Umbrele Sauvignon Blanc 2024

This Sauvignon Blanc is a great example of the value and quality coming out of Romania these days. Softer and more subtle than some of the punchier antipodean styles, it still delivers plenty of tangerine and gooseberry flavours with a lively, refreshing mouthfeel. Gentle fruity notes round things off, giving it a welcoming, easy-going elegance that makes it wonderfully drinkable.

Lovely for a lazy afternoon, but it’s' also great with grilled prawns or lemon-roasted chicken - the zesty citrus and soft fruit flavours pair beautifully with lighter dishes.

Back in the late 1980s, as Romania began to emerge from behind the Iron Curtain, three families took on a challenge: reviving a rundown state-owned winery and 650 hectares of neglected vineyards. What began as a bold gamble has, thanks to Englishman Philip Cox and his Romanian wife Elvira, grown into Cramele Reca?, one of the most successful wineries in Romania. Today there’s no trace of outdated practices or attitudes, and sustained investment means that everything from vineyard to winery is state-of-the-art, with viticultural and winemaking expertise to match. They now produce a wide range, including organic and natural wines, all with a consistent reliability.