A vintage selection of wineries to follow in 2018

Spain: Vina Zorzal

For anyone looking for great value Spanish reds, the Zorzal winery in Corella in southern Navarra is one of the most progressive in the sub £10 price range. Andre Sanz with sons Xabier and Inaki set up in 2007 in Ribero Baja, focusing on searching out gnarled old garnacha and graciano vines. I highly recommend their humble basic unoaked Garnacha Joven 2016 from old vines grown on alluvial gravel and clay at 380m altitude (£6.75), their more powerful Single Vineyard Malayeto 2015 (£10.95) and best of all, the delicious spicy Graciano 2015 (£7.50, all at www. thewinesociety.com).

South Africa: Vilafonte

This joint American and South African wine venture produces just three wines, but has already achieved the coveted 5 star Platter points for cabernet-based Series C. Set up by Mike Ratcliffe from Stellenbosch-based Warwick Estate, leading Californian winemaker Zelma Long and American viticulturist Dr Phil Freese, their focus is primarily on standout Bordeaux-style reds using a high percentage of malbec: Vilafonte Seriously Old Dirt 2014 (£21, www. thewinesociety.com).

Australia: BK Wines

Having trained in New Zealand, Argentina and California, Kiwi couple Brendon and Kirstyn Keys chose Australia to make single vineyard wines. They source grapes from a variety of growers fermenting them in their boutique winery in the bushlands of Piccadilly Valley in the Adelaide Hills. Their chardonnays are the most exciting whites to emerge from Australia – try the lush, elegantly oaked BK Wines Swaby Chardonnay 2013 (£35, www.swig.co.uk; www. standrewswine.co.uk).

Germany: Weingut Bercher

The Baden region is best known for its Burgundian style wines and one of the most interesting producers here is the family-owned Weingut Bercher, who have expanded to 42 hectares on the volcanic slopes of Kaiserstuhl. Try Bercher’s barrel fermented tropical fruit scented Chardonnay SE Dry 2015 (£26, www.thewinebarn.co.uk) made from a blend of loess and volcanic soils.

Greece: Thymiopoulos Vineyards

Talented winemaker Apostolos Thymiopoulos uses organic and biodynamic viticulture at his Trifolos based winery in Naoussa, central Macedonia. He focuses on old xinomavro bush vines grown on slatey soils, producing wonderfully earthy strawberry-scented Earth & Sky Xinomavro 2015 (£20-£25, www.robersonwines.com; www.houseoftownend.com); the best Greek red I have tasted recently.

Portugal: Secret Spot Wines

The two man team responsible for the new Secret Spot wines are based at Quinta da Faisca in the Douro valley. One partner is famous Portuguese oenologist Rui da Cunha, who calls the weathered schist soils around Favaios as the ‘grand cru’ for moscatel gallego branco (aka muscat blanc a petit grains) – the other is viticulturist Goncalo Lopes. For those who like unusual fortified wines, the team’s Secret Spot Moscatel do Douro 10 year old (£27, Wineline Portugal, www.thewineline. co.uk) is similar to a wooded white port with honeyed apricot, fig and grape flavours and a delicious creamy rounded palate.

Italy: Basilisco

Basilisco is a new project by famous wine producers Feudi di San Gregorio from neighbouring Campania region. Their Teodosio Aglianico del Vulture 2013 (£12.49, www.strictlywine. co.uk) is one of the most approachable succulently fruity examples I have tasted from the often austere aglianico grape.

New Zealand: Neudorf

Neudorf is currently making New Zealand’s finest chardonnay and pinot noir with a wonderful vibrancy and purity of fruit. Based in Nelson region in the northern part of South Island, Neudorf ’s owners Tim and Judy Finn’s Moutere Chardonnay and Pinot Noir is superb, but best value is Rosie’s Block Chardonnay 2015 (£25, www. winedirect.co.uk) named after daughter Rosie who now works with them.

France: Cave d’estezargues

Twenty miles west of Avignon, this excellent little co-operative sources grenache and syrah from its ten member estates around Estezargues in the Côtes du Rhône. They focus on highlighting the individuality of each terroir and use no added yeasts, no new oak, no sulphur, no fining or filtration which is very unusual for a co-operative. Their Coteaux du Pont du Gard 2016 (£9.50, Oddbins) is a great value 50 per cent grenache/50 per cent syrah southern Rhône blend – made using organically grown grapes.

England: Winbirri Vineyard

Winning the Decanter Platinum Best in Show award this year for an English still wine plucked East Anglia grower and winemaker Lee Dyer out of obscurity. Based in Surlingham in Norfolk, Dyer unusually focuses on still wines. Winbirri’s grassy lightly spritzy Bacchus 2015 (£13, Marks & Spencer) was described as ‘a perfect aperitif ’; made from the usually snubbed bacchus grape. ■