For quality and value, Abbesse Sauvignon Blanc is hard to beat and an all-time customer favourite. It's from our friends, the Bougrier family, with whom we've worked for the last 20 years. Every year, they search out the best parcels of grapes from Touraine, the Pays Nantais (home to Muscadet) and other regions where the grape shines to get the perfect balance of bright fruit and elegant, citrus zip. They've named the wine in honour of the original Abbesse of the famous Abbaye de Fontevraud nearby, Louise de Bourbon, a major figure in Loire history. This delicious expression of the region’s reigning grape is a fitting tribute to her. Delicious chilled as a glass on its own, it's also a classic with goat’s cheese and all sorts of seafood.

The cellar itself was founded in 1964 and was key to the area gaining its DO status in 1984.

Today, with the grapes from 150 small-time growers, bent on producing high quality grapes from their small, mountainous plots (the area is very close to the Pyrenees), the winery produces a small range of bright, modern wines.

Their rosado is a blend of Cabernet and Merlot, harvested at night, when it's coolest, and fermented at a low temperature to capture maximum mouthwateringly fresh, ripe berry fruit.

Chill it down and serve – great with chicken, prawn risotto, salads.

Not at all, but his family had a bit of land in Friuli, with a few rows of vines, that had been theirs for generations. From the grapes of these, they made a simple wine for their own dinner table. All this fascinated Alessandro, and wine became his chosen career. And we're glad it did.

We've known Alessandro since 2002 and love every new wine he sends our way. For this fizz Alessandro carefully selected Glera grapes with a drop of Chardonnay.

In Champagne, this would add to the price – in the Veneto this addition means it can't be labelled Prosecco, but frizzante. Whatever, it delivers citrus, tropical fruit with gentle bubbles.

He was born in Friuli, but doesn't come from a long line of winemakers. His dad was a truck driver, but everyone in the village used to have a few rows of vines and, from these, each family used to make a bit of wine.

All this fascinated Alessandro as he was growing up and winemaking became his chosen career. For some years he was president of a local winery but in 2010 he started up on his own and his wines have continued to impress us.

Made with grapes from the region's top areas, this wine delivers delicate pear fruit and crisp minerally ‘zing’.

The 187ml bottle size is perfect for picnics or enjoy a solo glass of an evening.

After all, right across Italy Prosecco is the bubbly of choice and as much a part of daily life as gelato or an espresso.

This wine is from northern Italy's Alessandro Gallici. He knows every grape grower worth knowing, every premium vineyard, and has spent his life making outstanding wines.

We first met him when he was head winemaker at a large winery. Every vintage, he'd impress us, but he was also keen to go out on his own.

We were delighted and promised we'd be his first customer. We're still championing his great wines today.

His fizz is beautifully fresh and, served chilled, makes a tasty aperitivo.

After all, right across Italy, Prosecco is the bubbly of choice and as much a part of daily life as a gelato or an espresso.

This wine comes from northern Italian native Alessandro Gallici. He knows every grape grower worth knowing, every premium vineyard, and has spent his life making outstanding wines.

Softly spoken but passionate, he was for years president of a large winery, then started his own business focusing on a range of bespoke wines bearing his own name.

Our latest shipment is beautifully fresh and delicious.

Serve chilled as an aperitivo or add fresh peach juice to make Bellini cocktails.