East Meon Flower Festival is back in all its blooming glory

Zoe Gater

Don’t miss your chance to see beautiful blooms and flourishing florets at East Meon Flower Festival, when it returns this May 2026.

For four days, the beautiful Grade I-listed All Saints’ Church will be dressed to the nines with stunning floral displays for the East Meon Flower Festival – transforming the historic 11th-century building into a celebration of creativity, nature and community.

Taking place from Friday 22 to Monday 25 May, this year’s festival will feature more than 20 floral-themed displays, each created by and representing the groups and societies that make up village life in East Meon.

From farming communities and the cricket team to cold-water swimmers, allotment holders, beekeepers and the local history society, the displays will reflect the village’s rich character and diversity.

Wherever possible, arrangements will use locally sourced, environmentally friendly materials.

While celebrating creativity and community, the festival also highlights a serious purpose. As a unique and very old building, All Saints’ requires constant care, and urgent repair and renovation work is needed; and proceeds from the Flower Festival will directly support some vital projects.

Alongside the floral displays, visitors can enjoy delicious teas, a local artists’ exhibition in the church hall, live jazz, daily history tours, and the melodic bells pealing over the weekend, too. Tickets from ticketsourced.co.uk/eastmeonflowerfestival2026.

And, as a special one-off event, the Octavus Choir will perform on Saturday 23 May at 7pm in the church, with a floral-themed programme of music and poetry.

Tickets sold separately and include a glass of wine! Tickets at tinyurl.com/bdekfrz9.

Great Pottery Throw Down star to host exhibition in Guildford

Zoe Gater

Fired Legacies: The Ceramic World of Rich Miller explores British colonial history at Watts Gallery until Sunday 28 June 2026.

From crowns to lampposts, piggybanks to rum bottles, ceramicist Rich Miller uses familiar objects and symbols to ask questions that spark conversations.

Fired Legacies: The Ceramic World of Rich Miller is the first solo exhibition by the artist, who is also well-known as a judge on Channel 4’s Great Pottery Throw Down.

More than 100 works feature in the exhibition which delves into his own mixed-race heritage and explores British colonial history, examining the complexities of migration and lasting cultural influences that have, for many years, inspired the artist’s practice.

While respecting their beauty, Rich considers other resonances: the crown and its links with empire, the lamppost and the recent ‘Raise the Colours’ campaign. His work asks questions that are intended to spark conversations around these issues, while promising no answers.

Rich said: “Much of my work explores British colonial history and my place in it. I have a real fascination with social history and the way we interact with objects, and the hierarchical structures that exist. All of the individual pieces I make ask the questions that I’ve always been thinking myself, such as how was British society formed, how was the wealth created and why am I, as a mixed-race person, here in Britain?”

“I’m delighted to be presenting this work at Watts Gallery, a place I’ve known for years. As a student in Farnham, we visited Watts Chapel and the Gallery, and when Watts Gallery was restored in 2010, Froyle Tiles was commissioned to create tiles for several spaces.”

A graduate of Surrey Institute of Art and Design (now UCA), he spent 20 years of his career at the helm of Froyle Tiles, the bespoke Surrey-based stoneware tile company.

All work is for sale with profits supporting the Art for All community learning programme.

Powerful psychological drama Duet for One comes to Oxford this May

Zoe Gater

A raw and intimate drama exploring identity, illness and resilience comes to the Old Fire Station from 27 to 31 May 2026.

What happens when the thing that defines you disappears? That question lies at the heart of Duet for One, arriving at the Old Fire Station this May.

This intimate and psychologically charged play follows Stephanie, a celebrated violinist forced to confront life after a life-altering diagnosis.

As her world begins to shift, Stephanie enters therapy. What unfolds is a series of intense, probing conversations that blur the boundaries between control, truth and self-discovery.

Set entirely within a consulting room, the production strips everything back to language, emotion and the subtle power dynamics between patient and therapist.

In a compelling twist, the role of Dr Feldmann is shared across the run by two actors – one younger, one older – creating nuanced shifts in authority and tone. The result is a production in which no two performances feel quite the same.

