Tempting tipples and tasty titbits

If you’re a foodie, then you’ll always be on the look-out for great ingredients – both tasty and unusual. Shopping local is a great way to find the very best products, many sourced from our own region. Chances are a lot of the produce has had a much shorter field to fork journey, and our many ‘Live Love Local’ food and drink specialists will happily talk you through how to create delicious dishes using the products they are passionate about.

Unusual wines and great local products also make brilliant Christmas gifts for the foodies in your life!

You’d be forgiven for thinking all wine is vegan – it’s made from grapes, isn’t it? But many fining agents used to make the wine crystal clear contain animal products. Alexander Hadleigh Wine Merchant has one of the largest ranges of wines, spirits and liqueurs in the region – including a wide choice of vegan wines, spirits and condiments. Trading for nearly five decades in Locks Heath, Alexander Hadleigh is the perfect stop for all your Christmas tipples – and a chat with the friendly, knowledgeable staff will ensure you make the right choice for everyone.

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As one of the leading independent wine merchants in the South, Fareham Wine Cellar has over 20 years of specialist experience to help you select the best wine pairing for your Christmas dinner. Sourced from a variety of wine-producing regions, Fareham Wine Cellar provides a quality range of wines imported from France to Argentina. It even stocks selections from the more unusual wine-growing countries like Greece and China!

As one of our local distilleries, why not pop in for advice on all the best local gins? With Mermaid Gin, Fort Gin and Twisted Nose – there’s something for everyone this Christmas.

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Passionate about wine? You’ll have heard on the grapevine that there’s long been a buzz about English wines, and you won’t get more local than wine from Titchfield Vineyard. The owners also run The Cork & Cheese wine shop, deli and café in Park Gate, which stocks all the Titchfield Vineyard wines and is effectively their cellar door.

Meanwhile, The Cork & Cheese is a one stop shop for all your Christmas foodie favourites – enjoy afternoon tea or perhaps a glass of wine in the licensed deli before browsing the lovely cheese counter, delicatessen and wine shelves for treats to have packed into a bespoke Christmas hamper. And if you’re not a fan of Christmas cake, check out the incredible celebration cheese cakes – tiers of joy right there!

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At Sea-Licious in Fareham’s West Street, you can pick up a ready-to-eat seafood platter, great local produce like Selsey hand-picked dressed crab, or ChalkStream trout, fresh from the gin-clear chalk stream waters around the Rivers Test and Itchen. Or hook one for yourself for the simplest of suppers on Christmas eve.

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Hidden behind the 12th century building that houses Hallmark Jewellers in Titchfield is the delightful Wine Garden. Here you’ll find a stunning range of wines including pinot noir and bacchus from the local Titchfield vineyard, alongside great local gins and fantastic food. Check out the raclette platters and wine sharing boards – perfect for quality time spent with friends. 

Want to wine and dine? Check out the Wine Garden today: