Date Night Must-Haves

Floral & Fruity

Pearce Predhomme is a collaboration between Nicholas Pearce and Will Predhomme focusing on terroir driven wines from old vine vineyards in Stellenbosch, SA & Willamette Valley, US. This Cinsault/Syrah is made from bush vines planted in Koffieklip soils in the Southwestern of Stellenbosch, South Africa. 

It has a brilliant medium purple colour in the glass. On the nose, it's all about fresh ripe red & black fruit: cherry, strawberry, wild raspberry; with hints of intense spice, it also has a granite minerality. On the palate it is light-bodied, with a vibrant acid and grippy though delicate tannins. It intermingles with surprisingly powerful fruit & spice; punching above its weight in flavour. It is very balanced with low alcohol.

This light red pairs with all manner of dishes: from barbecue meats to grilled salmon and veggies, to spicy dishes.

Intense & Rich

Established in 2001 by Julien Montagné and his family. Clos del Rey is located in the heart of the Maury appellation in the Roussillon. Although Maury is best known for its sweet, port-like wines, Clos del Rey only produces dry red wines now produced as AOC Maury Sec.

Le Sabina is an old bush vine cuvée of grenache, carignan and syrah grown on very stony, black schist soils. This engaging red is a concentrated, aromatic, flavourful wine, with a pure essence of blackberry and blueberry fruit, sweet and resinous wild herbs, scorched earth and liquorice. A highly satisfying and bold ensemble. Tannins are abundant but coated and softened by highly intense fruit extract. Great length as noted by Master Sommelier John Szabo.

This wine is great with BBQ meats, lamb, beef, you name it.

Light & Earthy

The vineyards of Fattoria di Sammontana are located along the hills that border the Arno River, 20km to the south west of Florence. Today, the family - now in its fourth generation - runs the farm according to organic and biodynamic practices, with the intent to fully preserve and sustain the traditions and winemaking history of the land.

This wine is a nod to the old tradition that made Trebbiano a compulsory component of any Chianti blend. Almost entirely Sangiovese with just a touch of Trebbiano, Alberese is such a delicious, simple and easy drinking wine that it could go with just about anything. 

We particularly love opening a bottle of Alberese when cooking pizza or when having an aperitivo before dinner: a beautiful choice with cured meats, cheeses and olives. Any rich pasta dish made with bacon and tons of pecorino would also be a delicious option!

Juicy & Salty

Cantine Barbera is located in Menfi, on the west coast of Sicily. The vineyards, that are farmed following organic and biodynamic practices, are about one mile from the Mediterranean Sea: an uncontaminated deep blue sea. The low cliffs and sandy dunes create a beautiful environment for the grapes to thrive, and are also protected by the Belice River Natural Reservation Fund.

A fascinating Nero d’Avola with a spicy and lively saline character, this wine truly represents the intriguing Sicilian terroir where it is produced. The wine has a bright ruby red color with intense shades of violet; its bouquet shows scents of mulberries and raspberries with a touch of light spices. On the palate it is fragrant and full, with soft velvety tannins that shape a vibrant, Mediterranean personality.

Match this fresh red with rich meats, any kind of pasta with tomato based-sauces and pizzas!

Elegant & Powerful

Réva manages vineyards in some of the most important Langhe crus: Ravera in Novello, Lazzarito in Serralunga and Cannubi in Barolo. Réva winery focuses on producing wines of excellence with extreme attention to the particular characteristics of each grape variety and the utmost respect for diversity. All the vineyards are cultivated organically and the estate is run by a group of young professionals who value both tradition and innovation.

The grapes for this Barolo come from carefully selected vineyards in Monforte d'Alba, Novello, Serralunga d'Alba and Grinzane Cavour. Fermented spontaneously on the skins for 35 days, it has been aged in oak barrels for 24 months.

A limited series of only 4,500 bottles, this Barolo delivers aromas of sage, rose petals, red-skinned berry and a delicate hint of tobacco. The palate is full, deep and juicy, with peppery notes of Morello cherry and clove, and delicate tannins.

