I had always thought that loss and emotional pain would lead me to drink: a medicinal cure without a prescription, effective in dulling the heartache and fading the reality of the days that lie ahead. But, in the recent grief I have faced, drink has not cured my ailments in fact I’ve recoiled at the thought of sinking an extra glass in fear of loosing grip on my control. What it has done is made me realise my emotional attachment to wine. To me it embodies happy times, memorable occasions, a journey of discovery with friends, family and work mates. It’s for this reason that I’ve not posted for a while, wine simply has not been in my glass but as the cloud starts to lift and the darkness fades I am grateful that the happy season is what greets me on the other side and if recent events have taught me one thing it’s that there’s truth in the old saying “life is too short to drink bad wine.”
Prosecco: like an overgrown garden riddled with ivy, is everywhere. Everyone wants it, everyone is selling it but it’s caught what I call Pinot Grigio syndrome: an affliction that affects the cost of a bottle but not the quality.
Remember when Pinot Grigio was the cheapest white in the bar? And Prosecco the cheapest sparkling? Well, they too often taste as such but have a look next time you’re out and about, I bet you’re paying third or forth position prices on the wine list, si? The prices won’t come down, of course, but my gut and my purse tells me that given time all that sparkles may not just be Prosecco.
If you’re wondering what to turn to for a thoughtful alternative then stay in Italy, in the Emilia Romagna region to be precise, and look no further than Bonelli’s Ortrugo 2013, a frizzante style of fruity, summery, elderflowery goodness. At £12.95 from Park & Bridge you’d do well to grab a bottle and drink to the future of Italian sparkling wine.
The World Cup is responsible for a lot of things lately; nervous excitement as we all grip to the thread of hope that England are still in; sleepless nights as Mr Bouquet stays up watching each and every game and a rise in the sale of all things Brazilian…. including wine.
Rather astonishing the UK is now the number one export market for Brazilian wines which considering we’re also in the game to win it makes me think that wine importers and retailers have got this a bit wrong. Pushing Brazilian wine while England are still in with a chance seems a little traitorous. Surely at moments of patriotism like this it’ll be sales of English wines that sore?
St George’s Day went by last month like it has done for many years, without much pomp, ceremony or celebration. Which is a shame because if there’s one thing us Brits do well it’s a shared day of patriotism. Luckily though all is not lost, if you’re missing the Olympic style Royal Wedding of a Jubilee occasion to open some jolly good home grown wines and fear that the World Cup probably won’t deliver then judging by the sheer numbers in attendance at the annual English Wine Producer’s tasting last week, English Wine Week could be the next big Brit fixture in your calendar. ………
Here’s a little insight into what happened at the Ideal Home Show Christmas Drinks Theatre the other day, for a breakdown of my top wine picks and what they tasted like stay tuned for my seven days of Christmas series featuring all wines and gifts I presented at the show. Starting on the 1st December. There’ll be singing and everything…!
.
.
With huge thanks to Harvey Nichols, Piggy Bank wines, Hardy’s, Concha y Toro, Sopexa and the guys at knockknockstuff.com who helped make my debut tastings at The Ideal Home Show happen.
Sorry, no Tweets were found.
