Adventurers' Case

This shiroka melnik is an indigenous variety made by the Zikatanov family in the Bulgarian region of Melnik. Lots of bramble fruits combined with sour cherries and red plums arm in arm with Asian spices and herbs. Italian in feel with ripe but evident tannins.

A good, honest and straight forward entry into the red wines of the stunning Douro Valley. This is a blend of touriga nacional, touriga franca and sousão and is a dark-fruited and mellow wine which is easy drinking without lacking concentration of flavour. A really solid house wine which captures the depth and intensity of Douro reds at a very reasonable price. Quinta do Côtto is a well-established winery which enjoyed a stellar reputation for many years but went off the boil for a while until it's new owners gave it much needed investment.

Gemischter Satz is a traditional Austrian dry white wine style; historically a field blend of various varieties which would have been drunk as a house wine. This example, from the delightful Mantler family, is a delicious take on the style and is fruity, dry and easy drinking with a delicate spritz that makes it extra refreshing. Made up of 80% grüner veltliner, 15% müller-thurgau and 5% muskateller, this is fragrant and charming. It has a peachy and orange-blossom character on the nose and a focused, fresh and zesty palate. A good, honest and charming wine which is a perfect fridge door staple.

From the home of The Society's Greek White comes this outstanding-value 100% malagousia from vines at 1,000m altitude that showcases the grape's natural grapy and floral bouquet with great texture. Impeccable value from this in vogue grape.

Our first Ukranian wine comes from the Odesa region (Odesa being the Ukrainian spelling) and is produced by Bolgrad winery, who are the biggest producer of still wine in the country. The vineyard location benefits from two opposing air masses coming from the fresh water Yalpug lake and the saline Black Sea. Not seeing any oak, this is a fresh and accessible style of chardonnay made from a producer making wine in very challenging circumstances. This example blends the chardonnay with a little aligoté, expect plenty of citrus and stone fruits.

An uncomplicated juicy fruit-forward agiorgitiko from Nemea in Greece, with a soft palate and plenty of bramble and red-berry fruit. Moussaka is a natural partner, but don't forget a pizza or barbecue.