On the grapevine

In the can: If you are drinking alone, or don’t want to open a bottle, then a can of wine may just fit the bill. Supermarket shelves are full of wine in cans, ranging from £2 upwards, so it takes courage and confidence to stick a £7 price tag on a 250ml can of wine. This is what Tommy and James Banks, inset, of the Black Swan in Oldstead, have done. Marketed under the Banks Brother label, they have sourced top-quality wine from South Africa. The Pinot Noir, Syrah Mourvèdre blend and the Chardonnay come from Newton Johnson; the Riesling/Gewürztraminer/Muscat

Ottonel blend comes from Villiera;

Glen Carlou has provided the Cabernet Shiraz; and the Foundry has made the Grenache Blanc. All hit the mark perfectly, although I really like the Pinot Noir. The wines are available online at www. madeinoldstead.co.uk and are now being poured as wine flights at the Black Swan at Oldstead and at Roots in York.

Sparkling showing: Only one Yorkshire vineyard has made it into the pages of a new book all about English sparkling wine. The Rydon Guide to English Sparkling Wine (£20) is a (fairly) comprehensive look at all the wonderful sparkling wines now being made across the country as far north as Leeds. George Bowden at Leventhorpe is the Yorkshire representative in this edition, but I would hope others that have sparkling wines gently gathering age in their cellars will make it into the next edition. This is a terrific book to tempt the reader to get in the car and go and visit some of the 65 featured vineyards.

To come: Bon Coeur in Melsonby is planning a series of events for the early part of next year. In January there is a Burgundy evening (£50 a ticket) followed by a evening of sherry in February (£30 a ticket). Bon Coeur also runs WSET courses. www.bcfw.co.uk.