Monte Velho Branco, Herdade do Esporao, Alentejo, Portugal - €12.99

The Indian Summer we have been experiencing in recent weeks is not just putting us in better form, but also the winemakers across Europe. 

Crops have been low the last few years and it is thought that this yearthere may be an increase of up to 50 per cent in Bordeaux to take just one example. Burgundy had bad hail storms earlier this year but those vines that survived the hail (some as big as golf balls) should at least produce high quality fruit.

Hail also hit parts of the Languedoc and Bordeaux (even in September) and few regions escaped some trauma from what now seems to be an annual curse — blamed by many on global warming. However acording to the online feeds from winemakers, they are optimistic for the fruit still on the vine or already in the fermentation tanks.