At The Oxford Wine Company we spend our days surrounded by thousands of delicious wines, spirits and beers. But which of them do we decide to drink at home? Take a look below for our team’s top picks for this month.
What We’re Drinking in February
Ted Sandbach, Owner & Chairman
S A Prum Essence Riesling Feinherb 2024 – £13.75 £12.38 – Light, clean and fresh with lovely apple and peach overtones.
John Shuckburgh, WSET Educator
Pascal Clément, Savigny-lès-Beaune Les Guettottes Blanc 2021 – £37.50 £33.75 – Celebrate the end of Dry January with this top drawer yet affordable White Burgundy! Classy, baked apple, peach, pineapple and citrus flavours, with a dash of vanilla and a dreamy, creamy texture. Yum!
Viña Real Gran Reserva, Rioja 2017 – £35.00 £31.50 – A most excellent Gran Reserva Rioja with a perfect balance of cherry fruit, spicy oak and a long tantalising finish of tobacco and leather. Put your feet up and light a cigar!
Château Pas du Cerf Cuvée Rosé, Côtes de Provence 2024 – £21.50 £19.35 – New Year resolution? – Drink more Rosé! Anytime. Dry, elegant, full of Provencal sunshine – and organic to boot!
Emily Silva, Head of Retail and Marketing
Tiefenbrunner Merus Pinot Grigio 2023 – £19.00 £17.10 – If you think Pinot Grigio is boring, I’d urge you to give this one a try. From Alpine wine maestros Tiefenbrunner, this wine combines succulent stone fruit, delicate floral notes and a long almond-skin finish. It’s a versatile partner for fish, seafood or green vegetable dishes – or simply as a classy aperitivo.
Vouvray ‘Pétillant’ Brut, Domaine Huet 2019 – £29.75 £26.78 – Domaine Huet are world leaders in quality Chenin Blanc, and this sparkling expression is an absolute treat. A thrilling tension from the grape’s natural acidity is complemented by fantastic depth of orchard fruit, a whisper of honey and just a touch of savoury hay character. If you’re looking for a bottle of fizz with a difference, this should be on your radar.
Domaine du Granit Beaujolais Villages Blanc 2023 – £24.50 £22.05 – Valentine’s Day chez Silva is often celebrated a few days late, as on the 14th February my husband will be hard at work cooking romantic meals for other happy couples. When we finally get round to doing something for ourselves, we want something cosy and homely. A roast chicken with a good salad, some homemade aioli and some simple roast potatoes is this year’s choice, and for that we need Chardonnay. I’m looking at this gorgeous new Beaujolais Blanc – it’s gently creamy with a fresh citrus and nectarine fruit profile. Just the thing for dîner à deux.
Katy Barker, Retail Marketing Manager
Villa Wolf Wachenheimer Riesling, Pfalz 2021 – £18.50 £16.65 – This single vineyard Riesling is delightfully pure with intense lime zest, stony minerality and white blossom. Its incredibly elegant body makes it a lovely stand-alone glass of wine or perfect to accompany any seafood.
Exton Park RB45 Blanc de Blancs, Hampshire NV – £52.50 £47.25 – This special bottle will be cracked open on our first Valentine’s as a married couple! This English sparkling radiates elegance & quality, being perfectly balanced with an incredibly mousse, it is an absolute treat.
Mark Warde-Aldam, Shop Manager
Biscardo Neropasso Rosso, Veneto 2022– £14.75 £13.28 – I recently revisited this old favourite. Made in a similar way to Amarone, but a third of the price. Concentrated dark orchard fruits and figs!
Cave de Prissé Mâcon Prissé Les Clochettes 2022 – £21.50 £19.35 – White Burgundy prices continue to rise. This Mâcon is tasting great at an affordable price. Fresh chardonnay with a dollop of creaminess.
Henriques & Henriques 3 Year Old Special Dry Madeira NV– £18.00 £16.20 – I always try to have a bottle of this in the kitchen. Drink while cooking. Put in the cooking. Give to friends. A versatile friend!
Min Yee Tseu, Corporate and University Account Manager
Boschendal Brut Rosé Méthode Cap Classique NV – £16.00 £14.40 – Bright, pink and bubbly – absolutely perfect for your Valentine!
Oliver Zeter Sweetheart Sauvignon Blanc 2023 – £16.50 £14.85 – A delightfully sweet treat for your sweetheart!
