6 Stunning Rose Wines For The Summer

As if we needed another excuse to drink more pink, it’s International Rosé Day on June 12th! As luck would have it, we’ve been bathing in the stuff all year already, so are well placed to recommend a few pretty pinks from around the world. You are welcome!

The Hidden Sea Rosé, Australia 2021

A gloriously unpretentious pink packed full of ripe fruit thanks to the blend of Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc and some good old Australian sun. What a mix! Even better, for every case of wine they sell, they pay to remove and recycle the equivalent of 60 x 500ml single-use plastic bottles from rivers and oceans. I mean, what better reason do you need to drink pink?

Find it at Sainsbury’s £9 here

Marius Rosé, Chapoutier, Pays d’Oc, France 2019

Marius takes us over to the South of France where this perky little number comes packed with refreshing notes of fruit salad, from white peach and strawberry to a touch of the tropics. Very easy drinking but elegant with it, from top producer, M. Chapoutier. 

Find it at Simply Wines Direct for £7.99 on offer! (usually £9.80)

Babylonstoren Mourvedre Rosé, Simonsberg, South Africa 2021

This South African pink made with the Mourvedre grape took me by surprise with its incredibly voluminous body and silky texture. Everything about this wine is perfectly together from its ripe peach and spicy notes to its refreshing, saline finish. Just gorgeous!

Find it a Wanderlust Wine for £14.90 

Maison No. 9 by Post Malone, Rosé, Pays d’Oc, France 2020

Created by famously tattooed musician Post Malone and named after his favourite tarot card, (we all have them, right?).  Maison No.9 brings together Post Malone’s love for the Mediterrnean lifestyle with his own unique style and messaging about overcoming challenges. The wine itself from the South of France is understated and elegant with notes of pineapple, peach and citrus. You’ll want to keep the bottle too as a piece of art. Available in larger formats too!

Find it at The Wine Caverns for £18.99. Coming to Tesco soon too. 

AIX Rosé Coteaux d'Aix en Provence

AIX is the failsafe rosé wine from Provence which, with every vintage, manages to bring to the bottle what we have all come to expect from the world famous region: Pale colour, super dry, saline twist and a hint of strawberries and cream. Definitely one for the parties too as it comes in ALL THe SIZES! Have fun. 

Find it in magnum from Majestic for £27.99 (mix six price)

Gusbourne Pinot Noir Rosé, Kent, England, 2020

We couldn’t do pink without looking at England and shining a light on the fabulous wines we make nowadays (not that we can take the credit!). We’re proper fangirls and boys of Gusbourne as you know and this, their limited edition pink is particularly special. Made with 100% Pinot Noir, it’s crisp and elegant with notes of wild flowers, crunchy cherry and orange citrus peel. Just so pretty and every so slightly quirky in the best, most English of ways. 

Find it at Gusbourne.com here for £25

Want some more recommendations? Check out our recent piece on English wines, some of the best cocktail terraces in London or even the best canned wines for summer picnics!

The Best English Wines To Try This Summer

June has become a time where English wine is celebrated in all its glory here in the UK and as we gradually creep out of lockdown, there are even more reasons to celebrate it as many wineries open their doors for tastings, lunches, dinners and events. Don’t forget; English Wine Week also falls on the 19th - 27th June this year, so why not support the industry and celebrate by cracking one of these fantastic bottles - all from producers you really need to know. 

STILL

Bolney Estate Chardonnay 2020 (West Sussex)

Bolney Wine Estate in West Sussex is becoming well known both for its fantastic wines covering just about every style as well as for its status as an enviable wine tourism destination, thanks to its tasting tours, restaurant and experiences. Their still Chardonnay 2020 is a limited edition that shows off both crispness and texture, combining notes of lemon peel, apricot, lightly toasted brioche, baked peach and honeysuckle. It reminds us of a Premier Cru Chablis, but with a beautiful, British accent.