At its core is a deeply personal performance. The actor playing Stephanie, who lives in Watlington, draws on her own experience of chronic illness and past mental health struggles. That lived experience lends powerful authenticity to a story that explores loss, identity and resilience with honesty and care.

Thought-provoking, raw and quietly intense, Duet for One is theatre that asks difficult questions – and lingers long after the final line.

Performances run from 27 to 31 May 2026, with both evening and matinee shows available.

To book, visit the Old Fire Station website or call 01865 263990.

Fleet Pond Society celebrates 50 golden years in 2026

Zoe Gater

Cathy Holden from Fleet Pond Society shares the history of and love for the nature reserve as the society celebrates its 50th anniversary.

This year, Fleet Pond Society celebrates 50 years of caring for Fleet Pond Nature Reserve – an important local SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest) and Hampshire’s largest freshwater lake.

Over these 50 years, hundreds of volunteers have repaired footpaths, installed bridges, jetties, dipping platforms and look-out points. They have dredged silt and managed islands, along with a myriad of other conservation tasks, to keep this beautiful community asset accessible to both wildlife and people.

In 2003, recognition of the volunteers’ outstanding work led to the Society receiving the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service (‘Unsung Heroes’).

And in 2008, University College London carried out a depth survey as part of the OPAL (Open Air Laboratories) project. It showed the pond measured no more than 0.8 metres deep.

As a result, in 2010 the Society launched the ‘Clearwater Campaign’, a partnership between themselves, Hart District Council, Natural England, the Environment Agency, MoD and other interested parties.

Following successful fundraising throughout the community, along with grants and major awards from statutory bodies, dredging began in 2012.

Volunteers then created reed-covered islands from the removed silt. A small group continues to encourage reed growth on these islands, keeping them free from saplings.

The reedbeds and heathland areas form priority habitat, and volunteers work tirelessly to keep them viable – and for the first time, volunteers have recorded Nightjars on the Dry Heath.

Over the summer, the Society organises a range of education and conservation-related activities for local youth groups, including Scouts, Cubs, Beavers, Rainbows and the Boys’ Brigade.

FPS Chairman Jim Storey said: “The past fifty years have shown that there is no limit to the enthusiasm, skill and tireless work of our fantastic volunteers. We could not do it without them. Onwards to the next fifty!”

To learn more, visit fleetpond.org.uk

Star Q&A: Double Michelin-starred chef, Raymond Blanc

Zoe Gater

Liz Nicholls chats food, festivals & more with Raymond Blanc OBE who stars at Blenheim Palace Food Festival in May…

Bonjour! What’s your first festival memory?

A beautiful festival du vin in the Jura in France. It was about community, no excess, no ego, just people enjoying food, culture and each other. Festivals are about people coming together. At Blenheim and Pub In the Park, I’ll demonstrate simple food – beautiful, tasty, delicious, with heart!

Who are your favourite musicians?

Jacques Belle was my first love, Francis Cabrera, Carla Bruni… French music from the soul! I also love British music, blues and rock. I love Amy Winehouse, such a beautiful soul.

You’ve said being ‘exiled’ here in England in the 1970s was awful, with terrible food! Any Brit food faves you’ve grown to love?

Brown sauce! I used to hate it but I fell in love with it on a fishing trip… HP even awarded me a silver bottle as I do so much to promote it, haha!

Anything you don’t eat..? Andouillette perhaps?

I’m a Frenchman, Liz, I eat everything! When we grew up you ate or went straight to bed! British food is much better nowadays but overcooked food is the worst. And sliced white bread?! Dis-gus-TING! It’s nutritionally rubbish, do not eat it!

Le Manoir reopens next year – what can we all expect?

Magic! Modernity, creativity and memorable experiences

Hospitality is a high-stress industry. How do you look after your mental health?

As a young man, I faced setbacks – losing my job, being in a foreign country. But I never let that break my pursuit of excellence. I wanted to be part of a team that created a positive, creative kitchen environment.

Later on, during my battle with Covid, I spent a month and a half in hospital on the brink of death. I focused on survival, meditation and positive thinking.

