Wine of the week – XMass Special – Prosecco (Sparkling/Italy)

Hi you,

If you’re not aware, the countdown to Christmas has started. For Christmas, I have selected a sparkling, a white, a red and a sweet wine to best accompany a Christmas meal.

This week, a fruitier and more affordable alternative to the sacred Champagne with a very affordable and elegant example from Waitrose: Prosecco. Should I mention it’s half price @ £6.49 until next Tuesday?

What it is

Sparkling white wine made from Glera grapes in the Veneto region of Italy, less than 60miles from Venice.

What to expect

Appearance: Very pale lemon colour, thin bubbles, light foam.

Nose: Delicate perfume of apples and pears with a hint of peach/vanilla.

Palate: very soft and foamy with a nice crunchy acidity perfectly balanced with elegant and slightly sweet fruit notes (apples & pears). Felt like biting in a Granny smith apple, just a bit more refreshing.

And all that for only 11% alcohol so it shouldn’t go straight to your head like Champagne sometimes can...

ELEGANT SPARKLING WHITE WITH DELICATE NOTES OF APPLES AND PEARS. Not overwhelmingly Prosecco and easy to drink. Very safe choice for a Christmas first drinks.

Score: 7-8/10 (wine shown)

You’ll like it if you like: Green apples and pears; light sparkling cider; Vouvray; Orvieto; light Champagne.

Have it with
Your guests on Christmas day as a first drink.

Otherwise, with aperitifs e.g. Prosciutto & Grissini or Salmon appetizers.

Where to find it
1) Waitrose - £6.49 (Wine shown) - HALF PRICE until 06/12/2011. Not your typical forward overtly fruity, slightly sickly Prosecco at very decent price. A good buy!

2) Majestic - £8.49 to £13.99. On offer until 5/12. Would suggest going for the Prosecco di Conegliano Valdobbiadene Extra Dry NV Italy

3) Tesco - £8.99 (down from £9.99 until 03/01/2012)

Did you know

> This week’s example is a DOCG (Denominazione d’Originata Controllata e Garantita). DOCG is reserved to the finest Italian wines (less than 30 wine zones can claim it) and is the highest, most rigidly controlled designation an Italian wine can carry. It is therefore meant as sign of quality, although a IGT (Indicazione Geografica Tipica) can easily outrule the quality of a DOCG. In a nutshell, indication of quality but to take with a pinch of salt.

> The Prosecco mainly comes from Veneto but also from the neighbouring region of Friuli. The sub-region of Conegliano Valdobbiadene has been a DOCG since 2009.

> Prosecco is produced differently to Champagne. When producing Champagne, a still wine is first produced and then re-fermented in the bottle for a few months. This is known as the ‘méthode traditionnelle’ ou ‘champenoise’. With Prosecco, the still wine first produced is then refermented but in a large stainless steel tanks and then rebottled. This the method ‘Charmat’ or ‘tank transfer method’. This partly explains why Champagne is more expensive than Prosecco.

> You can have spumante and frizzante wines. Spumante are the fully sparkling wines and frizzante less so.

> Most sparkling wine sometimes are labelled either as ‘Extra Brut’, ‘Brut’ or ‘Extra-sec/Extra Dry’ or even ‘Demi-sec/Riche/Semi-dulce’. These indications reflect the level of sweetness of the wine and goes from very dry (‘Extra brut’) to sweet (‘Demi-sec’). The wine shown is Extra Dry which means off-dry.

> 150 million bottles of Prosecco are produced every year.

The last thing you’ll need is obviously your best ‘tux’ for the evening or as we Froggies say: ‘se mettre sur son 31’.

Stock up for Christmas, have a sneaky preview of  Prosecco and let me know what you think of this week’s wine.

Any recommendation on main course (I was thinking Turkey, maybe) for Christmas pretty welcome.

Cheers! Santé! Salud! Salute!

:@lex

Wine of the week - Fiano (White/Italy)

Hi all,

Let’s bring some summer back in the UK!! Love, warmth and value on the menu with this week’s wine. Direction Italy again but for a white this time.

What it is

Dry white wine made from the Fiano grape, which originates from Campania, in the south-west of Italy (Naples area).

What to expect

Intense lemon-green colour i.e. sunshine

Pleasant perfumes of almonds with notes of honey and apricot on the nose.

On the palate, it is very aromatic with refreshing and subtle aromas of apricots, peach and honey. The honey-like texture gives the impression of a sweet wine but the zingy almond-lemon zest relatively long finish reminds you it’s not.

FRESH AROMATIC WHITE WINE WITH APRICOT & HONEY FLAVOURS

Score: 7/10 (wine shown)

You’ll like it if you like: Alsacian Muscat; Torrontes; light Viognier; Chenin Blanc.

Have it with
A creamy chicken dish e.g. Chicken, Lemon & Broccoli risotto.

Otherwise, it would go nicely with a mild goat cheese or a fresh summer fruit salad.

Where to find it
1) Waitrose - £4.99. On offer!!  Pretty good value for this much better than average wine! And bonus: it’s Fatto con Amore i.e. ‘made with love’!!

