Reviews

  • JPR Alicante Bouschet

    JPR Alicante Bouschet

    If you come across this particular Portuguese wine at the Coop, its modest label and unfamiliar name might not immediately catch your eye. Alicante Bouschet is a varietal developed in the late 19th century by vine breeder Henri Bouschet. Henri crossed one of his father’s hybrids with the Grenache (or Garnacha) grape, resulting in an…

  • La Gioiosa et Amorosa Rosea NV

    La Gioiosa et Amorosa Rosea NV

    La Gioiosa et Amorosa Rosea NV was a great surprise gift at a recent dinner party, which is how I came to try this different wine. Produced by La Gioiosa, a prominent name in Italian wine known particularly for its Prosecco, this rosé variant offers a twist on the traditional. Helmed by winemaker Valerio Fuson,…

  • Marques De Valido Gran Reserva Rioja

    Marques De Valido Gran Reserva Rioja

    The Marques De Valido Gran Reserva Rioja 2014 comes from a family winery operated by a father, son and cousin team. This is a Gran Reserva, which is typically only made in the finest vintages and spends two years maturing in oak barrels followed by another three years in the bottle. This wine has an…

  • Ángeles de Amaren

    Ángeles de Amaren

    The Bodegas Ángeles de Amaren Rioja 2017 is a modern interpretation of Rioja Alavesa, consisting of a blend of 85% Tempranillo and 15% Graciano grapes. I thought I’d try this wine again having previously singled it out at a Rioja tasting, although the vintage I received via retail is 2017, rather than 2019 as was…

  • Kir-Yianni Assyrtiko

    Kir-Yianni Assyrtiko

    The Kir-Yianni Assyrtiko 2022 from Greece is an example of the increasing popularity and distinctive character of the Assyrtiko grape, traditionally associated with the volcanic terroir of Santorini. However, under the stewardship of Stelios, the son of Yiannis who founded the Kir-Yianni winery, this particular variant is cultivated in the cooler, higher altitude vineyards of…

  • Roche Lacour Crémant de Limoux

    Roche Lacour Crémant de Limoux

    This sparkling wine captures the essence of the South of France, specifically from beneath the hills of Limoux. It is made from a blend of 60% Chardonnay, 20% Pinot Noir and 20% Chenin Blanc and is 12.5% ABV. This 2020 vintage heralds the return of Laurent Mingaud, its original winemaker, who brings his expertise back…

  • Feuerheerd’s Anchor Wine Reserva Douro

    Feuerheerd’s Anchor Wine Reserva Douro

    Barão de Vilar has introduced this 2020 vintage wine that intrigues from the outset, not least due to its unusual packaging. The decision to wrap the bottle in a different paper-over-glass certainly catches the eye, but this novelty might wear thin as it obscures how much wine is left. Made from a blend of Touriga…

  • Sainsbury’s CVNE Rioja Gran Reserva

    Sainsbury’s CVNE Rioja Gran Reserva

    The 2016 vintage Gran Reserva, produced for Sainsbury’s by CVNE Winery, is a CVNE variant that stands out even among the winery’s diverse Rioja selections available at Sainsbury’s and other retailers. This particular wine is made from a blend of Tempranillo Graciano, and Mazuelo grapes hand-picked from CVNE’s own premier vineyards and is 14% ABV….

  • Sainsbury’s Valpolicella Ripasso

    Sainsbury’s Valpolicella Ripasso

    The 2020 vintage, made from a blend of Corvina, Rondinella, Corvinone and Croatina grapes. This wine is described on the bottle as “juicy ripe cherries, rich and complex,” due to the Ripasso technique. However, my experience with this particular bottle was somewhat unexpected. While the wine is ok, Instead of the anticipated concentrated fruit notes,…

  • Gran Montana Malbec

    Gran Montana Malbec

    The Gran Montana Malbec 2021 is an Argentinian wine from the Familia Zuccardi Winery located in the Uco Valley, created by winemaker Ruben Rufo. This 2021 vintage has had a mixed reception on Vivino with a rating of 3.8, a dip from the winery’s historically higher 4.0 scores. This Malbec reveals bramble fruit aromas, which…

  • Duca di Sasseta Primitivo IGT

    Duca di Sasseta Primitivo IGT

    This 2022 vintage wine was part of the Lidl Italian and Iberian Wine Tours tasting when it was one of my favourites. I have since purchased it and it’s as good as I remembered and I now know it also works great with (Italian) food. It has also gained a respectable 4.0 score on Vivino….

  • Faustino V Reserva

    Faustino V Reserva

    Faustino V Reserva 2018 Rioja is aged for a minimum of 24 months in American oak barrels. The previous vintage was highly regarded by James Suckling, receiving a commendable score of 93, and the wine itself has been adorned with multiple accolades, including a Silver Medal from Mundus Vini, the Bacchus Award, a Gold Medal…

  • Bodacious Red

    Bodacious Red

    This a red blend from the Tejo wine region of Portugal formerly known as Ribatejo until its rebranding in 2009, now named after the Tejo River. It’s produced by Falua Sociedade de Vinos. The blend includes Castelão, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot and Syrah. The wine gained a Bronze Medal at the 2023 IWSC and the…

  • Cimarosa Sauvignon Blanc 2022

    Cimarosa Sauvignon Blanc 2022

    The Cimarosa Sauvignon Blanc 2022 from Marlborough, New Zealand, stands out in the crowded field of affordable wines, not just for its price point but also for its quality and accolades. Awarded at the Berliner Wine Trophy 2023 and scoring an impressive 90 points from the International Wine & Spirit Competition (IWSC), alongside a commendable…

