Artuke: The fresh face of Rioja - a go to summer red...

One of the great joys of a trip to Spain is walking into a non-descript bar ordering a plate of non-descript jamon and gesturing for a glass of wine, only to find yourself two minutes later engaged in refreshments of the very highest order. Very often the wine you’ll be drinking will be Rioja, sometimes Navarra, and if you’re somewhere hot, it will generally be cold.

Juicy, fruit forward, mouthwatering reds like this tend to be one of those experiences you find abroad but struggle to replicate at home. Enter Artuke – scions of the Spanish new wave movement and producers of some of our very favourite Spanish bottles. Their calling card is their straight Rioja, a regular J&B Staff order, and one we personally like to drink straight from the fridge during the summer months.

Crunchy, fresh, charming fruit wrapped up in a breezy package that never threatens to weigh you down – easy going yet vivid too; just the trick for washing down simply grilled goodies eaten while the sun shines.

Sometimes simplicity is the key. This just happens to be one of those times.