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 July
Ted Sandbach, Owner & Chairman
Lumière de la Garrigue Picpoul de Pinet 2024 – £12.75 £11.48 – I’ve been in the South of France this week, and the trip has been fuelled by Picpoul! Dry, refreshing and really rather moreish.
Morgon, Hospices de Beaujeu, Beaujolais 2023 – £17.50 £15.75 – Leave behind any outdated notions you might have that Beaujolais is all bubblegum flavours. This Morgon could give many Burgundies a run for their money!
Le Ligerien ‘Le Vieux Breton Clos Noiré’, Chinon 2016 – £19.50 £17.55 – The Loire has to be my top region for wines at the moment. This Chinon is a wonderful summer option – light, delicate and very versatile.
Neil Gladding, Sales Director
Circumstance Sauvignon Blanc, Waterkloof 2023 –£15.50 £13.95 – Fantastic South African white. You could be in Sancerre!
Henri Fabre Dédicace Bandol Rosé, Côtes de Provence 2023 – £22.50 £20.25- Posh rosé to impress your friends!
Canvasback Red Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon, Washington State 2019 – £45.50 £40.95- A great option for Bordeaux lovers looking to explore the wider world of wine.
John Shuckburgh, WSET Educator
Peri Peri Ninì Grillo, Terre Siciliane 2024 – £13.75 £12.38 – Seems this Sicilian producer can do no wrong! Refreshing and deeply flavoured, this Grillo shows off the characteristics of this variety – green apple, melon and peach flavours, with herbaceous and nutty aromas. A wine with real personality!
Château Carbonneau Pur Jus, Sainte Foy 2022 – £16.25 £14.63 – Fruity red Bordeaux! Yes – forget dusty, oak and leather flavours – this modern style red has gorgeous plummy Merlot fruit and a touch of Malbec adds red fruits and structure. Try it – you’ll be amazed!
Cazcabel Blanco Tequila– £33.00 £29.70 – A hot spell of weather always turns my mind to a Margarita. Try this Tequila Blanco with Triple Sec and lime juice blended with ice. Perfect garden dinking!
Aljoscha Wright, Buyer
Idi di Marzo Oro Del Mare Pecorino, Terre d’Abruzzo 2024 – £12.75 £11.48 – Aromatic, dry and easy going. The perfect tipple for a garden party.
Cherubino Pedestal Cabernet Sauvignon, Margaret River 2022 – £17.50 £15.75 – Continuing my Cabernet loving journey. This belter from WA is a must try.
Château Bellini Rosé Coteaux Varois en Provence 2024 – £19.75 £17.78 – This brand new rosé to our range from a up and coming estate. Fleshy stone fruits, rose petal and dry.
Manda Joyce, Wine Advisor
Hundred Hills Hillside No.3, Oxfordshire 2019 – £44.75 £40.28 – I took this crystalline gem to a friend’s birthday picnic recently, a sparkling Oxfordshire wine in the sparkling Oxfordshire countryside.
Neil Ellis Short Left Cinsault 2021 – £15.00 £13.50 – I’m always on the lookout for lighter-bodied red crowd pleasers that aren’t boring. Here the expected ripe fruit and soft tannins are popped into another dimension by cranberry crunch and a little earthiness.
Katy Barker, Retail Marketing Manager
Hundred Hills Brut Rosé Dreaming Spires, Oxfordshire 2019 – £37.75 £33.98- This is now one of my favourite sparkling rosés on the shelf! Made just down the road, Hundred Hills have captured the perfect balance of poised elegance and concentrated English summer berries.
Ariousios Assyrtiko Orange, Chios 2022 – £24.25 £21.83 –From an ancient wine-growing island in North Greece, this wine is for the curious. With all the salty, citrusy characteristics you would expect from an Assyrtiko paired with dried apricots, quince and blossom from the skin-contact.
Château De Villeneuve Saumur Champigny Vieilles Vignes 2021 – £26.50 £23.85 – Delicious example of a Loire Cabernet Franc. Made from old vines, this wine has intense cranberry, raspberry and blackcurrant and is perfect to enjoy chilled with summer charcuterie.
Mark Warde-Aldam, Shop Manager
Torre Zambra Incastro Bianco, Terre di Chieti IGT 2024 £13.50 £12.15 – A blend of Trebbiano, Pecorino and Passerina combine to make a delightfully aromatic and fresh summer white at a very affordable price!
Viña Ardanza Reserva, La Rioja Alta 2017– £34.50 £31.05 – Consistantly good, Vina Ardanza is the perfect balance of fruit and oak. Like drinking liquid velvet!
Min Yee Tseu, Corporate and University Account Manager
Esk Valley Pinot Noir, Marlborough 2021 – £19.50 £17.55 –A value-for-money Pinot Noir that has juicy red fruit notes that are complemented by hints of smoke and spice – delicious!
Krug Grande Cuvée Edition 171, Champagne NV– £240.00 £216.00 – Honestly the highlight visit and tasting of my week at The Champagne Academy!
Emily Silva, Head of Retail and Marketing
Ciabot Berton Barolo Rocchettevino DOCG 2019 – £53.50 £48.15 –A wine that encompasses the elegance, perfume and power you expect from a good Nebbiolo. This Barolo is tasting gorgeous now, but if you have the patience to forget about a bottle for a while I think you’ll be rewarded!
