Wine Recommendations
South Africa
We bring you the winning wines from our recent South African tastings.
Wine facts
Some interesting anecdotes about wine.
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Sparkling wine
From Moët et Chandon's Argentine outpost Cepas de Mendoza No4 cuvee is a bargain for a sparkling wine made by the traditional méthode champenoise, £4.99 at Tesco.. Alternatively try Buenos Aires Brut, also made by Moët in Argentina, using the traditional champagne grapes. £5.99 at Majestic (25% off two or more).
Sparkling rosé
Crémant de Bourgogne Rosé is a pink sparkling Burgundy made from Pinot Noir, Gamay and Chardonnay grapes. It's French, all right, but it's not Champagne, with no more right to bear that name than any sparkling wine produced in California, Australia or anywhere else but it tastes very good. £7.99 at Waitrose.
Champagne
To push the boat out try Louis Roederer Brut Premier, an outstanding Champagne given extra roundness and depth by the inclusion of reserve wines matured in the barrel. Highly rated at the Wandering Vine tasting last year. £25.99 at Oddbins or £25.00 from the Wine Society.
If it has to be a vintage champagne, then make it Pol Roger Brut 1996 which is one of the successes of the outstanding 1996 vintage which is full, rich and very approachable. Very popular whenever we serve it. £39.99 at Oddbins and Majestic (buy two and save 25%).
Red Wine
Saint-Amour, a wine from the romantically named Cru at the northernmost point of Beaujolais is made from the Gamay grape it is fuller and more concentrated than other Beaujolais' with a fresh, floral and fragrant style. Majestic stock 2002 St. Amour Domaine des Duc at £7.99, the Wine Society have 2002 St. Amour, Trenel, at £8.95 and Berry Brothers & Rudd have 2002 St. Amour, Domaine des Pins at £8.25.
South African Wines
We bring you the following wines recommended from a recent tasting
Cap Classique, a sparkling wine made by the méthode champenoise. It is made using a 50% Chardonnay 50% Pinot Noir blend; these are two of the classic champagne grapes. Available from Sainsbury's at £7.99.
We recommend you try Goats Do Roam Rosé 2002 which is an amazing blend of grapes - Cinsaut 48% (note they spell it without an 'l' in South Africa) Grenache 16% Carignan 12% Merlot 9% Gamay Noir 6.5% Shiraz 3% Pinot Noir 2% Pinotage 2% Chardonnay 1% Semillon 0.5% - but do serve it well chilled. Available from Oddbins at £5.29
The wine maker claims personal selection of grapes by the rampant Fairview goats as they roam the vineyard for the ripest sweetest ones. What do the 600 goats at Fairview do for exercise? They roam up the now-famous goat tower built by Charles Back about 20 years ago. Take a look at the picture on their web site! http://www.fairview.co.za/htmls/press.html
Rumblings of discord have been heard in the Fairview flock. Bearded and wise elders grumble of the demise of their position, as the frisky exuberance of the youthful members of the flock continue to capture hearts and headlines with their hugely successful Goats Do Roam range of wines. The council of Billy Goats convened to determine a strategy to create a wine befitting their status. An edict was issued from above. Go forth and find the finest fruit, or risk a roasting! And thus the challenge was raised to produce Goat Roti, the premium wine from this vineyard. They are also hoping to strengthen presence in the UK with the launch of Goats do Roam in Villages.
The Wolf Trap 2002 is the most recent creation from Mark Kent, the man with the midas touch at Boekenhoutskloof. Since their first vintage in 1996 the wines from this vineyard have become some of the most highly prized in South Africa. A blend of four grape varieties, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinotage (South Africa's own grape), Syrah and Cinsaut. Very drinkable and especially good with red meats. £5.79 at Asda £5.99 at Oddbins
Wine Facts
The largest area under vine in the world is Spain. It produces less wine than France and Italy because fewer vines are planted per acre.
Wine is far more popular than either beer or spirits. 79% of UK households bought wine last year, 66% bought beer and 57% bought spirits.
Wine ages more quickly in half bottles. This is because half bottles have as much air at the top as full bottles containing twice as much wine.
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