Tesauro, Recioto Della Valpolicella 2017

Chateau Delmond, Sauternes, 2022

Bedoba, Saperavi, 2022

Areyna, Malbec, 2023

Dega, Montepulciano D'Abruzzo 2024

The Welcome Stranger, Shiraz 2024

Whispering Angel, Chateau D'Esclans 2024

Toppesfield Vinyard, Pinot Rose, 2023

Toppesfield, Bacchus Reserve, 2022

Les Roches Saintes, Picpoul De Pinet, 2024

El Dueto Chardonnay, 2025

Alma, Sauvignon Blanc, 2024

Laurent Perrier Rose Champagne

Lallier, Champagne

Pirani, Prosecco Rose Spumante Extra Dry

Pirani, Prosecco Spumante Extra Dry

English Toffee Vodka

Chocolate Chilli Vodka

Salted Caramel Vodka

English Spirit Distillery

Absolut

Ciroc

Malfy

Diplomático Reserva Exclusiva

Check the bottle for a clean label, intact cork or capsule, and no signs of leakage or sediment disturbance. Recioto della Valpolicella is an aged sweet red; sediment may be present but is usually minimal in a 2017 bottle.

Inspect bottle

If the bottle has been stored in a cellar or cool place, remove it 30–60 minutes before serving to allow it to approach an ideal serving temperature of 14–16°C (57–61°F). If it is too warm, chill in a refrigerator for 20–30 minutes and check with a wine thermometer if available.

Storage temperature

Decant gently for 10–20 minutes if you desire a bit more aeration and to separate any loose sediment. Recioto is sweet and concentrated—over-decanting is unnecessary. If there appears to be significant sediment, stand the bottle upright for a few hours before opening and pour slowly, leaving sediment behind.

Decanting (optional)

Use large red or dessert-style wine glasses with a wider bowl to concentrate the wine’s aromas. Fill each glass to about one-third full (90–120 ml) to allow swirling and aroma development.

Glassing

Hold the glass at an angle and observe the color. Expect deep ruby to garnet tones with bright edges for a 2017 Recioto. Note viscosity (legs) when you swirl the glass—higher sugar and alcohol will often show slow, viscous legs.

Visual evaluation

Swirl gently and inhale. Expect concentrated aromas of dried red fruits (cherry, raisin), sour cherry preserve, plum, baking spices, cocoa, violets, and a touch of dried fig or date. Note any tertiary notes like leather or tobacco if present.

Aromas

Take a small sip and let it coat the palate. Notice the balance between ripe fruit, residual sugar, and acidity. Recioto della Valpolicella typically shows sweet, jammy fruit balanced by bright cherry acidity and a slightly bitter, cocoa-like finish. Assess tannin presence (usually moderate) and the finish length.

Taste & structure

Serve small portions of the suggested accompaniments alongside the wine. Break the chocolate into thin slivers and taste with a sip to highlight cocoa and dried fruit notes. Offer slices of parmigiano-reggiano to contrast sweetness with savory umami. Dried figs and walnuts echo the wine’s dried fruit and nutty tones. Toast or crackers provide a neutral vehicle between tastings.

Pairing with accompaniments

When offering several accompaniments, start with crackers, then parmigiano, then dried figs and walnuts, and finish with dark chocolate. This order moves from neutral to savory to sweet and allows the palate to appreciate the wine’s progression.

Serving order

Recioto is high in sugar and typically fairly stable once opened, but oxidation will still occur. Reseal with the original cork or an airtight stopper and refrigerate. Consume within 3–7 days for best flavor; flavor may evolve but will gradually lose freshness and aromatics.

Tesauro, Recioto della Valpolicella (2017)

Aged parmigiano-reggiano, 24–30 months

Dark chocolate (70% cocoa)

Dried figs

Walnuts, shelled

Toast or plain crackers

Large wine glass (red/dessert style)

Decanter (optional)

Wine thermometer (optional)

Place the bottle of Château Delmond Sauternes 2022 in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours before serving, or chill in an ice bucket filled with equal parts ice and water for 20–30 minutes until the bottle reaches 8–10°C (46–50°F).

Chill the wine

While the bottle chills, set out your dessert wine glasses so they can cool slightly and be dry. Use smaller glasses (180–250 ml max) to concentrate the aromas.

Prepare the cheese: bring triple-cream or blue cheese to room temperature by removing it from the refrigerator 20–30 minutes before serving. This allows the aroma and texture to open, matching Sauternes’ richness.

Prepare the fruit: core and thinly slice the pear or apple and arrange on a small platter. If desired, lightly brush slices with a few drops of lemon juice to prevent browning.

Prepare the toast/biscotti: arrange toasted brioche slices or almond biscotti on the platter. If using brioche, warm briefly (30 seconds) in a low oven (150°C / 300°F) and lightly toast to crisp edges.

