Say hi to James from Snapper Rock vineyard, Marlborough New Zealand. ! It was great that James could take 5 to say hi and tell us about the 2024 harvest of Sauvignon Blanc. Can’t wait to taste it..! Can’y wait? Check out our six bottle Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc case which includes the mouthwatering Snapper Rock Sauvignon here Check out the glistening sunlight.. sunlight in to wine! A mouthwatering wine that captures the sunshine ..read more

March is about celebrating the native grapes of Sicily and organic producer Azienda Agricola Cortese, with that we caught up with Marina Girelli to find out what bought her to the wine industry and her story. 1) Do you come from a family of wine producers? Winemaking has been my family’s passion for three generations. Our first winery was built in Trento by my grandfather Giovanni but, unfortunately, it was destroyed during the Second World War. Several years later my father and his two brothers rebuilt and expanded the winery in the same area. I always shared my family’s passion for winemaki ..read more

The discovery of Sicily continues…. With this Saturday we are tasting something special for Mothers Day. Each year only a small amount of this wine is produced, Cortese Vanedda Bianco £19.99 which is a blend of cattaratto and grillo.  Great care is taken from berry selection in the vineyard where everything is carried out by hand. The wine then rests on its skin as it would’ve been traditionally to extract flavour and aromatics, the fermentation takes place in old oak botti where it then rests on its lees for seven months. The wine then rests in the cellars for a further 6 ..read more

While Matthew and I were taking in some winter sun we visited, fourth generation family Bodega Juan Gil in Jumilla. The drive was an experience as we left the sunny climate of Calpe and made our way up the mountains, reaching cloud and then popping out above the cloud to blue sky, sun and a crisp chill in the air at 750m above sea level. I can never get bored of visiting a vineyard and winery, each has there own uniqueness that makes them special, they all have a story to tell. The land here is not for the faint hearted. It is barren and harsh with stoney soil and 100 year old knarly monastre ..read more

Saturday 2nd March 2024 This Saturday we are tasting a widely grown white grape, that is used for the famous Marsala wine produced on the western side of the island. There are different clones of Catarratto grape and this wine is produced with rare and rediscovered clone, Catarratto Lucido. Cortese Nostrum Catarratto Lucido £16.99 Organically grown and harvested early morning which retains the backbone of acidity in the wine. Rested on its lees for five months giving a lovely texture to the wine, touches of white peach, almond notes, herbs and nutmeg. A word from Stefano and Marina. ‘Our ins ..read more

For the Month of March we are celebrating the wines of Sicily and discovering the native grapes. Sicily is a beautiful island that offers diversity through its complex volcanic soil structure, mirco climates and the raw grape in which it is made. Each Saturday Tasting Bench will be dedicated to exploring Sicilian wines. We are concentrating on a winery nestled in the southern corner, Azienda Agricola Cortese which was once owned by a formidable matriarch, Lady Giovanna Cortese. She decided to sell as unable to work the land and passed the reigns to husband and wife team Stefano and Marina. Th ..read more

Meet Kim Wilson Managing Director from wine importer North South Wines Ltd Really excited to introduce Kim who we are working with to celebrate Sicilian wines throughout the month of March. Let’s find out more about her journey in the wine trade, winning prestigious awards and of course her favourite Sicilian wine! 1. When did you first find your love of wine? I was working for Carlsberg in a sales role and in all honesty just thought wine looked more glamorous but was not a wine drinking and knew nothing about it! I started working for a South African branded called Arniston Bay that had the ..read more

Celebrating International Women’s Day – Friday 5th March 2021 Check out the six bottle mixed case here Name: Leanne De Bortoli Job within the wine trade: Third generation family member and manager of De Bortoli Yarra Valley Estate How long have you been in this role/wine trade? Over 30 years What made you want to get in to this area of work and what drives you to stay in it? It was our family business and for most of my life I have lived in a vineyard, opposite the winery. I suppose you could say I entered the industry through gentle osmosis. I enjoy wine, the p ..read more

Free local delivery when you spend £84, or just £5.95 for orders under this amount ..read more

James Leary James Leary and two local Marlborough friends planted out 6.5. h.a. on the Ward Valley Estate Vineyard in 2008 in the southern most growing region of Marlborough which is Ward in the Southern Awatere Valley. The site was selected for its deep clay soil structures and elevated hill side location allowing for prefect growing conditions for Pinot Noir and grassy lemony styles of Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc. The first commercial vintage of Snapper Rock was 2011 and from then we have grown the brand to produce only 4,000 cases of Sauvignon Blanc and 1,000 cases of Pinot Noir making Snap ..read more