Find here: £24.99

Denbies Pinot Noir 2018 (Dorking, Surrey)

Planted in 1986, Denbies is one of the largest wine estates in the country and was one of the first on the wine tourism scene with its vineyard hotel and restaurants. Mostly famous for its sparkling wines, this still Pinot Noir is only made in exceptional years when the grapes are perfectly ripe. They get the proper French oak treatment for 17 months, no less. It’s really gorgeous, with enticing notes of dark cherry, cocoa and a waft of vanilla bean, plus a silky, elegant raspberry milk chocolate palate.

Find here: £22.50

BRUT SPARKLING

‘Brut’ is simply the French word for ‘dry’ in the world of sparkling wine. You will see it on sparkling wines from all around the world including Prosecco and English fizz. Here are two you need to try. 

Rathfinny Brut 2017 (South Downs, Sussex)

Rathfinny is rapidly establishing itself as a leading light for Sussex sparkling thanks to its incredible location on a south-facing slope in the South Downs. Here, the climate, chalk soil and aspect make it ideal for producing grapes for fizz. The Brut 2017 is a blend of Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay and has a quintessentially English note of tangy apple skin and lightly baked brioche. Lovely chalky texture too. 

Find here: £29.50

Exton Park Reserve Blend 32 Brut (South Downs, Hampshire)

Exton park is a 60-acre single vineyard located in the South Downs National Park divided into nine separate plots according to terroir and aspect. Since 2011, winemaker Corinne Seely has kept an extensive library of reserve wines in order to create what she describes as an ‘English Bollinger’, where most of the blend (80%) is made up of reserve wines rather than the base from the most recent vintage. This Brut is 60% Pinot Noir, 40% Chardonnay, has had 3 years on lees and uses 32 different reserve wines. Expect notes of apple pie, a golden weight and a cool, mineral core. Weighty and serious.

Find here: £39

BLANC DE BLANCS

Translated literally from the French, blanc de blancs means ‘white from white’, i.e. white wine made from white grapes. With Champagne, this always means 100% Chardonnay as it will also do for English Sparkling wine and many other fizzes from around the world, but not all of them. It’s a style known for making great food matches, especially with the likes of fish and seafood, from lobster and fish and chips, to sashimi and even cheese.

Rathfinny Blanc de Blancs 2017 (Alfriston, Sussex)

The 100% Chardonnay offering from ravishing Rathfinny down in Sussex, is a limited production of only 9,333 bottles, each aged for 36-months on the lees to give it a glorious, golden colour, a creamy weight and complex flavours of tropical fruit, white peach, blossom and a squeeze of lime. A serious wine that’s light on its feet, giving any blanc de blanc Champagne a run for its money. 

Find here: £39.50

Gusbourne Blanc de Blancs 2016 (Appledore, Kent)

Gusbourne is another need-to-know name in English wine as it continues to win just about every award going. 2016 was an exceptional year in England with all that sunshine and this resulting fizz from grapes grown in Appledore in Kent offers a heady mix of flavours taking in ripe citrus, pear and orange peel with subtle, toasty notes and a moreish salinity on the finish. Very elegant. We love it.

Find here: £59

SPARKLING ROSE

Langham Rosé 2017 (Dorchester, Dorset)

This elegant beauty from Dorset was the only pink English sparkling wine to be awarded a Gold Medal in this year's International Wine & Spirits Competition (the IWSC). Made with 54% Pinot Noir, 23% Pinot Meunier and 23% Chardonnay, it’s pale and pretty with a nose of fine strawberry tart decorated with other ripe, red fruits. Refreshing, pure and perfumed. Lovely!

Find here: £29.90

Exton Park Reserve Blend Rosé

Another in the Reserve Blend (RB) range, the Exton Park pink is extraordinary. Made with 70% Pinot Noir and 30% Pinot Meunier using 23 reserve wines and 3 years on the lees to give weight and complexity, this is a rich and textured pink that’s dry and savoury with notes of dried rose petal, peach and a hint of spice. Allow it to open up in your glass over time and you’ll be treated to a flavours that change subtly with every sip. 

