As part of a new initiative, #HandpickedDrinks, each week we’ll be posting a daily IWSC top-rated wine or spirit on Twitter, selected from a range of diverse categories. It’s our way of providing a bit of inspiration for lockdown imbibing.
Our inaugural category is island wines. Islands are the source of some of the world’s most exciting wines, through a combination of particular conditions, from volcanic soils to cool sea breezes, which create fresh, mineral flavours; they can also provide a fine climate for sparkling wine. See below for your weekly round-up of our five picks.
We start off our recommendations on our home soils of the UK, where Langham Winery makes its fizz from 100% Chardonnay on the chalky soils of Dorset, England. Next up is a Vermentino from Nuraghe Crabioni on the Italian island of Sardinia, before we hop over to Sicily for a glass of Nerello Cappuccio – an ancient Italian red grape variety reinvigorated by family estate Barbadoro.
Our tour takes us to Santorini next – and Estate Argyros’ signature Assyrtiko, crafted from vines up to 200-years-old on volcanic soil. And finally, to the northern coast of Tasmania, Australia, where House of Arras produces a range of exceptional sparkling wines under the country’s most recognised sparkling winemaker, English-born Ed Carr.
From the UK to Australia, there are a host of brilliant island wines to be found the world over: check out our selection and start discovering.
Langham Wine Estates, Blanc de Blancs Reserve NV
Nuraghe Carbioni, Vermentino di Sardegna Kanimari 2018
Estate Argyros, Cuvee Monsignori Santorini 2017
Barbadoro di Francesco Lirosi, Vino rosso biologico “Don Michelangelo” 2017
House of Arras, Grand Vintage 2008