2) Tesco - £6.99 On offer! 2 for £12 until 14/12/2011

3) Majestic - £25 - A different category of Fiano praised by Majestic customers.

Did you know



Fiano is believed to be the grape at the origin
of the ancient Roman wine Apanium.



> Fiano is believed to have been used in Roman times to create Apianum. This wine was indeed created by a grape called Viti Apiana i.e. ‘Vine of the bees’ for it attracted bees a lot (and still does!). This vine is now believed to be affiliated with the Fiano grape.



> The Fiano grape is relatively thick skinned and small, which means relatively low yields. That is probably why it nearly disappeared before making a comeback in the last few years as a cult grape, with the help of the Mastroberardino family.

> In Campania, where it originates, you will find the Fiano d’Avellino DOCG which is meant to be the best expression of the wine. There, it best grows on volcanic soils in altitude. It can also be found in Western Sicily and in the McLaren Vale in South Australia.

Next week is the first of December which will mean that I will focus mainly on Christmas and New Year wines.

Until then enjoy some sunshine with Fiano!

Feedback, complaints, suggestions & questions very welcome!

:@lex



Wine of the Week - Valpolicella Ripasso (Red/Italy)

Hi all,

I was held back in the great city of Zurich for the 58th VinoExpo until late yesterday so a late post this week. Good news: I tried some great Swiss, French and Italian whites and reds and will be hunting them down in the UK. Watch this space!

In the meantime, I am really getting into Italian wines and have found this good red wine for a warming weekend's tipple!

What it is

A red wine from the region of Valpolicella in the province of Verona in the North of Italy.It is made from Corvina, Rondinella and Molinara grapes. It is a Ripasso, which means the wine has been in contact with the unpressed skins of the dried grapes used for Amarone (see Did you know for more).

What to expect

Medium ruby colour with some purple tones.
A relatively subtle nose with aromas of dark cherries, plums and little bit of chocolate.
The palate is smooth and elegantly building in complexity: from a light, fresh and fruity (raspberries) wine to a rounder and darker fruits (dark cherries, plums) and a slight bitter-sweet finish (coffee-toffee). The tannins are relatively low and dry.

ELEGANT MEDIUM BODIED RED GROWING IN COMPLEXITY

Score: 7/10 (wine shown)

Have it with
If it’s your first drink of the night, have it with some Prosciutto or salami. The meatier, the better.
I would recommend a beef stew or a Funghi Porcini risotto.

Where to find it
1) Waitrose - £10.99. A tad over the £10 mark which it should stay at or under.
2) Tesco - £6.99
3) Majestic - £14.99

Did you know

> Valpolicella is derived from Latin and Greek and can be translated as ‘the valley of many cellars’.

> As for most Italian wines, the term ‘Classico’ only means that the wine was made in the historical region, the heart of the wine region.

> There are 4 types of Valpolicella:

1) The Classic Valpolicella – A light, fresh and fruity wine with flavours of sour cherries. Although often suffering from bad publicity, it can be velvety and gorgeous (try the Allegrini Valpolicella from your local wine shop for £10).

2) The Valpolicella Ripasso – Same grapes but different vinification: the wine if fermented/macerated with the unpressed skins of the dried grapes used for Amarone. The result is a wine with more alcohol, flavours and body. On many aspect, an ‘in-between the Classic and the Amarone.



The dried grapes that are then used for the Amarone
and, which skins can be use for the Ripasso.



3) The Amarone della Valpolicella – Same grapes but different process again. The grapes are manually selected and air-dried for up to 4 months and then only pressed into wine. With the drying, the grapes concentrate the sugar, colour and flavours, which then results in a wine with a very dark colour, high alcohol and very strong flavours of dark cherries, plums and coffee.

4) The Recioto della Valpolicella – Sweet red wine from the area.

Feedback, complaints, questions all very welcome!

Happy Italian tipple!

:@lex



Wine of the Week - Gewurtzraminer (France/White)

Hi all,

I am back in Alsace for the weekend so this week's wine had to be one of the local superstar: Gewurtzraminer. 

What it is

Gewurtzraminer-based aromatic white wine.

What to expect

Pale to Medium Golden colour
An aromatic nose full of ripe tropical fruit (lychees) and floral notes (rose).
The palate is rich with a lot of tropical fruits, a slightly sweet mouthcoating texture, all supported by elegant floral notes.

LUSCIOUS WHITE WINE WITH RICH FRUIT, FLORAL ELEGANCE.

Have it with
Beautiful for aperitif. Otherwise this is the perfect match for a curry (Indian or Thai) or any Asian food. Otherwise, try with a slice of smoked salmon or with a dessert. Yum!

Where to find it
1) Waitrose - £9.29
2) JS - £7.99
3) Majestic - Trimbach/Zindt Humbrecht - around £14 each but from 2 of the most prestigious producers in Alsace. Worth it!
NB: Apparently Tesco customers are not discerning enough to buy Gewurtzraminer... 

Did you know

The 'Gewurz''s pink
coloured grapes

> The grape of Gewurtzraminer, although it produces white wine, takes a beautiful pink tinges when ripe.

