Last night at our Wine Club, we embarked on a journey that could’ve easily ended in international diplomacy or a mild food coma. Hosted by Mike Boniface from No2 Pound Street, the evening was a brilliant collision of Italian flair and British dairy determination.

7 wines. 4 cheeses. 1 room full of wine enthusiasts.

What could go wrong? As it turns out, not much. Unless you count the internal crisis when deciding which was better: the Freisa or the Terlaner. (Answer: both. Stop asking.)

First up: Prosecco Col Fondo Brut Nature 2023, Adami, Valdobbiadene

This is not your brunch Prosecco. Unfiltered, unfined, with its guts (aka yeast) still lurking in the bottle. Bone-dry and slightly chalky with a bite, this is Prosecco the way nonna used to make. Gut-friendly, tastebud-wakening, and surprisingly punchy. It divided the room faster than politics at Christmas.

Best cheese match: English Pecorino

Soave Classico 2024, Monte Tondo, Veneto

This one had us swooning. From volcanic soils and the ever-underrated Garganega grape, it brought elegance, clarity, and structure. If white wine wore linen, this would be it.

Best cheese match: English Pecorino (again proving sheep > cow?)

Fiano 2024, Caiaffa, Puglia

A noseful of peaches, honeysuckle, and a whisper of wild herbs. Caiaffa’s obsession with insects (seriously, they’re on the label) might make them sound unhinged, but their organic methods make this wine sing. Lush but zippy.

Best cheese match: Baron Bigod (play rich on rich)

Cuvée Terlaner 2024, Cantina Terlan, Alto Adige

Possibly the wine of the night. A cooperative wine with the soul of a Grand Cru. Mostly Pinot Bianco with a splash of Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc, it had tension, weight, finesse, and whispers of green apple and alpine meadows. If this wine could ski, it would do it backwards.

Best cheese match: Old Winchester (age meets elegance)

Chianti ‘Biskero’ 2023, Salchetto, Tuscany

Fresh, fruity, unpretentious. A lunchtime red with just enough edge to handle a pizza and a heated debate about cork vs screwcap. Produced sustainably in Montepulciano with a carbon footprint smaller than your AirPods.

Best cheese match: Burford

Freisa Colli Tortonesi ‘Braghé’ 2022, Claudio Mariotto, Piedmont

The rebel of the night. A close cousin of Nebbiolo but without the 20-year wait time. Floral, a little wild, and surprisingly elegant. A wine that evolves in the glass and turns heads.

Best cheese match: Baron Bigod (again!)

Arcum 2021, L’Arco Vini, Veneto

Big, brooding, and beautiful. A Valpolicella blend with serious Amarone ambitions. Crafted by a winemaker trained under Quintarelli, it’s rich, textured, and layered with cherry, chocolate and quiet confidence.

Best cheese match: Any strong, nutty cheese you love. This wine can handle it.

The Verdict?

The Cuvée Terlaner was crowned best white of the night. The Arcum took best red. But the real winners were us, the tasters. We drank, we swirled, we debated. And we left with slightly rosier cheeks, fuller bellies, and a renewed appreciation for both wine and cheese.

So here’s to the humble pairing of Italian grapes and British curds. Long may it continue.

Until next month: swirl responsibly.