Why not try something new?

Fancy a change from Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay this weekend? Then here are a few suggestions for something new to try –

Gavi di Gavi 2018 La Toledana

The Gavi di Gavi La Toledana is made from the Cortese grape and hails from Piemonte in north-west Italy. The pale lemon colour is characteristic of this wine and with its light floral aromas of white blossom and a slight hint of honey, it promises something different.

Green fruits dominate on the palate with some citrus notes, and the high acidity gives it a crisp, zesty freshness. Smooth and silky, this is a medium-bodied wine with a medium finish. A well-balanced, very pleasant wine. We had it with grilled salmon and it was a perfect match, but it will also go well with white meats and light pasta dishes. Majestic Wine £14.99 (£10.99 Mix Six)

Not Your Grandma’s Riesling 2018, Eden Valley

Although we rightly associate Riesling with Germany, the grape has also been cultivated in Clare Valley and Eden Valley in South Australia since the early 19th-century and the more moderate climate there produces wines with more pronounced fruit flavours.

Lemon in colour, this wine has floral, citrusy notes on the nose, and flavours of green fruits, grapefruit, nectarine and mango on the palate. A dry wine with high acidity, it is balanced by its punchy fruitiness and hint of minerality, and has a medium to long finish. Perfect with an Asian dish.

The Great Wine Co. £13.95

Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi 2019 Monte Schiavo

A dry white wine with high acidity from the Marche region of central Italy, this Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi wine is a very good example of the fresh, zesty wines from the Verdicchio grape.

Notable aromas of apple and pear on the nose, and additional lemon, grapefruit and tropical fruit flavours on the palate, with a little twist of fennel which is characteristic of Verdicchio wines. A well-balanced wine with a medium finish with faint overtones of bitter almonds, this would suit a fish or seafood dish. Majestic Wine £8.99 (£7.99 Mix Six)

In Beethoven’s footsteps

Beethoven’s Symphony No. 6 – the Pastoral –  is a firm favourite. I’m happy to listen to it anytime, anywhere. But where better to listen to it than in Vienna, and what’s more on the Beethoven Walk (Beethovengang) in the Viennese suburb of Nussdorf?

A couple of years ago my wife and I took the tram from the centre of the city to this pretty neighbourhood and then strolled along the Beethovengang as we listened to the Pastoral Symphony on our headphones. This is where the great composer himself used to walk, gaining inspiration for this symphony from the woods, vineyards and open countryside around him, and walking in his footsteps brought an entirely new perspective to his music.

And to cap it all, we then enjoyed a simple meal and a glass of wine in the ‘Heurige‘ (wine tavern) in nearby Heiligenstadt which Beethoven himself used to frequent when he lived for a time in the village, and where he worked on his Symphony No.9. Like Beethoven’s music, it was simply delightful.

For more details of wine-focussed activities in and around Vienna, see here

Stump Jump Shiraz 17 d’Arenberg

This is a full-bodied deep ruby wine from McLaren Vale, Australia. Minty and fragrant on the nose, and concentrated with lashings of pronounced black fruit as well as liquorice and sweet spice on the palate. A smooth wine with a nice long finish. It works well with your Sunday roast, and is a good match for a steak and pepper sauce or something similarly robust.

Ramón Bilbao Crianza Rioja 2016 (Tempranillo)

This deep red Tempranillo wine from the Rioja region of Spain is a well-balanced wine of medium intensity and medium acidity. Aromas of blackberry and cherry together with sweet spices and vanilla on the nose; and intense flavours of black fruits, vanilla and spices, with hints of hazelnut and liquorice, on the palate. It’s a smooth wine with medium tannins which pairs well with red meats, sausage dishes and casseroles. Also, goes perfectly with a hard cheese.

Red wines for autumn

As the temperature starts to drop and the nights draw in, here are a few suggestions for red wines for autumn, to enjoy along with those casseroles, pies and stews as we look towards Halloween and Bonfire Night …

Ramón Bilbao Crianza Rioja 2016 (Tempranillo)

This deep red Tempranillo wine from the Rioja region of Spain is a well-balanced wine of medium intensity and medium acidity. Aromas of blackberry and cherry together with sweet spices and vanilla on the nose; and intense flavours of black fruits, vanilla and spices, with hints of hazelnut and liquorice, on the palate. It’s a smooth wine with medium tannins which pairs well with red meats, sausage dishes and casseroles. Also, goes perfectly with a hard cheese.

Stump Jump Shiraz 17 d’Arenberg

This is a full-bodied deep ruby wine from McLaren Vale, Australia. Minty and fragrant on the nose, and concentrated with lashings of pronounced black fruit as well as liquorice and sweet spice on the palate. A smooth wine with a nice long finish. It works well with your Sunday roast, and is a good match for a steak and pepper sauce or something similarly robust.

Chianti Classico 15 Campomaggio

A medium-bodied Sangiovese wine with high acidity and medium tannins. It has quite intense flavours of strawberry, plum, and blackberry with a hint of cedar and toasted wood. A balanced wine with a medium finish. An appealing wine, a good all-rounder, which is ideal for a big casserole or roast.

Graham Norton’s Own Sauvignon Blanc 2019

I was initially a little sceptical when I first came across this wine in New Zealand earlier this year.  My wife and I were on holiday when we spotted it on a supermarket shelf in Auckland and though we enjoy the Graham Norton Show, we doubted his skills extended to wine-making … But we took a punt and were pleasantly surprised – it turned out to be surprisingly good. Very good in fact. Crisp, zesty and refreshing, with tropical fruit flavours of passion fruit and kiwi.   Delighted to see that it is now currently available at Asda, and so immediately rushed out to get a few bottles. It goes really well with pan-fried salmon!

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