Cava Brut
Cava Brut is a fresh, dry Cava using only the best grapes. This wine is aged in ancient cellars in the bottle for a minimum of nine months to give zesty citrus aromas, and flavours of crisp green apple.
Available from Sainsburys.
TYPE Sparkling White
GRAPE Parellada, Macabeo and Xarel-lo
ABV 11.5%
COUNTRY Spain
Winemaker Series Godello
Winemaker Series celebrates some of our favourite people behind the bottles. Katia Alvarez is head winemaker at Martin Codax, which is arguably the biggest name in Rias Baixas wine. She was named one of Spain's top ten women winemakers by The Drinks Business and if you like Albarino, you have almost certainly tried her work before. This time she has gone off piste, creating this wine in Monterrei from Godello grapes. It is very refreshing, with flavours of passion fruit and pineapple and a sea-spray minerality that is great with seafood. The wine was also featured in Saturday Kitchen in 2018 as one of Darlington's own TV wine expert Olly Smith's choices and named his "stunner of the summer".
Available from Majestic Wines.
TYPE White
GRAPE Godello
ABV 13%
UNITS 9.8
COUNTRY Galicia - Spain
The Guv'nor
The Gov'nor is delicious proof that throwing out the rulebook can yield fantastic results. Spain's wine laws are notoriously strict. The Gov'nor breaks them all. The winemakers were commissioned to make the best wine they could no matter what. The result is a bold, fruity modern Spanish red that goes with anything, especially spicy barbeque meats or anything chargrilled. In 2022 this wine won an IWC award for the 2021 vintage.
This wine has flavours of Vanilla, Blackberry and Blackcurrant.
Available from Majestic Wines.
TYPE Red
GRAPE Tempranillo
ABV 14%
UNITS 10.5
COUNTRY Spain
Floracoa Rose
'Floracao' s the Portuguese word for blossoming. Loaded with thist-quenching flavours of wild strawberry, raspberry and redcurrant. This wine is a real treat, with refreshingly dry finish and crisp acidity. The perfect Rose for long summer days.
Available from Majestic Wines.
TYPE Rose
GRAPE Castelao / Cabernet Sauvignon
ABV 12.5%
UNITS 9.4
COUNTRY Lisbon - Portugal
Casal del Ventozela 2020 Vinho Verde
Vinho Verde is made in the north-western corner of Portugal. It is in the category of young wines that can be made from a range of grapes. This wine is made for the indigenous variety of Arinto. It is crisp and dry on the palate with delicate flavours of soft cirtus fruit, melon, green apple and sherbet. A great match for prawns with an aromatic dressing.
Available from Majestic Wines.
TYPE White
GRAPE Arinto
ABV 13.5%
UNITS 10.1
COUNTRY North West Portugal
Smiling Donkey Douro Red Barao de Vilar 2019
This wine is made from carefully selected grapes that are fermented in stainless steel. A portion of the wine is allowed to mature for nine months in French oak barrels. The wine is ruby red in colour with ripe red fruit aromas and hints of spice. Elegant on the palate, with medium body and ripe, soft tannins and a persistent finish.
This wine is perfect to pair with red meat and game dishes.
Available from Frazier's Wine Merchants.
TYPE Red
GRAPE Touriga Franca, Tinta Roriz, Touriga Nacional and Tinta Barocca
ABV 14%
COUNTRY Douro region of Portugal