Find here: £39

Roebuck Estates Rosé de Noirs (Petworth, Sussex)

Roebuck is a relatively new kid on the sparkling wine block and it arrived with a bang, winning a tonne of awards for its inaugural release. This is their first ever rosé, made with 100% Pinot Noir grapes from their stunning Roman Villa vineyard. With a delicate, rose petal hue, this is a classy, elegant wine with notes of red apple, hawthorn, cranberry and soft brioche. A lovely pink with its own personality and it has just won the trophy at the IWC this year!

Find here: £40

Hambledon Première Cuvée Rosé (Hambledon, Hampshire)

And now for something completely different; a very dark rosé made from 100% Pinot Meunier. This savoury fizz is full in body and flavour with notes of smoky strawberry, tobacco leaf and even a touch of grilled meat. With a fabulous texture and no added sweetness, this a great food wine and certainly one for a meaty barbecue in the sunshine. Hambledon established themselves early on as one of England’s top wine producers. Definitely a name to watch. 

Find here: £69.50

DEMI-SEC

Charles Palmer Demi Sec 2014 (Winchelsea, East Sussex)

When you want an elegant fizz with a lighter pudding or even a salty cheese, the Charles Palmer demi-sec has a little sweetness and a lot of personality. With 5 years spent on lees giving it those toasty, brioche notes, this Pinot Noir and Chardonnay blend has got a good amount of age in its too, which adds to the complex and fruity flavour profile. Think apricot, apple and peach compote under a delicate crumble. It’s amazing with pavlova. The palace is also worth a visit and they have rooms! Ideal for after that long tasting tour when you forgot to spit...

Find here: £26

Want to know more about English wines? Check out this piece on The Best UK Vineyard Stays.

The Best UK Vineyard Stays

What’s better than a visit to a UK winery? An overnight stay at one. Book into the best, and after the daytrippers head home you’ll be left to bed down with bottles of fine English fizz – and to wake to a sunrise over sleepy rows of vines. If it wasn’t for that hallmark British summer weather (ahem), you’d swear you were in the south of France…

Rathfinny Wine Estate, East Sussex

Encircled by gently sloping vineyards and open Sussex skies, Rathfinny’s historic Flint Barns are Instagram-perfect inside and out. Ten rooms come with a shared snug – accented with exposed brick walls, cushy leather sofas and a wood burner – though better for summertime is the courtyard, a dreamy place to savour the Classic Cuvée sparkling, a typical Champagne blend aged for 36 months in bottle. Given you’re just three miles from the coast, break up sipping sessions with strolls to nearby chalk cliffs and beaches. Return for gastropub-style cooking in the onsite restaurant, plus hearty breakfasts of shakshuka or oozy Burford Brown eggs.

Book here

Denbies Wine Estate, Surrey

One of England’s oldest and best-known wineries, Denbies gives good vineyard: 265 acres of it, to be specific. And tucked among the manicured rows of Bacchus, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Rondo you’ll find a properly lovely hotel. Seventeen rooms, dressed in contemporary stylings with citrussy pops of colour, stripey hues and (as you’d expect) enticing views over the estate, are split between an 1850s restored farmhouse and a new extension, The Brokes. Pick the wing that suits you best, drop your bags, then head off on a tour and tasting – there are several to chose from – or for a lazy meal at one of the multiple on-site restaurants. 