Despite being surrounded by suffering, people dying, I concentrated on breathing, light and gratitude.

The experience taught me surrender and the importance of mental and physical care. I exercise every morning, breathing, stretching, and swimming once or twice a week.

Mental health requires personal work and support from trusted people, friends, mentors, and parents. Speaking out is the first step. I have created a safe, kind space for my team.

If you had a magic wand what would you wish for?

For France to win the World Cup! Also, that we can learn from the past, enjoy more empathy, and grow a world that’s more harmonious. I’m a romantic dreamer.

Are we going to have a great summer?

My grandfather taught me to read the signs in nature… And the red berries on the holly tree show that the weather will be extraordinary.

Images © Poppy Thorpe

A season of stunning performances, classic picnics and Champagne moments at Garsington Opera 2026

Zoe Gater

From unmissable performances and elegant afternoon teas overlooking the iconic Wormsley Cricket Ground to leisurely walks through the beautiful walled garden and deer park, there’s so much to enjoy at Garsington Opera 2026 as it returns for a spectacular summer season.

Each summer, the rolling Chiltern Hills provide a spectacular backdrop for one of the country’s most enchanting cultural experiences: the annual festival at Garsington Opera.

Running from Wednesday 27 May to Thursday 23 July 2026, this year’s season promises drama, romance and razor-sharp wit in equal measure.

And opening the festival is a brand-new production of La traviata, Verdi’s devastating tale of love and sacrifice.

With its soaring arias and emotional intensity, it remains one of the most beloved operas in the repertoire – and in Garsington’s intimate setting, audiences can expect every glance and gesture to resonate.

Next comes the much-anticipated revival of Der Rosenkavalier, first seen here in 2021 and widely hailed as one of the finest interpretations of the opera in the past half-century. Richard Strauss’s sumptuous score and bittersweet storytelling are brought vividly to life, balancing opulence with aching humanity.

Baroque lovers are in for a treat with a new production of Il ritorno d’Ulisse in Patria (The Return of Ulysses), Monteverdi’s profound meditation on loyalty, identity and homecoming.

The acclaimed creative partnership of John Caird and Laurence Cummings reunites following their triumph with Orfeo in 2022, promising a staging that is both musically rich and theatrically compelling.

Bringing the season to a sparkling close is The Importance of Being Earnest, composer Gerald Barry’s gloriously irreverent take on Oscar Wilde’s classic comedy. Directed in a new production by Jack Furness, this modern masterpiece delivers dazzling wit, anarchic energy and musical brilliance.

With world-class casts, a stunning countryside setting and a reputation for artistic excellence, Garsington Opera’s 2026 season looks set to be unforgettable.

For more information or to book, visit garsingtonopera.org.

Astrology & Tarot for May 2026

Zoe Gater

What’s in store for you in May 2026? Melanie Harding, founder of Soul Healing Guidance, offers her new monthly guides for all signs…

Aries (March 21–April 19)

You’re often quick to act, to move, to decide, Aries, but the Full Moon at the start of the month asks you to pause and look more closely at what’s being shared. Finances, yes, but also energy, effort, and expectation. Where is there imbalance, even if it’s subtle?

As Mercury joins the Sun in Taurus on the 2nd, attention turns toward value, what you have, what you’re building, and whether it actually reflects your priorities. There’s potential here, but it asks for intention. Not everything that looks like opportunity is meant to be taken. Around the 4th, there’s a pull toward excess or overreach.

Notice what drives that. Is it desire, or distraction? The New Moon on the 16th opens a door around income or self-worth, but what begins here needs grounding. From the 17th, life speeds up again. The 18th strengthens your drive. But momentum isn’t direction. Are you moving with purpose or habit?

Tarot card: The Hanged Man

There may be a pause here that shifts how you see something. What once felt like it needed action might now ask to be looked at differently. There can be value in not moving immediately, even if that isn’t your usual instinct.

Taurus (April 20–May 20)

You’re known for steadiness Taurus, for building slowly and with care, yet the Full Moon on the 1st
brings relationships into sudden focus. Something becomes clearer now about commitment, truth, or what is no longer avoidable. What are you ready to acknowledge? With the Sun in your sign, attention returns to you, your needs, your direction.