Thomas Stopfer, Zweigelt Classic, Wagram 2023 – £14.75 £13.28 – This chillable red is light, juicy and just a little spicy. Perfect for lazy, hazy summer evenings.
Olifantsberg Grenache Blanc, Breedekloof 2021 – £23.50 £21.15 – Textural, concentrated and really lovely Grenache Blanc that shows this underappreciated grape variety at its best. A delicious wine made by one of South Africa’s top female winemakers.
Nick Gorton, Retail Operations Manager
Buil & Giné, Joan Giné Blanc, Priorat 2020– £24.75 £22.28 – A rich, textured white from Priorat (normally famed for its reds). Lovely ripe orchard and stone fruit, plus creamy, toasty oak make this a fine pairing for roast pork.
Torre Zambra Passo Sacro Cerasuolo D’Abruzzo DOC 2024 – £16.50 £14.85 – It’s pink, it’s fruity, it’s juicy, it’s even got a tiny bit of fizz to it. This 100% Montepulciano rosé is perfect for a warm afternoon in the sun, especially if you have a picnic with it!
Guasti Barbera d’Asti Superiore Boschetto Vecchio Cru 2024 – £24.00 £21.60 –A seriously good wine for a not very serious price. A barrel and bottle aged Barbera. Lovely structure and some delicious fruit development. Great for with roasted meats or grilled vegetables.
Thom Allinson, Buying & Logistics
Luberon Rosé ‘Sans Pretention’, AOP Luberon 2024 – £12.75 £11.58 – Delicate and fruity rosé that really delivers at the price
La Despensa Piscina Cinsault Blend, Colchagua Valley 2021 – £20.75 £18.68 – This Cinsault led blend provides fresh, juicy notes of raspberry, strawberry, and peach. Ideal slightly chilled sat by the Pool (if you are lucky enough to have one!)
Ramsbury Gin– £36.50 £32.85 – Classic and clean London Dry Gin perfect for G&Ts in the garden in the sun
Emma Bristow, Wine Advisor
Dominio de Tares El Paisano de Tares 2023 – £14.50 £13.05 – Hand harvested, organically grown grapes from Northwestern Spain. This is a blend of red and white grapes giving a bright ruby colour and delicious notes of violet, rhubarb and berries with a touch of fennel. Smooth, refreshing and very easy drinking! Great light red wine to chill for the warmer evenings.
Domaine Hatzimichalis, Alfega Lefkos Malagousia/Robola/Sauvignon 2023 – £16.50 £14.85 –A blend of 2 native Greek grapes plus Sauvignon Blanc. Aromas of green apple, pear and some tropical fruits. A creamy texture and a lemony fresh acidity on the palate with a mineral saline finish. Would pair well with grilled fish/chicken and light pasta dish. A delicious wine for the holiday mood!
Romain Alaphilippe, Shop Manager
Alhambra Reserva Lager – £2.75 £2.48 –A premium Spanish lager from Granada, Alhambra Reserva is known for its rich golden color, full-bodied flavor, and subtle bitterness. Brewed slowly with high-quality ingredients!
Aglianico DOP Sannio Janare Selezione, La Guardiense 2022 – £13.50 £12.15 – Robust red wine from Campania showcasing deep ruby color, intense notes of black cherry, plum, spice and earthy undertones balanced by firm tannins and fresh acidity.
Chateau Cos d’Estournel ‘Les Pagodes de Cos’ Saint-Estèphe 2020 – £65.00 £58.50 – One of my favourite since our Cos D’Estournel Masterclass! Approachable young but capable of aging, it reflects the finesse of its Grand Vin heritage.
Lucy Harrison, Shop Manager
Miopasso Fiano, Sicily 2023 – £11.50 £10.35 – Transport yourself to Sicily this summer with this delicious Fiano. Sicilian lemon, peach, touches of honey and a slight nuttiness. Perfect with salads, fish, poultry or for just sitting in the garden!
Domaine Evremond Classic Cuvée NV – £55.00 £49.50 – The first edition of Champagne Taittinger’s English sparkling based in Chilham, Kent. Delicate citrus, green apple, and white peach flavours with hints of toasted brioche and blanched almonds.
Oxford Dry Gin – £39.75 £35.78 –Our newest gin on the shelf- a delightfully floral gin from Oxford distilled with locally grown lavender. Top with your favourite tonic and a twist of lemon for a refreshing G&T.
Duncan Laing, Wine Advisor
Keigetsu Yuzu Sake 30cl – £13.50 £12.15 – A delicious summer aperitif which also pairs perfectly with citrusy desserts with its refreshingly tangy sweetness.
Sierra Oriental Naranja, Maldonado, Uruguay 2o22 – £15.50 £13.95 – If you’ve never tried orange wine before, try this one! It’s a great introduction to the style with its intense citrus nose and well-structured, mouth-filling tannins, which pairs well with food.
Crémant de Bordeaux Precious Day NV – £14.25 £12.83 – This crémant won’t fail to bring a smile to your face! Fruity and fresh with mouth-watering citrus and berry fruit flavours. A Bordeaux bargain at the price!