The Château Monplaisir red is a blend of Négrette, Syrah and Gamay, all sourced from local vineyards. This is a bright, modern wine, bursting with mirabelle plums, blueberries and violets. The colour is a stunning bright purple, and that brightness continues in the glass, with a lovely mix of floral and fruit notes, along with some soft tannins. Have it chilled in the heart of summer or simply served cold to match the mood in the heart of winter.

Located on the outskirts of the stunningly beautiful city of Toulouse, the region of Fronton is a quaint region that flies under the radar of most wine enthusiasts. It isn’t flashy or bright, with fancy varieties or old wealth; this is farming land where the wineries focus on local varieties and on keeping traditions. Enter the Arbeau family, who have a winery in Labastide-Saint-Pierre, literally wedged between narrow streets that are sure to cause panic for any tourist in a rental car. Anne and Géraud Arbeau have transformed their century-old winery into a marvel, adapting their local varieties into the fast-paced world of modern drinking with bright labels and equally bright wines. They not only source from Fronton, which gives them access to the local Négrette, but also from the surrounding South-West regions of Gaillac, Madiran and Cahors, amongst others, to showcase the delights that usually get only a couple of paragraphs in any French wine book.