A recent trip to Bordeaux with a group of talented sommeliers opened my eyes to a mysterious side of the wine world not often seen by the public. Three days with these energetic, eclectic, enthusiastic and intelligent wine bods firmly put my impression of a sommelier as the ultimate wine snob to bed. Our little French fling was to our mutual benefit, I learnt from them as much as they ate the foie gras from my pregnant lady plate (that’s a lot).
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Christmas has come early for the savvy gourmandise: John Torode & Neil McGuigan have launched a limited edition Hunter Valley Semillon and missbouquet.com is hosting a four part video edit of their journey from idea conception to finished product. Episode one whets our appetite for the story that lies ahead.

*This is a sponsored video*

“If you were a wine what wine would you be?” Is a question I get asked a lot. It’s one that I find as frustrating as those magazine articles annually on repeat “what summer style are you?” “Are you a ponytail girl or down and wavy: what your hair style says about you” as if we all need to be pigeon holed in an irritatingly patronising way. Funnily enough I was told what wine I’d be by fellow wine’o @Winebird – and of all the wines in the world she declared me a Côte Rôtie! If only I could afford it!

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Riesling, Viognier and Torrontes are all aromatic white wines I like to drink but seldom order unless I’m eating Asian style foods with a bit of spice. It’s been drummed into us: aromatic whites go with Japanese, Thai and Chinese which is great because they’re always a safe combo but aromatic whites are equally, if not more so, perfect staples for Spring time drinking too.

What sets an aromatic white apart from trusty whites like Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Pinot Grigio is very much as the name suggests; they’re perfumed, scented, fragrant, distinctive and sometimes pungent which means finding one
you like can be a bit of a gamble.

Here are a couple that are very much in full bloom:

Harvey Nichols Clare Valley Riesling 2012, South Australia (£16.00) is everything I wish all Rieslings could be: brimming with grapefruit, lemon blossom and sherbet characters, so fresh and citrusy on the finish that your mouth literally salivates for more. It’s a style that’s typically Clare Valley Riesling and should be a go-to region for anyone that likes their’s dry not sweet.

Bellingham The Bernard Series Hand-Picked Viognier 2013 (£10.99) from The Co-operative Food is peachy, peach blossom in particular and like apricot jam on a hot croissant, it’s smooth, full and naughty but nice.

This is one for the wine know-it-all in your life. Everyone has one, I am it amongst my friends and family and I would be lying if I pretended that until recently I’d barely come across a bottle of this curious Italian white grape. Falangina, which sounds like a cross between something a bit saucy and a bottle of Orangina is in fact nothing to do with either, I’d describe it as a cross in flavours between a Viognier and a Chardonnay. Typically it is aromatic and can come in the form of a food wine or a quaffer. The foodie Falangina’s are rich, opulent and textured in the same way that most whites from Alsace are and the quaffers are lighter and fresh but still perfumed.

Hailing from Italy Falangina is always a little unusual, interesting and full of character and handily you can find them at an array of price points. There’s a great one for foodies from Harvey Nichols which is on the brink of release but to whet your appetite until then try this budget friendly, quaffing option from The Coop. Rocca Vecchia Falanghina 2012 from Puglia, £6.99. Think refreshing, apricot, honeysuckle and blossom. Serve chilled. Now you know it all.

Usually white wines from the Loire are to springtime what reds wines are to winter. Except for the fact that this year winter has been very much about white wines, not red. There’s something so sleepy about red wines, which just won’t do if your life is such that hibernation is not an option.

There’s been a surge of excellent white wines hitting our shelves too that are the perfect balance of indulgence and freshness making them perfect winter wines. Château de Fesles la Chapelle 2011 is one of them. It’s from the Loire and made of Chenin Blanc; it has the region’s trade-mark zing but its full bodied nature isn’t one for brighter days it’s for slurping on a cold night with a hearty wintery dish. Think gammon and cauliflower cheese, roast chicken with all the trimmings or a hearty pasta dish.

With whites as good as this winter can stay a bit longer.

£13,99 @ Waitrose