Ortega Archives - It Must Be Wine O'clock

Wine of the Month – another outstanding wine from Gutter & Stars! A real treat for the palate …

Gutter & Stars ‘Fight the Power’ Ortega 2022

This is another outstanding wine from Cambridge’s urban winery, Gutter & Stars. Made from 100% Ortega grapes grown at Yew Tree Vineyard in Oxfordshire, the wine was fermented in oak barrels before further ageing on the lees.

The result is a perfectly balanced, inviting wine with a velvety mouthfeel and a lengthy finish. It is, quite simply, a real pleasure to drink!

With honeysuckle, peach, and pear drops on the nose, and peach and citrus fruit flavours on the palate, this is a wonderful expression of the Ortega grape. Enjoy it as an apéritif, or with a seafood, chicken or vegetable dish.

Available from Gutter & Stars and Grape Britannia (£25-£30)

Wine of the Month – In anticipation of English Wine Week, an outstanding wine from Cambridge (with grapes grown in Oxfordshire)

Gutter & Stars ‘The Good Mixer’, Blonde on Blonde Blend 2021

In anticipation of the start of English Wine Week on 18^th June, this very impressive wine from Gutter & Stars in Cambridge, made from grapes grown in Oxfordshire, is a perfect demonstration of just how remarkable English wine can be.

Following Gutter & Stars’ highly acclaimed first releases of their Bacchus, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay wines last year, I was eagerly awaiting the release of ‘The Good Mixer’, Blonde on Blonde Blend 2021, which is just out.

And it is simply outstanding.

Made from a blend of Ortega and Bacchus grapes grown at Yew Tree Vineyard, this is a smooth, well-balanced wine with a creamy mouthfeel, an inviting acidity and a lovely finish. Pale lemon in colour, with aromas of jasmine, apple and peach, and flavours of strawberry and cream, honey, lemon sherbet and nectarine, it is an absolute delight. Pure genius, a top-quality wine.

If you are looking for a wine to drink during English Wine Week, this has to be it!

Enjoy ‘The Good Mixer’ as an aperitif, or with a seafood or chicken dish. Cheers!

Available from Gutter & Stars (£25)

Looking for something to brighten up these dark, grey January days? This little bit of sunshine from Surrey is just the ticket.

Denbies’ Surrey Gold

If you’re looking for something to brighten up these dark, grey January days, this little bit of sunshine from Surrey is just the ticket. It’s also a great opportunity to branch out from firm favourites such as Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio and Chardonnay, and explore something different – a good old English wine.

Denbies’ Surrey Gold is a blend of Müller-Thurgau, Ortega and Bacchus grapes. Older readers might remember Müller-Thurgau from the 80s when Liebfraumilch and the like were all the rage in the UK. Believe me, this is a step up from those rather bland German wines of old.

Ortega is a Müller-Thurgau/Siegerrebe crossing which adds a touch of sweetness and aromatics to a blend. And Bacchus, a rising-star in English wine making, is another German crossing (Müller-Thurgau / Riesling-Silvaner), and brings flavour and character to a blend. (Great name for a grape variety, to boot!)

Denbies have been producing wine since the late 1980s and have grown to become the largest wine producer in the UK. They now produce over a million bottles of wine a year.

Surrey Gold is an off-dry white wine with intense floral aromas of elderflower and honeysuckle on the nose, and flavours of green apple, lemon and peach on the palate. There is also a pleasant flintiness and a hint of spice. The wine has medium acidity and a medium (+) finish, and is medium-bodied. The off-dry nature of the wine makes it a good match for a spicy or an Asian-inspired dish.

This is a great introduction to English wines.

Waitrose (£9.99)