Wine Club: top-flight wines for Christmas from Armit

Mrs Ray has had a minor op on her foot and, temporarily unable to walk, is marooned on the first floor. Don’t worry, I do visit. My dear wife’s exile upstairs does mean, though, that there’s a certain amount of flexibility as to what goes on downstairs. Indeed, I’ve been able to sneak in one or two dear chums for company. They know the drill: back door, shoes off, no ciggies and phones on silent. Several selfless souls even helped me taste these gorgeous, top-flight wines from Armit, chosen specifically with bloody Christmas in mind and each with a gratifying 20 per cent discount.

The 2023 Elena Walch Pinot Grigio (1) is – shock, horror! – a PG of real quality and character. Elena Walch and daughters Julia and Karoline are much admired for their focused approach to sustainable winemaking and their estate is probably the finest in Italy’s Alto Adige.