VOL.03 | CHRISTMAS 2026
INDEPENDENT WINE MERCHANTS - 1780
HALF FULL DISPATCHES FROM DECEMBER Christmas Edition 2026 A FEW WORDS TO BEGIN
The Company We Keep By Adam Brett-Smith, Managing Director I’ve often thought wine is as much about a sense of person as a sense of place. I say this because this is perhaps the most intensely personal Christmas offer that we have ever produced. From our great friends, Didier Depond, Peter Sisseck, Kathryn Hermann and Jared Stringer, talking about their wonderful wines, to recommendations from members of the home team and to your first introduction to Aunt Corney who, in her own words, will become your ‘experienced friend with no patience for nonsense’. One of the great challenges we face is also the most exciting — how can we make a Company more personal as we continue to grow because it is the emotion of relationships with both suppliers and customers that is responsible for the success we have been lucky enough to enjoy. Our partnerships with both are built on trust, the belief in the long term and above all integrity. Which brings me back rather neatly to the wine in this fab offer. Many are rare, few are alarmingly expensive, all are profoundly great value and are designed to bring people together around a table. Oh, and their prices will be unmatched. Wherever and however you are celebrating, all of us at Corney and Barrow wish you a wonderful Christmas and a very Happy New Year. I rather hope that the wines will contribute more than a little to that old fashioned sentiment. WHAT TO DRINK
BEYOND THE OBVIOUS
Six Bottles Our Team Will Be Opening This Christmas
From the Mind of a Producer to the Wines You Didn’t Know We Had
From Christmas lunch to New Year’s celebrations, these are personal favourites our team can’t wait to open and share with family and friends.
Meet Peter Sisseck, the winemaking maverick behind Dominio de Pingus, and discover three bottles that challenge expectations in the most delicious way.
PAGE 2
PAGE 6
FOR THE ONES YOU LOVE
The Joy of Giving Wine Christmas gifting comes with its fair share of challenges, especially when choosing for those who insist they need nothing at all. We explore a selection of bottles that might just provide the answer for every wine enthusiast, reminding us why wine is such a pleasure to give and receive at Christmas. PAGE 7
Order in Time for Christmas
Planning ahead means your wines arrive exactly when you need them. Check our UK Christmas delivery dates to ensure you don’t miss out. PAGE 2
C H A M PA G N E & MIXED CASES Raise a glass this Christmas CHAMPAGNE PAGE 4
MIXED CASES PAGE 5
FOOD & WINE PAIRINGS
The Art of Hosting: Five Essentials The best conversations happen standing around the kitchen, glass in hand and something delicious within easy reach. That's exactly where crostini come into their own. These wines have been chosen to pair with simple, seasonal toppings that prove entertaining doesn't need to be complicated to be special. PAGE 3
VOL.03 | CHRISTMAS 2026
FROM OUR PRODUCERS
Letters to the Editor
Voices from the Southern and Northern Hemispheres
INDEPENDENT WINE MERCHANTS - 1780
What We're Drinking This Christmas
Kathryn Hermann - 00 Wines Oregon, USA
For winemakers, Christmas week is a time of rest and reflection. After a summer of increasingly complex farming decisions, the anticipation of harvest and the harvest itself, the wines of the new vintage are tucked away in the cellar to rest through winter. As a family, we retreat to our cottage and make space for the traditions that mark the passing of time. My husband, Chris, cooks the roast goose and red cabbage his family has made every Christmas for generations. We unpack the handmade wooden ornaments his parents shipped from Europe when they began new lives as American immigrants, admiring each one again as it goes on the tree. Chris chooses an older vintage of Burgundy, while I make sure laptops are closed and phones tucked away in a drawer. A jazz record plays in the background. With the pull of a cork in place of the ping of a phone, we sit together and retell the stories of the past year, not yet thinking about the year ahead. This Christmas, we wish you the same: a chance to set the screens aside, rest and recharge. From our family to yours, a very merry Christmas.
