IF YOU feel like summer has suddenly passed you by and you’re in the mood for a glass less ordinary, here are some wines you can bank on to boost the long weekend...
Everyone loves a winner and Extra Special Leyda Valley Chilean Sauvignon Blanc, 2013, Chile (£5.75, Asda) impressed the judges at Which? so much, they voted it the top-scoring white wine. The experts found plenty to like about this crisp, fresh white and described it as ‘very fruity with a lemony finish’, ‘lively and refreshing’ and a ‘very appealing summer drink.’ Capable of pleasing a wider audience, I found the bright aromas of grapefruit and passion fruit, with more of the same on the palate, and loads of lemon/lime zest utterly delicious.
Australia’s answer to prosecco, McGuigan Frizzante Extra Dry NV, South East Australia (around £7.50, supermarkets and off-sales) is a real beauty if you like your glass of sparkle to be fresh, fruity and fun. You won’t find any honeysuckle sweetness or peach, but you will be rewarded with lemon zest aromas, an attractive savouriness to the soft, citrusy fruit and a dry, beautifully balanced finish.
A delicious drop of sun-kissed fruit, Vino Tavola Rosso NV, Italy (£5.25, Marks & Spencer) shines as a classic, easy-drinking Italian red that is packed with flavours of morello cherries, blanched almonds and crushed black pepper. Blended from a mix of traditional Italian and international grape varieties, this is a highly drinkable everyday wine with bags of personality. Open an hour before serving to let the bouquet and flavours evolve.
Gin O’clock
Thanks to the current gin craze, there couldn’t be a better time to take a juniper journey around the world with 101 Gins To Try Before You Die by Ian Buxton (Birlinn Ltd, £12.99), available from all book shops. A pocket-sized guide with ‘everything you ever needed to know about different gins’, Buxton narrates the origin and history of each brand with flavour notes and recommendations on pairings – from tonic, ice and a slice, to stirred in a martini or shaken in a sophisticated cocktail. Well worth buying for gin lovers...
