The judges at the China's Wine & Spirits Best Value Awards were impressed by this rich, spicy Shiraz, unanimously awarding it a Gold. It’s from John Quarisa, who for many years made wine for the biggest names in Oz, winning both the Jimmy Watson and Stodart Trophies. Today, with the help of his wife Josephine, he crafts winners like this. ‘Passion is Everything’ is their motto, and, after just over a decade in operation, their winery in New South Wales boasts four stars from Aussie wine guru James Halliday. He describes the “exceptional value for money provided by the wines” and is full of praise for this red. It’s deliciously easy going, but still packs a punch of luscious ripe fruit. A sure bet for a bbq, a roast or a hearty bake.

Anthonius and Leonarda Ham saw that the Western Heretaunga region of Hawke's Bay, with its ancient riverbeds and moderate climate, held the secret to fine wines.

They planted vineyards in this area, now known as the Bridge Pa Triangle district, and were one of the subregion's first wineries.

They remain family-owned today and have received Trophies for their impressive wines. 30 years later, they have converted fully to organic viticulture, with certification from the 2023 vintage.

New Zealander Barry Riwai is the winemaker. With considerable experience all over the world, he is well suited to produce this elegant Kiwi take on a Bordeaux blend.

Our Haut-Brion-trained winemaker, Jean-Marc Sauboua, founded Altos in 2006 and, all together, has won over 180 Golds, Trophies, plus many high scores.

He works with the young Amaia Amestoy and Hector Gomez in the cellar, whose CVs includes experience at Napa’s Château Montelena, Contino and Murrieta in Rioja and Villacreces in Ribera del Duero.

They made this wine from old-vine (80+ years) Tempranillo and Graciano, vinifying it using Burgundy’s pigeage method.

This involves fermenting in open vats and plunging the skins into the liquid three times a day – hands-on winemaking that delivers great results.

Aged for two years in half new French oak and bottled unfiltered, the wine offers seams of intense black fruit with spice-box complexity.

His secret? He's Bordeaux born and trained at First Growth Château Haut Brion. His aim was to make Grand Cru Classé wines in Rioja, so he chose only high altitude vineyards, the highest in all Rioja.

So grapes ripen slowly, with great finesse and intensity. Visit his winery, up in the clouds – it's cold! Salix Alba is a new release for him and very special.

It uses grapes solely from El Pisón, a tiny location where the famous Artadi bodega gets grapes for its £260 a bottle wine.

Ageing in all new French oak lends the finishing touches to this sumptuous red. A special dinner red.

Gold, International Wine Awards, 2020

90-94pts, International Wine Awards, 2020

90pts, James Suckling, 2020

92pts, Andreas Larsson, 2020

Rarely, if ever, is it seen on its own. That didn’t deter José - a talented winemaker, credited by wine journo Tim Atkin as the man behind Portugal’s wine revolution.

José saw potential in this dark Portuguese star and his conviction has paid off. Aluado is now one of our customers’ favourite reds with over 1000 5-star reviews.

Winning Gold medals almost every vintage, Jose makes the wine at his family estate, Quinta de Porto Franco, just north of Lisbon.

A rich, velvety red, great solo or with grilled meats and stews.

The Full Fifteen has been one of our bestselling Aussie reds for years. Smooth juicy flavours, power and real drinkability have made it an all-time customer favourite. So we were thrilled when Andrew McPherson decided to craft a special Reserve edition. It’s been made in honour of Andrew’s mother Doreen, a woman who embodied Australia’s great pioneering spirit and whose devotion to family inspired everyone around her.

To call this Andrew’s special project red is an understatement. He seeks out premium parcels of old-vine Shiraz and Cabernet from acclaimed Victorian vineyards and treats the wine to long, luxurious ageing in finest oak barrels. The result is a berry-laden, richly concentrated, spicy red. Serve with prime steak or roast lamb.

When I came over the high pass south into the Agly Valley in the 70s, I was captivated by the ancient vines on steep, terraced hills, topped by high, ruined castles. It was wild 'unknown' territory. That's where bestselling Cabalié, made by the legendary Hervé Sabardeil, is from. Hervé buys grapes for Cabalié from many vineyards, but the best grapes came from two vineyards of 100-year-old vines on schist/granite soils. They are two of France's oldest vineyards, lying on steep, terraced hillsides. When Hervé learned the farmer was retiring, he bought those two vineyards – and thus we have the 'Grand Cru' Origine … the purest essence of Cabalié … made solely from those two vineyards. It's a nearly all dark, spiced Carignan, with a few rows of silky Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre, which add to the incredibly rich fruit and luscious texture.