Book here

Three Choirs, Gloucestershire

Get that camera ready. Floor-to-ceiling – and wall-to-wall – windows on the contemporary lodges at Three Choirs mean that scenic vistas to vineyard and lake pervade every minute of your stay. Just a short stroll from the winery’s popular tasting area – but pleasantly private – the lodges also come with wraparound verandas, so you can soak up the summer sunshine over a glass of Three Choirs elderflower and nettle-scented Bacchus, or strawberry-bright Pinot Noir Rosé Sparkling. You’ll get a discount on the informative afternoon vineyard tour, too, a natural follow up to a tapas lunch of patatas bravas, blackened padrón peppers and smoked mackerel pâté.

Book here 

The Fallow Treehouse, Hampshire

How to make a vineyard stay even more spectacular? Combine it with an epic, luxury treehouse. This glam pad in the Test Valley, on the edge of award-winning Black Chalk Wine’s vineyard, is built around a mature tree and comes with an outdoor bathtub, herringbone wood floors, button-back sofas and a toilet straight out of a glossy interiors mag. (And, of course, a bottle of Black Chalk Classic 2015 sparkling, a crisp blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier.) Visit during harvest and you can watch the grapes being plucked over your morning cuppa; come in November, and you can partake in truffle hunting tours among the neighbouring trees.

Book here

Oxney Organic, East Sussex

The very picture of a cutesy English cottage, Oxney’s Vineyard House is perfect for a small crowd – it will sleep you plus seven of your nearest and dearest, across three bedrooms within grape’s toss of the vines. Tumble out from the beamed-ceiling interior on a Saturday morning to join a tour around the vineyards, then return for a BBQ feast in the sprawling garden. Travelling as a twosome? Book the quaint shepherd’s hut instead, set in a small paddock near Pinot Noir grapes. Throw open the French doors, then enjoy your complimentary bottle of wine in a cute picnic area, complete with fire pit. When darkness falls, there’s a wood burner to keep you cosy.

Book here

Llanerch Vineyard Hotel, Wales

It’s not just the rows of photogenic vines – taken in through floor-to-ceiling windows from homely but contemporary rooms – that draw visitors to this hotel. There’s the slick restaurant, serving up fluffy scones at afternoon tea and heirloom beetroot tarts at dinner. And, of course, the top-notch cookery school from chef Angela Gray, where you’ll learn to whip up barbecue fish tacos or grilled mascarpone peaches with bourbon caramel. Join a tour around the vines, sip your way through the Cariad wine range, then retire to a suite, dressed in white walls, countryside prints and cushy throw pillows.

Book here

Don’t fancy a stay but still want to enjoy yourself? Then how about checking out some of the Best Cocktail Terraces in London? Or if it’s a city stay you are looking for, click here for more hotel inspiration!

News: We're shaking things up at The Three Drinkers!

Hello lovely readers. We have some news for you!

As you know, Colin, Aidy and Helena joined forces in 2018 as the Three Drinkers in order to shake up an industry known for its very traditional values. Today, with our returning TV Series, online magazine and our Bring a Bottle podcast (have you listened yet? ) we are shaking things up once more.

Helena and Aidy will continue to lead at 3DHQ, but our Third Drinker slot will now showcase an exciting, revolving range of guests, be they brands, communicators, winemakers, distillers or even you; our readers, listeners and viewers!

This news comes as Colin plans to concentrate more on his international whisky pursuits, stepping down as a full-time ‘Drinker’ in order to allow a broader range of talent to be represented. Aidy and Helena already fly the flag for disability communities, with Aidy being one of the only global TV presenters with Tourette syndrome, alongside one of the few drinks personalities within the LGBTQIA+ community. Helena has also been an active voice for female empowerment within a typically male-dominated world. Colin’s fans need not be disappointed though; he will be back sporadically, sharing his investment advice and global whisky discoveries as a guest Third Drinker.  He says this:

“I am incredibly lucky to have been able to work with two of my best friends. I’ll always be the original ‘Third Drinker’ and am grateful to have been given the time and space to explore new ventures, although I will be back periodically. I hope this leaves room for new faces and new ideas to further the diversity in all things for The Three Drinkers.”

