Wine

Wine online from Great Wines Direct

Wine is typically a fermented grape-based alcoholic beverage. The sugar in the grapes is consumed by yeast, which then breaks it down into ethanol and carbon dioxide while also producing heat.

Different kinds of wine are mostly influenced by various yeast strains and grape varieties. These variations are the result of intricate interactions between the biological growth of the grape, the fermentation reactions, the terroir (growing region) of the grape, and the wine-making process.

Legal appellations are established in many nations to specify wine styles and quality. These often place limitations on the allowable grape types, geographical origin, and other characteristics of wine production.

Since ancient times, wine has been made. The Caucasus region in what is now Georgia (6000 BCE), Persia (5000 BCE), Italy, and Armenia (4000 BCE) has the earliest wine artefacts.

While there are some similarities between New World wine and alcoholic beverages manufactured by native Americans, these connections relate mostly to later Spanish practises in New Spain.

Later, as viticulture methods for Old World wine advanced, Europe would have three of the greatest wine-producing regions. Today, Italy, Spain, France, the United States, and China are the five nations with the largest wine-producing regions.

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Red 12.5

Saint Clair, Pioneer Block 15 Strip Block, Marlborough, Pinot Noir 2022 75cl £25.39

Perfumed red berry aromas combine with notes of charry oak and a rich, silky mouthfeel

Red 14

Xanadu, Margaret River, Cabernet Sauvignon 2022 75cl £25.55

Xanadu's Cabernet Sauvignon showcases the depth and structure Margaret River is renowned for. This wine displays classic blackcurrant and plum notes with subtle oak integration, delivering a refined palate with firm tannins and excellent ageing potential. A sophisticated choice for collectors and those seeking a premium Australian red with genuine complexity and balance.

Rose 12.5

Ultimate Provence, Cotes de Provence Rose 2024 75cl £26.82

A delicate, pale pink rose with citrus and exotic fruit aromas, fresh with lovely red fruit flavours and a spicy white pepper finish

White 13.5

Broken Shackle Classic White, South Eastern Australia 2024 75cl £11.09

Broken Shackle's Classic White delivers approachable elegance from South Eastern Australia's premier wine regions. This great wine balances crisp acidity with subtle stone fruit and citrus notes, making it equally at home as an aperitif or paired with seafood and lighter fare. A versatile, well-crafted white that represents excellent value for everyday enjoyment or entertaining. A fruity and fresh style showing tangy green apple, pineapple and grapefruit leading to a clean and crisp finish

White 12.5

Urlar Organic Sauvignon Blanc 2024 75cl £16.86

This really is a gorgeous wine From North Island's Gladstone region, family-run organic producer, Urlar, sets out to produce a mellow, complex style of Sauvignon Blanc, while retaining bright freshness Around a quarter of the wine was fermented on the skins to add spice and texture to the final wine, which has beautiful grapefruit and melon notes The wine is then bottle-aged to bring about a seamless, harmonious marriage of all the components

Red 14.5

Chateau Lamothe-Bouscaut Pessac-Leognan 2020 75cl £26.00

This is a real find - a beautifully restrained, classy Bordeaux Dark purple colour, with complex aromas of blackcurrant, mulberry, white pepper and vine leaves, and hints of savoury soy sauce and oyster shell In the mouth, there is impressive fruit concentration with gorgeously deep, succulent texture This is superb - it is drinking well already, and will continue to do so over the next decade or longer Situated in the village of Cadaujac, 200 metres from Chateau Bouscaut, Lamothe-Bouscaut is an old wine estate owned by Sophie Lurton and Laurent Cogombles The house dates back to the 12th Century The Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon vines grown on these deep, gravelly soils are on average 35 years old, and the vineyard is managed sustainably

White 13.5

Lucien Lurton Collection Les Garonnelles, Sauternes 375cl 2023 37.5cl £14.00

Made with the expertise of Berenice Lurton of Chateau Climens, this has an expressive nose with aromas of apricot, super-ripe pineapple and creme brulee In the mouth, it is elegant and well-balanced, evolving with a long finish full of finesse