Mercury joins on the 2nd, helping you speak more directly, especially where decisions have been forming quietly. There’s honesty required here, not just agreement.

The New Moon on the 16th asks how you are shaping your identity now. Is it rooted in truth or habit?

From the 17th, financial matters open up, offering opportunity or improvement, but only if you ask for it.

Mars enters your sign on the 18th, increasing energy and urgency. You may feel ready to act without hesitation, but are you responding from clarity or discomfort with stillness? Movement is powerful, but only when it is aligned with what you actually want.

Tarot card: Five of Cups

There may be a moment of noticing what hasn’t gone quite as expected. And while something feels absent, there is still something present in the background that hasn’t been fully recognised yet. What might you still be overlooking?

Gemini (May 21–June 21)

You tend to move quickly through ideas, rarely staying still for long Gemini, yet the Full Moon on
the 1st marks a quiet ending in your working life. Something completes, whether visible or internal,
and space begins to open. Do you notice what is finishing, or are you already moving ahead?

Mercury shifts into a quieter part of your chart on the 2nd, encouraging reflection before action. Not
everything is ready to be spoken yet.

The New Moon on the 16th brings inner clarity, though it may arrive softly.

From the 17th, your voice strengthens again. Conversations carry influence, and opportunities open through what you say. But which doors are actually aligned?

On the 19th, there’s a shift in perspective available, if you’re willing to see differently.

Mars behind the scenes from the 18th suggests progress is still forming out of sight. Can you trust what is developing, even without proof? Not all movement is visible, and not all silence is empty.

Tarot card: Knight of Pentacles

Thoughts may slow slightly here, becoming more deliberate than scattered. What you choose to focus on now might benefit from consistency rather than speed. Where does steadiness begin to feel more useful than urgency?

Cancer (June 21–July 22)

You often feel before you understand Cancer, sensing emotional shifts beneath the surface and the
Full Moon on the 1st brings something into expression within love or creativity. Something may
need to be said, or acknowledged, but is it rooted in now, or carried from before?

Mercury joins the Sun on the 2nd, drawing you outward into connection and social exchange.

The New Moon mid-month supports reconnection, offering a sense of belonging or renewed participation. Yet your need for retreat remains just as strong.

From the 17th, inner space becomes important again, even as invitations increase.

By the 18th, attention from others intensifies, and you may feel both seen and overwhelmed. Where do you hold your centre when life becomes louder?

The Full Moon on the 31st brings a quieter turning point. Something habitual is ready to be released, not through force, but awareness. What pattern are you finally ready to loosen, not because you must, but because you no longer need it?

Tarot card: Ace of Wands

There can be a small but noticeable stirring beneath the surface of feeling. Something may be
beginning again, even if it’s not fully formed yet. What might be trying to take shape quietly in the
background?

Leo (July 23–August 22)

Leo, you’re used to stepping forward, leading, being seen, and this month places focus on both ambition and foundation.

The Full Moon on the 1st highlights home or inner stability – what supports you beneath everything else?

Mercury joins the Sun early in the month, bringing conversations around direction and opportunity. By the 14th, something can be negotiated or agreed upon, but clarity is essential. What are you actually agreeing to?

The New Moon on the 16th opens professional doors, though it may require a shift in confidence or approach.

From the 18th, drive increases. You may feel more determined, more focused, but also less willing to pause. Where is this energy taking you?

As the Sun moves into Gemini, attention shifts toward community and connection, expanding your
world again. Yet the month closes with a reminder that intimacy requires presence.

The 31st asks you to slow down and reconnect personally. Achievement matters, but so does what holds you steady when nothing is being performed.

Tarot card: Seven of Swords

There may be something not fully spoken or not fully acknowledged here. Not necessarily through
intent, but through hesitation or timing. What might you already sense but not yet be naming
clearly?

Virgo (August 23–September 22)

You often prefer structure, clarity, and defined steps Virgo, yet this month opens with movement
and possibility.

The Full Moon on the 1st highlights travel or a shift in perspective. Something may complete or expand your view of what is possible.

