Bar La Rampa

Bar La Rampa, sitting snug on Market Place, is a Cuban delight, celebrating the heritage and culture of 1950s Havana. Entering to the sound of live Cuban music, you’d be forgiven for forgetting you were thirty seconds off of Oxford Street. The Havana theme really shines through in the small plates menu, developed by Ana Gonçalves and Zijun Meng of TĀTĀ Eatery, their reimagined Cuban dishes bringing Latin America to London in a stylish but authentic way. Bar La Rampa also prides itself on its extensive, rum heavy, cocktail menu, often featuring Eminente, a special new Cuban rum imagined by Cesar Marti, the youngest Cuban Maestro Ronero. 

The Elote Corn Ribs with vegan chipotle mayo and lime is a simple yet immensely flavoursome dish, and a must try on the menu. This is what Bar La Rampa does so well: simple dishes with bold flavours and an almost addictive quality. The moreish devil on the menu is the seemingly unassuming ‘Corn and Beans’. Though it may seem to simply be a black bean dip with tortilla chips, do not underestimate this dish. It’s less of a ‘sharing’ plate and more of a ‘fight to the death to get the last scoopful’ plate. Even if you’re only picking up a couple of cocktails, get the Corn and Beans: you won’t regret it. The Sandwich Cubano, a twist on a classic Cuban sandwich, is again a flavoursome treat. There’s both a classic and a vegetarian option - so you won’t be caught short if you don’t eat meat.

When it comes to cocktails, Bar La Rampa is not playing around. Not to be missed are the ‘Hemingway Special (Papa Doble)’, a sweet and sour daiquiri said to be the author’s personal favourite, the ‘El Presidente’, reminiscent of a smooth Negroni with a bolshy rum undertone, and the ‘Mango Colada’, a refreshing and fruity cocktail for those with a sweeter tooth. 

Bar La Rampa is certainly modern and stylish, however, the live Cuban music from the house band playing almost every night reminds you of where it all began: Havana. If you’re looking for big flavours in food and cocktails with a bouncy atmosphere, Bar La Rampa is the place to be.

Address:  7-8 Market Place, W1W 8AG
Telephone: 020 3840 5555
Website: www.barlarampa.com 

Mariah Carey Has Launched An Irish Cream Liqueur

Move over Bailey’s, Mariah’s here. 

She’s the queen of Christmas, the crown jewel of pop, and now, the newest kid on the Irish cream liqueur block (if such a block exists). With her smash hit ‘Fantasy’ recently featured in new movie ‘Free Guy’, Mariah is back in town and she means business.

Mariah Carey took to Instagram to announce the launch of ‘Black Irish’, her own brand of Irish cream liqueur. Lounging on a Caribbean beach flanked by sea, sand and Irish cream liqueur, Carey looked rightfully confident in her brand. The post received much support from fans, eager to get their hands on a bottle.

The name ‘Black Irish’ is a nod to Carey’s own heritage, with an Irish mother and a Black father - a topic she has discussed previously in a 2009 interview:

“It’s, like, my mother’s white – she’s so Irish, she loves Ireland, she’s like, yay, Ireland! Waving the flag and singing When Irish Eyes Are Smiling. And that’s great. I appreciate that and respect it.”

“But there’s a whole other side of me that makes me who I am and makes people uncomfortable. My father identified as a black man. No one asked him because he was clearly black. But people always ask me. If we were together, people would look at us in a really strange way. It sucked. As a little girl, I had blond hair, and they’d look at me, look at him, and be disgusted.”

Black Irish clearly means a lot to Carey, and the way she talks about the brand echoes this.

Speaking on her brand last week, Carey stated “I wanted to create something that embodies the holidays and gives everyone a reason to celebrate year-round, and I really think we have done that with Black Irish.” To be perfectly honest, we’re quite excited we’ve been gifted with a year-round reminder of her glittering empire. With the heaves of celebrities piling into the drinks industry, it’s refreshing to see one try something a little different.

Mariah Carey is releasing three flavours of the liqueur; Original Irish Cream, Salted Caramel, and White Chocolate; all of which sound delicious.

However, UK and Ireland residents might have to wait a bit longer to sample some of Carey’s liqueur as there’s said to be a Dublin brand already holding the name ‘Black Irish’. Mariah only has access to the US rights for the name, with Darker Still Spirits in Dublin having a stout named ‘Black Irish stout’. We’ll see how that pans out… Perhaps she can offer them a free concert? Signed CDs?

Did you know that there is an abundance of Celebrity Owned Wine and Celebrity Owned Tequila too?!

The Perfect Pint to Pair with Mayonnaise

Planning on breaking out a jar of mayo and going straight in with a spoon? Well, do we have the drink for you! Duke’s Mayonnaise has teamed up with Virginia’s Champion Brewing Company to bring you the perfect beer to pair with their mayonnaise. 

Even if you’re not making the radical decision to go full mayo monster and eat it straight up, this beer is apparently custom designed to be a brilliant accompaniment to a BLT lathered in creamy mayonnaise. The beer is named ‘Family Recipe’, a nod to the original recipe for Duke’s Mayonnaise dating all the way back to 1917. In fact, Duke’s still uses the same recipe today!

From the sounds of it, this beer is American down to the core. Rebecca Lupesco, Duke’s Brand Marketing Manager of Mayohem told brewbound.com: “The spirit of this collaboration truly encapsulates the Duke’s brand – it’s bold, southern, and a little saucy.” 

But how should I enjoy this beer you may ask…? Rebecca’s got you covered there: “Champion has perfected the art of beer and food pairings with Family Recipe – sun-ripened, juicy tomatoes, crispy bacon, lots of Duke’s mayo, and a refreshing sipping beer is basically what summertime is made for.” 

