WWF Summer Lighter Reds Case

Pinotage takes the lead in this fresh and spicy Cape Blend of young Stellenbosch syrah with older bush-vine pinotage from Swartland. The grapes were lightly crushed and gently handled in the cellar to produce a dark-cherry-flavoured red with approachable tannins. This still-youthful wine benefits from a decant two hours before serving. Certified by the Wine & Agricultural Ethical Trade Association and Integrated Wine Production organisation, Radford Dale go the extra yard to make themselves more sustainable, and we’re delighted to name them a Wine Society Pioneer for their efforts. They farm their Elgin vineyards organically and they follow a low-interventionist approach in the winery, stating ‘If it's not in the grape, it's not in the wine’. Of their two wineries, one is entirely off grid and uses only rainwater for its needs and has a wetland purification system while the other operates 50% on solar power. They compost vineyard waste, recycle other materials as much as they can. Biodiversity is encouraged, with ducks eating unwanted snails, raptor perches installed and seeding wildflowers and allowing some weeds to flourish. In the community, their Land of Hope scheme has been running 20 years, with 50% of profits put in a trust for the education of children of staff from maternity onwards.

A scented, harmoniously balanced claret made by the highly regarded Jean-Michel Baudet. Two-thirds merlot with the balance cabernet sauvignon and a splash of malbec for added depth. Superb-value Blaye. As recipients of our 2024 Climate & Nature fund, the château wants to build on its already impressive sustainability credentials by planting nearly 1,000m of new hedgerows around their vineyards. Made up of native shrubs the hedges will create wildlife habitats and absorb carbon from the atmosphere.

Popular well-rounded Loire pinot, light and fresh, with bright, red-berry and cherry fruit. Best served on the cooler side, this is an easy-drinking lunchtime red.

This easy-going and fruity Beaujolais is bursting with strawberry, black cherry and violet aromas. From a 10-hectare estate in the south of Beaujolais, Domaine Desgranges is a long-term partner of Aujoux, who make our Society's Beaujolais Villages and our Exhibition wines. Fermented primarily via the semi-carbonic maceration method, this is perfumed and juicy with supple tannins - uncomplicated, delicious spring drinking.

A brilliant example of Portugal's prowess when it comes to overdelivering on anyday reds. Periquita is one of Portugal's most loved and historic brands and is produced by the José Maria da Fonseca estate in Sétubal. Periquita Tinto is an honest, easy-drinking red with real local personality. It's medium to full bodied and smells excellent, with the fruit doing the talking on the nose, however there’s a delicate and delicious thread of dark spice too. Blackcurrant leads, backed up by an inky depth, a gentle peppery bite and a subtle earthiness and with a little air, a lovely blueberry note starts to sing, bringing extra purity and a juicy lift on the palate. Made predominantly from the local Sétubal grape castelão (so synonymous with this producer it’s historically been referred to in texts as “Periquita”) blended with trincadeira and alicante bouschet, it’s authentic, satisfying, authentic and reliably delicious.

Barbera d'Asti,Manfredi 2025