Wine Region: Vin de France

(2025) 100% Cinsault from red sandstone and limestone soils, this is organic certified and made from 11- to 20-year-old vines. It is made with indigenous yeasts and no added sulphur, in stainless steel. It's pale coloured soft and pretty, the nose filled with buoyant cherries and sappy, summery freshness. The palate has plenty of sweet red berries, a touch of rhubarb and theres a nice sense of mineral freshness; a certain taut precision with spicy, ripe tannins and pert and nimble acidity. Watch the video for more information.

(2025) An organic and no added sulphur wine made from younger vines grown on soils with high clay content. Skin contact preceded fermentation with wild yeasts in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks. The nose is all about citrus and melon, not so much of the tropicals, but a certain mineral stoniness and hint of bready character. The palate is dry, concentrated and savoury. This has some grip, a fruit skin phenolic character that is spice, with green apple and citrus peel. Quite an intense wine this, and made for drinking with lemony chicken or fish dishes maybe.

(2025) This Vin de France comes from 'Ethic Drinks', a négociant business set up by Mickael and Camille Alborghetti. Their aim is to make wines with the low environmental impact, so this comes in Laithwaites’ lightest bottle made from recycled glass, with a biodegradable label. It is also B Corp certified and is a member of '1% for the Planet', so at least 1% of annual sales is donated directly to environmental organizations. Beyond all of that, it's fantastically summery, bright bottle of 11% alcohol wine, where zest grapefruit meets exotic passion fruit, little nuances of elderflower, crunchy apple and zippy lime zest give instant, sunny appeal. £11.99 for Laithwaites members. Watch the video for more information.

(2025) This Vin de France is another lighter wine, both in colour and its 12% alcohol. I believe it is based on Grenache and Cinsault and comes mostly from the Languedoc. Quite neutral, though some pretty red berry fruit in there and just a hint of confectionery. In the mouth balance is pretty good, though it has a touch of sweetness. There is something about this wine that always feels a little too confected for me, though it is a crowd-pleasing summer-in-the-garden sipper.

(2024) From the Grand Chais de France, a large producer with wineries across France, this is a blend of Colombard, Ugni Blanc and Gros Manseng. It's labelled as a Vin de France, the cross-regional appellation, though those varieties all speak of the Southwest. It's what I'd call a very handy, all-purpose summer sipper. Aromas are clean and fresh, red apples and citrus, a little hint of creaminess. With only 11% alcohol it could be a fine, cheap garden wine if we enjoy an Indian summer, with crisp and dry flavours yet abundant, pert fruitiness making it easy to sip on its own or match to salads and lighter dishes. Not every wine has to be full of complexity and intrigue: some are just the right wine at the right price for everyday drinking. Watch the video for more information.

(2024) Developed in Switzerland, Cabernet Sauvignon has been crossed with an undisclosed disease-resistant variety. This is both organic and 'no added sulphur', opening with a fairly high-toned, floral and Beaujolais-like character as well as some juicy blackcurrant. In the mouth it is smooth and again, so reminiscent of a good Beaujolais village, with a sappy edge to black fruits, gentle acidity but a nicely crisp and refreshing acidity. I would chill this ideally, for a very pleasant summer red with its 12.5% alcohol.

(2024) Made from Cabernet Blanc, a new drought and mildew resistant grape that's a cross of Cabernet Sauvignon and unspecified resistant partner varieties. It is creamy, ripe and really rather nice. It opens with a hint of green fig, but mostly ripe, tropical fruit hinting at banana and ripe Ogen melon. The palate is fruit filled and juicy, with excellent citrus acidity balancing the finish.

(2024) A Vin de France wine with 12.5% alcohol, this has a moderately pale peachy-pink colour. The aroma is a touch sherbetty, with a fairly neutral raspberry note. It's a little bit rough this, with tutti fruitti flavours and some sweetness and rather raw acidity. Not a big fan of this one personally. £7.99 mixed six and Scottish price.

(2024) This Vin de France wine comes from vineyards on red clay soils, is certified organic, and made with minimal sulphur. Trendily capped with a wax seal over the DIAM cork, it is fresh with bright apple and lemon and a hint of stomething stony - almost Chablis-like. In the mouth there is ripeness to the fruit, but the featherweight 11% alcohol and crisp acid structure gives it a light and flowing, seafood-friendly style.

(2024) One hundred percent Cinsault from red sandstone soils, this organic certified wine come from 10-year-old vines. It is made with indigenous yeasts and no added sulphur, and does not see oak. Luminous cherry/magenta in colour, this is buoyant stuff, reminiscent of Beaujolais perhaps with some floral and rose notes over cherry and watercolour paintbox aromas. Beautifully bright and fresh fruit, overflowing with vivid cherry and juicy plum, a nice depth of tannin and refreshing core of acidity to balance. Delightful little wine.