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 April
Ted Sandbach, Owner & Chairman
Library Edition No.1 – Touraine Chenonceaux 2022 – £18.75 £16.88 – With most Sancerre now becoming inconsistent and expensive, now is the time to turn to the Touraine where we have chosen a really fine example from the region of Chenonceaux. This is under our “Library Edition” label and has freshness, joined with some body and complexity.
Domaine d’Ardhuy Bourgogne Chardonnay 2020 – £27.50 £24.75 – This is a good value for money white Burgundy (yes you heard me right!) From a family-run winery, this Chardonnay shows delicate yet concentrated fruit, with a subtle touch of oak giving a soft, rounded finish.
Miopasso Fiano, Sicily 2023 – £11.50 £10.35 – Sunnier afternoons are coming, and if you are regularly host to thirsty guests you need something inexpensive but reliably good on hand. Might I suggest this excellent Sicilian Fiano – dry, refreshing and with plenty of flavour.
John Shuckburgh, WSET Educator
Anthill Farms Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast 2020 – £45.00 £40.50 – An elegant and understated Californian Pinot Noir with Burgundian character and complexity. Delicate red fruits mingle with savoury, gamey notes in a palate to savour in a long finish. Top class – and a real bargain!
Gaia Notios White, Peloponnese 2023 – £16.75 £15.08 – Exotic, perfumed fruit aromas leap from the glass of this enticing blend of native Greek varietals. And it’s about as far away from Retsina as you could get!
Billecart Salmon Le Rosé, Champagne NV – £82.50 £74.25 – My desert island luxury. This is the best Rosé champagne there is. Need I say more?
Manda Joyce, Wine Advisor
Sky Wave Raspberry & Rhubarb Gin – £45.00 £40.50 – It’s rhubarb season, so raise a glass of this Oxfordshire gin, distilled with raspberries and rhubarb. The result is dry, fresh and delightfully aromatic.
Kyro Wood Smoke Whisky – £63.00 £56.70 – Whisky from Finland? Yes! My standout from our recent whisky show, rich rye wreathed in sweet smoke. Enough said.
Dominio de Tares Dostares ‘Estay’ Vino de la Tierra de Castilla y Leon 2020 – £16.75 £15.08 – A rare grape variety from a tiny producer in North West Spain. If you’re into Pinot Noir, this is one to try, trust me.
Aljoscha Wright, Buyer
Akashi -Tai Junmai Ginjo Sparkling Sake – £18.50 £16.65 – If you’re looking to get into Sake, this is a great place to start. It’s fun to drink, with or without food.
Maison Sichel 1883, AOC Bordeaux 2023 – £13.25 £11.93 – A fruit-forward, modern Bordeaux for when you just want a gratifying glass of wine.
Tim Bradley, Trade Sales & WSET Educator
Guasti Barbera d’Asti Desideria 2023 – £14.75 £13.28 – Rich, ripe strawberry and cherry flavours with aromas of perfumed violets, and a slight earthiness. Delicious with slow cooked beef or chocolate desserts.
Château Pas du Cerf Cuvée Rosé, Côtes de Provence 2023 – £21.50 £19.35 – Elegant and deliciously bone dry rosé with blossom aromas, citrus, red berries and spice. Perfect treat for the warmer days ahead!
Miopasso Fiano, Sicily 2023 – £11.50 £10.35 – Vibrant, smooth peach and apricot fruits with a refreshing lemony lift and a hint of nuttiness. Perfect with spring and summer salads!
Katy Barker, Retail Marketing Manager
Le Rocher Des Violettes Touche Mitaine, Montlouis sur Loire Blanc 2022 – £24.75 £22.28- Made from one of my favourite varieties, Chenin Blanc, this example from the Loire Valley is pure elegance. Bright citrus with delicate notes of pear and peach, finished with a crisp mineral edge.
Luis Pato Vinhas Velhas Branco 2023 – £20.25 £18.23 – Portuguese whites are where it’s at this Spring! Super fresh, vibrant, and lively, with juicy grapefruit and lime zest.
Campo Reale Valpolicella Classico Superiore 2022 – £18.50 £16.65 – Recently savoured this with a few friends over charcuterie, cheese and chat. Incredibly enjoyable and easy drinking due to its juicy, soft red cherries and plum.
Mark Warde-Aldam, Shop Manager
Domaine des Berris St-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil 2023 – £15.50 £13.95 – From the home of pure Cabernet Franc, this single variety Loire red is drinking beautifully now. Packed with lots of blackberries and damsons.
Tiefenbrunner Turmhof Lagrein 2022 – £25.00 £22.50 – I recently discovered the Lagrein grape on a Skiing trip to the Dolomites. It’s super soft, but full bodied, with dark, dense berries. We in fact visited the Tiefenbrunner winery and had amazing hospitality from a very generous family!
Corryton Burge Riesling, Eden Valley 2023 – £18.50 £16.65 – This is new world Riesling at its best. Ever thought what to have with a light curry or spicy South East Asian food? This is a perfect match!
Min Yee Tseu, Corporate and University Account Manager
Gosset Grande Réserve, Champagne NV – £62.50 £56.25 – I recently had this at a ‘Traditional Method Around the World’ tasting and it won by a mile – absolutely delicious!
