On the grapevine

The first grapes from the Yorkshire Heart vineyard in Nun Monkton, between York and Harrogate, have been made into a delicious, crisp, delicate wine, with good fruit and style. Made from a blend of Seyval Blanc, Siegerebe, Ortega and Pinot Noir this is a great wine for summer drinking. There are only a few hundred bottles available from the vineyard (07948 000036) or from local shops at about £7.50.

Chilling out

This is my favourite time of year when 6pm is Manzanilla time. Keep a chilled bottle of Hidalgo La Gitana (Majestic, 8.49) in the fridge and have a few slices of Jamn handy – Parma ham will do if you can't get Spanish Jamn – and some salted almonds. The combination is disturbingly good and can easily while away an hour as you contemplate the day.

In demand

Ata Rangi, the New Zealand Pinot Noir, is in huge demand around the world and is produced in tiny quantities. The Halifax Wine Co (01422 256333) will have a small delivery of the 2008 vintage arriving soon, so get your name down for a bottle (35). I haven't yet tasted this vintage but this property produces terrific Pinots and manages to build in complexity and that indefinable grunt that is usually confined to northern hemisphere wines. Keep it for at least two years before opening, preferably more.

YP MAG 10/7/10