Helena says “We’ve loved continuing to build The Three Drinkers brand and watching our audience grow during lockdown. We will miss our friend Colin and his whisky-fuelled antics, but wish him well on his travels and look forward to welcoming him back from time to time.”

“It’s bittersweet for us,” says Aidy. “While we are sad to be saying ‘au revoir’ to Colin, what this change will allow us to do now is very positive. We’ve listened to what the drinks world needs right now and that is a much needed diversity push, giving more support to under-represented communities, be they communicators, brand owners, winemakers etc. Having a revolving Third Drinker slot will give us even more opportunities to use our platform and make a tangible difference here.”

Their first series The Three Drinkers do Scotch Whisky is streaming on Amazon Prime in 172 countries and territories and will be available on British Airways, Aer Lingus, Iberia and Lufthansa flights from June onwards. Having just passed its one year anniversary, their Bring a Bottle podcast has just secured sponsorship for two more series and will continue to include a roster of guests, 70% of which will be welcomed from underrepresented and diverse backgrounds as part of their ongoing inclusion ethos. 

Thank you for your continuing support of us! Keep reading, listening and watching! More news coming very soon…

The Best Canned Wines for Summer Picnics

Once a grin-and-bear-it drink, resorted to only in times of desperation (like on the 17:42 from Waterloo), canned wine is undergoing a revolution. Fresh and fun new brands – with carefully sourced, quality wines – are cropping up en masse. No wonder: from taste to variety, portion control to the big E (the environmental impact) there are plenty of reasons to celebrate wine in a tin. So, give the below a go – you’ll be pleasantly surprised.

LUBANZI

When The Wine Society choose wine, they do it really blimming well, so it should be no surprise that their canned wine knocks the socks off so many others. Fruity and ‘clean’ without the sulphurous stink that cans can sometimes have, this pair of wines from South Africa provide super easy drinking that’s not confected, weedy or sickly. Named after a wandering dog that lead travellers a great distance, their soft, honeydew melon and white chocolate-scented Chenin Blanc and their spicy, juicy Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre red blend are both vegan, carbon neutral and Fairtrade certified too. The cans are really smart and when you look at their price, it’s just a no brainer. The Wine Society are not for profit, which is why these - and all their wines - are such amazing value.

Size: 250ml
ABV: 12.5% -13.5%
Find the white here and the red here for £3.95 each

Kiss of Wine

There’s a lot to love about this fresh, fun range, and one thing is its diversity. There are a whopping six single varietals to choose from, including ‘smooth’ Loire Valley Chardonnay, ‘zesty’ German Riesling, ‘chill’ Provencal Grenache Rosé and ‘crisp’ Loire Sauvignon Blanc. The stand-outs? That’ll be the Nebbiolo (nicknamed ‘feisty’) and soft, rounded Dolcetto (‘wild’) – two grapes we never thought we’d see in a canned wine. Each variety is sourced from a different small producer; a pamphlet delivered with your order gives the low-down, along with tasting notes and suggested food pairings. Plump for the 24-can Mixed Event Pack (£87) at your next barbecue and you’ll have literally something for everyone.

Size: 250ml
ABV: 11.5%-12.5%
Find here: £24.99 for 6

Canned Wine Co

Think canned wine can’t be great quality? This range of single varietal, vintage-declared wines will change your mind. The lively 2019 Austrian Grüner Veltliner is classic peach, apple and white pepper; the 2019 Grenache Rosé brings wild strawberries and grapefruit. The favourite however, hands down, is the 2016 Old Vine Garnacha: mature, smooth and chocolate-dipped-cherries on the nose and palate. This is a serious wine, worth its premium price tag (three 25cl tins cost £18). Snap it up quick, though; it’s just a limited edition, and once it’s gone, it’s gone.

