Not surprisingly for a dance that’s evolved over a thousand years, the origin of the tarantella is shrouded in mystery. Some say it was devised in Taranto, Puglia, as a cure for the tarantula’s bite (provided victims danced for three days and nights); others say it was an antidote to the morso (bite) d’amor. Less mythical, but equally enchanting, is the origin of its namesake wine.

Discovered by our Buyer in a wild area of bountiful sunshine, ancient vineyards, olive groves and trulli, Tarantella Merlot instantly won over customers with its ripe plum and sweet spice character. Not to mention its enticing value for money! Decant and savour in generous glasses by candlelight with pasta ragù, tender loin of beef and your partner of choice.

The hottest name coming from Romania is Cramele Recas. Founded in 1998, this pioneering cellar leads the field in premium wines, with an up-to-the-minute winery and vineyards that were first planted in 1447. Englishman Philip Cox and his Romanian wife started the estate, bringing in winemaking expertise from Oz, Hartley Smithers, and Spain, Nora Iriate. Their bottles have even caught the attention of The Telegraph and The Drinks Business who have written rave reviews about their vibrant, characterful wines.

This silky smooth Merlot is part of their new Babele range, named after the Romanian tradition of celebrating the arrival of spring. Bright and succulent, it has a wealth of drink-me-now flavours. Great solo or with grilled meats.

Awarded two Gold medals, this is a rich, flavoursome claret from the exceptional 2020 vintage. We pride ourselves on the art of finding great quality, good value Bordeaux.

Bordeaux was blessed in 2019. "The vintage is looking very good" said Jancis Robinson MW, "harmony, balance and freshness are definitely the hallmarks of 2019" declared James Suckling. This is a very appealing claret from a third-generation estate that also impressed the judges, taking two Golds.

It's situated in Auriolles, in the Entre-Deux-Mers and since the current generation, David Mauro, took over, he has started to convert the vineyards to organic. The aim is to improve the health of the land and create a wine with even more richness and depth. The vines on the property are on average 45 years old, producing a moderate amount of concentrated grapes. Mostly Merlot with a little Cabernet Sauvignon, this is an appealing, supple claret.