It’s the time of year when summer has faded and Christmas is just a little too far away. Never fear, we are here to cheer you up with a selection of wines of the month. We have a couple of zippy, zesty whites to bring back memories of recent summer holidays and a red that will give a big, comforting hug on a cold, windy day. We also have a delicious port that will give a hint of the coming season, at a price that means you can stock up in good time. Enjoy!

Cantina di Negrar Garganega, Veneto IGT, Italy 2023

Founded in 1933 by seven local businessmen, Cantina Negrar has played a major role in gaining worldwide recognition for the wines from around Verona in Northeast Italy. Garganega is a grape that has been at the core of the winemaking tradition in these parts. Soave, historically Italy’s finest white wine, must contain at least 70% Garganega and it is also a major part of Bianco di Custoza from the shores of Lake Garda. It has the unusual distinction of ripening quite late while retaining good acidity levels which also make it perfect for producing famous white Recioto sweet wines of the area, using dried grapes.

Taste: Aromas of lemon, peach and nectarine. Crisp, clean and vibrant on the palate with zesty acidity, fresh almonds and citrus notes. Focused and delicious.

Try: Particularly suited to seafood pasta such as crab linguine, or spaghetti vongole. As shellfish are in good supply at the moment it’s the perfect time to enjoy a throwback to summers in Italy.

£12.05   OCTOBER OFFER £10.40

Bolney Wine Estate Pinot Gris, West Sussex, England 2018

Wine drinking seems to have been introduced to England in around 43BC by the Romans. Over time, many amphorae (clay pots) for storing wine have been found in England, all of European manufacture, suggesting the wine was imported. However, in 1975 a large quantity of fragments of wine amphorae, made of local materials, were discovered just north of Edgeware which point to local wine production at around the same time.

Bolney have been making wine since 1972 and are at the forefront of the burgeoning English wine industry. This Pinot Gris is made very much in the French style, with skin contact and lees ageing giving a wonderful texture.

Taste: Medium-bodied and smooth, plenty of fresh pear along with citrus and honeysuckle. Fresh finish with some grassy notes.

Try: Serve extra cold as an aperitif with smoked salmon canapes or Asian style grilled chicken. Rich soft cheeses like Camembert or a chicken liver parfait will make a great pairing too.

£26.10   OCTOBER OFFER £19.40

Familia Pacheco Organic Monastrell, Jumilla, Spain 2022

The wine growing area of Jumilla is centred in the town of the same name, around 70km west of Alicante, in the province of Murcia. Despite this proximity to the Mediterranean, the sea has little influence on regulating the local climate. Summers can be brutal, with temperatures often exceeding 40 degrees and low rainfall, while winters can bring frosts and violent storms. Fortunately, there are two factors which ameliorate these harsh conditions. Firstly, the plateau sits at altitudes between 400 and 800m, giving a good diurnal temperature range and exposure to cooling breezes. Secondly, the high lime content of the soils helps to retain moisture during the long, dry summer.

Monastrell, arrived on the Iberian peninsular in around 500BC and has been the foundation of Jumilla’s wine industry ever since. A hardy variety, it is suited to hash climates. It was largely regarded as an inferior variety until the 1990’s when its heat resistance and ageing potential became appreciated. It has been a favoured variety in Australia for many years and there are now plantings in many new frontier wine making areas such as Azerbaijan.

Taste: Brooding nose of blackcurrant, cassis, and black cherry with a lovely balsam edge. Rich and rounded, yet so juicy and pure thanks to a concentrated core of black fruit and black pepper.

Try: Pair with hearty Spanish dishes. Click here for this month’s Wine and Dine feature for a recipe for Alubias Blancas. A rich, dark Casserole of meltingly tender Ox cheek with buttery mash and simple Savoy cabbage would be an amazing treat too!

£15.10   OCTOBER OFFER £11.70

Grahams Fine Tawny Port, Douro, Portugal NV

Along with Madeira, Port has long been seen as the archetypal Englishman’s drink. Historically close political and economic ties between England and Portugal since the 12th century were reinforced by the Methuen treaty of 1703. A reduction of taxes on Portuguese goods, especially wine, and the inducements offered to English merchants to settle in the country provided a huge boost to the Port trade.

Grahams was founded in 1820 and gained a reputation for exceptional Ports. In 1970 The Symington family acquired the Grahams company and have continued to develop a singular style for all Graham’s Ports.

This Fine Tawny is finely textured and offers a fine balance of fruitiness and nuttiness, derived from maturation in seasoned oak casks. Drink gently chilled to 15 or 16 degrees. The perfect sipper for a grizzly October evening, or a glass of good cheer at Christmas.

Taste: Reddish tawny colour, with ripe fruit aromas nicely balanced by hints of dried fruits, and on the palate slightly dry, elegant and smooth.

Try: Anytime! Cheeses, chocolates, Foie gras, Tiramisu, mince pies (a mince pie isn’t just for Christmas), nuts…It’s so versatile, don’t pigeonhole it!

£17.70   OCTOBER OFFER £13.40

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