Jared Stringer - The Lane Adelaide Hills, Australia There is no escaping it: the festive season in Australia is hot. By Christmas Day, we’re almost halfway through summer, with vintage just around the corner. While our northern hemisphere friends are rugged-up with mulled wine and central heating, we’re enjoying beach days, cold beers, crisp whites and Test cricket. Naturally, our traditions look a little different. Our family has always embraced a big Christmas lunch. On Christmas Eve, sides of beef and lamb, sustainably raised alongside our vines, are roasted over charcoal in the cool of the night. As they cook, we graze, sip Champagne and make merry. The meats are rested overnight, then served cold on Christmas Day with generous salads, local prawns and crayfish, alongside our Chardonnay and Pinot Noir — two family favourites. However you celebrate, I hope the festive season is a safe and happy one for you and yours. Merry Christmas.
ORDER TODAY ONLINE For Christmas delivery order by: UK: 1pm on 18ᵗʰ December Highlands: 1pm on 10ᵗʰ December Outside mainland UK: 1pm on 8ᵗʰ December
Six bottles our team will be opening this Christmas Margaux Carpentier
Tiffany Vernon
£21.95 (37.5cl) £37.75 (75cl) £87.00 (150cl)
£34.25 (75cl)
I always have a chilled bottle of Champagne ready to pop at home — an enticing promise to indulge, at any time. This Champagne Grand Cru is a cuvée I particularly love sharing for its refinement; its rich curves, sensuous minerality and exquisitely fine bubbles are, to me, the epitome of elegance. Handcrafted by Ingrid de Chassey, a seventh-generation custodian of her family’s traditional winemaking methods, this Pinot Noir/Chardonnay blend is simply heritage in a glass. It honours time, and each sip is a perfect excuse to spend it with those you love. Precious.
Peter Sisseck crafts an incredibly moreish single-vineyard Fino Sherry that offers hallmark green apple peel and blanched almonds with more intriguing notes of salt dough, preserved lemon and cumin seeds, complemented by a lovely floral note. Bone-dry and saline-driven, this is a richer style of Fino with a refreshing mineral edge. A fabulously versatile wine, enjoy as an apéritif with olives, grilled nuts and pretzels; pair with Manchego or feta cheese; or simply have it pride of place at your table as an alternative white with Christmas dinner. ¡Salud!
Daniel Sensini
Katie Rooney
£49.95 (75cl)
£39.95 (75cl)
I’ve always enjoyed Boxing Day; the seasonal cheer still lingers, the extended family have hopefully found their way home, and a calmness settles over the day. Most importantly, the food remains just as good, especially if you love a leftovers sandwich. Finding a wine to match the array of flavours I’m willing to cram into a sandwich requires a bottle with just as much stuffing. Thankfully, Ridolfi’s 2018 Brunello provides just this. Wonderfully lifted red cherries and blueberries combine with leather, Christmas spice and tar. Succulent and complex, it matches beautifully with festive flavours.
The Propósitos Chenin Blanc is just a little bit different, making it perfect for sharing and discovering with friends over the festive period. This wonderfully distinctive wine is from the Tunuyán district of Uco Valley, where vines are planted in the foothills of the Andes, at 1200 metres above sea level, imparting beautiful freshness. Made from a single plot of Chenin Blanc planted in 1970, it has real elegance and complexity, with flavours of white fruit, nutmeg, delicate herbal notes and a mineral, almost saline finish. Try it with herby roast chicken.
Adam Ketteringham
Laiyan Man
Sales Manager Puligny-Montrachet Domaine François Carillon 2023
E-commerce Manager Mucchietto Primitivo IGT Puglia 2024
£91.50 (75cl)
£14.95 (75cl)
Christmas is all about tradition in our family, and when it comes to what’s in the glass, it’s hard to beat a classic white Burgundy. I've long been a fan of Domaine François Carillon. This family-run estate produces beautifully traditional wines that perfectly capture the character of PulignyMontrachet, combining freshness, ripe fruit, gentle texture and a lovely mineral edge. François Carillon's village PulignyMontrachet is the estate's signature wine and a fantastic example of why this part of Burgundy is so revered. Perfect to see you through some delicious, fresh seafood and into the main event of Christmas Dinner!