Add nuts and honey: place the toasted walnuts or almonds in a small bowl on the platter. Put honey in a small dish for guests who want a drizzle over cheese or fruit.

Open the bottle carefully: inspect the cork, wipe the neck with a clean cloth, and use a corkscrew to remove the cork gently. Pour a small tasting amount into one glass to verify aroma and balance.

Pour for guests: serve 60–90 ml (2–3 oz) per glass. Hold the glass by the stem and pour slowly to avoid splashing.

Tasting suggestions: encourage guests to sniff the wine first to appreciate honeyed apricot, orange marmalade, honey, toasted nuts, and botrytis notes. Take a small sip, let it coat the palate, and notice the balance of sweetness, acidity, and texture. Pair bites with cheese and fruit: try a bit of triple-cream with a sip, or a slice of pear topped with a thin cheese slice and a touch of honey.

Storage after opening: re-cork the bottle and refrigerate. Sauternes will keep 5–10 days in the fridge; flavors may mellow but remain pleasurable for several days.

For a composed dessert: drizzle 1 teaspoon of honey over a slice of ripe pear, place a thin sliver of blue cheese on top, and serve immediately with a sip of Sauternes to highlight contrasts of sweet, fruity, salty, and creamy.

For a chilled float: add one small scoop (about 1/4 cup) of vanilla bean ice cream to a chilled dessert glass and pour 50–60 ml of Sauternes over it for an indulgent boozy affogato-style dessert.

Château Delmond Sauternes 2022 (sweet white dessert wine)

Ripe triple-cream or blues (for pairing)

Fresh pear or apple slices

Toasted brioche or thin almond biscotti

Lightly toasted walnuts or almonds (optional)

Honey (optional, for drizzling on fruit/cheese)

Small dessert wine glasses (Sauternes glasses or small white wine glasses)

Ice bucket and water (for chilling)

Check the Bedoba Saperavi 2022 bottle for fill level, cork condition, and vintage label. Ensure it is stored upright in a cool place until 20–30 minutes before serving.

Inspect the bottle

Saperavi is a full-bodied Georgian red; serve slightly below room temperature. Place the bottle in the refrigerator for 20–30 minutes before serving to reach 14–16°C (57–61°F). If the wine is already cool, remove it 10–15 minutes before serving so it relaxes slightly.

Chill to serving temperature

If the 2022 exhibits youthful tannin or sediment, decant for 30–60 minutes. Open the bottle carefully, pour into a clean decanter in one steady stream, and allow air to soften tannins and open aromatics. If you prefer a quicker approach, swirl in the glass instead of decanting.

Decant (optional)

Use large-bowled red wine glasses to capture Saperavi's aromas. Rinse glasses with warm water and dry. Pour 120–150 ml per glass (about 1/3 full) to allow swirling and room for aromas.

Select glassware and pour

Place a jug of filtered water on the table so guests can cleanse their palates between tastes and pairings.

Provide water

On a serving board, arrange the cured meats in thin folded slices and place aged and soft cheeses with a small knife for each. Break the aged cheese into biteable wedges and leave the soft cheese whole or cut into segments.

Assemble cured meats and cheeses

Scatter walnuts and mixed olives around the board. Place fresh figs or grapes in a small cluster to provide sweet contrast to the wine's dark-fruit character and firm tannins.

Add nuts, olives and fruit

Arrange seeded crackers or baguette slices around the board. Place a small dish of honey beside the soft cheese—drizzle a little honey onto a cheese bite to balance savory and tannic flavors.

Toast and honey

Bring the decanted Bedoba Saperavi 2022 and glasses to the table. Pour each guest 120–150 ml. Encourage tasting first on its own to appreciate the wine’s color, aroma, and texture, then taste with chosen pairings to explore how flavors change—note how aged cheese highlights the wine’s acidity and fig/grape brings out ripe fruit notes.

Serve and enjoy

Bedoba Saperavi 2022 (bottle)

Decanter

Wine glasses (red)

Filtered water (for palate cleansing)

Cured meats (e.g., prosciutto, soppressata)

Aged cheese (e.g., manchego or aged cheddar)

Soft cheese (e.g., brie or sulguni)

Walnuts

Seeded crackers or baguette slices

Olives (mixed)

Fresh figs or grapes

Honey

Bring the Areyna Malbec 2023 out of the cellar or refrigerator and let it rest upright for 10–20 minutes if it has been chilled so any sediment can settle. Check the label, cork, and fill level to ensure the bottle is in good condition.

Select appropriate red wine glasses (tulip-shaped or large-bowled). Rinse glasses with a small amount of room-temperature water and dry with a lint-free towel or let air-dry. This removes dust and any lingering detergent residue that can alter aroma.

