Furmint, Tokaj, Hungary

A lush and lively sweet wine to accompany all your indulgent adventures. The question is really a chicken or egg conundrum: is your dessert or cheese course (aka snack, lets face it) an excuse to drink this sweet elixir or is the elixir an excuse to crush a tub of ice cream or polish off a chunk of your favourite cheese? We are here for both! Szóló is a small, family-run winery lead by Tímea Éless in the village of Tállya, in Hungary’s famous Tokaj region. Though dry wines are more popular in these post-Tsarist times, the region is historically known for its honeyed Aszú wines made from botrytis-affected berries. Dolcé is made from late-harvested grapes - left on the vines much longer than grapes used for dry wines so their natural sugar becomes super concentrated. The wine ferments and ages for 20 months in Hungarian barrels. Rich yet vibrant, with heaps of ripe peaches, honeysuckle, juicy acidity and Christmas spice. Pour this into a cute little vintage flask, throw some glamorous (faux) fur over your shoulder and head out to watch the Nutcracker Ballet.