A winter drive through the Jurançon vineyards, a golden sunset, and a bottle of wine I couldn’t leave without. Back home, it became poached pears — fragrant, honeyed and just sweet enough to let the Jurançon do its thing.

At the far southeastern tip of Sicily, where the vines face relentless sun, sea air and almost no rain, Salvatore “Turi” Marino makes wines that taste unmistakably of their place. His golden, skin-contact Catarratto, Turi Bianco, finds its perfect match in lemony chicken with briny olives and Mediterranean herbs.

Gödöllő-style chicken is a beloved Hungarian classic, featuring juicy roasted chicken filled with a rich stuffing of mushrooms, chicken liver, bacon, herbs, and bread. We paired ours with a Premier Cru Pouilly-Fuissé from Burgundy, whose freshness, minerality, and elegant Chardonnay character beautifully complemented the dish's rich, savoury flavours.

Spanish Godello from Bierzo shines with bright minerality, orchard fruit, and a clean, elegant texture shaped by high-altitude vineyards and gentle oak aging. César Márquez crafts expressive wines that reflect their landscape, making this Godello a natural match for dishes like baked salmon, fennel, and butter beans, where citrus, herbs, and richness meet its fresh, saline finish.