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 May
Manda Joyce, Wine Advisor
White Heron British Cassis – £25.00 £22.50 – Blend this Herefordshire blackcurrant liqueur with bubbly for glass of sophisticated pleasure. Or just pour over ice cream!
Terra D’Alter Alfrocheiro, Alentejo 2024 – £16.50 £14.85 – So happy to see the return of this ‘Pinot of Portugal’ to our shelves. A great value addition of our stable of light-yet-interesting reds. Chillable too.
Kyro Wood Smoke Rye Malt Whisky – £63.00 £56.70 – Adventurous and characterful whisky from Finland, a powerful hit of earthy, sweet-savoury malted rye and smoky alder wood.
John Shuckburgh, WSET Educator
Monte del Frà Soave Classico 2025 – £18.75 £16.88 – A super example of this classic Italian white from the Veneto. Charming aromas of white blossom lead to a ripe palate of orchard fruits and a long, honey and almond finish.
Château Cantemerle, Haut Médoc 2020 – £50.00 £45.00 – High class claret at a mid-range price. From the seductive blackcurrant and vanilla nose, through the complex palate of mature fruit, leather and spice, to the voluptuous finish. This wine sings!
Mark Warde-Aldam, Shop Manager
Torre Zambra Incastro Bianco, Terre Di Chieti IGT 2024– £13.50 £12.15 -Interesting blend of Trebbiano, Pecorino and Passerina producing a tongue tingling light fruity white for summer slurping
Maison Auvigue Macon Solutré-Pouilly 2022 – £22.50 £20.25 – From the south of Burgundy, making slightly fatter and rounder Chardonnay. My favorite Macon
Katy Barker Hill, Retail Marketing Manager
Mount Beautiful Estate Pinot Noir Rosé 2025 – £17.50 £15.75 – A seriously easy-drinking rosé that still feels a bit special. Light, fresh and packed with strawberry and red berry flavours. Perfect for warm evenings, picnics, or just when you want something refreshing but not boring.
Famiglia Cecchi Gli Amici Rosso di Montalcino DOC 2024 – £19.75 £17.78 – A proper Italian crowd pleaser. Expect vibrant aromas of ripe red cherry and blackberry layered with gentle spice. This wine is elegant yet generous, with freshness, supple tannins and a savoury edge making it super food friendly.
Lothian Vineyards Estate Chardonnay, Elgin 2022 – £32.75 £29.48 – Another South African Chardonnay that hits every note! Fresh citrus and stone fruit meet a gentle creamy edge, striking that sweet spot between zippy and smooth. It’s polished without being flashy.
Min Yee Tseu, Corporate and University Account Manager
Greywacke Pinot Noir, Marlborough 2023 – £39.50 £35.55 – An exceptionally drinkable Pinot Noir with the perfect balance of fruit character and savoury notes.
Paul René Cap Classique Brut 2020– £25.75 £23.18 – A bubbly treat that is friendly on both the palate and the pocket!
Oldenburg Vineyards CL White Blend, Stellenbosch 2023 – £20.50 £18.23 – A wonderful blend of Chenin Blanc (to give a zippy acidity) and Chardonnay (to give a rounded mouthfeel) – absolutely delicious!
Emma Bristow, Wine Advisor
Rathfinny Estate Rosé, Sussex 2019 – £40.00 £36.00 – A beautiful family owned wine estate in the South Downs. This sparkling Rosé has aromas raspberry and red apple and a floral touch of rose. Expect a creamy palate of strawberry, clementine and ripe cherry. A lovely depth of flavour with a spicy finish. Perfect as an aperitif and would also pair well with Asian dishes.
Duncan Laing, Wine Advisor
Odessos Urban Winery Claret, Black Sea Coast 2024 – £25.50 £22.95 – Bursting with aromas of raspberry, redcurrant with a hint of bell pepper. Great with seafood – or pizza, but DON’T FEED THE SEAGULLS!
Crama Delta Dunarii La Sapata Fetească Regală, Dobrogea 2024 – £21.25 £19.13 – Aromas of white peach, elderflower and citrus zest unfold with hints of fresh herbs and wet stone; the palate is vibrant and textured. A superb alternative to aromatic whites such as Grüner Veltliner.
