South East England

Brightwell's interpretation of what many regard as England's white calling card, Bacchus, is a zesty one.

With enjoyable aromas of tropical, tart fruit, this is full of apples and pears, lychees and starfruit on the palate, with a fresh grapefruit finish.

From the oldest independent Buckinghamshire brewery, Chiltern Brewery 300s Old Ale is a complex beast. But then it is named after the historic region, the Three Hundreds of Aylesbury, that surrounds the brewery.

5%, RRP: £2.40; available from the brewery's wonderful shop, and a variety of independent stockists and pubs, and select National Trust properties. Check web for your nearest stockist. Please check beforehand which beers they stock.

Next time you just happen to be dining in the House of Commons, look out for Wickham's Special Release Fumé. Elderflowers and spring floral nose, water yellow in colour, this is a good example of the freshness and appeal of English whites.

£9-10, winery, WineShak off licenses, Hampshire, Berry Bros & Rudd, Waitrose (local branches)

Biddenden is known for its Ortega wines and Gribble Bridge 2009 shows why. It's a Germanic grape that may be on the decline over there, but seems to thrive quite well in certain pockets of England in the right hands.

The follow-on vintage, 2010, is now available from vineyard, online, £9.50; Butlers Wine Cellar (Brighton), selected outlets in Kent, Sussex & S London

Made at the UK's only viticultural college by the students from the college’s own grapes, Plumpton Estate Rosé 2009 is one to blow the winter blues away.

£8-11, from Plumpton College direct (please call beforehand), Butlers Wine Cellar (Brighton), Grapes (Worthing), English Wine Centre (Alfriston), for other stockists, see Plumpton Wine Portfolio

Golden amber in colour, this is brewed with spices and you can certainly taste the fragrant cinnamon. With notes of honey, warm banana and caramel along the spices on the nose, the bananas join digestive biscuit, plum fruitcake and cinnamon whirls on the palate.

Rich mahogany in colour. Spicy banana bread on the nose with hints of malt loaf - a veritable bakery! Warm and rich, with hazelnut and brazil nuts, dark malty sweetness and lightly bitter finish.

£1.90, from brewery, Majestic, Waitroise, Beers of Europe, Midcounties Co-op

Bright mahogany in colour, with hoppy notes on the nose, this is a popular festive favourite from Buckinghamshire's oldest brewery, Chiltern Brewery. Inspired by the famous London porters of the 1700s, this was first created on the brewery's 20th birthday in 2000 with the hops chucked in by the then Lord Lieutenant of Buckinghamshire.

RRP: £2.20; available from the brewery's wonderful shop, and a variety of independent stockists and pubs, and select National Trust properties. Check web for your nearest stockist. Please check beforehand which beers they stock.