Mercury joins the Sun on the 2nd, encouraging exploration and broader thinking.

The New Moon on the 16th offers a turning point, perhaps through travel or a new direction in understanding. But is this about escape, or expansion?

From the 17th, practical demands increase, and responsibilities require attention. The balance between
movement and obligation becomes clearer now.

On the 19th, there is an opportunity to shift thinking patterns that have quietly limited you. What belief are you still carrying that no longer fits who you are becoming?

By the end of the month, attention turns inward again, toward rest and reflection. After all the movement, can you allow yourself to pause without needing to justify it?

Tarot card: The Empress

Things may respond more easily when there is less control around them. When pressure softens
slightly, there can be a natural sense of things beginning to grow in their own way. Where could
ease be more effective than effort?

Libra (September 23–October 22)

You naturally seek balance Libra, weighing what is fair, sustainable, and reciprocal, yet the Full
Moon on the 1st brings financial habits into focus. Something becomes visible now around income,
spending, or what you value. But beneath the numbers is a question – what do you actually consider
enough?

Mercury joins the Sun shortly after, turning attention toward shared resources and agreements. Conversations here matter more than they may appear at first.

The New Moon on the 16th introduces a shift in financial flow, support, or exchange. What begins here asks for awareness, not assumption.

From the 18th, your sense of responsibility strengthens, particularly around stability and earning potential. At the same time, visibility increases. You may be seen differently, or more clearly now. But are you presenting yourself as you are, or as you think you should be?

The Sun’s movement later in the month shifts focus toward learning or expansion, but the underlying
theme remains the same, what do you value enough to stand for, without compromise or dilution of
your own needs?

Tarot card: Ten of Wands

There may be a sense of carrying more than feels fully necessary now. Some of this may have built
up gradually over time. What might be ready to be released, even in small ways?

Scorpio (October 23–November 21)

You are no stranger to transformation Scorpio, yet the Full Moon on the 1st places you directly
within it. Something about your identity or direction reaches clarity now, asking what you are ready
to release. Not dramatically, but truthfully. What version of you no longer fits?

The Sun and Mercury move through your relationship sector, reflecting your connections back to you. What you see in others may reveal something unspoken within yourself.

The New Moon on the 16th opens the door to new connection or renewal in partnership, but it requires honesty, not projection.

From the 17th, communication deepens, and conversations carry emotional weight.

The 18th intensifies relational dynamics further, bringing drive and urgency into how you connect. But not everything needs to be controlled or directed to evolve. Where are you trying to shape the outcome instead of experiencing it?

As the month progresses, attention shifts toward practical matters and resources, asking for grounded decision-making. What feels emotionally intense may actually be guiding you toward greater clarity about what you are truly building.

Tarot card: Page of Cups

There may be a softer emotional opening beginning to appear. It doesn’t need to be intense to be
meaningful. What might be starting to surface in a quieter, less defined way?

Sagittarius (November 22–December 21)

You are naturally driven by expansion, movement, and possibility Sagittarius, yet the Full Moon on
the 1st asks for rest rather than momentum. Something internal may need space to settle before you
act. Are you allowing yourself to pause, or resisting it?

As the month unfolds, work and responsibility become increasingly active.

Mercury joining the Sun brings focus to daily structure and practical demands.

The New Moon on the 16th offers a shift in direction, potentially opening opportunity through work or routine. But is this aligned, or simply available?

Around the 4th, there may be a tendency to overextend or push beyond what is sustainable. Notice what drives that urgency.

From the 18th, workload or responsibility intensifies, but so does your capacity to handle it. Still, capacity is not the same as obligation.

As relationships come into focus later in the month, balance becomes essential.

The Full Moon on the 31st brings a moment of boundary awareness.

What are you willing to say no to, even if it disappoints others? Protecting your energy is not withdrawal, it is discernment about what truly deserves your engagement.

Tarot card: Four of Swords

There may be a need to step back slightly, even if only briefly. Things can become clearer when
there is less external noise. What might you notice when you are not pushing forward?