Size: 250ml
ABV: 12.5%-14.5%
Find here: £18 for 3

Mirabeau

Provence’s pink wine poster child comes in a tinned format – and it’s just as sippable. A blend of 60% Grenache and 40% Syrah, grown on sun-baked southern French clay and limestone soils, this really is summertime in a glass: opulent white peach and strawberry on the nose, and a fruity, crisp palate. When the sun comes out, there’s no better way to enjoy this than at a picnic with friends, or down by the beach with a freshly made crab sandwich.

Size: 250ml
ABV: 13%
Find here: Currently £2.79 per can normally £3.49

Babe

One of the best things about canned wine is that it helps you control intake – on those ‘I’m being good’ days you can stick to just one glass, without feeling tempted to have more. And fresh and fun bubbly brand Babe makes it even more guilt-free with its low-alcohol 100 Rosé – a 6.9%, 100-calorie pink fizz that is perfectly refreshing. Not someone who gets the guilt? Stick to the rest of their range: a standard bubbly Rosé (12% ABV), as well as fizzy Pinot Grigio and a barbecue-perfect sparkling Cabernet and Syrah blend.

Size: 250ml
ABV: 6.9%-12.5%
Find here: UK £27 for 12 (mixed pack) // US £37.99 for 12 (mixed pack)

Daylesford

Canned sparkling and frizzante wines are a revelation. Not only do they chill quicker than a whole bottle, but their 25cl size means that you avoid the waste that comes when an unfinished bottle goes flat (not that we know what an unfinished bottle of fizz looks like…but you know, theoretically). Two great examples come from the lovely Daylesford organic farmshop: a delightfully juicy organic Rosé Frizzante and a floral-scented ‘Sparkling Italian’ (made in Prosecco, but they can’t call it that ‘cause it’s in tins). Daylesford’s sustainable, still Provencal rosé, Léoube, made for sun-soaked picnic drinking, is available to buy in can format too as Le Petit Léoube.

Size: 250ml
ABV: 10.5%-13%
Find here: £50 for 12

Sipful Organic Bubbly

Sometimes, you *need* a glass of fizz – but opening a bottle feels like overkill. Sipful is here to help; its signature is a Spanish sparkling wine, just 25cl (a third of a bottle), so you can (figuratively) pop the cork any time or place it takes your fancy. Crisp, uncomplicated and gently carbonated, these are convenient to keep on hand for a quick birthday toast, a date on the beach or really for any moment when only fizz will do (does every single day after work count?). It’s perfect splashed into a Mimosa or Bellini too and Sipful agrees – it also sells its own tinned versions of these (4.5% ABV), made with real orange, peach and blood orange juices.

Size: 250ml
ABV: 4.5%-12%
Find here: £30.95 for 12

Small But Perfectly Formed

One more benefit of drinking canned wine: the lightweight tin can have a gentler environmental footprint than glass bottles. And it was with this in mind that wine merchant Bibendum launched its new range of three tipples: a 2018 Californian Zinfandel Rosé, a non-vintage Kiwi Sauvignon Blanc, and a 2018 Argentinian Malbec (surprisingly quaffable from a can, this one is medium-bodied, with black cherry compote, ripe plum and red currant notes). Our favourite? Probably the Sauvignon – at £3 a can, it’s an affordable, easy-going option for impromptu park catch ups with mates.

Size: 250ml
ABV: 10.5%-13.5%
Find here: £3 per can

The Uncommon

Uncommon is right: this is one of the only canned English wines out there! And it sticks to what this green and pleasant land does so well: fizz. Kentish Bacchus and Chardonnay grapes give this quirky brand’s Bubbly White Wine delicious elderflower and green apple notes – just the thing for sipping while watching Wimbledon or strolling through Kew Gardens. The Pinot Noir rosé is another winner – hello, strawberries – but if you’re part of the low-alcohol brigade, there’s something you’ll like even better. White and rosé spritzers, at just 5.5% ABV, combine the signature wines with botanicals such as rose, hawthorn, cucumber and lemon verbena.

