentine’s wine case with their Cradle Valley 2018 Pinot Gris/Pinot Blanc and their 2018 Seven Sisters Gin. Experience-wise, you can also get vouchers for overnight packages for couples to stay at their beautifully restored Flint Barns in the heart of the vines, tours of the estate and three-course lunches at their Michelin Plate Tasting Room restaurant. HN

See more here

Bolney Estate: Private Virtual Wine Tasting with Bespoke Bottle engraving

Bolney Estate are offering private, virtual tastings of their Cuvée Rosé, Eighteen Acre Rosé, Blanc de Blancs and Cuvée Pinot Noir, you can also request a bespoke package to include any of their wines or even a wine and food pairing tasting packages with cheese and chocolate selections. Bolney is also offering gift boxes containing sparkling wines or gins with chocolates. HN

See all their options here

Candles

Parks Candles

There’s just something about the way Parks create their candles that makes you feel so wholesome and comforted. Whether to create a romantic ambience during dinner or more of a relaxing one in the bath – they’ve got it all. Some of our personal favourites are Feu de Bois, Amber, Tobacco & Leather and of course Bourbon & Maple – but we’re sure you’ll fall in love with something that resonates with you too. AS

Find here: Prices start from £10

MoJo White Truffle & Cognac Candle

We’ve tested a lot of candles over the last few months and MoJo have been knocking out of the park for alluring aromas, long lasting length and fantastic value. We adore the White Truffle and Cognac candle which scents your room with a cosy, creamy, white chocolate scent with a hint of orange peel and spice. Original and gorgeous. We also love their Fig & Rose and Sumi & Paper Ink. Find them while you can! HN

Find here: £19

Get in the Spirit

Rosé Sainte Marie Pink Gin, Salcombe Distilling

Salcombe Gin’s beautiful, double award-winning pink gin is inspired by the sensory wonders of the South of France. Named after the lighthouse in Marseille’s Old Port where the fruit used to come in, it has a delicate fragrance of citrus fruit, white peach and melon. Pour over ice, top up with tonic and garnish with a slice of pink grapefruit, peach or even strawberry and breath in the atoms of a warm evening in Provence, even if it’s still snowing outside. Available in 70cl, 5cl and a range of gifts. HN

Size: 70cl
ABV: 41.4%
Find here: UK £40

Mirabeau Provence Rosé Gin

When it comes to rosé my top choice for quality and value is always Mirabeau, which made me pretty god damn excited when they announced they were making a gin. While the base botanicals consist of juniper, citrus, orris root, angelica root and coriander it’s the Provençal twist containing a variety of herbs such as bay, thyme and rosemary alongside the neutral grape spirit and base distillate of Mirabeau Classic Rosé that really makes this gin stand out from the crowd. The result is a fruity and textured gin with lemon, coriander and citrus bursting with floral notes, rose petals and lavender. The story ends on a final note as those herbs add an extra kick of character to the blend. AS

Size: 70cl
ABV: 43%
Find here: UK £45

Belvedere Single Estate - Smogóry Forest

Our next treat takes us to a tiny village in the far west stretches of Poland where Belvedere’s Smogóry Forest estate calls home. Mild winters and long summers result in bakers-grade Diamond Dańkowskie rye – the perfect base product for this award-winning vodka. Purposely left unfiltered to allow the flavour to continue to elevate over time, this is a vodka for those who like true craft. The single-estate gem oozes with salted caramel, cereal and a touch of honey evolve to reveal toasted bread and a hint of white pepper. AS

Size: 70cl
ABV: 40%
Find here: UK £39.90 // US $49.99

Gran Patron Platinum

I love a good tequila, it seems to be one of the spirits I’ve really found an appreciation for over the last few years. If I was to name one house that consistently delivers quality across its whole portfolio, my mind takes me straight to Patrón. It seems there’s a little something for everyone and while I’ll happily get my hands on a Reposado for my margarita needs (quick tip, avoid the salt rim, it ruins the drink), I love nothing more than to sip on something of premium quality. That brings me to Gran Patrón Platinum, arguably the world’s first ultra-premium tequila. With each bottle taking around 30 people to create, quality is of the utmost level. Agave is individually sourced for its rich sugar content before being harvested, triple distilled and left for 30 days in oak tanks to create pure elegance. The result is a smooth and seductive nectar of agave, orange, vanilla, lime and white peppercorns. Pure bliss if you ask me and don’t even get me started on a Mexican Martini (google it, you won’t be disappointed). AS