Capricorn (December 22–January 19)

You are often focused on building structure and long-term stability Capricorn, yet the Full Moon on
the 1st brings a lighter energy through connection, creativity, or enjoyment. Something here asks
you to step out of responsibility and into participation. Can you allow ease without questioning its
value?

Mercury joins the Sun early in the month, highlighting themes of love, expression, or creative engagement.

The New Moon on the 16th opens a new beginning in these areas, but it requires openness rather than control.

From the 17th, focus begins to shift toward practical matters again, bringing clarity around work or daily demands.

The 18th strengthens creative drive, but also emotional awareness around what you enjoy versus what you endure.

As the Sun moves into Gemini later in the month, attention turns toward productivity and responsibility.

By the 22nd, there is potential for negotiation or advancement in your professional life. But what are you asking for and does it reflect your worth, or your caution?

The month ends with a quieter tone, reminding you that rest is not absence of progress, but part of how sustainability is built.

Tarot card: The Tower

There may be a shift in something you thought was stable or fixed. While this can feel unsettling, it
can also bring clarity about what is no longer holding in the same way. What might be changing
form rather than simply ending?

Aquarius (January 20–February 18)

Aquarius, you tend to view life from a wider lens, observing patterns and stepping back when
needed, yet the Full Moon on the 1st brings attention to your public role or direction. Something
becomes visible now about how you are seen or recognised. At the same time, your focus shifts
inward toward home and personal foundations.

Mercury joining the Sun highlights domestic matters, space, and emotional grounding.

The New Moon on the 16th supports renewal in your private world, but it also asks what “home” means to you now.

From the 18th, tension may arise within family or living dynamics, requiring presence rather than distance. Not everything can be analysed from afar.

As the Sun moves into Gemini later in the month, connection, creativity, and expression open up again. Communication with others becomes easier, more fluid, more engaging.

Yet the Full Moon on the 31st brings a release through social connection or shared experience.

The question underneath it all is simple but important: where are you truly present, and where are you
observing life instead of fully entering it?

Tarot card: King of Cups

There may be emotional steadiness present, even if things around you are less certain. Feeling
might be more contained than expressed at the moment. Where are you holding emotional space
without needing to act on it.

Pisces (February 19–March 20)

You are often guided by feeling rather than logic Pisces, and the Full Moon on the 1st draws you
intuitively toward expansion, whether through travel, learning, or perspective shifts. Something
opens here, even if only internally.

Mercury and the Sun enhance your communication, encouraging expression and exchange of ideas.

The New Moon on the 16th supports a change in perspective, but it asks whether you are moving toward something, or away from it.

From the 17th, your environment becomes more active, bringing movement, conversation, and increased mental stimulation.

By the 18th, restlessness may rise, along with a desire for change or new experience. Yet not all movement leads to clarity.

Venus highlights connection and affection around the same time, softening emotional tone and supporting closeness in relationships.

As the Sun moves into Gemini later in the month, focus turns toward home and internal grounding.

The Full Moon on the 31st brings attention to career direction or purpose. Something may reach completion or clarity here. The question is whether the next step reflects genuine alignment, or simply the urge to shift because stillness feels uncomfortable.

Tarot card: Three of Pentacles

There may be something developing through shared effort or connection with others. It doesn’t need
to be carried alone. Where might collaboration be more supportive than independence right now?

10 super spring sippers your guests will love

Zoe Gater

Round & About’s wine columnist shares his love of wines and picks out 10 seasonal bottles to (hopefully) sip on in the sunshine…

Spring is in the air, and with that comes thoughts of renewal and revitalisation. 

With these thoughts, and slightly thirstier ones in mind, here are some super spring sippers suggestions.

A rosé worth chasing

First up, a first look at a perennial favourite, the Muga Rosado 2024 (Majestic £14 or £11.50 on mixed six). Another triumph, though the 2024 has a little more colour and a little less acidity, reflecting this small, challenging year. 

Cherries and strawberries dominate with the crisp raspberries and tangy loganberries I’d expected, becoming bit players. The finish is firm, and the mineral content is much more apparent, making it taste drier and linger longer. It’s a small vintage, so get it while you can. 