Our customers have exceptionally good taste, which is why Mucchietto Primitivo is so well-loved and a best seller on the website. It's not hard to understand why: it’s simply delicious. Primitivo may not have the high profile of Sangiovese or the popularity of Pinot Grigio, but it has plenty of character. The ripe cherry and sweet spice on the nose are ref lected on the palate along with dark chocolate notes. Personally, I think it can be enjoyed year-round. I like it slightly chilled in the summer, and it pairs well with heartier dishes in the cooler months.
Buyer Champagne Guy de Chassey, Grand Cru, Brut NV
Buying Brunello di Montalcino Ridolfi 2018
Offers and Buying Fino Viña Corrales Pago, Balbaina NV (Ex-Cellar 2022)
Shop Manager Ayr Propósitos Chenin Blanc Michelini i Mufatto 2021
Scan to view all wines
VOL.03 | CHRISTMAS 2026
INDEPENDENT WINE MERCHANTS - 1780
THE CROWD PLEASER
THE FESTIVE FOOD & WINE SURVIVAL GUIDE
Every Flavour Deserves a Sparkle
The Art of Pairing
Most wine pairing advice is far more complicated than it needs to be. You don't need a sommelier qualification to choose the right bottle. If in doubt, these six simple ideas will steer you in the right direction.
A long-held favourite for Christmas celebrations
LOOK FOR BALANCE
If there is one time of the year when abundance and indulgence become irresistible, it’s Christmas. Just about every flavour and texture ends up on the table. Roast turkey, smoked salmon, creamy cheeses, buttery canapés, festive pastries, Christmas pudding and even the occasional leftover sandwich all make an appearance.
The best pairings feel balanced, with the wine having the same intensity as the food. Neither the food nor the wine should dominate — the ideal pairing allows both to shine. Keep in mind some reds are lighter than whites, and some whites are richer than reds.
THINK ABOUT THE SAUCE People often focus on the main ingredient, but the sauce is usually the stronger influence. Chicken in a creamy mushroom sauce calls for a very different wine than the same chicken served with tomato or lemon sauces. When choosing a wine, start with the strongest flavour on the plate, not the protein.
Finding one wine to work with all of them isn’t easy, but sparkling wine comes close. Its natural acidity and fine bubbles refresh the palate after richer dishes without overwhelming more subtle flavours. Then there’s the simple fact that Christmas wouldn’t feel quite the same without a little sparkle. Even a humble plate of leftovers feels more festive with a glass of bubbles.
ACIDITY IS YOUR BEST FRIEND If you're ever unsure which bottle to open, look for freshness. Wines with good acidity are incredibly versatile at the table. They refresh the palate and cut through richer dishes. It's one of the reasons Champagne is so good with smoked salmon and even a bowl of crisps.
That’s exactly why we keep coming back to Corney & Barrow Sparkling Blanc de Blancs, Méthode Traditionnelle, NV. It is made exclusively from white grapes, including Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc and Colombard, sourced from vineyards across France. It is produced using the méthode traditionnelle, the same process used in Champagne, widely considered the gold standard for sparkling wine production. The wine spends twelve months ageing on its lees, developing fine, persistent bubbles, with some toastiness and a soft, creamy texture. Alongside the citrus freshness, you’ll find delicate notes of apple and pear, too.
Available in both 75cl bottles and 150cl magnums, it’s perfectly at home for anything from a small family gathering to a bustling New Year’s party.
Perhaps its greatest charm is its versatility. There’s no need to save it for midnight or the first toast. It works just as well with smoked salmon and canapés as it does with Christmas lunch or the inevitable Boxing Day pickings.
£14.50 (75cl), £29.95 (150cl)
TRUST YOUR PALATE
Scan the QR code to discover Corney & Barrow Own Label Sparkling Blanc de Blancs.
Above all, trust your own taste. The best pairing advice in the world won't help if you don't like what's in the glass. If you enjoy Pinot Noir with salmon or prefer white wine with roast beef, that's perfectly fine.
