Staff Picks: Unveiling Our February Wine Favourites

Welcome to another month of staff picks! Each week, our team dives into our collection to select their favourite wines, offering unique perspectives for every palate.

This February, we have a fantastic selection that's sure to tantalise your taste buds, so get ready to discover your new favourite bottle!

Phil's Austrian Inky Indulgence

What I’m drinking right now is Judith Beck’s Ink - and yes, it’s as inky as the squid on the label suggests, at least in colour. But it’s lighter on the tongue than you might think, with loads of juicy berry fruit, a touch of herbs and spice, and a lovely crisp finish. Authentically Austrian there’s enough depth for it to feel right for a chilly February, and paired with a simple roast chicken, it’s absolutely spot on.

Judith Beck 'Beck Ink'

Single Price: £17.90

Mixed 6 Price: £15.90

Claudia's Velvety Valpolicella

Say “Valpolicella” and you might picture something light and breezy, but this Ripasso is richer, velvety, and indulgent. It’s got everything in balance. It’s made by fermenting the juice on leftover Amarone grape skins, which adds softly rounded tannins, a neat medium body, and a bright streak of acidity. It’s bursting with fruit, but also has more intriguing flavours - spices and a touch of liquorice. Pair it with a hearty stew or a Sunday roast. And if, like me, you love Amarone but not the price, this is a perfect route to a more indulgent sip without going overboard.

Alpha Zeta 'R' Valpolicella Ripasso Superiore

Single Price: £20.90

Mixed 6 Price: £18.90

Peter's Portuguese Punch

Prunus Branco firmly belongs in the “punches above its weight” category. I hadn’t tried it in a while, but I took a bottle home the other night and it certainly made me sit up and take notice. Portugal is still unbeatable when it comes to price/quality, and this wine certainly shows it. You won’t find your usual Chardonnays or Sauvignon Blancs here. Instead, it’s built around Encruzado, a grape you probably haven’t heard of but is worth getting to know. Fresh, citrusy, and with a lovely floral lift, this is a proper little beaut—and one I’ll be taking home again soon.

Prunus Branco, Dao

Single Price: £14.90

Mixed 6 Price: £13.90

Ellie's Theatrical Rhône Red

A theatrical name and a flair for the dramatic—you wouldn’t guess it from the label, but underneath the act, this is basically a cracking Côtes-du-Rhône in full performance mode. I’m quite particular about my Rhône reds, so a snazzy label alone won’t cut it. It’s that mix of ripe fruit and spice that draws me in, but I like the ones that put on a bit of a show too. This one does exactly that—big, bold, fruity, and properly gutsy with a good hit of spice. As a partner to winter comfort food, it wins every time. Rhône reds don’t get much more burlesque than this—flamboyant, full-bodied, and impossible to ignore.