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 23

Bodegas Monovar Fondillon, 50cl 1959 50cl £409.37

This amazing wine tastes like a cross between a very mature Tawny Port and a top, aged Amontillado It is transparent amber in appearance, with a complex, intense bouquet of toasted walnuts, maple syrup, liquorice root, fenugreek and black pepper Utterly delicious, with just slight sweetness, offset by bright acidity, giving a sense of real freshness alongside its wonderful, mellow roundness It has an appetising character like toasted almonds with smoked salt, alongside pleasant nuances of toffee, coffee, tobacco, carob bean, fig and crushed celery seed Bodegas Monovar is a restoration of some of the oldest Fondillones in the world today An example of minimal intervention at its best, bunches of the very best Monastrell are left to over-ripen on the vine, and are subsequently hand-picked, destemmed and left to ferment on indigenous yeasts until reaching a natural balance of sugar and alcohol Maturation for 20 years in large casks made of Canadian oak allows the wine to evolve into something truly unique and unlike anything else on the planet This comes in a 50cl bottle contained within a gift box A glass stopper is provided so you can re-seal after pulling the cork, and enjoy at your leisure (drink within one month of opening)

Red 14

Swinney Farvie Syrah 2021 75cl £78.91

An awe-inspiring wine with the aroma of Hermitage and the texture of Richebourg, Farvie Syrah is a selection of fruit picked exclusively from the 'morning' side of the vine rows, which ripens more slowly and gently than fruit exposed to the afternoon sun Whortleberry, aronia and purple grape lead into nuances of clove, star anise, stargazer lily, musk, leather and iron as it opens in the glass In the mouth, it is super-refined, intense and concentrated in flavour; with gorgeous soft succulence of texture There is a sprinkling of powdery tannin - discernible but utterly delicate Undoubtedly a great wine, it would be intriguing to watch this evolve for 15 years or longer - but oh, it's so irresistible already Utterly harmonious

Rose 12.5

Planeta Rose 2021 150cl | Great Wines Direct

Planeta Rose 2021 150cl £38.69

White 22

Bodegas Alonso Amontillado Seleccion 2 37.5cl NV £482.56

White 13.5

Kooyong Clonale Chardonnay 2021 75cl £23.16

Tastes like Chassagne-Montrachet that costs twice as much! Bright limey-straw colour An aromatic nose with fresh lime/ lemon and quartzy silica mineral characters, balanced with notes of toasted nuts, white peach and a soft creaminess Palate is bright and again minerally with the same attractive balance of pert citrus zing and layers of texture

White 22

Bodegas Alonso Palo Cortado Seleccion 1 37.5cl NV £482.56

Bodegas Alonso presents a new saca (bottling) of part of their historic wine treasures from their cellar in the coastal town of Sanlucar de Barrameda Only 50 half-bottles of each of these will be available worldwide This Palo Cortado was selected from Cask 17 in Row 1 of Stack E - a wine with an average age of 100 years

White 22

Bodegas Alonso Oloroso Seleccion 3 37.5cl NV £482.56

Red 13

De Martino Gallardia Cinsault 2022 75cl £15.95

Displays refreshing aromas of red and dark cherries with floral and violet notes The palate is fresh with ripe red berries, crisp acidity, soft tannins and a lovely, lingering finish 100% Cinsault from dry-farmed, ungrafted gobelet-trained vines, grown on granite soils just 22km from the Pacific Ocean

Red 20

Quinta Do Crasto Vintage Port 2018 75cl £46.19

Opaque purple in colour, this Port shows excellent concentration of aromas, with hedgerow fruit, delicate notes of spice and hints of cacao Immediately mpressive on the palate, with real intensity of flavour and superbly-textured, polished tannins This is a Port of outstanding quality and bears witness to Quinta do Crasto's superb terroir and technical expertise The intriguing, persistent finish draws you in to take another sip

Rose 12.9

Chaffey Bros Wine Co Lux Venit Rose 2022 75cl £17.39

A delicious, dry, structural and textural premium rose Think bright cherries and berry aromas; peaches and cream with a hint of savoury spice on the palate, the French Oak maturation and malolactic fermentation contributes to the indulgent mouthfeel and creamy finish

White 10.5

Peller Family Estates Riesling Icewine Gift Pack Half Bottle 2019 37.5cl £46.40

Notes of ripe peach marmalade, layers of sweet and fresh tropical fruit, honey and hints of white pepper The flavours are an explosion of pineapple, apricot, floral honey, oranges and cardamom spice with lemon drops and spicy oak to harmonize the long finish

White 13.5

Nuiton-Beaunoy Santenay Blanc 2020 75cl £24.60

This lovely white Santenay has a rich golden colour and enticing juicy pineapple and papaya aromas, sprinkled with a seasoning of spicy oak On the palate, the fruit has more of a lemony character, which lasts well on the finish, and the wood is harmoniously integrated into the wine

Rose 12.5

Nude Rose 21 Mirabeau 75cl £25.86

White 13.5

Frescobaldi Pomino Benefizio 2023 75cl £30.52 £35.41

Experience the elegance of Frescobaldi Pomino Benefizio, an exceptional Italian white wine. With a brilliant straw-yellow colour and golden highlights, Benefizio entices with aromas of candied orange peel, pink grapefruit, and tropical pineapple. Delicate floral notes of acacia, mimosa, and magnolia unfold, followed by subtle hints of vanilla, cinnamon, and roasted hazelnut. This vintage offers a creamy, savoury palate and outstanding structure, making Frescobaldi Pomino Benefizio a top choice for lovers of refined Tuscan wines.

Red 13.5

Petit Roubie Syrah 2021 75cl £10.96

Deep Red with violet hues Great intensity on the nose showing liquorice, blackcurrant, black pepper and violet aromas On the palate, the wine is lively with a great balance and acidity

Red 14.5

Conterno Fantino Barolo Castelletto Vigna Pressenda 2018 75cl £77.04

The 2018 vintage Barolo Castelletto Vigna Pressenda has a fantastic, deep, complex nose of cranberries, pine forest, peat, white chocolate and seasoned oak It has great concentration of succulent fruit, balanced by fantastic freshness and superbly-textured tannin Both complex and very long on the palate, this impressive single-site Barolo is absolutely ready to drink now, but decanting is recommended to experience it at its best Drink 2024-2034