> Alsace is the driest wine region in France. It is sheltered from the rain and winds coming from the east by the Vosges massif. The Rhine on the east also provides a cooling effect during the potential hot summers. Most of the best vineyards are those making the most of this situation: south-east facing slopes down in the Haut Rhin (look for a 68xxx address on the bottle label)



> Gewurtzraminer is one of the 4 Noble grapes in Alsace along with Riesling, Pinot Gris and Muscat so you can find Grand Cru which means it comes from the best sites in Alsace.

> Alsace is one of the only region in France with relatively simple labels: you get what you look at as most of the wines are showing the variety of grapes first rather than the domain.

> I was born in Colmar, the nearest town to some of the best villages producing Alsacian wines. (see below).

The town where I was born. Self proclaimed
the 'Capital of Alsace wines'

> Alsacians are the dog's bollocks when it comes to aromatic white wines! If Gewurtraminer is too sweet for you, try a Pinot Gris or a Riesling. You'll also get aromatic whites but with drier and leaner in styles.


> Gewurtzraminer is one of the 4 Noble grapes in Alsace along with Riesling, Pinot Gris and Muscat so you can find Grand Cru which means it comes from the best sites in Alsace.




I leave some great pictures taken from the web of my Heimat!

Wine of the week - Saint Joseph (Red)

Hi all,

Back to the homeland this week for a beautiful and elegant red!

What it is

Syrah-based red wine from the Northern Rhone.

What to expect

Medium Ruby colour
Elegant red with subtle aromas of blackcurrant, berries and vanilla.
The palate is surprisingly light bodied with refreshing red fruit flavours and relatively low tannins.

DELIGHTFUL AND ELEGANT FRUITY RED WINE.Verdict: 7-8/10  (based on wine shown)

Have it with
On its own but would suggest a grilled chicken or hard cheeses.

Where to find it
1) Waitrose - £9.49 on offer (wine shown)
Also try your local wine shop.

Did you know

> The Syrah grape originates from France (Northern Rhone) and is the result of the crossing of Mondeuse Blanche and Dureza.

> Some believe that Syrah was actually imported from the town of Shiraz in Iran, where they produced fine wines in the 9th century already (although mainly whites). This could explain why the grape is known as Shiraz in Australia.

> The wine of St Joseph was originally called Vin de Mauves, as mentioned in Les Miserables.

> The French King Louis XII (1498-1515) was a big fan of St Joseph and owned a vineyard (Clos de Tournon).

Wine of the week - Zalze Chenin Blanc (South Africa)

Hi everybody,
Direction South Africa this week for another lush white wine!

 

What it is

Fruity white wine from the Coastal region of South Africa.
Made out of Chenin Blanc, the same grape as Vouvray in Loire.

What to expect

Medium Lemon colour
Dry wine with a intense smell of ripe tropical fruit (ripe pineapple, guava).
The palate is quite round and with strong intensive tropical fruit you have on the nose that very nicely disguise high alcohol.

UPFRONT TROPICAL WHITE WINE.
Verdict: 6-7/10 as lacks a little bit of finesse (based on wine shown)

 

Have it with
Can be drunk on its own but would suggest a lime&Garlic prawn or spicy (not hot) Asian cuisine

Where to find it
1) Waitrose - £6.99 (wine shown)
2) Tesco - £6.99 (wine shown)

Did you know

> Chenin Blanc originates from the Loire Valley in France.

> In South Africa, Chenin Blanc is known as 'Steen'

Wine of the week - Verdejo Bianco (Spain)

Hola amantes del Vino!

Spain is our special guest this week with a wine as sampled and rated with Kerry & Alistair.

What it is

Delicate white wine from Rueda in North-West (ish) of Spain.
Made out of the local Verdejo grape (min 50%) and usually blended with Sauvignon Blanc or Viura.

What to expect

Light pale lemon colour
Dry wine with a very elegant nose of stone peach with a lime-lemon undertones.
The palate reflects the aromas with a light wine with nice fruity attack and zesty citrus finish.
SIMPLE BUT LUSH PEACH AND LEMON WHITE WINE.
Verdict: 8/10 (based on wine shown)

Have it with
Creamy chicken with vegetables or pasta
Skate wings in light cream sauce or white fish
Chilli-free Thai chicken curry

Where to find it
1) Majestic - £ 7.99 on offer at the moment. Tried & Highly recommended
2) Waitrose - £8.49
3) Tesco - £7.79 (2 for £10 this week)
Asda and JS also do a version but I wouldn't vouch for them. Let me know what you think.


Did you know?

> The grape Verdejo actually originates from North Africa and was initially cultivated in the Rueda region for the production of Sherry.In the 1970's, Marques de Riscal (famous spanish wine bodega) saw the potential and started rejuvenating the interest in this forgotten grape.

> The grapes strongly benefit from the relatively cool nights in the region of Rueda and are usually harvested at night to preserve their aromas as much as possible.

> If labelled 'Rueda' Verdejo, the wine must contain minimum 85% Verdejo (like Majestic version above).

Enjoy this taste of Spain and send me your feedback & suggestions! Happy tipple!

:@lex