Wine expert, TV personality, and author Olly Smith summed it up perfectly when he said: ‘It smashed the competition out of the park. Complexity, richness and refreshment rarely come in a package that’s so invigorating and enticing.’ That's why so many customers come back to it year after year. It’s the sort of bottle that appears whenever there's something worth celebrating, which, around Christmas, is just about every meal.
LIKE WITH LIKE Some of the most satisfying matches happen when wine f lavours mirror those in food. Think of a creamy white Burgundy with bread sauce, or a savoury Pinot Noir alongside turkey and stuffing. The wine echoes f lavours already on the plate, creating a pairing that feels natural and harmonious.
CONTRAST CAN BE JUST AS DELICIOUS Great pairings don’t always need to match. Some of the most memorable combinations are built on contrast. Sparkling wine lifts rich foods. A touch of sweetness softens spice. Fresh, zesty wines bring balance to creamy dishes.
ESSENTIAL FOOD & WINE
The Art of Hosting: Five Bottles You Can’t Entertain Without A good bottle and perfectly topped crostini are all about keeping pleasure and anticipation at a delicious simmer By Justina Sullivan, Content Coordinator For anyone who takes pleasure in the story of wine, there is a special kind of happiness in knowing that a bottle is much more than just a drink. Wine is flavour, texture, aroma and memory, every bit as alive on the palate as food, and that is what makes pairing it so endlessly exciting. At Christmas, there is another pleasure before any of that even begins: the sight of a few beautiful bottles lined up, their enticing labels waiting to be admired and the wines inside waiting to be opened as friends and family arrive. The year is almost done. There is that lovely mixture of relief, pride and anticipation, with a sense that we have made it here, that the work has been done, and now we are allowed to enjoy ourselves. And often, the best part of hosting happens before the main meal commences. Laughter, fervent chatter, emotion and freedom. At
that moment, nobody wants to sit down at a dinner table and behave. The answer is one perfect mouthful: salty, creamy, crisp, warm, sharp, sweet, a little burst of pleasure that keeps hunger at bay
without interrupting the party. That is why crostini are such brilliant Christmas food. These are
delicious little interruptions, made to be eaten in one hand while the other stays firmly around your glass. So, of course, we start with sparkling: Tissot-Maire Blanc de Noirs Crémant du Jura Brut NV (£17.25/75cl) alongside hot honey, whipped ricotta, pancetta and fried sage, with bubbles and acidity against all that richness, salt and sweetness to keep spirits high. Then pour Chablis Vaillons 1er Cru, Domaine Vincent Dampt 2024 (£35.50/75cl) with hot-smoked salmon, brown-butter aioli and pickled fennel. Creamy, smoky and bright, with the Chablis bringing the whole bite into focus. For the light red, open Fleurie La Madone 2024 (£17.95/75cl) with melted Brie, spiced cranberry and pistachio: soft, yielding cheese, bright festive fruit and a little crunch in one gloriously Christmassy mouthful. The Fleurie brings its own juicy, redfruited freshness to the cranberry
while its lightness keeps the richness of the Brie feeling lifted rather than heavy. Next comes Langhe Nebbiolo Pian delle Mole Giulia Negri 2023 (£27.95/75cl) with rare roast beef, truffled horseradish cream and crispy shallots. Its fragrant red fruit, earthy depth and fine tannins are a natural partner for the beef; the truffle catches the wine’s savoury, autumnal character, while those crisp shallots leave a little sweetness behind. Finally, SaintAlbert Pacherenc du Vic-Bilh (£20.95/75cl) with Gorgonzola Dolce, fig jam and thyme: honeyed, salty, creamy and just decadent enough to feel like dessert without ending the evening. A fitting note on which to linger. Scan the QR code for all five recipes and links to the wines on our blog.
VOL.03 | CHRISTMAS 2026
INDEPENDENT WINE MERCHANTS - 1780
THE MEMORY OF CHAMPAGNE
From One Generation to the Next Didier Depond President of Champagne Salon & Champagne Delamotte Didier Depond reflects on four decades spent at the heart of Champagne and its remarkable ability to create traditions and lasting connections.
