Our Picks 2025
As always, we’ve chosen wines from lesser-known natural wine producers that won’t break the bank.
Now more than ever, it’s important to support small, family-run or independently owned businesses. We’re in danger of losing everything to large global corporate retailers — and that appears to be the direction governments are taking with both retail and services.
Whether it’s a smallholder farmer, a local bodega, a shoe shop, or a winemaker, please buy from independent businesses this Christmas. Remember: less is more. Paying a little extra to your local producers helps everyone in the end — you included.
Your local suppliers are feeding families, not building doomsday bunkers.
These wines are genuinely our favourites — wines we’ve tasted ourselves — and they’re made with love by passionate individuals.
Lesom
Great guy and greta wine , Riesling , that’s it , that’s all , a myriad of different ways , keeping the tradition alive from this natural wine maker in Mosel , Amazing wines at Amazing prices , Try and get your hands on some , this will be great with Poultry at Christmas.
Ham Street Wines
Consistently very good, especially considering the challenges English winemakers have to contend with. We had the pleasure of tasting three of their wines at Tate Modern during the Pour Choices wine fair.
The winery is run by Lucie and Jules.
Carbonic Meunier & Chardonnay ‘Daisy’
A first for the winery, this playful cuvée is a co-ferment of 80% Pinot Meunier and 20% Chardonnay. After 25 days of carbonic maceration and a gentle basket press, the wine was matured in stainless steel and bottled according to the lunar calendar.
At just 10% ABV, it’s a truly beautiful wine.
Yannick Meckert
I don’t know how surprised I was by how good this wine turned out — but I truly was. The best Alsatian wine I’ve tasted.
La Colline aux Schistes
Hailing from Alsace’s rare and unforgiving blue schist soils, this Riesling comes from thirty-year-old vines, delivering remarkable concentration. The real twist? After direct pressing, the wine spends two years ageing sous voile (under a veil of yeast) in old Alsatian foudres.
A top wine — if you can get hold of some.
Chora Bianco
from L'Acino
Another Surprise, In degenoius white from Calabria. , made from Mantonico Bianco grape.. super flower and zesty , this ones for lunch time at and Italian Beach bar.
Alessandro Viola, Carrieat.
I had the chance to taste this one at Le Nez dans le vert , the sisicilains where there in force and showcased some amazing wines.. Outstanding , state and gesture , This a lovely Orange 2023 made from Carricante and Catarratto grapes, grown organically in Sicily. The wine is macerated on the skins for 48 hours,
Fosse Grey
from Ruppert - Leroy.
Best Champagne i’ve tasted , tastes of Islay Whiskey , bubbly and deep , perfect for New years eve , in the dark Northern Hempshire.. stunning .
