Two Denbies Wines

Two wines from Surrey-based Denbies

English wine has not yet developed a distinctive stylistic genus in the way that Chablis or Chianti stand for something very specific.

However, there are certain things we know about an English wine - it is likely to be white, light and bright. The best English wines have the aromatic purity of New Zealand with the citrussy minerality of German wines.

These two Denbies wines are modern and well-made; the Flint Valley is a light, non-vintage aperitif wine from Germanic varieties Seyval Blanc and Reichensteiner. The more-ambitious Pinot Gris is barrel-fermented and complex.

Flint Valley (£9.49, Waitrose) aromatic and fresh blend of Seyval and with English hedgerow aromas and citrus; light, clean and pure.

Drink as an aperitif.

Pinot Gris (£16, M&S) ripe pear fruit with melon and honeysuckle; sweet oaky spice, leesy complexity, fresh and mineral. Long and adept food-wine.

Match with seafood and creamy pasta.

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