I have had the great privilege, for the past forty years, of experiencing Champagne and the Champagne region day after day. And I have had the immense additional privilege of leading Salon and Delamotte. There are so many memories. But perhaps what has struck me most throughout all these years is seeing what happens in people’s eyes when you mention the word ‘Champagne’. Immediately, a smile appears. Their eyes begin to sparkle. Their words become freer, more joyful. As though the very word Champagne could instantly awaken an emotion, a memory, a desire to share. Naturally, Salon inspires dreams. It remains beyond the reach of many, and that is also part of what makes it so exceptional. But Delamotte brings an enormous amount of happiness too. I have often seen consumers, and even members of my own family, turn to Delamotte because it is more accessible, while offering that taste which is so deeply, unmistakably Champagne. The Champagne of the people of Champagne, one might say. And perhaps that is what touches me most after forty years: the ability of Champagne, whatever the cuvée, to immediately create pleasure, connection and joy. Its strength lies not only in its taste, terroir or craftsmanship. It also lies in the intimate relationship it creates with those who drink it. Each bottle can become the witness to a special moment: a birth, a wedding, an achievement, an encounter, a celebration with friends, or simply a shared moment of happiness. And each person creates their own story with Champagne, a story they may carry with them throughout their life. If, on a happy occasion, you discover a bottle of Delamotte or Salon, and that bottle becomes associated with that special memory, there is a good chance that you will want to return to it for the important moments of your life. Over time, that preference may become a family tradition: your children will discover it in turn, and perhaps one day, your grandchildren will as well. It is not simply consumed; it is passed down from one generation to the next. Intimacy, emotion, memory and transmission: perhaps this is the true secret behind the success of Champagne.
Champagne Delamotte Blanc de Blancs NV Chardonnay 15% off: £53.12 / 75cl 15% off: £106.25 / 150cl Were £62.50 / £125.00
Champagne Delamotte Rosé Brut NV Chardonnay/Pinot Noir 15% off: £67.15 / 75cl Was £79.00
Champagne Delamotte Brut NV Chardonnay/Pinot blend 15% off: £38.21 / 75cl
Scan the QR code to enjoy our Christmas offer
15% off: £73.52 / 150cl Were £44.95 / £86.50
FUN CHAMPAGNE FACTS
49 Million Bubbles in One Bottle of Champagne
Champagne Didn't Invent Bubbles
Did you know a single bottle of Champagne can release around 49 million bubbles? Created during the second fermentation, dissolved carbon dioxide rushes to the surface when the cork is popped, carrying delicate aromas with it. Pressure inside the bottle can reach around six times atmospheric pressure, enough to send a cork flying at up to 50 mph. Yet many producers prefer a gentle sigh to a dramatic pop, believing it better preserves the wine’s flavours and fine bubbles. Whisper or bang, every bottle is a remarkable feat of winemaking — and one of wine’s most iconic sights and sounds.
Champagne may have made sparkling wine famous, but the earliest recorded example was produced in Limoux, near Carcassonne, in southern France. Records show that monks at the Abbey of Saint-Hilaire were making naturally sparkling wine in 1531, long before Champagne became synonymous with bubbles. Of course, Champagne would go on to refine these early discoveries and become the benchmark for sparkling wine around the world. But the next time someone claims Champagne invented fizz, you can impress them with a little wine trivia from the foothills of the Pyrenees.
VOL.03 | CHRISTMAS 2026
INDEPENDENT WINE MERCHANTS - 1780
The Smart Christmas Cellar Starts Here FOR EFFORTLESS HOSTING
From long family lunches to lively late-night parties, the right wines help make every festive moment even more memorable. To take the guesswork out of Christmas entertaining, we have assembled five mixed cases, each designed with a different occasion in mind. Whether you are looking for trusted favourites or bottles that take you a little further off the beaten track, there’s a case to suit every celebration. As a bonus, buying a mixed case is always a little kinder to the purse than buying the bottles individually.
