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- Origin
- France
- Champagne
This is a lovely fruity Champagne with superb freshness which is balanced, elegant and has a wonderfully vibrant finish. Read More- Origin
- France
- Champagne
This is a lovely fruity Champagne with superb freshness which is balanced, elegant and has a wonderfully vibrant finish. Read More -
- Origin
- France
- Champagne
This is a lovely fruity cCampagne with superb freshness, which is balanced, elegant and has a wonderfully vibrant finish. Read More- Origin
- France
- Champagne
This is a lovely fruity cCampagne with superb freshness, which is balanced, elegant and has a wonderfully vibrant finish. Read More -
- Origin
- France
- Champagne
A light petal pink in colour, this really is as elegant as it looks and is another great wine from this very consistent Champagne house. Aromas of str... Read More- Origin
- France
- Champagne
A light petal pink in colour, this really is as elegant as it looks and is another great wine from this very consistent Champagne house. Aromas of str... Read More -
- Origin
- Chile
- Central Valley
A deliciously crisp Sauvignon Blanc with the vibrant bouquet so typical of this grape variety. A brilliant find. Read More- Origin
- Chile
- Central Valley
A deliciously crisp Sauvignon Blanc with the vibrant bouquet so typical of this grape variety. A brilliant find. Read More -
- Origin
- Chile
- Central Valley
Packed with strawberry flavour, this is an excellent rosé from Chile and priced to suit all budgets, ideal for the summer BBQ season. Read More- Origin
- Chile
- Central Valley
Packed with strawberry flavour, this is an excellent rosé from Chile and priced to suit all budgets, ideal for the summer BBQ season. Read More -
- Origin
- France
- Champagne
The Cuvée chosen for this Champagne is widely blended with Chardonnay, which gives the finesse, lightness and distinction to the style. It is an opul... Read More- Origin
- France
- Champagne
The Cuvée chosen for this Champagne is widely blended with Chardonnay, which gives the finesse, lightness and distinction to the style. It is an opul... Read More -
- Origin
- France
- Champagne
This is a great value half bottle of Champagne. The Cuvée chosen for this wine is widely blended with Chardonnay, which gives the finesse, lightness ... Read More- Origin
- France
- Champagne
This is a great value half bottle of Champagne. The Cuvée chosen for this wine is widely blended with Chardonnay, which gives the finesse, lightness ... Read More -
- Origin
- France
- Champagne
Outstandingly well balanced Champagne. A golden hue with a subtle bouquet that is delicate but full with strength, freshness and brioche-like characte... Read More- Origin
- France
- Champagne
Outstandingly well balanced Champagne. A golden hue with a subtle bouquet that is delicate but full with strength, freshness and brioche-like characte... Read More -
- Origin
- France
- Champagne
A stunning rosé of exceptional quality, displaying vibrant aromas of redcurrant, strawberries and peach with a beautifully long finish. Read More- Origin
- France
- Champagne
A stunning rosé of exceptional quality, displaying vibrant aromas of redcurrant, strawberries and peach with a beautifully long finish. Read More -
- Origin
- France
- Champagne
This is a lovely fruity Champagne with superb freshness which is balanced, elegant and has a wonderfully vibrant finish. Read More- Origin
- France
- Champagne
This is a lovely fruity Champagne with superb freshness which is balanced, elegant and has a wonderfully vibrant finish. Read More -
- Origin
- France
- Champagne
This is a lovely fruity Champagne with superb freshness, which is balanced, elegant and has a wonderfully vibrant finish. Read More- Origin
- France
- Champagne
This is a lovely fruity Champagne with superb freshness, which is balanced, elegant and has a wonderfully vibrant finish. Read More -
- Origin
- France
- Champagne
This superb quality champagne is ideal for every occasion. It has a certain feminine quality given by equal proportions of Pinot Noir, Meunier and Cha... Read More- Origin
- France
- Champagne
This superb quality champagne is ideal for every occasion. It has a certain feminine quality given by equal proportions of Pinot Noir, Meunier and Cha... Read More -
- Origin
- France
- Champagne
A smooth and elegant Champagne that is slightly orange in colour and has a nose full of raspberry and blackberry. This is also apparent on the palate ... Read More- Origin
- France
- Champagne
A smooth and elegant Champagne that is slightly orange in colour and has a nose full of raspberry and blackberry. This is also apparent on the palate ... Read More -
