seafood Archives - It Must Be Wine O'clock

A wine from Alentejo that brings a touch of Portuguese warmth to these cold, wintry evenings …

Esporão Monte Velho, Alentejano 2023 (Portugal)

Portugal has an abundance of local grape varieties which bring a note of difference to its wines. This wine from the Alentejo region of south-east Portugal is a well-crafted blend of Antão Vaz, Arinto, Gouveio and Roupeiro grapes and brings a touch of Portuguese warmth to these cold, wintry evenings.

An aromatic wine with notes of jasmine, honeyed peach and pear on the nose, and flavours of apple, citrus fruits and peach on the palate, this is a smooth, elegant wine with balanced acidity and a creamy mouthfeel.

This is a very appealing wine that can be enjoyed by itself, or paired with seafood, pasta or feta cheese.

Available from The Wine Society (£9.25)

A dry, medium-bodied wine with refreshing acidity and a long finish …

Bardos Verdejo 2023 Rueda, Castilla y León (Spain)

Spain offers a rich hunting ground for interesting and refreshing indigenous white wines, with each of them bringing features of their distinct regionality to the table, and Verdejo from the Rueda region of Castilla y León is a very good example.

Typically, Verdejo wines are fresh and zesty, with flavours of lime and lemon together with pear and peach. It makes for an excellent alternative to a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc and a perfect match for seafood, if you are looking to try something different.

The Bardos Verdejo 2023 is a dry, medium-bodied wine with refreshing acidity and a long finish. With aromas of lemon, pear and peach on the nose, and flavours of apricot, lime and pineapple on the palate, this is an appealing, elegant wine that can be enjoyed by itself, or paired with seafood, a creamy pasta, or goat cheese.

Available from Cambridge Wine Merchants (£12.50)

A delightfully aromatic dry white wine with fresh, light acidity

M & S Found Moschofilero-Roditis, Peloponnese 2023 (Greece)

This wine is part of Marks & Spencer’s celebrated Found range, which seeks to introduce interesting and less accessible wines for discerning wine drinkers to discover and enjoy.

Produced from grapes grown at altitude on the Peloponnese peninsula, this is a well-crafted blend of the aromatic Moschofilero (80%) and citrusy Roditis (20%) grape varieties. The result is a delightfully aromatic dry white wine with fresh, light acidity.

With Muscaty, honeyed tones and a minerally, lemon tang, this is a well-balanced wine with a lengthy finish. It’s a perfect match for seafood and offers excellent value for money.

Available from Marks & Spencer (£8.50)

A light, aromatic and elegant Vinho Verde wine from the west coast of Portugal

A light, aromatic and elegant Vinho Verde from the west coast of Portugal

Atlantique Vinho Verde 2023 (Portugal)

Portugal has a number of indigenous grape varieties which make it an interesting wine region to explore. This light, aromatic and elegant Vinho Verde wine from the west coast of Portugal is a case in point. It’s a blend of Loureira, Arinto, Treixadura and Avesso grapes and has a slight sparkling sensation that enhances its freshness.

Pale lemon in colour, with lemon and green apple on the nose and lemon, pear, peach and a hint of honey on the palate, this is a crisp, refreshing wine with a mineral note on the finish.

Perfect by itself on a sunny afternoon, or paired with fish, other seafood dishes or salads.

Available from Sainsbury’s (£8.25)

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)

Looking for something different? Try this Grüner Veltliner from Austria …

Funkstille Grüner Veltliner, Niederösterreich 2023 (Austria)

Grüner Veltliner is the most widely-planted native grape variety grown in Austria, particularly in Lower Austria (Niederösterreich) and Burgenland, and typically a Grüner Veltliner wine is crisp and fresh, thanks to its naturally high acidity.

A dry wine with a lengthy finish, this Funkstille Grüner Veltliner has aromas of green apple, grapefruit and pear on the nose, and flavours of apple, melon, and citrus fruits on the palate. It’s a very pleasant wine to drink by itself, or as an ideal match for a salad or seafood dish. It will also pair perfectly with a Wiener Schnitzel!

Available from Cambridge Wine Merch ants (£14)

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 delightful, refreshing Chardonnay from California

A delightful, refreshing Chardonnay from California.

Dark Horse Chardonnay 2021 (California)

This is a delightful, refreshing Chardonnay from California. It is a rich, mellow wine with aromas of vanilla, peach and pear on the nose, and flavours of honey, nectarine and caramel on the palate.

The rich, buttery mouthfeel is nicely balanced by the wine’s crisp acidity, all leading to a smooth, lingering finish, and the oak ageing adds a hint of smokiness to the wine.

Enjoy by itself or with a creamy seafood or chicken dish, or a mushroom risotto. It will also pair well with a creamy curry, or a mild goat cheese.

Available from Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Waitrose (£9-£10)

A new discovery from Italy

Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference Discovery, Verdeca 2022 (Puglia)

This dry white Verdeca made from grapes grown in Puglia in the heel of Italy is part of Sainsbury’s new Discovery selection. Although the grape variety is not very well-known, it is an interesting aromatic wine to explore.

With rose blossom, honey and citrus notes on the nose, and flavours of lemon and peach on the palate, this is a refreshing wine with a smooth, rich, almost buttery, mouthfeel and a lingering finish.

This is a very good value wine which is perfect as an apéritif and also pairs well with a seafood, chicken or creamy pasta dish.

Available from Sainsbury’s (£8.50)