salad Archives - It Must Be Wine O'clock

A bright, fresh wine from Western Sicily

A bright fresh wine from Western Sicily

Isola della Fiamma, Grillo 2023 (Sicily, Italy)

A bright, fresh wine from Western Sicily, produced from a blend of Grillo (80%) and Zibibbo (20%) grape varieties, combining the crisp, citrus flavours of the former with the more floral attributes of the latter.

With fresh, fragrant aromas of orange-blossom, almond and peach on the nose and flavours of citrus fruit, honey, peach and apricot on the palate, this is a wine with refreshing acidity, a round mouthfeel and a lingering finish that offers very good value for money.

A wine that can be enjoyed by itself, or as an excellent match for salads, or a seafood or chicken dish.

Available from The Wine Society (£7.50)

A refreshing Pinot Grigio from Trentino

Rocca Murer Pinot Grigio, Trentino 2022 (Italy)

Located in the foothills of the Alps in northern Italy, the Trentino region benefits from a moderate climate with dry summers and low rainfall. Pinot Grigio is one of the two main grape varieties, together with Chardonnay, that are grown in this region.

Pinot Grigio from Trentino tends to have greater depth of flavour than the mass-produced wines of the Veneto region and this wine is a smooth, elegant and well-balanced wine with refreshing acidity and a lasting finish.

With aromas of white blossom on the nose and flavours of apple, peach and apricot on the palate, this is a very good value wine which can be enjoyed by itself or with fish, salad or a light pasta dish.

Available from Sainsbury’s (£8.25)

A refreshing Riesling from the banks of the Mosel

Max Ferd. Richter Estate Riesling 2022, Mosel (Germany)

With honeysuckle, jasmine and apple on the nose, and apple, gooseberry, pear and a hint of honey on the palate, this refreshing Riesling from vineyards along the Mosel demonstrates excellent quality and value.

The residual sugar and fruity acidity are well-balanced and the wine has a clean, lingering finish.

It is a wine that can be enjoyed as a refreshing apéritif or with seafood, chicken or a salad dish. It will also go well with Asian cuisine.

Available from Cambridge Wine Merchants (£15.99)

A refreshing Grüner Veltliner from Hungary

Little Cricket Grüner Veltliner 2021 (Hungary)

Though Grüner Veltliner is perhaps best known as Austria’s signature grape, this very good wine from neighbouring Hungary is a fine example of this grape variety.

This is a refreshing, crisp wine with aromas of green apple and pear on the nose, and flavours of apple, melon, citrus fruits and a hint of pepper on the palate. A dry wine with a lengthy finish, this is a very agreeable wine to drink by itself, or as an ideal match for a salad or seafood dish. It will also go well with a slightly spicy Asian dish.

Available from Cambridge Wine Merchants (£8.99)

A refreshing, aromatic Bacchus from Kent

Chapel Down Bacchus 2022 (Kent)

First established as a vineyard in 1977, Chapel Down in Kent has since undergone a number of iterations to become one of England’s leading wine producers.

An aromatic wine with notes of melon and citrus on the nose, and flavours of apple, melon and grapefruit on the palate, this is a crisp, refreshing and well-balanced wine with a long finish.

Enjoy by itself or with seafood, salad or Thai food. It also pairs well with Wensleydale cheese. If you like New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, why not give Bacchus a try!

Available from Grape Britannia (£16.99)

Wine of the Month – A refreshing dry white blend that is perfect for these summer days …

Freedom of the Press Compendium 1 – Dry White Blend 2021

This excellent wine from Freedom of the Press winery, an urban winery located in the Cotswolds, 15 miles outside Oxford, is just the ticket for these lovely summer days.

A blend of Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris and Bacchus grapes, this is a refreshing, aromatic wine with medium acidity and a long finish. With aromas of elderflower and peach on the nose, and a compendium of flavours, including peach and raspberry, with a hint of strawberries and cream, on the palate, it is a very appealing wine.

Enjoy by itself or with chicken, seafood or salad. It will also pair well with Asian dishes.

Available from Grape Britannia (£13.99)

Why not try an Australian Riesling this weekend?

Tim Adams Clare Valley Riesling 2020

Although we might automatically think of Germany when we think of Riesling, the grape is very adaptable and is grown in many different parts of the world. The common denominator is its preference for cooler, more temperate environments, where the longer growing times enable the grapes to retain their characteristic acidity as they ripen. Clare Valley in Australia is one such environment.

And while we might associate Australia with a hot, dry climate, that is only half the story. The warm climate in South Australia’s Clare Valley is tempered by cool afternoon breezes and cold nights and many vineyards are planted at relatively high altitudes of up to 570 metres. This can result in the production of very elegant examples of Riesling, which are dry in style, with lime and citrus aromas, and high acidity.

This Tim Adams Clare Valley Riesling 2020 is a very good example of a fresh, vibrant, refreshing Riesling. It’s a dry wine with quite high acidity and floral characteristics, with lime, grapefruit and apple on the nose, and peach flavours with a slight minerality on the palate. It has a long finish and can be drunk by itself or with seafood, salad or chicken dish.

Available from Tesco (£10)