In November 2025, I went to the WineAlive London Big Christmas Wine Festival. This event marked the rebranded and expanded version of the well-known Three Wine Men consumer wine tastings, now operating under the WineAlive name. The new format retains the core elements of large walk-around tastings, themed masterclasses and online interactive sessions where attendees can taste along with the hosts.
WineAlive is fronted by familiar names Oz Clarke, Olly Smith and Tim Atkin MW, joined by new hosts Susy Atkins, Tom Surgey and Luma Monteiro. Susy is a respected drinks writer with many years of experience as a columnist and former wine expert on BBC1’s Saturday Kitchen. Tom Surgey brings his lively and engaging style, seen on ITV’s Love Your Weekend, and is the author of How to Drink Wine (see my review). Luma Monteiro, a seasoned wine judge and marketer, serves on the Champagne Academy committee and regularly judges for both the Decanter World Wine Awards and the IWSC.
The festival featured more than 400 wines across 59 stands. Exhibitors included producers, importers and regional wine bodies. There were also non-wine participants such as a wine bookstall, a supplier of spiral wine cellars, a wine aerator vendor and a cheesemonger. In addition to the main tasting, the programme included masterclasses and some stands had special show offers.
I tasted around 100 wines during the event and several stood out as particularly noteworthy:
Robert Oatley Signature Series Cabernet Sauvignon 2020 14% £15
From Margaret River, Australia. Deep ruby in colour with aromas of blackcurrant, cedar and leather. The flavour is rich with blackberries and the wine is dry, full bodied with fine tannins. Available from Ocado and Majestic.
Robert Oatley The Pennant Frankland River Cabernet Sauvignon 2017 14% £49.70
A more intense version of the Signature Series, this wine offers a much deeper aroma and a more concentrated blackcurrant flavour. The tannins are softer, with greater length in the finish. Available from Latitude, VINVM and North & South Wines.
Nabal Gran Reserva 2018 14.5% £36
A Spanish blend of 90% Tempranillo with Merlot and Albillo Mayor from Ribera del Duero. Flavours of vanilla, black fruit, liquorice and spices are well integrated. Traditionally firm tannins have mellowed with age, making this a well-balanced wine. Available from Solaris Wines Ltd.
Carmelita Malbec 2019 14% £32
Produced in Uco Valley, Mendoza. Intensely fruity with ripe plum and cassis. Hints of oak, caramel and chocolate bring warmth and complexity. Full and round in texture. Available from carmelitawine.com.
Carmelita Cabernet Franc 2019 14% £32
A bold red with a smoky aroma, packed with violet and blackberry flavours. From the Uco Valley, Mendoza. Available from carmelitawine.com.
M&S Fetească Albă 2024 12% £7.50
Romanian white part of M&S’s ‘Found’ range. Rose petals, honeysuckle and white peach aromas lead into a burst of citrus and pineapple. The highly aromatic style finishes long and mellow. Excellent value. Available from Marks and Spencer and Ocado.
La Gironda ‘Le Nicchie’ Nizza DOCG 2020 15.5% £33.90
From Barbera grapes in Italy. A striking red with musky red fruit on the aroma and deep blackberry and liquorice flavours. Tannins are balanced and the finish is long. This wine has won multiple awards from Decanter and Italian guides. Available from Luca Wine.
J. Lohr Fog’s Reach Pinot Noir 2022 14% £39.75
Coming from Monterey, USA. A floral and fruity Pinot Noir featuring violets, cherry, delicate blackberry and plum. Tannins are subtle but provide good structure. Available from Pacific Wines, The Wine Twit, Grand Cru Co and Cellars-wines.
Gémina Cuvée Selección 2020 15%
Monastrell from Spain. Ripe blackberry with a gentle oak aroma, followed by matching dark fruit and a hint of chocolate. Tannins are round and soft. Not yet available in the UK.
Tristone Cabernet Sauvignon 2023 13.5% £21.90
South African red from Stellenzicht Wines, Stellenbosch. Aromas of leather and blackcurrant, with dark fruit and herbal, savoury flavours. The finish is long and cedary. This dry wine is medium to full bodied. Available from The Naughty Grape.
Grande Vallee Saperavi Reserve 2023 £25 13%
Made from the Saperavi grapes in Ukraine. This is a fruit-forward wine, dominated by cherry with a touch of sweetness. Unusually soft for the style, which is often compared to Cabernet Sauvignon. Available from uawines.co.uk.
Journey’s End Cape Doctor 2019 14.5% £26
A bold blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot from Stellenbosch, South Africa. Flavours of blackcurrant and cassis combine in a smooth, full-bodied red with low tannins. Available from Ocado.
Jaffelin Chorey-lès-Beaune 2022 12.5% £35
From Burgundy, France, using Pinot Noir grapes. Bursting with red berry aromas and fresh fruit flavours. Light tannins give the wine elegance. A medium-bodied and finely balanced red. Available from Grape Minds.
Viña Carmen Frida Kahlo Reserva Carménère 2024 12.5% £9.50
Made by Chile’s oldest winery, this blend of 85% Carménère and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon features smoky dark fruit aromas, with spice and a smooth, lingering finish. Top value choice from the tasting. Said to be listed on Amazon but I couldn’t find it.
Missing Gate Sauvignon Blanc 2022 13% £27.50
A rare English Sauvignon Blanc, from Crouch Valley, Essex. Fermented in neutral oak, it offers softer, sweeter flavours than its New Zealand counterparts, yet still features lime and gooseberry notes. Buy directly from missinggate.com.
Missing Gate Pinot Noir 2023 12.5% £30
Another English rarity in style, a savoury red delivering smoky richness with blackberry and even a hint of bacon. Distinctly bold for a UK Pinot Noir. Available from missinggate.com.
There was a noticeable emphasis on Spanish and English wines, the former likely influenced by Tim Atkin’s expertise and network. That said, there were also wines from Argentina, Chile, South Africa, Italy, France, Australia, New Zealand, the USA and even Ukraine, adding depth and variety.
The event was busy and well-attended, but never uncomfortably crowded. It was refreshing to see producers engaging directly with the public, which is essential in helping them understand their audience and contribute to wine education on the ground.
The WineAlive brand also extends to digital platforms, with a free Christmas Sipping series featuring Oz Clarke and Susy Atkins, as well as a recent Autumn Sipping series with Oz Clarke and Tom Surgey.