Enjoy this Barolo with beef, game and stews. Classic pairing with truffles! The ageing potential is 20 years.

Mature & Rich

Ca del Monte is situated on the hillsides overlooking the village of Negrar, in the heart of Valpolicella. Ca’ Del Monte’s Amarone Della Valpolicella Classico’s is a dark angel of sorts.

Expect stewed fruit, over-ripened plums, clove and baking spice, there is also pronounced vanilla and toasted notes. The palate is concentrated, with notes of prune, raisin, chocolate, rich fruit and warm spices. To sum up, full bodied, lifting acidity, smooth tannins and a rich finish.

Like the wine, big and strong foods pair best. Try it with stufato (meat and vegetable stew) or a beef tenderloin with a truffle butter sauce. Or keep it simple with seasoned cheeses.

Domaine de la Garenne's Sancerre Rouge, made from 100% Pinot Noir, is sourced from two hectares of vineyards in the commune of Verdigny, where the soil is primarily clay-limestone marl. The vines, averaging 30 years in age, are cultivated using organic methods, with careful attention to tillage, yield control, and manual leaf thinning—without the use of herbicides or insecticides. 

Part of the production is aged in 500-litre oak barrels which allows the Domaine to obtain a balanced wine, with small red fruits (cherry, sour cherry) aromatics and subtle oaked notes. The colour is garnet with purple undertones, and the palate is delicious. 

Suggested pairings include red mullet or monkfish; the Sancerre Rouge would also work with a well-ripened Brie or Camembert. 

Earthy & Silky

The Baud estate dates back to 1742, today the 9th generation manages the winery. Siblings Clementine and Bastien, both under 30, are making some of the best value wines in the area. Jura is that narrow valley in the remote hills between Burgundy and Switzerland, which millions of years ago was covered by an Ocean and today still bares many of the fossils from that time. If you kick a stone in a Jura vineyard, it will probably be a fossil.

Trousseau is by far the rarest grape variety in the Jura, planted in less than 8% of the total Jura vineyard, it has a biological relationship with the white grape Savagnin, being originally from this magical region. The vineyards are planted on rich red marl and gravel soils, along the Cotes du Jura appellation. On the nose, it has aromas of red fruits and leather, with a hint of sub-bois. Tannins are soft and silky, and the palate is very well-balanced.

Enjoy it on its own, or pair it with red meats such as game and venison.

Cordero San Giorgio is a new beginning in Oltrépo-Pavese for three siblings who grew up surrounded by their family’s vines at the legendary Vietti Estate in Castiglione Falletto in Barolo. The siblings Francesco, Lorenzo, and Caterina Cordero, are grandchildren of Luciana Vietti & Alfredo Currado, one of the pioneers of the first Barolo crus and considered the “father of Arneis.” Their father is Mario Cordero, Alfredo and Luciana’s son-in-law, who was the company’s co-owner from the beginning of the ‘80s until 2016 when it was sold.

The Oltrepò Pavese is a hilly triangle of land in Lombardy, embraced by Piedmont, Liguria, and Emilia-Romagna. A territory dedicated to the cultivation of vines and the culture of wine for centuries: a land of both cultural and gastronomic encounter and exchange. Cordero San Giorgio is in the town of Santa Giuletta, and focuses on working with Pinot Nero, Pinot Grigio and Chardonnay.

Tiamat is a Pinot Nero that is an expression of finesse. Elegant aromas and delicate on the palate. 

Rich & Fruity

Cantine Paradiso is located is the South of Italy, in the region of Puglia. Angelo Paradiso, the third generation of winemakers in the family, manages the vineyards and the winery.

This wine is a blend of Nero di Troia and Primitivo, two native grapes to Puglia. It has an intense purple colour in the glass. On the nose, it delivers pronounced notes of ripe dark fruit, hints of spices and some floral notes. The palate is juicy with soft tannins and a really nice acidity. It is a very easy-drinking and enjoyable wine.

This wine pairs perfectly with tomato-based dishes: pasta bolognese, veal parmigiana, pizza... But would also be a great pairing with curries and spicy barbecue dishes too!