Bodega Maraňones Picarana 2011, Vinos de Madrid, Spain, £15.20, listed by Wine Bear in Chipping Norton, is one of the top whites The Wine Tipster has tasted so far in 2013 and it is no surprise that this classy wine comes from Spain.

Made from 100% Albillo, the 30 – 70 year old vines are located in the hills of San Martin de Valdeiglesias, where you will also find the Picarana bird at the highest points.

Picarana is a  serious, weighty, complex white, with tropical, citrus, creamy, vanilla flavours, styled by beautiful elegance, a stunning lengthy finish with further development to come.

Although intense, it is not fat, so Picarana can be enjoyed on its own or would easily match with veal in a creamy sauce.

Spain is known for its traditional white Riojas and Albarinos, however look for the grape variety Godello, found in northwestern Spain, which is now being used to produce some perfumed, citrus, complex whites that will develop including Louro do Bolo 2011, Valdeorras, Bodega Rafael Palacios, £20.00, BBR and Valdesil Sobre Lias Godello 2011, Valdeorras, £15.99, Waitrose.  

The Wine Tipster was on yesterday’s BBC Radio Oxford Sunday lunch time show with the lovely Bill Buckley. Bill is a renowned foodie and wine lover and yesterday we went in search of different grapes – not for the wine trade but for us punters. First up was the crowd pleasing dry and fruity white Alma de Blanco Godello 2010, Monterrei, Spain, £7.75, Oddbins, with the very talented Godello on goal scoring form, then followed the delicious, limey, refreshing Charles Smith Kung Fu Girl Riesling 2010, Washington State, USA, £11.70, www.slurp.co.uk, Bibendum made by rockin’ Charles Smith, who used to manage rock bands before becoming a self taught winemaker.

On to the three reds, Tempranillo, the major red variety in Spain is becoming more well know, thanks mainly to playing a major role in the Rioja region and Campo Viejo’s Tempranillo 2010, Rioja, Spain, £8.39, Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Waitrose is full of strawberry, plummy fruit with subtle spice and soft tannins. This is quality easy drinking and a great way to introduce people to Tempranillo. Touriga Nacional is the most important red grape variety in Portugal,

with some preferring Touriga Nacional blended with other grape varieties, whilst others like Touriga Nacional on its own like Tesco’s Finest Touriga Nacional 2010, Alentejo, Portugal, £7.99, which is packed with appealing flavours of damsons and plums. The final red on the show was the Delheim Pinotage 2011, Stellenbosch, South Africa, £14.49 or £13.77 when purchasing 12 mixed bottles Stockist: The Oxford Wine Company. Pinotage can be very easy drinking or like Delheim’s Pinotage full bodied, complex with nutmeg, raisins, dark fruits and a must with game. Decant this high quality red wine a couple of hours beforehand.