Glass selection and cleanliness

Areyna Malbec 2023 is best served slightly below room temperature, around 16–18°C (61–64°F). If the bottle is too warm, chill it in the refrigerator for 20–30 minutes. If it is too cold, let it sit at room temperature for 10–20 minutes. Use a wine thermometer if available to check the temperature.

Temperature check

Use a foil cutter or knife on the corkscrew to cut the capsule about 5 mm below the lip of the bottle and remove the top portion. Wipe the bottle neck with a clean cloth.

Cut and remove capsule

Center the corkscrew on the cork and twist it in straight until only one turn of the worm remains visible. Use the lever to gently extract the cork. Avoid jerking motions to prevent cork pieces from falling into the wine.

Insert corkscrew and remove cork

If you have a decanter and want to aerate the wine, pour slowly into the decanter until the neck is empty. Stop if you see sediment approaching the neck. Decant for 30–60 minutes to open aromas and soften tannins. If not decanting, proceed to pouring directly into glasses.

Pour a small tasting amount (about 60–90 ml) into the host's glass first. Swirl gently, sniff, and take a small sip to confirm the wine is sound (no cork taint or off-aromas).

First pour and taste

Pour remaining wine into guests' glasses, filling to about one-third of the glass (120–150 ml) to allow room for swirling and aroma. If decanted, pour from decanter; otherwise pour from bottle. Wipe any drips with a clean cloth.

Serve

Hold the glass by the stem, give a gentle swirl to release aromas, then take a few short sniffs to identify notes—common Malbec characteristics include dark fruit (blackberry, plum), floral hints (violet), and spice (black pepper).

Swirl and smell

Take a moderate sip, let it coat your mouth, and note acidity, tannin, body, and finish. Consider food pairing: Areyna Malbec 2023 pairs well with grilled meats, roasted vegetables, aged cheeses, and savory charcuterie.

Taste and evaluate

Provide water for palate cleansing and offer light snacks (approximately 30–50 g per person) like aged cheddar, manchego, or thinly sliced cured meats to complement the wine.

Refresh water and snacks

If wine remains, reinsert the original cork (clean side down) or use a vacuum stopper. Store the opened bottle upright in the refrigerator to slow oxidation.

Recorking

Consume within 3–5 days for best quality. Note that decanted wine may oxidize slightly faster; expect 2–4 days of good quality after decanting.

Consume timeline

Areyna Malbec 2023 bottle

Red wine glasses

Room-temperature water (for glass rinsing, optional)

Corkscrew

Light snacks (cheese, charcuterie) - optional pairing

Check the bottle label and vintage to confirm Dega Montepulciano d'Abruzzo 2024. Bring the bottle to a cool room temperature (16–18°C / 60–65°F) if stored colder. Carefully cut and remove the foil, wipe the neck with a clean cloth, and use a waiter’s corkscrew to remove the cork slowly to avoid agitation.

Inspect and open

Pour the wine gently into a decanter in one steady motion, stopping when you reach the last centimeter of liquid in the bottle to leave any sediment behind. For a young Montepulciano 2024, decant for 30–60 minutes to allow the wine to open — fruity and floral aromas will become more expressive and tannins will soften. If you do not have a decanter, pour directly into glasses and allow to breathe for 20–30 minutes.

Decanting (recommended)

Verify serving temperature: Montepulciano d'Abruzzo is best at 16–18°C (60–65°F). If wine is too warm, place decanter briefly in an ice bucket for 5–7 minutes; if too cold, let stand at room temperature for 10–15 minutes.

Temperature check and adjustment

Select large-bowled red wine glasses (Bordeaux-style or similar) to concentrate aromas. Ensure glasses are clean and free of detergent residue. Place one glass per guest and set small water glasses nearby. If using a spittoon, position it discreetly.

Pour a small tasting pour (30–60 ml) for each guest to evaluate color, aroma, and palate. After initial tasting, pour full tasting pours (100–150 ml) as desired, leaving about one-third of the glass empty so the wine can breathe and aromas can concentrate.

Offer water and palate cleansers (bread, nuts) between tastes. For group tastings, refill glasses as needed, keeping service moderate to allow appreciation of the wine’s evolution over time.

Cheese and charcuterie: Arrange the Pecorino or Parmigiano and cured meats on a board. Break the cheese into bite-sized pieces and place salami/prosciutto in easy-to-grab slices. These savory, umami-rich components complement the Montepulciano’s dark-fruit and savory notes.

Vegetable antipasto and bread: Serve grilled/roasted eggplant and peppers at room temperature alongside crusty bread. The roasted sweetness and slight char pair well with the wine’s ripe fruit and moderate tannin.

Nuts and chocolate: Offer toasted nuts for crunch and a few squares of dark chocolate as a finish — the bitterness and cocoa notes echo the wine’s darker fruit and subtle spice.

