Chrissie Walker

Chardonnay grapes are thought to have originated in the Burgundy wine region of France but is now grown worldwide. The 2025 Casillero del Diablo Chardonnay hails from Chile and is a value for money white wine, widely available in the UK. The name Casillero del Diablo has long intrigued me. No, it isn’t a company producing wine for Halloween, although it does have a supernatural story.

As a travel writer I am blessed with opportunities to stay in delightful hotels round the world. There are a few qualities that I look for, and Ashdown Park Hotel ticks all the boxes for the perfect getaway. I have published several articles on Ashdown Park over the past couple of months. They covered Winnie the Pooh, the history of this lovely building, and the Summer menu. But what is it like to stay in this celebrated hotel?

The wines of the south of France are iconic and delicious and remind us of vacations under blue skies and golden sun. Another colour is the pink of rosé wine. Château d’Ollières Coteaux Varois Rosé 2025 brings Provence home. This wine is made from a blend of Grenache and Cinsault grapes, grown in one of the most beautiful terroirs in Europe. This grape combination is classic in the production of fresh, dry, rosé wines. Grenache provides the fruit with Cinsault adding light floral notes.