Shotover Prospect – £4.00 £3.60 – Aromas of toast, mildly fruity with a touch of honey followed by dry hoppiness and hint of toffee.
Lucy Harrison, Retail Operations Manager
Cascina delle Monache Bricco della Lodra 2025 – £15.50 £13.95 -Back in stock! This Dolcetto is one of my go-to light reds which is perfect with the summer months ahead. Bright red fruits, such as raspberry, red cherry and red plums, with blueberry notes and a whisper of white pepper. Can be chilled too!
Hahndorf Hill GRU Grüner Veltliner, Adelaide Hills 2022 – £25.50 £22.95 – An Australian take on a classic Austrian grape. Citrus and stone fruit notes and a white pepper spice. An absolute banger!
Castello della Sala San Giovanni Orvieto Classico 2024 – £26.75 £24.08 – Revisted this recently, a Grechetto dominant blend from Orvieto. This is delicate and elegant, with bright citrus fruits and a lovely soft texture. Lovely with pan-fried sea bass!
Clare Lobo, Events and Tasting Manager
Mount Beautiful Estate Chardonnay 2023 – £18.50 £16.65 – Just the right balance of richness and freshness – this is everything I like in a Chardonnay and will be a staple for me over the summer months.
Domaine Laurent Boussey Les Haut Brins, Monthelie Rouge 2019 – £37.50 £33.75 – A beautifully complex red Burgundy from 2019 that is exceptional quality for this price point!
Chris Campbell, Wine Advisor
Chablis 1er Cru Vau-Ligneau, Alain Geoffroy 2023 – £30.50 £27.45 – A classic crisp clean tasting Chablis made from unoaked Chardonnay. Drink chilled either on its own in the sunshine or with fine poultry, veal escalope or cheese.
Banyuls ‘Baillaury’ 5 Year Old – £21.50 £19.35 – An unusual red fortified wine from the mediterranean south of France next to the border with Spain. Serve lightly chilled either as an aperitif or as a classic partner to chocolate desserts, blue cheeses; a southern French alternative to Ruby Port or Madeira.
Tanya Little, Shop Manager
Cherubino Uovo Chardonnay, Pemberton 2024 – £23.50 £21.15 – Rich and complex, but without being a butter-ball. Ginger spice, citrus peel and stonefruit notes make this wine a hug in a glass.
Bacco Estate Bacio del Sole Vermentino, Paarl 2025 – £19.75 £17.78 – An exciting new Italian-inspired South African Vermentino from an up-and-coming estate in Paarl. Vibrant, floral and textured, this was love at first sip!
In Situ Signature Hillside Blend, Aconcagua Valley 2022 – £15.50 £13.95 – Smooth, silky, floral, slightly spicy and dangerously drinkable. This is Friday night in a bottle!
Klara Zhao, Wine Advisor
M. Chapoutier ‘Rouge Clair’ Grenache/Syrah 2024 – £16.00 £14.40 – Now that spring is finally on its way, try this refreshing blend of Grenache and Syrah for a chillable red perfectly suited to garden dinners. Vibrant, fruity, and delicately structured—an elegant alternative to a rosé this season!
Gvantsa’s Wine Aladasturi Rosé 2020 – £25.50 £22.95 – Here’s a charming rosé for blossom season—a small batch wine made by sisters Gvantsa and Baia Abuladze, this is a bright, berry-driven celebration of local heritage using organic methods, wild ferment, and buried terracotta vessels. Its subtle notes of herb and mineral make it a perfect match for hearty salads and light fish dishes, khachapuri… or simply to be enjoyed on its own al fresco.
Rory Murray, Wine Advisor
Txomin Etxaniz Txakolí, Pays Basque 2025 – £18.75 £16.88 – A beautifully made wine from the Basque region of Spain. Clean, super refreshing and slightly petillant. Almost like biting into a granny smith! This is a wine that really impressed me, and it might just be the perfect choice for a really sunny day.