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

Bruce Jack Wines, 'Off the Charts', Swartland, Skin Contact Chenin Blanc 2024 75cl £14.62

Mouthwatering notes of lush tropical fruits gracefully intermingle with floral hints and vibrant citrus undertones through to a crisp, refreshing finish

Red 14.5

Campo alle Comete, 'Torre alle Comete', Bolgheri Rosso 2021 75cl £82.01

A beautifully balanced blend where delicate spice and classic Bolgheri balsamic notes are underpinned by rich flavours of plum and black fruits Smooth and elegant

Red 15

Frescobaldi Castelgiocondo Brunello di Montalcino Riserva DOCG 2018 75cl £97.66

Ruby-red colour with delicate garnet hues on the edge Fruity aromas, including blueberry, cherry and macerated black cherry, pervade the nose first However, the tertiary notes provided by the lengthy ageing are what stand out most here Cinnamon, tobacco, tealeaf, roasted coffee bean and, lastly, subtle hints of leather are the main descriptors Elegant spices, such as white pepper, cloves and cinnamon, round off the sensory journey The velvety, silky smooth tannins are mature and compact

Red 14

Domaine Brusset Gigondas 'Tradition' 2023 75cl £20.63

Wonderfully genuine, just-picked raspberries and crushed black pepper aromas enveloped by a mouthwatering yeastiness, like baking bread Really fresh in the mouth, with raspberry and black cherry flavours, although the youthful tannin and crisp acidity suggest pomegranate or cranberry This is SUCH a vibrant wine: if you order a few bottles, it would be a shame not to enjoy some of them immediately for their wonderful freshness and crystal clear sense of place However, it will have no problem ageing 4-5 years, and probably longer Outstanding value

Red 14

Rockburn, 'The Chosen 777', Pinot Noir 2022 75cl £56.36

A graceful and eloquent Pinot Noir, showcasing a real purity of fruit, with refined tannins and a silky-smooth finish

Red 14

Rockburn, Twelve Barrels, Pinot Noir 2022 75cl £56.36

A dark, concentrated and finely balanced Pinot Noir, with layered aromas of bramble fruit, truffle and cedar and a seamless texture on the silky palate

Red 13.5

Castello Vicchiomaggio 'San Jacopo', Chianti Classico 2023 37.5cl £11.12

Smooth and elegant, a lovely and savoury expression of Chianti with red cherry and strawberry fruits through to a silky finish

Red 13.5

Castello Vicchiomaggio 'San Jacopo', Chianti Classico 2023 75cl £20.30

Smooth and elegant, a lovely and savoury expression of Chianti with red cherry and strawberry fruits through to a silky finish

Red 14

Castello Vicchiomaggio, La Prima, Chianti Classico Gran Selezione 2021 75cl £49.16

Full, velvety and complex showing ripe red plum and oak cedar notes, sublimely smooth and silky, elegant and refined

Red 14

La Rioja Alta SA, 'Vina Alberdi', Rioja Reserva 2020 75cl £25.48

A fresh Reserva showing ample red fruits layered with hints of vanilla, toffee, caramel and nutmeg Supple and smooth with a long, elegant balsamic finish

White 12.5

Bideona, 'Las Parcelas' Blanco, Rioja Alavesa 2021 75cl £22.40

Intriguing aromas of stone fruit, herbal and white floral notes lead to a juicy, refreshing and delicate palate, with real poise, length and a chalky, mineral finish

Red 13.5

Chateau Senejac, Comte de Senejac, Haut-Medoc 2018 75cl £21.19

Red 11

Gran Fondo, Rosso d'Italia 2023 75cl £9.85

A light bodied and easy drinking wine full of cherry and raspberry fruit flavours

Red 13

Domaine Anne et Sebastien Bidault, Gevrey-Chambertin 2022 75cl £70.37

A well structured Gevrey-Chambertin with flavours of red cherry and plum through to a firm, vegetal finish

White 13.5

Chateau Guiraud G de Guiraud white Bordeaux 2023 75cl £21.96

This is an amazing, immediately delicious yet complex white wine It impresses straight away with distinctive aromas of ripe pineapple, passionfruit and a hint of toasted sesame In the mouth, it is full-bodied, yet with fabulous freshness and zest You still taste the passionfruit, and there's a delicious pink grapefruit character as well that comes through on the palate This should evolve nicely for a few years, although it's so delicious now, it will be hard to resist drinking immediately From First Growth Sauternes producer, Chateau Guiraud, this superb dry white is only allowed to be called 'Bordeaux Blanc', since Sauternes must be a sweet wine

White 13.5

Nivarius, 'La Nevera', Rioja Blanco 2018 75cl £33.22

Made entirely from the rare Maturana grape, this is refreshing, with lovely texture and yet spectacular tension, and notes of apple, pear and quince with a saline finish