Malvazija magic from Slovenia’s Adriatic hills

Slovenia’s our destination for May—a small, green, and surprisingly wine-obsessed country nestled between Italy, Austria and Croatia. For its size it produces a lot of wine, but not much of it leaves the country. The reason? The Slovenes are Europe’s most enthusiastic wine drinkers—they make a lot, and drink most of it themselves. Not much of it gets out—but we’re lucky to have got our hands on this one, and it’s seriously good.

Gasper Malvazija 2022 is a brilliant example of what Slovenia does well. It comes from the Goriška Brda region, just across the border from Italy’s Friuli. In fact, it’s basically the same landscape—rolling hills, sea breezes and stony soils—so if you’re a fan of Friulano or good Pinot Grigio, you’re in safe hands. This one’s crisp and aromatic, with citrus peel, soft pear, and white blossom on the nose, plus a little almond and wild herb lift to keep things interesting. There’s freshness, yes, but also a lovely, gentle roundness to the palate that makes it incredibly drinkable.

It’s a perfect springtime white: smart with food, easy to enjoy on its own, and it won’t break the bank either. Plus, for every bottle bought during May, you’ll bag 100 bonus loyalty points—just to sweeten the deal.

Great value, proper character, and bonus points on top—this is exactly the sort of bottle to stock up on before the sunshine hopefully kicks in.