Wine List

Our Sparkling Wines

Joy and celebration, elegance and charm – sparkling wines are quintessentially party drinks.

Traditionally the wine of celebration the world over, sparkling wine is an instant mood-lifter, and, whatever the quality, the first glass always tastes great. These wines are a feast for the eyes, too, the streams of bubbles rising through crystal-clear colours, from pale straw to golden yellow, or the most delicate of pinks to ruby reds, all crowned with a sliver rim. You will know a really good sparkling wine by the way its tiny, refreshing bubbles caress your palate, tantalisingly inviting you to take another sip. Light and dry, sparkling wines should leave your mouth feeling refreshed, and have discreet but fresh aromas of pear, apple, citrus, and floral tones. I defy anyone to drink a glass of sparkling wine without smiling – it really does induce a sense of “joie de vivre”!

Our Light Refreshing Whites

These light easy-drinking dry white wines are some of the most-sold wines in the world (even if red wines get more attention). Light whites are like the “beer of wine” and, for this reason, they are perfect to drink with most foods. Some of these wines are perfect for savoury lovers (like Sauv. Blanc and Grüner) with green herbal flavours of gooseberry and bell pepper.

What to try? Wines that fit into this category include Pinot Gris (aka Pinot Grigio), Chenin Blanc and Sauvignon Blanc but they also include many lesser known wines like Grüner Veltliner. I would highly recommend looking for a wine from a cool climate region as they produce some of the best examples of this light, zesty style.

Our Juicy, Aromatic Whites

Aromatic grapes are some of the oldest wine varieties in the world. In fact, Cleopatra is noted for her love of Muscat of Alexandria from Greece–a lovely rich aromatic white wine. These wines have explosive, almost perfumed, aromas that spring out of the glass into your nose. They can be either dry or sweet, but most will taste a touch sweet due to all those perfume-y aromas.

What to try? There are many great aromatic wines to try, and most are shockingly affordable. A few examples of these include Gewürztraminer, Torrontés (great if you like a more dry style), and Riesling.

Our Rich Full Bodied Whites

Full-bodied white wines are perfect for red wine lovers because of their rich smooth taste with subtle creaminess. What makes them different than light white wines usually involves special winemaking techniques including the use of oak-ageing, (just like aged whiskeys, wine becomes smoother with barrel ageing too).

What to try? The classic choice for this wine is Chardonnay and particularly Chardonnay from a warmer climate (like Malta or Italy). Beside Chardonnay, another great option in this style is Viognier.

All Shades of Rosé

Rosé is a true winemaker’s wine because it’s made by “dying” a wine for only a short time with the skins of red wine grapes. Rosé wines were first popularised in the late 1700’s when French wines imported in England were called “Claret” (sounds like “Clairette”) to describe their pale red color. Today, you can find rosé wines of all styles (sweet or dry) made from many different grapes from Cabernet Sauvignon to Zinfandel (known commonly as White Zinfandel)

What to try? Instead of the sweet version, try a more dry style Rosé to taste its subtle elegant flavours. Some of the most classic versions of dry rosé come from Southern France in Provence and the Pays d’Oc region. The varieties used to make these wines include Grenache and Syrah which are all red wine varieties! Since rosé is made everywhere, perhaps stick to one made with one or several of the aforementioned varieties to experience a classic rosé.

Our Fruity, Lively Reds

Light-bodied red wines are typically pale in color (you can see through them in a glass) and have very light tannin. FYI, tannin tastes astringent in wine and dries your mouth out in the same way that putting a wet tea bag on your tongue would. For this reason, light red wines are some of the most coveted wines in the world.

What to try? The classic light red wine that most people know is Pinot Noir but, besides that, Gamay Noir is another great wine to try in this category. Gamay is most known by the name of a region where it grows called Beaujolais.

Elegant, Smooth, Medium Bodied Reds

Medium red wines are what I like to call “food wines.” They offer up tons of flavour with a balance of zesty acidity which makes them match with a wide variety of foods (from zesty salads to rich and cheesy lasagna). These are the perfect mid-week wines for red wine lovers.

What to try? There are many varieties that span the mid-weight red wine category so, to name a few familiar ones, check out Grenache, Sangiovese, Merlot and Cabernet Franc.

Our Rich, Full Bodied Reds

Full-bodied red wines are the deepest darkest and most tannic of all the red wines. Tannin might sound weird and bitter but the tannin in wine binds to proteins in our saliva and it has a palate-cleansing effect. Full-bodied red wines are quite pleasing and stand on their own as a cocktail wine.

What to try? You’ve no doubt experienced one of these wines if you’re a wine lover, they include Primitivo, Syrah/Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec and even Pinotage. These are perfect examples of how bold a wine can be.

Sweet & Fortified Wines

In the mid to late 1800’s, sweet wines were more popular than dry wines. In fact, several of the most exalted wines in the world, from Sauternes in Bordeaux to Essencia from Hungary, are practically as thick as maple syrup. Dessert wines today now range from dry to sweet and are some of the boldest, most intensely flavoured (and aromatic) wines in the world.

What to try? There are many different types of dessert wines to explore however, if you can start with a Port or a Sauternais-styled wine (a late harvest white wine), you’ll have a great preview of what dessert wines can offer.