FOR FESTIVE TRADITIONS
C&B TEAM FAVOURITES
YOUR CHRISTMAS TABLE
SIGNATURE COLLECTION
Case of 12:
Case of 6:
Case of 6:
Price: £185 / Worth: £225
Price: £215 / Worth: £229
Price: £365 / Worth: £413
THE PARTY CASE Case of 12: Price: £169 / Worth: £188
C&B OWN LABEL CHRISTMAS CASE Can’t decide? Stock up with the Corney & Barrow Own Label Christmas Case Case of 12: £165 / Worth: £189 A selection of our favourite Own Label wines to enjoy throughout the festive season. Made exclusively for Corney & Barrow by some of the world’s leading producers, these wines are shaped in close partnership with our team, offering authentic expressions of classic wine styles at outstanding value.
VOL.03 | CHRISTMAS 2026
INDEPENDENT WINE MERCHANTS - 1780
The Wines You Never Expected From Corney & Barrow You don’t judge a wine merchant by what it chooses to sell, but by what it chooses to buy
Peter Sisseck The Maverick
Peter Sisseck has no shortage of admirers. After over 40 years in wine, he is now regarded as one of the world’s most influential winemakers. Peter has enjoyed phenomenal success, but you would be forgiven if you had never heard of him. You may, however, be more familiar with Pingus, a wine that regularly appears on the most-wanted lists of cult wines alongside DRC, Petrus, Salon and other dreamy bottles.
Most people know Corney & Barrow for the great names of Burgundy, Bordeaux and Champagne. And rightly so. But while we love the classics as much as anyone, our buyers are just as eager to source wines that take us beyond the familiar. They come from places you may never have visited or are made from grapes you may struggle to pronounce. They may not have the recognition of the world’s famous labels, but they are too interesting to ignore. By Christine Bertoli, Copywriter Arbois Savagnin Ouillé 2022 Domaine du Pélican Welcome to the Jura: a land of green pastures and rolling hills, celebrated for its Comté cheese and its kaleidoscope of wines unlike any others in France. While the Savagnin grape is best known for the Jura’s distinctive Vin Jaune, this wine is bone-dry and produced in a non-oxidative style. The practice of ouillage involves topping up the barrels as wine evaporates, the so-called ‘angel’s share’, which helps keep the wine fresh. Expect lemon peel, honey, almond blossom and a long saline finish, particularly well-suited to shellfish. (£41.95/75cl)
Naranjo Torontel Loncomilla 2024 Maturana Wines Orange winemaking draws on ancient traditions dating back some 5,000 years to what is now Georgia, widely regarded as the birthplace of wine. From hand-tended, 80-year-old+ vines deep in Chile’s Maule Valley, this wild-fermented orange wine is made by giving the pink-skinned Torontel grape extended skin contact. The result is bold and honeyed, with notes of sourdough and marmalade. Its tannic grip, reminiscent of unsweetened iced tea, and bright natural acidity make it a
brilliant match for a variety of foods, including those that can wrong-foot other wine styles. It’s a joy with dark chocolate mousse or Brussels sprouts. (£16.95/75cl)
Öreg Király Dűlő Sweet Szamorodni Furmint Barta Tokaj 2021 Furmint is the principal grape of Tokaj in Hungary, the source of the great sweet wines celebrated across Europe since the 17th century and famously known as the ‘Wine of Kings, King of Wines.’ The unpronounceable ‘Szamorodni’, meaning ‘as it comes’, is a traditional Tokaj style made from whole bunches containing a natural mix of healthy and botrytised berries. From the historic Öreg Király Dűlő hillside, this wine combines succulent fruit with refreshing acidity. With mature hard cheeses such as Gouda, it really comes into its own: quince, dried apricot and honey echo the cheese’s caramel, butterscotch and hazelnut notes. (£30.95/50cl) Discover something unexpected. Scan the QR code to explore these wines and shop the collection.
