This is not a paid post. Products are press samples.
Whether you want to throw a party or invite a few friends around for dinner or drinks, picking wines that will please all your guests can be difficult. Sticking to ones that have a wide appeal and are not too complex is usually a good idea. Of course, you need to offer red and white.
Pinot gris (pinot grigio) especially from New Zealand, is a
good choice as it is fresh and crisp bursting with flavours of apples and pears
laced with spice.
Wines from France’s Burgundy region such as a Chablis
Premier Cru or Puligny Montrachet, should go down a treat. Another good choice
is a Mâcon-Villages also made from the chardonnay grape.
Italy’s fashionable Gavi di Gavi, a crisp, floral wine
bursting with peachy tangs is another palate pleaser.
For fruity reds, a malbec from Argentina is a winner as is a
merlot from Chile or the US.
Sparkling wines always go down a treat and, of course,
champagne works with lots of dishes.
Here are some interesting numbers that I think you and your
guests will enjoy.
Willi Bründlmayer, Brut Rosé Sekt, Langenlois, ABV 11.5%,
£22.75, Berry Bros. & Rudd bbr.com
A zesty sparkler from Austria made from St Laurent, zweigelt and pinot noir.
Red berry-soaked with a touch of spice, it has a lovely, crisp acidity and
a delicate mousse. Wonderful for summer.
Waitrose Gavi, 2016, Piedmont, Italy, ABV 12%, £8.49,
Waitrose
Gavi, named after a small town in Piedmont and made from the cortese grape, has fast become one of Italy’s most fashionable dry, white wines. This is a lively beauty from Waitrose. Green-apple crispness is fused with hints of pear and peach and a smattering of spice. Easy to drink, this is one that definitely will electrify your palate and that of your guests.
Gavi, named after a small town in Piedmont and made from the cortese grape, has fast become one of Italy’s most fashionable dry, white wines. This is a lively beauty from Waitrose. Green-apple crispness is fused with hints of pear and peach and a smattering of spice. Easy to drink, this is one that definitely will electrify your palate and that of your guests.
Villa Maria, Private Bin Pinot Grigio, 2017, New Zealand,
ABV 12.5%, £10.75 Waitrose
From Villa Maria, a highly-respected winery, comes this rich and aromatic, well-balanced wine. (This was a favourite during my trip to New Zealand.) Think red apple and green melon freshness laced with a subtle kick. Extremely quaffable.
From Villa Maria, a highly-respected winery, comes this rich and aromatic, well-balanced wine. (This was a favourite during my trip to New Zealand.) Think red apple and green melon freshness laced with a subtle kick. Extremely quaffable.
Domaine Lyrarakis, 2016, Plytó, Crete, Greece, ABV 13%,
£13.75, Berry Bros. & Rudd bbr.com
Plytó, an indigenous grape, had almost become extinct until
the Lyrarakis family saved it from going into obscurity by planting it in their
vineyard. Rich and distinctive in character, the wine this grape
produces is bursting with pear and melon notes with just the right
amount of gusto. According to Berry Bros. this is the only 100%
Plytó in commercial production anywhere on the planet. An elegant and
classy wine that will intrigue and wow your friends.
Bolney Estate Dark Harvest, 2015, Sussex, ABV 12.5%
£10.99, Waitrose
For your guests that like red wine, this stunning number will go down a treat. This 100 per cent rondo-grape wine oozes aromas of juicy fresh red berries and blackcurrants with a zap of oak. Full of flavour, it is not too heavy even for a hot summer evening.
For your guests that like red wine, this stunning number will go down a treat. This 100 per cent rondo-grape wine oozes aromas of juicy fresh red berries and blackcurrants with a zap of oak. Full of flavour, it is not too heavy even for a hot summer evening.
By Daralyn Danns