Tasting sequence: Start with lighter items (bread, nuts), move to vegetables and soft cheeses, then finish with aged cheeses and cured meats. Taste the wine between each pairing to note changes in flavor and mouthfeel.

Dega Montepulciano d'Abruzzo 2024 (bottle)

Wine glasses (Bordeaux-style or large bowl red)

Room-temperature water (for rinsing or palate)

Small spittoon or bowl (optional)

Aged Pecorino or Parmigiano-Reggiano, sliced or chunked

Cured salami or prosciutto, thinly sliced

Grilled or roasted eggplant and bell pepper antipasto (room temperature)

Crusty country bread, sliced

Marcona almonds or toasted walnuts

Dark chocolate (70% cocoa), small squares

Store the bottle upright in a cool, dark place until about 30–60 minutes before serving. The ideal serving temperature for a Shiraz is 16–18°C (60–65°F). Remove from refrigeration 30–60 minutes before opening if it has been chilled.

Storage and temperature

Use a waiter’s corkscrew or wine key. Cut and remove the foil, place the worm in the center of the cork and pull steadily to remove cork. Wipe the bottle rim with a clean cloth to remove any sediment or cork dust.

Opening the bottle

If the wine is young and robust (likely for a 2024 Shiraz), decanting for 20–40 minutes can help open aromatics and soften tannins. Pour slowly into a decanter, leaving any sediment in the bottle. If you prefer the wine’s youthful vibrancy, serve directly from the bottle.

Use tulip-shaped red wine glasses. Pour 120–150 ml per glass (about one-third full) to allow space for swirling and aroma concentration. Serve immediately after pouring.

Glassware and pouring

Monitor the wine as it breathes. Over the course of the evening the wine will continue to open; top up glasses as desired. If the wine becomes too warm, briefly place the bottle in an ice bucket with a few ice cubes and water for 5–10 minutes to bring it back to serving temperature.

Arrange the sliced salami, prosciutto, aged cheddar, and Manchego on a large serving board. Fan slices for visual appeal and separate meats from cheeses to make selection easy.

Prepare meats and cheeses

Place mixed olives and cornichons in small bowls and set them on the board. Scatter walnuts or Marcona almonds in a small pile. Add grapes or fig halves in clusters for sweetness.

Add small bites

Place honey in a small dish with a spoon and whole-grain mustard in another. Slice the baguette on a diagonal into 1 cm slices and arrange around the board with a stack of crackers if using.

Condiments and bread

Taste and adjust: encourage guests to combine elements — a bite of prosciutto with manchego and a smear of mustard, or cheddar with honey and walnut — to complement the Shiraz’s peppery spice, dark fruit and oak notes.

Keep extras covered: if not serving everything at once, keep cheeses wrapped and meats chilled until needed. Replace any items that sit out for more than 2 hours for food safety.

The Welcome Stranger Shiraz 2024 (bottle)

Room-temperature storage area

Cured salami or soppressata, thinly sliced

Prosciutto, thinly sliced

Aged cheddar, firm cheese (cut into slices or cubes)

Manchego or similar sheep's milk cheese

Mixed olives (Marinated)

Cornichons or dill pickles

Walnuts or Marcona almonds

Whole-grain mustard

Crusty baguette or crackers

Fresh grapes or fig halves

Refrigerate the bottle of Whispering Angel for at least 2 hours before serving. For quicker chilling, place it in an ice bucket filled with ice and water for 20–30 minutes or use a wine chiller sleeve for 30–45 minutes.

Chill bottle

Remove foil or capsule and wipe the top of the bottle with a clean cloth. Use a waiter’s corkscrew or wine opener to remove the cork cleanly. For a screwcap, twist off the cap and wipe the rim.

If you prefer, chill glasses briefly in the refrigerator (15–20 minutes) or rest them in the freezer for 5–7 minutes. Do not freeze. Use large stemmed glasses to concentrate aromas and keep the wine cool in the bowl without warming from your hand.

Prepare glasses

Hold the bottle at the base, place the label toward the guest if serving others, and pour about 4–5 ounces (120–150 ml) per glass. Fill to the widest part of the bowl (about one-third full) to allow aromas to develop. Wipe the lip of the bottle with a clean napkin between pours if needed.

Pouring

If serving outdoors or over an extended period, keep the bottle in an ice bucket with ice and water to maintain 8–12°C (46–54°F). Refill ice as needed and rotate bottles if you have more than one.

Maintain temperature

If you like a subtle aromatic accent, float a thin lemon or orange slice in the glass or add a small mint sprig on the rim. These are purely decorative and should be brief so they do not overwhelm the wine’s delicate aromas.

Garnish (optional)

Serve Whispering Angel with light seafood (grilled shrimp, seared scallops), fresh salads, soft cheeses, or prosciutto-wrapped melon. Offer small canapé portions (about 2–3 pieces per person) so the wine remains the focus.