This wine ideally matches to light red meat dishes, or anything with a tomato based sauce. Also think creamy mushroom sauce, baked camembert or red onion & beetroot tart. Domaine de Veilleurs is a family run vineyard & winery in Cheverny in the heart of the Loire Valley. They are certified organic by Ecocert & believe in making wine that is a true expression of the terroir. Red Cheverny is a blend of the well known Pinot Noir grape, famous in Burgundy & red Sancerre, & the lesser known Gamay, usually found in Beaujolais. The Pinot Noir adds savoury, earthy, smoky complexity whilst the Gamay gives the wine freshness, vibrant fruit character & added complexity. This is a paradox of a wine. Fresh, elegant & lively with lots of red berry & cherry flavours. The weight is mouthfilling with rounded tannins & a hint of smoky spice that adds a savoury quality to the finish. ...

The freshness of this wine pairs very well to seafood & fish dishes. The local cheese is goatands cheese so consider it with salads or in a tart with caramelised onions. Domaine de Veilleurs is a family run vineyard & winery in Cheverny in the heart of the Loire Valley. They are certified organic by Ecocert & believe in making wine that is a true expression of the terroir. White Cheverny is a blend of the well known Sauvignon Blanc grape, famous in Sancerre & Pouilly-Fume, & the lesser known Menu Pineau. The Sauvignon Blanc adds finesse & austerity whilst the Menu Pineau gives the wine depth, weight & added complexity. The blend of grape varieties gives the wine great depth & complexity. It is fresh & lively with a hint of lime zest & saltiness. Has stone fruit flavours & rich smooth texture. Overall it bursts in the mouth & finishes with a wonderful floral softness. ...

When drinking Italian, eat Italian. Thereands a real sense of place with tradition Italian wines so eat food associated with the region; red meat or tomato based pasta dishes work best. Certified organic & biodynamic since 2004, Silvio & his wife, Catalina, ensure tradition & authenticity are at the heart of all winemaking techniques in their h&-built winery. Traditional grapes are used & wines are matured in either large, old oak barrels or terracotta amphorae to add texture & suppleness to the final wines. This Chianti Classico has amazing colour thanks to the addition of 5% Colorino, a grape with extremely dark skin that adds depth to the blend. The nose & palate just burst with sour cherry & raspberry flavour with a hint of sweet spice. The texture is sumptuously smooth & mouthfilling with round tannins & a long fruity, spicy finish. A delight. ...

Blending the classic Chianti grapes Sangiovese & Canaiolo Toscano (a traditional grape that is no longer required in Chianti wines, but when grown well, adds an unmistakable leathery, strawberry edge), this wine is a great match for food, from garlic-rubbed steaks to sage-marinated pork, herby, fennely sausages & classic ribollita soup. Cantine Innocenti lies between Montepulciano & Montefollonico & is run by Vittorio Innocenti & his family. The estate has around 12 hectares of vineyards between 330 & 350 metres above sea level. The cellar buildings, dating back to end of the 13th century, are in the small, well-preserved medieval town of Montefollonico. Vibrant ruby/garnet red in colour, with a sumptuous nose full of ripe cherry & strawberry aromas, spice & leather notes & a fragrant dried herb nuance in the background, along with a slight ‘meatiness'. In the mouth it is full & juicy, showing good depth & complexity with fruit & cinnamon flavours tempered with a leafy rusticity. ...

Good Cru Beaujolais such as this is a very food-friendly wine. With its juicy, fruit-forward style, floral aromas & quenching acidity, this is a very affable dinner-table partner. Perfect with good quality charcuterie, gammon steaks, chicken casseroles or braised rabbit, it also works wonders with roast turkey & pork belly. Didier Desvignes of Domaine du Calvaire believes that great wines are produced from healthy, mature grapes. He aims to reduce the vigour of the vine by treating each parcel according to its needs & practicing strict green harvesting. Through these techniques he is able to control the quality & character of each parcel of grapes. Ruby red in the glass with a violet ‘robe'. On the nose it shows wonderful scents of rose, iris & elderflower, raspberry aromas & a touch of minerally earth. On the palate it is quenching & bright with tangy wild strawberry flavours, floral nuances & an intriguing minerally depth. The juicy fruit flavours linger over a good acidic finish. ...

If youre having friends & family descending this Christmas youll need some easy drinking yet great quality wines to keep everybody happy. This case of 12 encompasses white, red & sparkling wine to tick the boxes for your quaffable drinks needs. ...

A hearty red needs hearty food so match it with red meats, game & anything with a rich flavoursome suace, like casseroles. Domaine Ledogar has been owned & run by Xavier Ledogar since 1997. The vineyard previously sold its grapes to a local co-operative but Xavier wanted to follow his heart & make his own wine. The winery used to be called Domaine Grand Lauze but the name was changed to reflect the fact that they were now making their own wine. One of the buildings bought by Xavierands Dad dating back to 1905 was converted in the winery & cellar area. " La Compagnon" almost leaps out of the glass with a nose giving heaps of black fruit & licorice. On the palate, the wine is rounded & smooth with all that soft fruit & a hint of a spicy finish. A beautiful wine which, as the name suggests, is a perfect companion with food. ...

This traditional Mediterranean grape lends itself to food of a similar ilk. Think grilled fish & vegetables, shellfish & white meats. The citrus zing & floral character also makes this a good pairing for aromatc Asian spices. Chateau La Coste was bought in 2002 by London based hotelier Paddy Mc Killen. The first few vintages were nothing special so in 2006 he involved Matthieu Cosse of Domaine Cosse-Maisoneuve fame on the project. Cosseands methods of respecting the land & surrounding ecosystem by using organic methods certainly did the trick as Chateau La Coste wines became much lauded in Provence. A complex wine with a rich & powerful nose. Aromas of candied fruits accompany notes of white fruits & hints of citrus. Flowers & spices can also be detected along with toasted wood. Round in the mouth, smooth & fresh with a lovely citrus fruit finish typical of the Vermentino grape. ...

Wines from this area work best with food from this area & rose is very well respected for its food friendliness. Pair with grilled oily fish, Mediterranean vegetables & dishes with lots of herbs. Chateau La Coste was bought in 2002 by London based hotelier Paddy Mc Killen. The first few vintages were nothing special so in 2006 he involved Matthieu Cosse of Domaine Cosse-Maisoneuve fame on the project. Cosseands methods of respecting the land & surrounding ecosystem by using organic methods certainly did the trick as Chateau La Coste wines became much lauded in Provence. This wine is marked by finesse & minerality. Full & rich with a roundness in the mouth. White fruits such as ripe peaches & pears dominate alongside floral notes & hints of strawberry & cherry. The finish is fresh & long with a citrussy elegance. ...

Wine from Provence works best with food from Provence so think lamb with herb crust, cassoulet & any dish with a tomato base. Chateau La Coste was bought in 2002 by London based hotelier Paddy Mc Killen. The first few vintages were nothing special so in 2006 he involved Matthieu Cosse of Domaine Cosse-Maisoneuve fame on the project. Cosseands methods of respecting the land & surrounding ecosystem by using organic methods certainly did the trick as Chateau La Coste wines became much lauded in Provence. Very low yields & careful organic viticulture has produced truly outstanding results from both the Grenache & Syrah this year. The characteristic notes of Provencal herbs, macerated fruits & graphite are all evident, the mid palate is sweet & the finish is long. An outstanding wine. ...