Saint-Émilion: A Legacy in Stone and Vines Saint-Émilion takes its name from Émilion, an 8th-century baker from Brittany famed for his compassion. Legend says he secretly smuggled bread to the poor — until his miserly master caught him. Asked what he was carrying, Émilion opened his cloak to reveal that the loaves had miraculously turned to pieces of wood. Seeking a quieter life, he travelled south to Ascumbas, near Roman Burdigala — today’s Bordeaux — and lived as a hermit in a limestone cave said to have been carved by his own hand. Tales of his miracles and generosity soon drew pilgrims from across the region. After his death, the settlement took Émilion’s name. His cave and spring still lie beneath the town’s Market Square, surrounded by legends of healing, love and fertility. The religious communities that grew around his hermitage later became guardians of the surrounding vineyards, helping shape the landscape — and the exceptional wines — for which Saint-Émilion is celebrated today. Corney & Barrow St-Émilion Grand Cru Ets J-P Moueix 2018 Tertre Roteboeuf Grand Cru St-Émilion 2018
The father of wine critics, Robert Parker, described the inaugural 1995 vintage as ‘one of the greatest and most exciting young red wines I have ever tasted’. He awarded it 96 points, the highest score a Spanish wine had ever achieved at the time. Overnight, the tiny production of just a few hundred cases was propelled from obscurity onto the world stage. So who is the man behind the label? Born in Denmark in 1962, Peter grew up in a family with deep ties to viticulture. His uncle influenced his early interest in winemaking, and Peter went on to receive formal training in Copenhagen and Bordeaux. After gaining experience in France, a promising future in California awaited him. Instead, he took an unexpected turn. In the early 1990s, Peter travelled to Ribera del Duero and discovered a viticultural heritage on the brink of disappearance: old, low-yielding Tempranillo vines scattered across tiny, neglected plots. Where many saw decline, Peter saw promise. In 1995, he founded Dominio de Pingus. Investing in neglected vines in an unfashionable corner of Spain was a bold gambit, but one that would transform Ribera del Duero’s reputation. That instinct has shaped his career ever since.
‘I have been involved in wine since 1983. I have never found it more fun than it is now.’ From Pingus came PSI, a collaboration with local growers established in 2006. More than a wine, it was a commitment to preserving old vineyards and supporting the families who farm them. Good news for those without a collector’s budget, PSI offers a more accessible introduction to Peter’s world. France, meanwhile, was always part of Peter’s story. As he puts it, winemaking in Saint-Émilion is ‘like playing in the Premier League’. So when Château Rocheyron came onto the market in 2010, Peter took on another challenge, acquiring a dusty estate and setting himself the ambitious goal to elevate it to grand cru classé status. His latest venture has taken him even further afield, to Jerez in southern Spain, a move he frames with characteristic mischief: ‘What’s a red wine dude doing in Andalucía?’ That dude is making a single-vineyard Fino Sherry called Viña Corrales. Then again, Peter has never seemed drawn to the obvious. There is method to this apparent madness. Whether in Ribera del Duero, Saint-Émilion or Jerez, Peter gravitates towards places with untapped potential where he can express his extraordinary and frequently unconventional vision. Two threads bind the whole ensemble: limestone and a commitment to organic and biodynamic practices, glued together by Peter’s youthful enthusiasm and indefatigable energy. 6 Read more about Peter Sisseck’s wines and discover a bottle from one of wine’s true original thinkers.
VOL.03 | CHRISTMAS 2026
A Glass of Clues
INDEPENDENT WINE MERCHANTS - 1780
EARNED OVER GENERATIONS
Put your wine knowledge to the test with our festive crossword
Our Portfolio Built on Trust Established in 1780, Corney & Barrow is one of the oldest independent wine merchants in the UK. Wherever possible, we forge exclusive relationships with our producers, many of whom we have been representing for decades, often across generations. Built on shared values and mutual trust, these relationships are at the heart of everything we do. They are also what make our portfolio unique. Scan the QR code to explore the producers we are proud to represent.