  • Varzea do Marão Vinho Verde Rose

    Varzea do Marão Vinho Verde Rose

    The Varzea do Marão Vinho Verde Rosé 2023 is from Quinta da Calçada, a winery in the heart of the Vinho Verde region in Amarante, Portugal. Owned by the da Mota family since 1917, Quinta da Calçada stands as one of the oldest producers in the region, with a heritage of crafting high-quality still and…

  • Albacore Longfin Shiraz 2021

    Albacore Longfin Shiraz 2021

    The Albacore Longfin Shiraz 2021 is blend made by the Fuse Winemaking Team from grapes from McLaren Vale, Australia. Marketed as the ‘top drawer Aussie Shiraz’ that promises to surpass expectations for enthusiasts of the Albacore Shiraz, this wine certainly set a high bar for itself. It enjoys a high 4.1 rating on Vivino, indicating…

  • Valdo Prosecco DOC Extra Dry

    Valdo Prosecco DOC Extra Dry

    Despite not holding the more prestigious DOCG designation, this wine makes a subtle statement by mentioning Valdobbiadene, it’s origin, on its label — usually only done for Prosecco of the DOCG category. Contrary to what one might expect, ‘Extra Dry’ in this context always refers to a subtly sweet flavour profile. Valdo Prosecco DOC Extra…

  • Amava Vines Coastal Reserve White Blend

    Amava Vines Coastal Reserve White Blend

    This wine has been created by Nadia Engelbrecht of the Perdeberg Group in South Africa. The Amava Vines Cape white 2020, a blend from the dry-farmed Coastal vineyards of Swartland and Paarl encapsulates the rich heritage in the word ‘Amava’ – a reference to roots tradition, and staying connected to one’s origins. This wine presents…

  • Extra Special Uco Valley Malbec

    Extra Special Uco Valley Malbec

    This Argentinian Malbec from the Uco Valley in Mendoza, a 2020 vintage produced by Bodega Norton, Argentina, was awarded a Bronze at the Decanter World Wine Awards in 2023. The wine has aromatic scents of violets and liquorice on the nose and displays a typical Malbec purple hue. Its French oak ageing and 14.5% alcohol…

  • Greasy Fingers Luscious Red

    Greasy Fingers Luscious Red

    The 2022 vintage of the new Greasy Fingers range from Pernod Ricard UK is a new addition to a portfolio that includes familiar names such as Campo Viejo, Brancott Estate and Stoneleigh. This wine is shy about its origins and the offering is more about branding – the country, Australia, is written very small on…

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Did You Know?

In 2024, the UK was the second-largest export market for Champagne globally, after the United States. More

Local UK bottling of wine represents about 40% of imported wine. More

Around 1% of people, typically severe asthmatics, have a sulphite sensitivity. More

A large 80% of Australian wine arrives in the UK in bulk. More

Only about 0.02% of Australia’s landmass is dedicated to vineyards. More

In 2024, New Zealand produced only 1% of the World’s wine. More

In 2024, the US imported 37% of World production of Pinot Grigio and the UK was is in second place at 27%. More

In 2024, the UK was South Africa’s largest export market, with 40% of total exports. More

In 2024, the United Kingdom imported 22.3 million bottles of Champagne, a decline of 12.7% compared to the previous year. More

Larger Champagne producers source grapes from as many as 80 different vineyards throughout Champagne. More

Champagne houses and growers collectively produce around 300 million bottles annually. More

In 2025, the Champagne region was home to about 2,124 Champagne houses and approximately 19,000 growers. More

Provence is one of the leaders in the conversion to organic viticulture, with 61% of vineyards certified. More

8% of the South Africa’s grape production is Fairtrade-certified. More

Up to 80% of wine aroma compounds come from grape skins. More

Glycerol is the third-largest component of most dry wines after water and alcohol which is why they so often feel ‘smooth’ or ‘silky’ in the mouth. More

Humans are more than 400 times more sensitive to bitter than sweet. More

Humans can detect the earthy molecule geosmin at about 100 parts per trillion and camels are so sensitive to it they can locate damp ground from roughly 50 miles away. More

During the phylloxera crisis of the nineteenth century, 90% of Europe’s vineyards were destroyed. More

In 2025, for La Vieille Ferme, also known as “The Chicken Wine”, sales surged by 49.4% to £110.8 million. More

In 2025, in the UK, Yellow Tail held the top position with sales, marking a 9.8% increase over the previous year. More

In 2024, the UK was the second-largest wine importer in volume and value. More

In 2024, the UK was the fifth-largest wine-consuming country globally. More

In 2025, global wine consumption continued its downward trend, estimated at 214.2 million hectolitres, the lowest since 1961. More

In 2025, online alcohol sales had a 20% increase in value over five years. More

In 2025, the number of UK vineyards rose to 1,104 and wineries to 238, with land under vine expanding to 4,841 hectares, a 510% increase since 2005. More

Moët Hennessy alone commands nearly 46.66% of the Champagne market, with the top three producers together holding about 61%, and the top five controlling over 72%. More

In 2024, the Champagne market was worth roughly €3.92 billion. More

In the marketing year 2023/24, white wine accounted for roughly 55% of Spain’s output, whereas red and rosé together made up about 45%. More

In the UK, 92% of wine is consumed within 48hrs of purchase. More

The majority of wines, 95%, use commercial rather than wild yeast. More

Between 0.5 and 10 litres of water, per litre of wine, are needed for cleaning during winemaking. More

Machine harvesting can achieve up to 100 tons of fruit per day vs 1 ton for a human. More

In Germany, 2025 was the smallest wine vintage since 2010. More

The majority of vineyards, 90% in 2019, are farmed with heavy chemical interventions. Only 6% are organic. More

90% of low and coastal areas in south Europe and California will no longer be able to produce good wine by the end of the century. More