- Origin
- New Zealand
- Hawke's Bay
An outgoing, aromatic and refreshing wine, packed with gooseberry fruit. What sets this apart is an herbaceous character not common with New Zealand S... Read More- Origin
- New Zealand
- Hawke's Bay
An outgoing, aromatic and refreshing wine, packed with gooseberry fruit. What sets this apart is an herbaceous character not common with New Zealand S... Read More -
- Origin
- Hungary
Deep amber in colour with rich aromas of sun-dried fruit, particularly apricot. On the palate this is supported by coffee and honey with a long expres... Read More- Origin
- Hungary
Deep amber in colour with rich aromas of sun-dried fruit, particularly apricot. On the palate this is supported by coffee and honey with a long expres... Read More -
- Origin
- France
- Burgundy
- Chablis
A modern style Chablis jam packed with fresh, green apples and hints of citrus. A firm, refreshing mineral backbone runs through the palate and on to ... Read More- Origin
- France
- Burgundy
- Chablis
A modern style Chablis jam packed with fresh, green apples and hints of citrus. A firm, refreshing mineral backbone runs through the palate and on to ... Read More -
- Origin
- Chile
- Central Valley
A deliciously crisp Sauvignon Blanc with the vibrant bouquet so typical of this grape variety. A brilliant find. Read More- Origin
- Chile
- Central Valley
A deliciously crisp Sauvignon Blanc with the vibrant bouquet so typical of this grape variety. A brilliant find. Read More -
- Origin
- Chile
- Central Valley
Soft, pale straw in colour; this wine has an intensely floral nose with hints of ripe peach. Full and rounded on the palate ending with a long honey-l... Read More- Origin
- Chile
- Central Valley
Soft, pale straw in colour; this wine has an intensely floral nose with hints of ripe peach. Full and rounded on the palate ending with a long honey-l... Read More -
- Origin
- Chile
- Central Valley
A deliciously crisp Sauvignon Blanc with the vibrant bouquet so typical of this grape variety. A brilliant find. Read More- Origin
- Chile
- Central Valley
A deliciously crisp Sauvignon Blanc with the vibrant bouquet so typical of this grape variety. A brilliant find. Read More -
- Origin
- Italy
- North East
- Veneto
This is what Prosecco is all about. A delicate example with a long persistent mousse. Light and fruity with hints of ripe apples, peaches and ripe sto... Read More- Origin
- Italy
- North East
- Veneto
This is what Prosecco is all about. A delicate example with a long persistent mousse. Light and fruity with hints of ripe apples, peaches and ripe sto... Read More
Wine Deposits
Going back in history, wine drinkers would drink cloudy wine. There was nothing wrong with the wine and any cloudiness came from tiny particles that naturally form in wine such as tannins, phenolics, tartrates and proteins. If the wines were left to stand over time, these deposits would naturally fall to the bottom of the bottle, hence the decanting process.
Fining Agents Used
These days we like our wines to be bright and shiny and most of all clear. As wine making methods have improved, various fining agents have been used to clean the wine. These used to be milk proteins (casein), egg whites (albumin), animal protein (gelatin) and fish protein (isinglass). Placed in a tank of wine before bottling, these would naturally settle through the wine and take out the deposits.
Fast forward to now, winemakers are recognising preferences for non-animal derived proceesses and are using clay-based fining agents such as bentonite and, in come cases charcoal. And some winemakers are just allowing the wines to settle naturally.
So why are these fining agents used?
This is the techy bit. In red wine, what is called protenatious fining is used to filter out tannins. This includes use of gelatin, egg white and in the old days - dried blood! Benzonite is also used to remove proteins from the wine in reds. The use of fining agents in white wine is mainly concerned with making the wines look bright.
Managing the Wine Label
Depending on the vintage, a producer may use different types of fining agents. It is up to the producer to choose a label for their bottle of wine and not all makers state whether their wine is suitable for vegans or vegetarians.
We work hard to ensure all the information on our wines is up to date and that any allergens are stated as well as suitability for vegan and vegetarian consumers. If in doubt, please feel free to ask.
Other Information
Also in this section of the site - we flag sulphite free wines along with other wines that will suit dietary needs.