ABV: 5.5%-11.5%
Find here: £20 for 16

For more canned drink goodness make sure to check out our latest article on Delicious No and Low Canned Drinks but if it’s wine you are more interested in then we have a huge selection of articles waiting for your here!

The Science Behind your Hangxiety

We’ve all been there. It’s the day after the night before, and following a few too many drinks you wake up feeling majorly anxious. The reason seems unclear: was it an awkward drunken conversation? Did you do something embarrassing? Not necessarily: you’re probably just suffering from hangxiety.

Hangxiety is exactly what it sounds like: that anxious feeling that accompanies a hangover. And according to science, it’s real. Not just real, in fact, but normal – your brain’s rebalancing act after a night on the tiles.

When you drink alcohol, two things in your brain are affected: glutamate (which makes your brain more active) and Gaba (aka gamma-aminobutyric acid, which makes it less active). With every drink, glutamate decreases and Gaba increases, chilling you out, lowering your inhibitions and slowing your reaction time. According to Sophie Ward, a Tik Tok-er who recently posted a now-viral video on the topic, drinking basically makes your brain operate on slow-mo.

The next day, as alcohol leaves your system, your brain works to get the balance back to normal. But it over-compensates. Glutamate spikes, making your brain hyperactive, while Gaba, which would normally calm you down, is suppressed. And so hangxiety – which can last a few hours, days or even weeks depending on how much and how often you drink – is born.

Is there anything you can do to stop it? Not really, apart from moderating your intake. But next time you wake up hangxious, rest assured that it’s totally normal. The friends you partied with are probably feeling exactly the same way – and knowing that can be pretty anxiety-relieving in itself.

Don’t forget to check out our wellness campaign articles on how to make yourself happy and how to improve your mood.

Spring Reds: Kevin O'Sullivan on Talk Radio

Today, Helena spoke to Kevin O’Sullivan on talkRADIO about some perfect Easter and spring time, red wines. Fancy a soft Pinot Noir with your Sunday lamb, or how about a bright and breezy País with your barbecue? And don’t forget the failsafe match for chocolate: Port. Here are the three they tasted today.

Polemico País, Viña Laurent, Itata Valley, Chile, 2019.

País is an ancient grape variety making a resurgence, produced here in Chile's cool, Southern Itata Valley from 150 year-old ungrafted vines. Rustic, aromatic and supple, Polemico oozes earthy, red cherry fruit with a touch of toffee. Very easy drinking. A great choice for a barbecue.

RRP £12.25 from Corney & Barrow

Nielson Pinot Noir, Santa Barbara County, USA, 2017.

Santa Barbara in California is famous for silky, wild strawberry-scented Pinot Noirs with a cool minerality thanks to the area’s close proximity to the sea. This is your ‘Sideways’ Pinot; floral and aromatic, with crisp acidity, vibrant fruit and a gentle, mineral finish.

RRP £22.95 from Slurp.co.uk

Fonseca Bin 27, Reserve Port, NV.

Bin 27 is a reserve Port that has seen extended wood ageing to make it ready to drink upon release. It’s a blend from several vintages and has a deep ruby colour, with intense, blackberry, cassis, cherry and plum aromas and flavours. Luscious and velvety, it's great with tangy raspberry dishes or dark chocolate.

RRP £12.95 75cl from The Whisky Exchange, Majestic, Virgin Wines, Wine Rack & others.

See what else Helena has tasted on talkRADIO with Kevin O’Sullivan with Mike Graham, here, here and here.

Why Sweet Bordeaux & Cocktails are the Perfect Match

Words by Aidy Smith

Bordeaux and Cocktails. At first glance your mind is probably a little boggled at how could these two words have anything in common? Well, there’s a very obvious link – and it’s not the Bordeaux’s top shelf reds. Bordeaux has large a production of white, sparkling and, most importantly for cocktails, sweet wine. 

