When it comes to buying a bottle of wine as a gift, I always find that it’s best to stick to one of the classics, especially if you’re not sure what style your recipient tends to enjoy most. For many years, the most popular red choice has been from the first and arguably the most prestigious AOC (Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée) of them all, Châteauneuf-du-pape.
However, with renown usually come higher prices, so it is rather with such producers like Château Courac where you can find a great alternative at half the price of most Châteauneuf. The hilltop village of Laudun, is just ten miles away, with a winemaking tradition that dates back to Roman times. Here, free-draining soils promote great acidity and freshness amongst these lovely, bramble fruit-packed wines. Every bit as good as many a Châteauneuf, and certainly where I head whenever I’m looking for a great-value treat.
- Robin James, Head of Customer Experience, FromVineyardsDirect