Sauvignon Blanc, but softer

The Te Pa Signature Series Reserve (Co-Op £14.50) is probably the best Sauvignon I’ve had this year. 

Barrel fermentation has calmed this Kiwi Sauvignon’s aggressive tendencies and added a passion fruit and peach tone to the ample rhubarb and gooseberry flavours. It also has a lovely mouthfeel with a velvety texture that adds weight and interest. Serve this with roasted poultry or white fish.

Sicilian sunshine, in a glass

Grillo isn’t a household name, unless your home is in Sicily, in which case it’s as ubiquitous as Michael McIntyre.  Grillo is a heat-loving vine giving whites that combine freshness and complexity. The Terra Organica’s Parcel Series No. 1 Grillo (Ocado £10.40) is a fine example. Beyond its bright, tropical fruit bouquet lies a palate of pineapple, guava, peach and honey, balanced by bright, zesty acidity. Try this with seafood or white fish.

A rare solo star

Varietal Roussanne isn’t a wine you see that often, as it’s invariably paired with Marsanne. Yalumba’s Eden Valley Roussanne (Vinum £16.70) turns in a mesmerising solo performance. 

Straw green, the nose is a complex mix of citrus, herbs, lavender, and camomile. Camomile reappears on the palate, underlying the white peach, lemon, and kumquat fruit with a gentle, savoury bitterness. I tasted this on its own, but it would be delicious with pork or a stir-fry.

Chablis, redeemed

Chablis and I have had our disagreements. These culminated in a spat on Instagram after I (rightly) accused it of being the Richard Burton of wine regions, frittering its talent in exchange for easy money. 

Leaving the shelves of supermarket Chablis, and the supermarket bins where Petit Chablis belongs, and you can find wines worthy of its illustrious name. Take the Louis Jadot Cellier du Valvan 2024 (Amazon £23.99). This beautiful wine is concentrated and plump, yet elegant and precise. The unusual richness is due to the tiny harvest and has morphed the profile from lemon and oyster shells to pears and chalk. 

Creamy, with a hazelnut paste tone, it went down far too easily. So easily that I never got the chance to pair it with the chicken breasts I’d cooked. Next time…

New Zealand Chardonnay at its best

I’ll stick with Chardonnay for my next recommendation; however, the Nautilus Chardonnay 2022 (VINUM £24.40) couldn’t be further from the Chablis. For one, it’s from New Zealand, and stylistically, it’s at the other end of the spectrum. 

I’ve long admired Kiwi Chardonnay, but this is special. Perhaps it’s the coolness of the 2022 vintage, but this is a lighter, subtler incarnation. Mid gold, the bouquet offers inviting aromas of tropical fruit, crushed nuts, and yeast. 

These are in evidence on the palate, where they are joined by lemon freshness and a lovely honey note to the finish. Weighty and rounded, it was a joy on its own but would be superb with meaty fish or game birds.

A case for Gamay

And so, to the reds. Spring is the perfect time for lighter reds that complement foods such as lamb and new season asparagus. Typically, I’ll serve a Burgundy or some other Pinot Noir, but having recently tasted (and bought a case of) the Louis Jadot Bourgogne Gamay (Sainsbury’s £16.75), it’s Gamay all the way. Gamay is an underrated grape. 

Best known for producing Beaujolais, in the right hands, it can be a glorious wine full of black and red berry fruit with a serious intensity and notable, crunchy minerals. 

Black berries, cherries, raspberries and that signature spice to the finish make for a refreshing yet satisfying glassful. Give it an hour or so open, and the floral notes bloom, and it becomes even rounder and fuller.

Bold, bright and joyful

If you’re looking for a red that will bring a smile to your lips as well as a stain, try the Puglia Pop Fico (Perfect Cellar £29.95). This Puglian wine is part of a collection of excellent wines; their Verdeca is a stunning white, which aims to showcase the grape’s character. They’ve certainly achieved that here. 

Produced from the local Susumaniello grape, within its ruby hue lies a cherry and pomegranate-flavoured wine with a mouth-coating feel. Almonds, green herbs and aniseed populate the mid-palate, and there’s a touch of coughdrop sweetness on the finish. This would be marvellous with a plate of charcuterie or a margarita pizza.