Vignobles Moreau La Clef de Voute Saint-Émilion 2019 – £33.00 £29.70 – Unlock the ‘key’ to your partner’s heart with this wonderful and warming Bordeaux
Thom Allinson, Buying & Logistics
Marques de Borba Colheita Tinto, João Portugal Ramos, Alentejo 2023 – £12.75 £11.48 – One of the best value wines in our whole portfolio. A true midweek treat
Mirmanda Rouge, Côtes du Roussillon AOP 2022 – £45.00 £40.50 – Rich and spicy red that really showcases the sort of wines they are now making in the Roussillon
Journeys End V2 Merlot 2018 – £19.50 £17.55 – A recent discovery of mine. Proper merlot that shows how wrong Sideways was!
Emma Bristow, Wine Advisor
Domaine Gayda La Minuette, Pays d’Oc 2024 – £12.50 £11.25 – A delicate and pale Provence style rosé. Organically grown grapes on a limestone terroir nestled in the foothills of the Pyrenees. This blend of Mourvèdre, Syrah, Grenache and Cinsault produces an elegant wine with aromas of cherry blossom, grapefruit and raspberry. Following on with flavours of wild strawberry , clementine and a subtle hint of minerality and spice. A refreshing and exquisitely balanced wine making it a wonderful aperitif or match for seafood.
Duncan Laing, Wine Advisor
Donjon de Lamarque, Haut-Médoc 2022 – £19.75 £17.98 – A delicious blend of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Mulberry, blackberry, cherry and blackcurrant notes complement earthy and leathery undertones. Perfect with shepherd’s pie!
Les Vignerons Grenache Pinot Noir, Languedoc 2024 – £9.75 £8.78 – A charming, easy-drinking red that captures the essence of the sunny Languedoc region. Juicy flavours of red berry fruits with a delicate touch of spice and a light, refreshing finish.
Dr. Loosen Urziger Wurzgarten Riesling Kabinett, Mosel 2023 – £20.50 £18.45 – Off-dry Kabinett with ripe peach, melon, and passion fruit. The wine showcases the fruit of the “spice garden,” with a rich mouth feel, zippy acidity and delicately spicy finish.
Lucy Harrison, Shop Manager
M. Chapoutier Hermitage Monier de la Sizeranne 2020 – £75.50 £67.95 – Not that I ever need an excuse to drink a wine from the Northern Rhone, but apparently February 16th is International Syrah Day so it’s a good enough reason to crack open this Hermitage as an indulgent treat. Rich and full-bodied, with blackberries, blackcurrant and raspberries intertwined with the typical black pepper, olive and meaty Syrah character.
Furleigh Estate Classic Cuvée, Dorset 2019 – £34.50 £31.05 – A rich, biscuity fizz from Dorset that is packed with citrus and orchard fruits, all balanced by refreshing acidity.
Cannonau di Sardegna DOC Maimone, Cantina Della Vernaccia 2022 – £19.75 £17.78 – Sardinia’s signature red grape is Cannonau, aka Grenache. Bright red fruits, with a hint of herbs and spice as well as soft vanilla notes from gentle oak ageing. Wonderful with lamb dishes!
Rory Murray, Wine Advisor
Château Carbonneau Nouveau Souffle Clairet, Sainte Foy 2025 – £15.75 £14.18 – The perfect pick for Valentine’s Day! Super light and fresh, packed full of strawberries with a shortbread-like finish.
Torre Zambra Valle Maris Montepulciano d’Abruzzo 2022 – £15.50 £13.95 – An irresistibly charming Montepulciano d’Abruzzo. Red berries with a hint of herb. A great pairing for some classic Italian cuisine.
Chris Campbell, Wine Advisor
Vilarnau Gaudi Sleeve Rosé Cava 2021 – £14.00 £12.60 – Romance is in the air. You’ve got to have pink bubbles for Valentines Day and why not the rest of the month as well? Ripe strawberries and raspberries on the palate. Fresh and elegant. To top it all a lovely bottle design inspired by Gaudi. Pink perfection.
Au Bon Climat Pinot Gris Pinot Blanc, Santa Barbara County 2023 – £30.50 £27.45 – Looking for an alternative to Chardonnay? Look no further. This lovely Californian White takes the fruitiness from Pinot Gris and minerality of Pinot Blanc and blends them to produce a full bodied wine. Aged on the lees adding complexity and interest. Versatile for food pairing with meats, charcuterie and strongly flavoured fish.