CHRISTMAS EVE WHITES
2019 Mitravelas, White on Grey Moschofilero, Greece
£7.95, thewinesociety.com FLORAL, light, refreshing and delicate, this is one of the most exciting and invigorating white wines of the year. There is a cool, grapey freshness here which hints at exotic fruit notes but it is kept in check with lively citrus acidity.
2019 Savoie, Cruet, Vieille Vigne, Domaine de l’Idylle, France
£13.50, yapp.co.uk A BEAUTIFUL white wine, from the mountainous Savoie region of France, it is made of rare Jacquère grapes, which adore the chilly foothills of the Alps. Delicate and fresh with honeysuckle and apricot notes, it is perfection as a palate-cleansing aperitif or paired with raclette or fondue.
2018 Saint-Véran, Louis Jadot, Burgundy, France £16, Tesco
JADOT is a legendary winery in Burgundy and I am sure that you will recognise their famous label. This delicious Chardonnay sees no oak but it gathers intensity and depth by virtue of its superb vineyards and also the ripe 2018 vintage. This wine is on top form right now and is talented enough to step up to main course dishes.
2019 Orvieto Classico, Campogrande, Santa Cristina, Umbria, Italy
£10, selected Co-ops I AM a huge fan of Orvieto and this cucumber-fresh style of light white is what classy Romans have been drinking for aeons. Made by the famous Antinori family, Campogrande uses a mix of indigenous Italian grapes, which ensures it comes alive in the glass.
2018 Morrisons The Best English Dry White, Lyme Bay
£14, Morrisons THIS complicated white includes Reichensteiner, Seyval Blanc, Bacchus and Pinot Blanc grapes, which is why it is such a star. Silky and with lovely floral tones, it is made by the brilliant Lyme Bay Winery in Devon from fruit grown locally and in Dorset, Hereford and Kent. A perfect match for smoked salmon and seafood dishes.
2019 Tesco finest * Pinot Grigio, Terre di Monteforte, Veneto, Italy
£8, Tesco THE key to the success of so many of the wines in this collection is that they are made by expert wineries and in this instance, the Cantina di Monteforte is a first-class cooperative with access to amazing, handpicked raw materials. The result is a Pinot Grigio with a supersmooth texture and a wonderful floral bouquet.