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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White 12.5

Domaine de la Rouletiere , Patrimoine, Vouvray Sec 2022 75cl £24.85

Bearing all the hallmarks of classic Vouvray, this shows ripe green apple and citrus fruit with a mineral core, vibrant and dry on the palate with a lovely long, salty finish A benchmark expression of Loire Valley terroir. Domaine de la Rouletière Patrimoine captures the essence of Vouvray's chalky soils through bright green apple and citrus aromatics, underpinned by a distinctive mineral character. On the palate, it's crisp and bone-dry with excellent acidity, finishing with a saline minerality that lingers beautifully. A food-friendly white that pairs effortlessly with seafood, goat's cheese, and lighter poultry dishes. Chenin Blanc at its most elegant and age-worthy.

Red 12.5

Craggy Range, Martinborough, Pinot Noir 2023 75cl £31.86

Craggy Range Pinot Noir showcases the distinctive character of New Zealand's premier cool-climate region. This vintage delivers layered red fruit complexity, cherry and plum, with subtle earthiness and fine-grained tannins that reflect the terroir's volcanic soils. Elegant structure and balanced acidity make it equally suited to food pairing or contemplative sipping. A benchmark expression from one of the Southern Hemisphere's most respected producers. A delicate, supple and approachable Pinot Noir with aromas of dried lavender and wild thyme combined with red cherry On the palate, flavours of crushed raspberry and orange zest are layered with savoury undertones

Red 13.5

Creation Wines, Walker Bay, Reserve Pinot Noir 2020 75cl £38.09

A smooth, complex Pinot Noir with bright aromas of roses, dried fruit, raspberry and hints of spice, through to a palate of incredible depth, freshness and precision

Red 13.5

Creation Wines, Walker Bay, Pinot Noir 2020 75cl £27.64

An intensely fragrant and silky smooth Pinot Noir, where the melange of red berries and a whiff of wood spice are complemented by earthy mushroom

Red 14.5

Creation Wines, Walker Bay, Syrah Grenache 2021 75cl £26.84

A plush Syrah Grenache blend with intense flavours of ripe plum, black pepper, tapenade and umami

White 13.5

Creation Wines, Cape South Coast, Reserve Chardonnay 2020 75cl £38.09

An elegant Chardonnay with vibrant grapefruit, fragrant apple, a hint of honey and cinnamon, through to a palate with mineral tension and mouthwatering acidity

Red 12.5

Georges Vigouroux - Pigmentum Pigmentum Malbec, Cahors 2022 75cl £13.33

Beneath a bouquet of summer flowers, a rich red Malbec emits flavours of raspberry, blackcurrant and blackberry, held together by firm, defined tannins

White 13.5

Creation Wines, Cape South Coast, Chardonnay 2023 75cl £25.26

A chic, cool-climate Chardonnay, with glorious layers of sun kissed pear and peach enhanced by fresh minerality and hints of spice Full of finesse and elegance

White 14

Creation Wines, Cape South Coast, Viognier 2023 75cl £19.88

Joyful and vivacious Viognier with succulent peach complemented by the subtleties of ripe pear, in a deliciously refreshing, zesty and classic style

Red 13.5

Frescobaldi Nipozzano Vecchie Viti 2021 75cl £27.18

A radiant ruby-red colour Among the main descriptors, fruity notes begin with red and black berries, including raspberry, wild strawberry, black cherry, blackcurrant and blackberry These are supported by sweet vanilla and rounded off with balsamic notes, pepper and cinnamon The palate is well-rounded and sumptuously elegant; the alcohol and acidic content balance out perfectly The after-taste is fruity with a hint of juniper berry The mineral finish is long and juicy

White 13.5

Raymond Vineyards, R Collection, California, Chardonnay 2023 75cl £22.40

Bright aromas of pear, pineapple and tropical fruit are followed by creamy notes of vanilla and honeysuckle, rich and smooth

Red 15

Chateau de Rouanne, Vinsobres 2021 75cl £25.09

Chateau de Rouanne Vinsobres showcases the southern Rhône's signature elegance. Dark fruit aromas, liquorice, blackberry, and tar, give way to a textured palate with subtle salinity and mineral grip. The wine's depth and length make it ideal for pairing with game, rich stews, or aged cheeses. A refined expression of Grenache-based winemaking from this acclaimed appellation.

Red 14

Micro-Cosme, Vin de France, Grenache Pinot Noir NV 75cl £16.64

A captivating blend of Grenache and Pinot Noir that marries Old World elegance with New World vibrancy. Expect layered aromatics of ripe strawberry, warm spice, and delicate floral notes, with a silky palate that rewards both immediate enjoyment and careful contemplation. The interplay of these two noble varieties creates a wine of surprising depth, ideal for food pairing or solo appreciation. A versatile addition to any serious wine collection.

White 13

Meinert White Merlot 'The Italian Job' 2020 75cl £28.12

This is an utterly delicious white that tastes very much like barrel-fermented Chardonnay - perhaps from Burgundy It is rich and sumptuous, with creme anglaise, pineapple, butter and delicate wood character Intense, with a sustained, flavoursome finish The wine's story makes it even more fascinating When visiting friends in Zurich, Martin Meinert was introduced to a white wine made with Merlot grapes from Ticino - the southern, Italian, part of Switzerland He loved it so much that he resolved to make one himself, with fantastic results (How to make a white wine with black grapes? Press promptly, and keep the juice and the skins separate to prevent the latter from tinting the former)

Red 12.5

Trapiche Melodias Malbec 2024 75cl £9.91

Selected vineyards in the high area of the Mendoza River and in the east region of Mendoza A rich wine with violet hues, redolent of plums and cherries Round in the mouth with a touch of truffle, cocoa and vanilla Deliciously soft and easy drinking

Red 14.5

D Arenberg The Custodian Grenache 2021 75cl £16.15

The nose is packed with enticing fresh red fruit characters of raspberry, cherry, and pomegranate Hints of blackberry and Kalamata olive come through over time, erupting in a long and lingering palate A fine line of acid, reminiscent of tangy rhubarb, is supported by lively tannins