How to choose great-value wine

Head sommelier Alex Freguin works at picturesque Moor Hall in Aughton, Lancashire, alongside the acclaimed chef patron, Mark Birchall.

‘For value wines, I would suggest looking at the northern part of Portugal – there are some great bottles made using the grape variety alvarinho in the Vinho Verde region, or across the border in Galicia in the region of Rías Baixas. Also in Spain, the grape variety godello, grown in the area of Valdeorras or Monterrei, can show some beautiful wines with a top value. These are the sort of amazing wines you can drink on a budget in a top restaurant. Right now, Greek wines are enjoying a strong rebirth, so keep an eye out for these.

Some up-and-coming wine regions to keep an eye out for are Slovenia and the northern part of Croatia. Other discoveries I’m excited about are Ktima Ligas (Kydonitsa grape), Pella, Greece, 2013; Bressan Schioppettino, Friuli Isonzo, Italy, 2011; and Black Sheep Finds, Holus Bolus Syrah, California 2015.

The best advice I’d give when choosing a wine is speak to the sommelier. The sommelier won’t just recommend the most expensive bottle – we are there to guide you in the obscure world of wines. Never be shy – we need to know what you like usually, what you drink at home, what you don’t like. From this, we can find you plenty of good-value wines.’ moorhall.com