On the grapevine

Wines of the Rhône: To write a book on any wine region it is always a good idea to live there. So when Matt Walls was asked to write a book about the Rhône, he upped sticks from south London and moved to a small village, east of Avignon. With children enrolled in a local school and his wife working from home, Matt was free to explore the whole length and breadth of this glorious, complex region.

This book is part of the terrific series of wine books from Infiniteideas, and while there is a definite format of history, terroir, grapes and appellations, what this book does is bring out the personality of the estates.

Talking to the owner of Ch. Beaucastel in Châteauneuf-du-Pape, he is told that great wine brings emotion. He describes Domaine Alary in Cairanne as one of the most contemporary and exciting estates in the Rhône and his description of sliding down the schist slopes of Côte Rôtie reminds readers that wandering through vineyards is not always an easy stroll.

It will not be possible to visit the Rhône any time soon, but when travel is allowed, this book will act as a guide to the region in a comprehensive and enjoyable way. Wines of The Rhône by Matt Walls is published by Infiniteideas, £30.

Bargains at Hoults: Rob Hoult manages to weave his search for a new house into his newsletter which is mainly about the great bargains on the shelves of his shop in the Railway Arches in Huddersfield. He has a range of cases at £80, £100, £130 and £180 which add excitement to selecting wines for this lockdown period. The new £130 case contains 12 different wines, including Leftfield Albariño from New Zealand, Tom and the Peloton Ventoux Rouge from France and the Caliterra Tributo Cabernet Sauvignon from Chile. All are terrific, ring 01484 510700 or email info@hoults. com to get on his newsletter list.