If you enjoy quality wine and appreciate value, southern France has a lot to offer. There is a myriad of appellations and producers to get to know. And fewer rules to follow, so winemakers can be creative. We have been wending our way around villages and vineyards there since the late 1960s so we know where to look and have many invaluable connections.

Yannick Pons of Domaine Saint André has a beautiful estate, skirted by the Canal du Midi and the Roman road Via Domitia. It's not far from the famous Oppidum (hilltop town) d’Ensérune, which dates back some 3,000 years. This is prime Chardonnay country, producing lovely, pure, creamy peach fruit in this modern style white. It’s perfect on its own or with salads, fish dishes or roast chicken.

Champion the small grower with this terrifically fresh and grassy white. It’s from Marlborough, which enjoys a worldwide reputation for herbaceous Sauvignon Blanc. Duck ’n’ Pheasant is from a cellar that works with individual growers who lack the facilities to produce their own wine, but don’t want to see their precious harvest become an anonymous component of a big brand.

The grapes were all sourced from vineyards which, thanks to free draining, gravelly soils (and the odd duck or pheasant), give excellent flavour intensity. Quality in 2021 was exceptional, with lovely concentration, all captured in bottle and sealed in under screwcap for guaranteed freshness. A crisp glass on its own, and a tasty partner to salmon, chicken or Thai curry.

Our customers have been thirsty for top-class, gently sweet Riesling for some time, so we are thrilled to bring you this stunning Mosel!

This beautiful F.W. Nalbach Sonnenschein Riesling 2018 hails from Mülheimer, a top village of the Mosel and the prestigious 17th century Richter estate (they supply the royal cellars at Buckingham Palace!). Hugh Johnson calls the Richter estate “an extremely consistent producer of classic Mosel Rieslings”. Its steep slate vineyards produce fine Riesling with lively minerality and laser precision fruit … this is something very special!

While in the wine name, ‘Sonnen’ means sunshine and there’s plenty of that, but don’t expect high alcohol. The terroir gives a wine that’s dazzlingly bright and light on its feet – this 2018 is a taut high-wire act of beautiful, late ripened fruit and lipsmacking, cleansing acidity. It’s a treat with dim sum, and a magic match to whole fish dishes. If you love very fresh whites with a touch of sweetness you will LOVE this. Don’t miss it!