Cabernet with character

Cabernet Sauvignon is often referred to as the king of grapes. This noble vine is capable of everything from a subtle, nuanced Bordeaux to a thunderous behemoth in the Napa Valley. Offering a bit of both is the Robert Oatley Signature Series Cabernet (Majestic £15.50 or £14 on a mixed six). Some Aussie Cabernets can be a little sweet or a little too feisty for me, but this cool climate Margaret River one treads a fine line between ripeness and refinement. 

As expected, it’s inky blue-black, and cassis, peppers, earth and chocolate scents rise from the glass. What was less expected was its gentle, almost sedate character.  Blackcurrants, plums, and black cherries drift across the tongue with little pricks of eucalyptus, charcoal and spices adding energy and excitement. Very complete, it’s just the thing for a steak or tomato pasta.

A rioja for special moments

I’ll finish this with another new Rioja, the Beronia 2018 Gran Reserva (Cambridge Wine Merchants £27.99). Gran Reserva Riojas are only made in exceptional years and spend longer in wood than a forest ranger. 

It opens with a majestically opulent bouquet of ripe black fruits, vanilla, smoke, and sage. In the mouth, it’s big, bold, and multilayered. Fresh and dried black berries mingle with plums and spiced cherries, all balanced by a firm structure and juicy acidity. Lovely now, if the sun takes its overcoat off, puts its hat on, this will make for a brilliant accompaniment to barbecued food.

Next time out, I’ll look at summer fizz.

Cheers!

Giles

Win! SmartyPlants plant sensors

Zoe Gater

House plant care sensors from SmartyPlants to win in our May competition…

Love filling your home with greenery but not always sure how to keep it flourishing? The clever gadget might just be your new best friend. SmartyPlants takes the guesswork out of plant care, helping your leafy companions thrive with ease.

Simply place the sensor into the soil and connect it to the free SmartyPlants app. From there, it does all the hard work for you – measuring light levels, temperature, humidity, soil moisture and even nutrients. The data is then translated into clear, easy-to-follow advice sent straight to your smartphone, so you know exactly what your plant needs, and when.

With rechargeable batteries lasting over three months on a single charge and WiFi connectivity allowing you to check in from anywhere, it’s perfect for busy plant lovers or anyone lacking a green thumb.

We’ve teamed up with SmartyPlants to offer one lucky winner the chance to take their plant care to the next level.

Visit smartyplants.co.uk to browse and shop

How to enter

To enter our prize draw, fill in the form below before 12pm on Friday 29 May 2026.

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Where to find more prizes?

Head to our competitions page to find all of our current prizes.

Step into an immersive light experience at Harwell Campus this May

Zoe Gater

Blending art, light and science, Harwell Campus opens a striking walk-through installation to the public, offering a unique, family-friendly experience designed to spark curiosity and wonder.

A luminous fusion of art, light and science will illuminate Harwell Science and Innovation Campus this season as it hosts the public debut of its newest event, Luminarium: Terceradix.

As part of the campus-wide Light Project – a major programme celebrating more than 80 years of world-leading discovery – the experience invites visitors to step inside an immersive, light-filled structure that inspires curiosity for all ages.

The internationally acclaimed Architects of Air hand-craft this monumental inflatable installation, encouraging visitors to slow down and explore at their own pace.

Inside, a network of winding passages and soaring domes glows with vibrant colour as daylight filters through the translucent skin, creating a constantly shifting, immersive environment.

Harwell Science and Innovation Campus stands as one of the UK’s leading hubs for cutting-edge research, home to thousands of scientists, engineers and innovators working across fields including space, energy, health and quantum technologies.

Events like this open that world to the wider community.

The installation runs from Friday 29 to Sunday 31 May 2026, with sessions from 11am to 5pm each day, offering multiple opportunities to experience it over the late May bank holiday weekend.

Tickets cost £5 for adults and £3 for children under 16, with free entry for infants, making it an accessible option for families looking for something a little different during the holidays.

Visit the Harwell Science and Innovation Campus website for more information.