Red 11

Cintila Red, Peninsula de Setubal 2024 75cl £10.07

Cintila Red hails from Portugal's Península de Setúbal, a region celebrated for bold, characterful reds. This vintage showcases the region's signature depth and structure, delivering ripe dark fruit with subtle spice and earthy undertones. The wine balances power with elegance, making it equally suited to serious food pairing or contemplative sipping. A compelling choice for those seeking authentic Portuguese character without pretension. A juicy, plummy and vanilla wine, soft and easy-drinking

White 13

Stargazer Riesling 2024 75cl £30.38

One of Australia's top premium producers This Riesling is made in minute quantities (less than 4000 produced) Quartz-green in colour Crammed with vibrant Cox's Orange apple and lemon pith notes on the nose, as well as lifted jasmine and crystallised ginger aromatics The palate's bright acidity and river stone flavours are balanced with a gentle fruit sweetness and talc-like texture

Red 14

Thelema Mountain Vineyards The Mint Cabernet Sauvignon 2022 75cl £32.63

Ripe red berry, cassis and dark chocolate flavours are complimented by hints of mint and on the palate The wine has fine tannins with a long, mocha finish According to the winemaker, the source of the mint character is attributed to the airborne transfer from the Eucalyptus trees, which border this specific Cabernet Sauvignon Vineyard, to the grape berries The berries' outer wax layer adsorbs eucalyptol, the compound responsible for the aroma, released into the air by the trees It subsequently becomes dissolved during the fermentation process, which takes place on the skins, giving the wine a minty character unique to this vineyard

Red 14

Fowles Wine Ladies Who Shoot Their Lunch Shiraz 2021 75cl £25.08

This superb Shiraz smells invitingly of juicy ripe blackberries and black cherries, with slightly resinous, spicy, incense notes, toasted oak and raspberry jam In the mouth, it is irresistibly delicious, with gorgeously pronounced black fruit, black pepper and liquorice notes, alongside subtle, suave oak The tannins are beautifully rounded and velevety and there is fabulous freshness Tip top - Tom King, Fine Wine Manager

White 13

A bottle of Christophe Coquard's Macon Villages white wine with a white background

Macon Villages - Maison Coquard 75cl £16.13

Step into the sunlit vineyards of southern Burgundy with Maison Coquard’s Macon Villages, a fresh, lively white that showcases Christophe Coquard’s devotion to quality and expression.This elegant Chardonnay is all about pure pleasure: crisp orchard apples, juicy pear, and a whisper of citrus zest, all wrapped up in a clean, mineral finish.Effortlessly drinkable but far from ordinary, it’s the perfect pour for any occasion, from easy lunches to special dinners. Christophe’s forward-thinking style shines through here, combining classic Mâcon charm with a modern freshness that keeps you coming back for more.

White 13.5

Kozlović, Istria, Malvazija 2023 75cl £20.09

A textured wine with floral aromas and flavours of peach zest and spicy tropical fruit

White 14

Ixsir Grande Reserve White 2023 75cl £24.00

Made mainly from Viognier, grown in some of Lebanon's exceptionally high altitude vineyards, this fabulous wine has the refinement and class of a top Condrieu It has enticing aromas of honeysuckle, jasmine, white peach and citron The expressive character continues on the palate, as the wine walks the tightrope between lively vivacity on the one side and satisfying, rounded mellowness on the other Bravo!

Red 14

Ixsir Grande Reserve Red 2017 75cl £27.50

An intensely-flavoured red saturated with Mediterranean character and exuberant aromas of ripe fruits and spices Its concentrated palate has fine tannin texture and attractive lively black fruit, which lasts through to the long finish This delivers that elusive marriage of concentration and finesse found in Saint Emilion Premier Grand Cru Classe, Chateau Angelus - at less than one tenth of the price Supremely polished, and made with the assistance of Hubert de Bouard, of Angelus fame, it genuinely does bear more than a passing resemblance to its more famous, French cousin Stonking wine - highly recommended!

White 14

Bonterra The Roost Biodynamic Chardonnay 2022 75cl £26.35

A lavish, out there, Californian Chardonnay, exhibiting ripe peach, pear and lemon curd character, together with unmistakable toasty oak notes It lazily gloop-gloops from the bottle, and its lavish, unctuous texture caresses and soothes the palate like extra virgin olive oil With the trend in recent years towards lean and austere Chardonnays, encountering one that readily displays its true colours is a rather refreshing change