Size: 70cl
ABV: 40%
Find here: UK £193.95  // US $199.99

Highclere Castle Gin

The perfect gift for Valentine’s Day, this stunning gin is created using botanicals from Highclere Estate, also known for its appearance in the internationally renowned Downton Abbey series. The multi-award winning gin is distilled at England’s oldest distillery, Langley, in one of the oldest working copper gin stills dating back to the 1800’s. The result is an incredibly smooth gin, perfect for sipping over ice but also equally good in cocktail. Check out their ‘British 75’ cocktail, simple and yet stunning, it is a perfect celebration cocktail that will add the wow to your Valentine’s Day.

Size: 75cl
ABV: 43.5%
Find here: UK £42.30 // $39.99 

Enjoyed this? Then, make sure you check out Cheap Champagne that Tastes Great and Top Pink Proseccos £10 and Under

Cheap Champagne that Tastes Great!

Written by Helena Nicklin

There is only one place in the world that makes what can officially be called ‘Champagne’ and that’s the region of the same name just south of Paris in France. Literally everything else is sparkling wine, no matter how good it is. Reassuringly expensive, Champagne is complicated to make and takes a long time to blend and age (even the cheaper bottles must be aged for 15 months before release). It’s also a pretty small wine region and yet the whole world wants to drink its bubbles. Non Vintage (NV) Champagne tends to start around the £20 mark and go all the way up, so to find anything under that is pretty hard, especially if you want it to be drinkable. For the same money, you can get some cracking bubbles from other wine regions but sometimes, you need the magic word ‘Champagne’ on the bottle.

Luckily for you, we’ve done the hard work. Here are 8 Champagnes for £15 and under that are surprisingly pretty for the pennies.

Veuve Monsigny Brut NV: Aldi

The biscuity one: Jilly Goolden raved about this Champagne recently and with good reason! Made with all three Champagne grapes (Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier) and blended with older wines for layers of biscuity flavour, these brilliant bubbles are constantly impressing wine experts. For the money, this is easily the best NV Champers on the market. 10/10

Size: 75cl
ABV: 12%
Find here: £12.99

Louis Delaunay Brut NV: Tesco

The crowd-pleaser: A bronze medal winner from top wine competition IWSC, this is soft and easy-drinking, with a tang of red apple on the nose and baked apple pie on the palate. Dry but well balanced, so no screeching acidity to give you heartburn. Great for sipping alone. 8.5/10

Size: 75cl
ABV: 12.5%
Find here: £14

Andre Carpentier Brut NV: Tesco

The sharper one: If you like your bubbles a little more tart, this one is leaner and drier than some with an appley tang. Pretty, warm spice and vanilla notes add richness to the flavour without adding sweetness, which keep it in balance. A good food wine. Try it with paté and cold cuts. 7.5/10

Size: 75cl
ABV: 12.5%
Find here: £14

Henri Cachet Brut NV: Asda

The subtle one: Crisp and pure, there’s a lemon sherbert note to Asda’s Henri. Fairly simple on the nose and palate, it’s well-balanced fizz that’s dry and refreshing. Inoffensive in the most positive sense, where many others at this price can make you grab the Rennie. A good one for white fish and seafood. 7/10

Size: 75cl
ABV: 12.5%
Find here: Usually, £13.50 but on offer for £9.97 right now!

