The Velvet Reds Box | Bestsellers Edition

95 Points | Decanter World Wine Awards | Gold Medal

This organic Nero di Troia from Puglia is full of southern Italian charm. Bursting with blackberries, baked plums and a touch of spice, it has smooth tannins and just the right freshness to keep it lively. A little time in oak adds warmth and depth, with hints of cinnamon and pepper on the finish. It’s a wine that feels both bold and easy to enjoy, perfect with lamb, pasta or a plate of cheese.

Terre di Faiano is an organic-focused winery in Puglia, a sun-drenched region known for producing some of Italy’s most characterful reds. The estate works only with native grapes, letting the local climate and soils speak through every bottle. Nero di Troia is one of Puglia’s oldest varieties, valued for its rich fruit and gentle spice. This award-winning wine shows exactly why the grape is making a comeback, offering great value without compromising on flavour.

Yes! We really fell in love with this red wine. Kloof Street Rouge 2022 is a vibrant and generous red from South Africa’s Swartland. Bursting with juicy blackberries, ripe cherries and a touch of violet, the palate is silky with plenty of fruit, supple tannins and a lift of black pepper and warm spice on the finish. Each grape in the blend adds its own layer: Syrah for structure, Grenache for fruit, Cinsault for perfume and Tinta Barocca for grip, making this an expressive and harmonious red that shines at a barbecue or alongside tomato-based dishes.

Mullineux & Leeu Family Wines is one of the most celebrated names in South Africa, established in 2007 by Chris and Andrea Mullineux. The couple’s winemaking journey has taken them from France and California back to Swartland, where schist and granite soils, old vines and sustainable farming give incredible character to their wines. Mullineux has been named Platter’s Winery of the Year three times, with Andrea also recognised internationally as Winemaker of the Year. Together with Analjit Singh of Leeu Estates, they continue to craft wines that reflect the unique energy and terroir of Swartland, setting a benchmark for South African fine wine.

Domaine Roche-Audran Cuvée Copains is a vibrant organic red wine from the Rhône Valley, made from Grenache, Syrah and Merlot. Juicy blackberry, cherry and plum fruit flow through the palate, with hints of liquorice and wild herbs that bring a classic Provençal feel. Full-bodied yet smooth and fresh, this biodynamic Rhône blend is an easy-drinking red that works beautifully with food or on its own.

Domaine Roche-Audran, based in Vaison La Romaine in the northern Rhône, is led by visionary winemaker Vincent Rochette. His vineyards are Demeter-certified biodynamic, surrounded by woodland, olive groves and lavender, creating a unique eco-system that shapes the wines. The soils of clay, sand and pebbles give lift and energy to the fruit, while fermentation in concrete preserves purity and freshness. Known for elegant Rhône wines, Roche-Audran has become a benchmark for organic French red wine, with Cuvée Copains showing just how joyful a Grenache, Syrah, Merlot blend can be.

Acon Roble is a vibrant Tempranillo that brings together freshness, fruit and depth in perfect balance. Expect layers of black cherry, ripe red berries and a lift of herbs, with notes of chocolate, liquorice and a gentle touch of toffee and cedar from its five months in oak. Rich and textured yet lively on the palate, this is a wine that evolves beautifully over the course of an evening, offering complexity without heaviness.

This wine comes from Ribera del Duero, one of Spain’s most celebrated regions for Tempranillo, where altitude and dramatic temperature shifts deliver power and finesse. The Carrasco family have been shaping wine here since 1953, when Norberto Carrasco pioneered the use of concrete alongside oak to highlight fruit purity. Today, his grandson José Antonio Carrasco continues this vision, combining tradition with a modern touch to craft elegant, expressive wines. Acón Roble captures the spirit of the estate; mature, fruit-driven, and unmistakably Ribera.