I tried a number of ports in the run up to Christmas and this is my personal favourite. It’s sweet and rich with intense plum and damson fruit and some chocolate and raisin. Try with Stilton or just sip it on its own. £13.99 from Virgin Wines.

A lovely Alsace Pinot Gris, a bright lemon green colour with aromas of primrose, lemon, pear and peach. Will be great with seafood. Harvested by hand from vineyards on clay and limestone soil. 2017 was a difficult year for growers in Alsace but this shows what could be achieved despite that. At just £7.50 for…

I had the pleasure of visiting the winery and meeting Marco, the winemaker.  Although they make really good Ripasso, Amarone and Recioto, it was the standard Classico that stood out from other wineries in the area.  A blend of Corvina, Rondinella and Corvinone, it is a light but satisfying wine with red cherry flavours, good…

My favourite of the English sparkling wines from the recent Wine GB tasting. They have added seyval blanc to the classic varieties of chardonnay, pinot noir and meunier. I got flavours of red apple, peach and grape with a good cream soda like finish. It’s organic and vegan.

Another fine English still wine using what is becoming this country’s signature grape. Apparently this example was hand-picked, whole bunch pressed and cool fermented in stainless steel. A good alternative to sauvignon blanc it has gooseberry and passionfruit flavours and a nice long finish.

One of the best still wines I tried at the recent Wine GB tasting. Ortega was a new variety for me – this early ripening grape variety, a hybrid of Müller-Thurgau and Siegerrebe, produces stone fruit aromas with four months oak ageing creating richness and complexity. I’m not normally a fan of oak but this…

I’ve been buying this wine ever since coming across it on a trip to Porto. It’s a great value, aromatic, refreshing wine with some complexity that pairs really well with fish. The grapes are an obscure blend of Douro varieties. Available from Majestic at £7 if you buy 6 bottles.

An interesting wine tasted at the “Big G” Wines of Germany tasting which got favourable comment from other attendees too. A rich, off dry wine with aromas of petrol, roses and honey. £14.45 from Peter Osborne Fine Wines.