Comte de Senneval, Brut NV: Lidl

The savoury one: Not your classic Champagne flavour profile this, with notes of smoky toffee, caramel and an elderflower on the finish. It also has a wine-like weight and hint of sweetness that may split the judges. A bit quirky and of-a-style, but try it with smoked salmon and it should make a happy match. 6/10

Size: 75cl
ABV: 12.5%
Find here: £12.99

Nicolas de Mont Bart, Brut NV, £10.99, Aldi

The one for Prosecco lovers: You really should not be able to buy Champagne this cheaply anywhere, so it may well be a parcel that may disappear soon. Bone dry with citrusy freshness, crisp and frothy, there’s not a whole lot of flavour going on, but it’s certainly gluggable. As Aldi say themselves, this is your aperitif wine. 6/10

Size: 75cl
ABV: 12.5%
Find here: Usually, £10.99 but currently on offer for £9.95 

If you are looking for more champagne choices then check out: From Budget to Blow-out: 7 Outstanding Champagnes!

Top Pink Proseccos £10 and under

Words by Helena Nicklin

It’s official. Prosecco now comes in pink! Thanks to a change in the laws that govern winemaking in the protected region of Prosecco in Northeastern Italy, winemakers are now able to use up to 15% of the red grape Pinot Nero (Italian for Pinot Noir) in their Prosecco wines along with the famous Glera grape. Pink sparklers have always been found around the Veneto, but now, as long as a wine is produced with Glera and Pinot Nero (with a few other geeky regulations), it can officially be called Prosecco. Aldi was the first to market with their Costellore and now, the other supermarkets are following suit. It’s going to be a new bubbles trend, so watch this space! The great thing about Prosecco is that at around 11% abv, it's easy enough to drink alone but also goes with most food - and the pink ones are fabulous with fruit puds and cold cuts too. Hot off the (wine) press, here’s a look at the UK’s first-ever Pink Proseccos to hit the shelves...

Prosecco Rosé, Brut: M&S

A Brut style, so drier than some, this is a fun, fruity fizz with notes of wild strawberry, cherry and a dry finish. A sophisticated sparkler worth the extra pound or two.

ABV: 11%
Size: 75cl
Find it here: Case of 6 normally £60 currently £48

Corte Molino Prosecco Rosé, Extra Dry: Co-op.

Raspberry ripple pink with ripe, summer berry fruit and pear flavours. Flirty and frothy, this is very soft, fairly sweet and goes down far too easily. 

ABV: 11%
Size: 75cl
Find it here: £8.50

Prosecco Rosé, Fillipo Sansovino, Extra Dry: ASDA

This pretty pink is all about strawberries and cream with lots of soft bubbles. Not as refreshing as some on the finish, but the choice for those who like their fizz a little sweeter. 

ABV: 11%
Size: 75cl
Find it here: £6.50

Prosecco Rosé, Extra Dry: SPAR

Pale rose petal pink and delicate, this is a crisp, refreshing Prosecco that’s well balanced. Excellent value for money and one that everyone will most likely enjoy.

Size: 75cl
Find it in store: £8.99

Rosé Prosecco, Extra Dry: Lidl

In this rather striking cut glass bottle, this pale pink Prosecco is more savoury than you would expect from an Extra Dry. Simple and raspberry-scented with a subtle smokiness on the nose.

ABV: 11%
Size: 75cl
Find it here: £6.49

Costellore Pink Prosecco, Extra Dry: Aldi

A slightly darker pink and more meaty, this Prosecco is packed with very ripe red fruit but also, a subtle note of struck-match, which might split the judges. 

ABV: 11%
Size: 75cl
Find it here: £6.49

Splash Out! Prosecco Rosé, il Fresco Brut: Villa Sandi

Ok, it’s not under £10 but it’s definitely worth a mention. Brut in style, so drier than most of the others, this sparkler is a real step up in terms of texture and flavour, with notes of caramelized pear and raspberry purée. Beautifully presented, this one could also take some heftier dishes too, such as pork or poultry. Roast chicken with all the trimmings, anyone?

ABV: 11%
Size: 75cl
Find it here: £14.99

Want to know more about Prosecco and its sweetness levels? Check out this article!