Villa Wolf Rosé, Pfalz 2023 – £13.50 £12.15 – Fruity, light and easy-drinking with a hint of sweetness, this is perfect grab-and-go for rosé season!
Domaine Chignard Les Moriers Fleurie 2022 – £25.75 £23.18 – This is a spectacular Beaujolais with the perfect combination of fruit and savoury notes; I’d recommend chilling it down and enjoying as the days get warmer!
Emily Silva, Head of Retail and Marketing
Oliver Zeter Grauburgunder, Pfalz 2023 – £16.75 £15.08 – If you’re looking for a Pinot Gris with a little more body than is classically found in Italy, but don’t quite want the richness of the Alsatian styles, why not look at Pfalz? This is a gorgeous dry white wine with delicate orchard fruit and floral notes – just right for Spring.
Ten Minutes by Tractor 10X Pinot Noir, Mornington Peninsula 2023 – £37.50 £33.75 – This wine is a bit of a cult classic and a long-time favourite of mine. With joyously juicy red cherry and strawberry fruit, complex forest floor notes and a fabulously silky texture – this is all I want from an Australian Pinot.
Le Ligerien ‘Le Vieux Breton Clos Noiré’, Chinon 2016 – £19.50 £17.55 – Chinon is one of my all-time favourite wine regions, and this, with a touch of bottle age, is a great example. Pure red berry fruit, graphite minerality and a lovely leafiness – just gorgeous.
Nick Gorton, Shop Manager
Angus Paul ‘Barbary Fictions’ Chenin Blanc, Stellenbosch 2022 – £24.50 £22.05 – A fantastic example of just how good South African Chenin Blanc can be. Lots of skilful winemaking techniques have been used to add extra layers to the concentrated, focused fruit character.
Bodegas Lustau Manzanilla Papirusa Solera Familia 37.5cl NV – £13.50 £12.15 – As days lengthen and get warmer, I once again turn back to lighter styles of sherry. This Manzanilla spends longer ageing in solera than most others, and benefits from the extra complexity afforded to it due to this.
Massaya Rosé, Bekaa Valley 2022 – £20.50 £18.45 – It’s rosé season again! And this time, why not try one with some serious character? This Lebanese delight has all the juicy red fruits you’d expect, plus some extra spice and complexity that makes it fantastic for pairing with food, especially Middle Eastern cuisine.
Thom Allinson, Buying & Logistics
Marques de Borba Colheita Branco, João Portugal Ramos, Alentejo 2024 – £14.00 £12.60 – A fresh and crisp Portuguese white that punches well above its weight!
Guasti Grignolino d’Asti 2023 – £15.00 £13.50 – This curious red from Piedmont in northern Italy is light and fresh, packed with crunchy, sour red cherries and liquorice. Perfect for the upcoming weather!
Buil & Giné, Joan Giné, Priorat 2018 – £29.75 £26.78 – Bold and brooding, this red will get you in the mood for BBQ season.
Emma Bristow, Wine Advisor
Domaine Gayda La Minuette, Pays d’Oc 2024 – £12.50 £11.25 – A wonderful southern French rosé, from a fantastic sustainable winery. With floral aromas of cherry blossom and zingy grapefruit, followed by delicious flavours of raspberry and wild strawberries with an underlying thread of orange citrus on the palate.
Domaine Hatzimichalis, Alfega Erythros Cabernet Sauvignon/Cabernet Franc/Merlot 2020 – £18.50 £16.65 – A delicious Bordeaux blend from Greece. Aromas of black fruits, blueberries and hints of cedar, gives way to plum, blackcurrant and vanilla and sweet spice in the mouth. Would pair well with grilled meats & burgers, or charcuterie and red pasta sauces.
Cotswolds Cream Liqueur – £28.00 £25.20 – Deliciously rich and silky cream liqueur with vanilla and butterscotch notes. Best served chilled but you could also add to an iced coffee!!
Romain Alaphilippe, Shop Manager
Pietradolce ‘Rampante’ Etna Rosso 2020 – £50.00 £45.00 – A fantastic wine made of Nerello Mascalese! This wine reflects its volcanic terroir, providing a distinctive and elegant experience.
Bodegas Arrocal Selección Especial, Ribera Del Duero 2022 – £25.00 £22.50 – Crafted from carefully selected Tempranillo grapes, it typically exhibits rich flavours of dark berries, plum, and subtle oak nuances, resulting from aging in French oak barrels. Muy rico!
Monteguelfo Chianti DOCG 2022 – £11.75 £10.58 – Showcasing vibrant notes of red cherries, violets, and a hint of earthiness. The palate is fresh with lively acidity and mild tannins, no oak, but really delicious!
Lucy Harrison, Shop Manager
Marchesi di Grésy Monferrato Rosso 2018 – £22.50 £20.25 – My family and I always enjoy a slow-roast shoulder of lamb for Easter Sunday, and we will be drinking this Merlot from Northern Italy, which has plenty of weight and dark fruits to match up to it.
Doorly’s XO Rum, Barbados – £47.75 £42.98 – From the Foursquare Distillery in Barbados – this rum has a rich, fruity character and transports me straight to the sunny Caribbean!
Cherubino Pedestal Chardonnay, Margaret River 2023 – £17.50 £15.75 – An extremely good value oaked Chardonnay bursting with citrus, peach and nuts.