Sweet Bordeaux has become side-lined over the years as a ‘seasonal trend’, appearing mainly around Christmas and other celebratory dates but it doesn’t have to be. This baffles the locals who drink their sweet wines as aperitifs, with main courses and as everyday tipples. To its producers, the moniker ‘dessert wine’ is akin to uttering the word Voldemort in Harry Potter (that’s not a good thing). 

While the older generation winemakers have tended to treat the notion of ‘Sweet Bordeaux Cocktails’ with dismay - it has been left to the younger generation winemakers to push for innovation, strive for change and educate the world on Sweet Bordeaux Cocktails.

Why does it work?

The keyword here is balance – that strike between acidity and sweetness. The wine acts as a perfect base in a cocktail, allowing a variety of spirits whether sweet, acidic, bitter or spicy to harmonise in the glass.

They also work really well when used as the base in sparkling cocktails (especially with champagne and English sparkling wine) as the acidity equalises incredibly well. 

Sweet Bordeaux comes in different prices and quality tiers. Starting with entry level, Premieres Côtes de Bordeaux wines, which you can expect to display typical aromas of grapefruit and citrus with a distinct sweetness that balances well alongside acidity. 

As you move to the mid-tier, sweet Bordeaux wines from Loupiac, Cadillac and Sainte-Croix-du-Mont offer a more structured profile, perfect for more sophisticated and complex cocktails. Here you can expect more abundant tropical notes to act as the base of a cocktail, such as dried mango, pineapple, apricot and even banana. 

Finally you have the top tier choices from the likes of Barsac and Sauternes, which range from the mid-£20’s to £100’s based on the notoriety of the Chateau or brand. Highly complex in nature with candied fruits, honey and orange peel being the staple notes, these are ideal for the high-end cocktail. 

What are they doing to encourage the use of sweet wines in cocktails? 

The Sweet Bordeaux group as well as a handful of producers are spending an increasing amount of time with bartending and mixology schools. While producers such as Cartron and Bastor Lamontagne have emerged as pioneers of the movement, others are following in suit and there are even examples of some SB brands being created specifically with cocktails in mind. A good example of this would be SO Sauternes and their infamous Sojito cocktail (a mix up of the Mojito with Sauternes).

Sweet Bordeaux cocktails have also made more appearances at global trade tastings as the group continues to emphasise their wines can be enjoyed as more than just a food pairing and aperitif. 

Given that Sweet Bordeaux has been around in the UK for centuries, why is the breakthrough happening now?

As the snobbery barriers of the wine industry continue to diminish and technology makes exploring and understanding wines easier (i.e. look at the sheer impact of apps such as Vivino), younger generation drink enthusiasts are beginning to pay a lot more attention to wines. 

Pair this newfound awareness and thirst to discover with a UK drinks industry renowned for world class mixology innovation and it’s not difficult to see why this new form of cocktail is beginning to show its face. 

What makes SB better than other sweet wines in the market?

The Sweet Bordeaux group has carried out research that shows wines produced from botrytised grapes and affected by noble rot are much more flavoursome and intense than wines created from other production methods (port, sweet sherry, Muscat, Madeira etc). 

An exceptionally wide range of aromas and tasting descriptors are Sweet Bordeaux’s USP, encompassing everything from ripe and tropical fruits to flowers, honey, orange peel and even spices. As a result, this allows sweet Bordeaux to become a solid choice for Mixologist’s wishing to add distinctive character within their drinks. 

If there were ever a time to get involved and showcase some true innovation within the Sweet Bordeaux cocktail space, now would be it. Santé!

Aidy Recommends: The Sauternes French Martini

Ingredients
20ml Grand Marnier
30ml Rabaud Promis Sauternes
Lemon twist

Method
Add all ingredients to a shaker, add ice and shake until chilled. Strain into a glass and garnish with a lemon twist. Enjoy!

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