By Rose Murray Brown MW    Published in The Scotsman 3 January 2026

My pick of wineries to watch in the coming year from around the world:

 

Romania: VIILE METAMORFOSIS www.viile-metamorfosis.ro

Impressive quality at inexpensive prices, this Romanian producer (cellar pictured below) is part owned by the Tuscan Antinori family based in Dealu Mare region; their white Feteasca Regala 2023 (£13.95) has elderflower and passionfruit notes with a savoury peppery mouthwateringly fresh and vibrant finish and their Merlot is richly succulent (£12.75 both from St Andrews Wine).

Belgium: WIJNKASTEEL GENOELS-ELDEREN www.wijnkasteel.com

Belgium has over 250 wineries – and Genoels-Elderen based in Riemst is currently the best, founded in 1991.  It’s a beautiful chateau to visit with exceptionally good sparkling and still wines from their 20 hectare vineyard, with Chardonnay grown on limestone.  Check out their oaked Chardonnay Goud 2020 (£49 Central Wines), a very refined sleek lithe example.

England: SUGRUE SOUTH DOWNS www.sugruesouthdowns.com

Irishman Dermot Sugrue (pictured below) & his Croatian wife Ana currently make the best wines in England – both still and sparkling.  With their deft touch, they produce fabulous linear still Chablis-esque Chardonnays like Bonkers V2 (£29 Sugrue South Downs), the best Crouch Valley Pinot Noir to date (£65) and rich complex sparkling like The Trouble with Dreams MV (£49).

France: DOMAINE CLEMENT LAVALLEE

A brother & sister combo to watch in Burgundy, with just six harvests under their belts. Clement (pictured below) and his sister Caroline Lavallee are based in Saint-Bris-le-Vineux with 14.5 hectares across Chablis and Auxerrois – making beautifully precise pure Bourgogne Aligote and a mouthwateringly crisp, layered, energy-packed Chablis 2023 (£34.95 Cork & Cask; Savage Selection).

Hungary: GILVESY www.gilvesy.hu

Hungarian expat architect-turned-winemaker Robert Gilvesy (pictured below) moved back to his homeland about 13 years ago from Canada – and is now rated as one of the best quality producers on Lake Balaton’s north shore.  His stunning winery set high up on the extinct volcanic butte Szent Gyorgy-hegy is surrounded by 15 hectares of organic vineyards; he makes remarkably good Riesling, Olaszrizling and Kekfrankos – and his single vineyard Varadi Furmint 2020 is citric, minerally with fine acidity (£25.95 www.davywine.co.uk).

Spain: RICO NUEVO www.riconuevovinos.es

Small family winery run by 5^th generation Juanan Martin in Cebreros DO, Sierra de Gredos, west of Madrid.  His white Flor de Albihar 2021 (£28 Moreno Wines) made from rare Albillo Real grape with 5 months in tinaja clay jars is beautifully textured and refined and his stunning cherry-fruited floral red Garnacha (£21.95 Cork & Cask) are both exciting wines.

Sicily: GRACI www.graci.eu

Etna-based Graci (see header image) is a high flyer on the north side of the volcano with focus on quality in this wild open landscape, making exquisitely elegant styles from Nerello Mascalese grape in the cool climate at altitude.  Their Etna Rosso 2022 (£26.50 Hic!; £23 Brunswick Fine Wines; £32.50 Tesco) is a blend of three contradas (Muganazzi, Arcuria and Feudo di Mezzo) aged in concrete; rich with spicy intensity.

Greece: ALPHA ESTATE www.alpha-estate.com

The impressive Alpha Estate (pictured below) in Amyndeon in Macedonia, northern Greece, was set up by 2^nd generation vine grower Makis Mavridis and Bordeaux-trained Angelos Latrides – all their wines are well made with a modern edge.  Their Hedgehog Sinle Vineyard Xinomavro 2021 (£19.99 Strictly Wine; £22.99 Maltby & Greek; £24.99 Novel Wines) was a clear favourite at our Greek tasting, with its complex layers of fruit and spice.

South Africa: DAMASCENE www.damascenevineyards.com

A relatively new Cape winery in Elgin, founded 2018.  Founder/owner Jean Smit, previously winemaker at Rustenberg, AA Badenhorst and Boekenhoutskloof has teamed up with David Curl, former owner of Bordeaux’s Chateau Gaby.  Working with old vines from Stellenbosch to Swartland, Smit makes stunningly elegant flinty Swartland Chenin Blanc 2023 (£43.95 Lea & Sandeman).

France: THIERRY ALLEMAND

A clear favourite on our recent Rhone tour.  Thierry Allemand’s son Theo is now taking over this hidden gem of an estate tucked away in the backstreets of Cornas in the northern Rhone.  He makes exceptionally fine Syrah from their old vines.  Cornas Chaillot 2017 (£175 bt Raeburn Fine Wines) – but it is really worth the money for a truly exciting Syrah experience.

Australia: TURON WINES www.turonwines.com.au

Adelaide Hills is becoming renowned for its sleek stylish Chardonnays – and one of the best newcomers to emerge here is Turon Wines.  Turon White spent four years as head winemaker at The Lane Vineyard in the region, before setting up on his own in 2023.  His Hills Range Chardonnay 2022 (£21.29 Justerini & Brooks) is a good entry-level intro to his vibrant textured minimal-intervention wines.

Georgia: MARANI CASRELI

Anyone who meets the wizard winemaker and storyteller Dr Misha Dolidze and tastes his wonderfully pure wines is impressed.  This small Kakheti-based winery founded by a group of doctors in Vachnadziani village makes well-crafted natural wines using traditional Georgian ‘qvevri’ techniques. Love his Khikhvi, but amongst his amber wines Chitistvala 2020 steals the show with its succulent fleshy palate and grippy texture (£18.99 The Georgian Wine Society).

Join Rose’s Escorted Wine Tour to the Vineyards of England 15-20 June 2026 www.rosemurraybrown.com