More Info
Festive Tastings ACROSS 1. Botrytised sweet wine appellation south of Bordeaux. (9) 4. Late-ripening Bordeaux variety traditionally used in small proportions. (5, 6) 7. Australia's signature red grape. (6) 9. A six-litre bottle, as named in Champagne and Burgundy. (10) 10. High-acid aromatic variety at home from the Mosel to Alsace. (8) 14. Parent of Cabernet Sauvignon and a key grape of the Loire and Right Bank. (8, 5) 16. Bordeaux white variety especially susceptible to noble rot. (8) 18. Mediterranean variety known as Garnacha in Spain. (8) 20. Small Right Bank appellation famed for Merlot-led wines. (7) 23. The gas primarily released during wine fermentation. (6, 7) 24. The country that produces Tokaji wine. (7) 25. Collective wine term for countries including Chile, Argentina, Australia and the US. (3, 5) 26. The Greek god of wine. (8) 27. The speed, in miles per hour, at which a cork can fly out of a Champagne bottle. (5)
DOWN
EDINBURGH Winter Tasting Wednesday 11 th November
AYR Winter Wine Fair Tuesday 17 th November
NEWMARKET Christmas Tasting Friday 13 th November
ABERDEEN Winter Tasting Thursday 19 th November
AYR Festive Favourites Friday 13 th November 2026 & Saturday 12 th December
LONDON London Christmas Tasting Tuesday 24 th & Wednesday 25 th November
LEEDS Christmas Tasting Thursday 26 th November
LONDON The Paulée Series | Autumn Thursday 26 th November
GLASGOW Glasgow Winter Tasting Thursday 26 th November
AYR Sweet Dreams are Made of Cheese Friday 11 th December
Visit corneyandbarrow.com to reserve your place
1. The patron saint of winemakers. (5, 7) 2. Puligny-Montrachet domaine among C&B exclusivities. (8) 3. Bone-dry sparkling style with no dosage added. (4, 6) 5. The fear of wine. (10) 6. Spain's early-ripening red grape, central to Rioja and Ribera del Duero. (11) 8. Champagne house in Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, and a longstanding C&B name. (9) 11. Sparkling-wine style made entirely from white grapes. (5, 2, 6) 12. The pest that destroyed many French vineyards in the late 19th century. (10) 13. Historic Kümmel name with a place in the C&B Christmas gift guide. (11) 14. The type of wine Marilyn Monroe is said to have famously bathed in. (9) 15. Loire variety capable of dry, sparkling and lusciously sweet wines. (6, 5) 17. White grape of Chablis, Montrachet and Blanc de Blancs Champagne. (10) 18. The country with the earliest known evidence of wine production. (7) 19. Late-ripening Piedmontese grape behind Barolo and Barbaresco. (8) 21. The Roman god of wine. (7) 22. The number of gallons of wine in a barrel. (5)
A SHOT AGAINST THE COLD Schnapps comes into its own during the colder months. It may be served neat as a shot, enjoyed after dinner as a traditional digestif, raised après-ski to warm cold hands and spirits, or poured into mulled wine as a Schuss, a shot of spirit. In this festive serve, Wolfschmidt Kümmel adds aromatic spice and a distinctive caraway character to the comforting flavours of warm red wine and citrus.
Scan the QR code for the completed crossword.
GET IN TOUCH LONDON HEAD OFFICE 020 7265 2400 sales@corneyandbarrow.com
AYR 01292 267 000 ayr@corneyandbarrow.com
EDINBURGH 01875 321 921 edinburgh@corneyandbarrow.com
NEWMARKET 01638 600 000 newmarket@corneyandbarrow.com
LEEDS 01133 400 380 leeds@corneyandbarrow.com
INGREDIENTS 1 bottle (750ml) fruity red wine 1 orange, sliced 2 cinnamon sticks 4 cloves 2 star anise 2 tbsp soft brown sugar (or honey), to taste 50–100ml Wolfschmidt Kümmel
METHOD 1.Add the wine, orange, cinnamon, cloves, star anise and sugar to a saucepan. 2.Warm gently over a low heat for 15 - 20 minutes. Do not let it boil. 3.Remove the spices and orange slices. 4.Pour into heatproof mugs and finish each serving with a generous Schuss of Wolfschmidt Kümmel. 5.Serve immediately while piping hot.