How insightful, Duke’s Mayonnaise. We truly feel a mayonnaise brand has taught us something new about life. If not for a refreshing sipping beer, what is summer made for?

The Vienna-style lager comes in at an ABV of 5.1% and is made with Vienna salt, Magnum, and Saaz hops. If you’re looking to pick up a Family Recipe, you can bag a 4-pack NOW on Champion Brewing Company’s website for $12.99.

They’re only available in the US right now, so please do tell us how it tastes if you get the chance to try it!

For more beer news how about checking out Prawn Cocktail Flavoured beer or this beer brewed from mushrooms?!

Piña Colada Flavoured Cheese!

Pineapple on pizza? We’ll allow it. Cranberries in cheese? You can pass. Figs in a salad? Sure. Piña Colada flavoured cheese? Uh….. Let us think about that for a second.

Yes. It’s real. Piña Colada Wensleydale, along with its siblings Espresso Martini Wensleydale and Peach Bellini Wensleydale, is hurtling towards us at an alarming rate, flung from the Aldi shopping baskets of the British public. Though Aldi triumphs with their Organic Prosecco (check out our rating here), we’re not totally confident these cocktail flavoured cheeses are going to be as much of a hit. 

If you are a fan of pineapple on pizza (a highly political debate in which we are remaining a neutral party), cheese and pineapple together may not be so alien to you at all. You might even be excited for this cheese to come out. The Peach Bellini doesn’t seem too awful either, with dried peaches a fairly typical accompaniment to a cheese board anyway. Perhaps Aldi may have even made a winner! Oh, wait... 

Espresso Martini Wensleydale. All one needs to know is right there, in that nightmare inducing title. Embedded with chocolate covered coffee beans, there seems to be no feasible scenario where this cheese is appetising. Unless, for that matter, you already coat coffee beans in chocolate and stick them into your Wensleydale. In that case, congratulations and welcome to heaven. 

Even with the utter strangeness of these flavour combinations, we’re actually quite excited they’re here. The entire collection feels like an idea Wallace of Wallace and Gromit jotted down after a hard night of 2 for 1 at the bar. The only question that prevails is this - are we now approaching cheese flavoured cocktails?

Enjoyed reading this? Why not check out Cocktails for Dogs or Dill Pickle Hard Seltzer?

The Best Hard Seltzers Right Now!

Welcome to the biggest drinks trend of the century: hard seltzers. These bubbly, lightly flavoured waters ‘spiked’ with some form of booze have taken the US by storm and are set to do the same on our shores. According to recent figures, 52% of Americans swapped beer for them in the last 12 months and it’s a trend that is likely to stay too, as more people reach out for a ‘cleaner’, more mindful drinking experience. How does that work? Well, hard seltzers tend to be super refreshing, low in alcohol (4-5% abv), low calorie, made with natural fruit flavours (and in some cases, natural sweeteners), are gluten free and vegan. With these lighter creds than the sugary, boozier alco-pops of the 90’s and their sleek, modern packaging, you can see why they’ve been winning hearts. At around £2 a pop, they’re light on the pocket too. Believe the hype and take the plunge on these super spritzy, summer sippers.

White Claw - Black Cherry

The famous one. White Claw is the wonder brand leading the charge for hard seltzers Stateside and the benchmark everyone is trying to beat. You might not believe the hype, but once tasted, they’re hard not to love. The Black Cherry itself has an almost cultish following, with ripe, cherry flavours on the nose that gives way to fresh, sparkling water with just a hint of fruit flavour. 

Score: 8/10
Size: 330ml
ABV: 4.5%
Find here: £2.25

Smirnoff Seltzer - Raspberry and Rhubarb

The one for a hot day. Light and insanely drinkable, the raspberry and rhubarb aromas are well balanced, natural and fresh, leaving a crisp, subtle flavour in the mouth. A great starter for ten and you’ll want to drink this all day. Just remember, there is some booze in it!

Score: 9/10
Size: 250ml
ABV: 4.7%
Find here: £2

Bodega Bay Hard Seltzer - Apple, Ginger & Acai

The most natural one. Quite a rich, real apple flavour here with a cracking kick of ginger and spice. The acai berry completes the mix to make a genuinely interesting drink with a unique taste. It’s the only one with fully natural ingredients too and its sleek, white, minimalist packaging feels very classy and clean.

Score: 10/10
Size: 250ml
ABV: 4%
Find here: £1

Kopparberg Hard Seltzer  - Passion fruit

The Instagrammable one. Winning the pretty packaging prize is well-loved booze brand Kopparberg. Passion fruit is the star of the range with its up front fruitiness and long lasting flavour. Sweeter than some, it’s still a good, lighter alternative to more calorific bottled booze.

Score: 7/10
Size: 330ml
ABV: 5%
Find here: £2.30

Mike's Hard Seltzer - Lime

The foodie one. The lime flavour in this is reminiscent of green wine gums from years past (remember those?) It’s also quite intense and lingers in the mouth for a while. Not as natural tasting as some, but definitely a thirst quencher and would be a great one with fish and chips.

Score: 6/10
Size: 330ml
ABV: 5%
Find here: £2

Barefoot Wine Seltzer - Strawberry & Guava

The one made with wine. Yes, water with a touch of wine and some natural flavours, though the guava flavouring is pretty pungent. Quite different from the others thanks to the tang of vino, there’s more flavour here than in many, if a bit less natural tasting.

Score: 6/10
Size: 250ml
ABV: 4%
Find here: £2.30

Nordic Wolf Hard Seltzer - Cherry & Cranberry

The one for cherry cola fans. The flavour is stronger here than with the other seltzers, but not sickly. Heavy on the cherry and a moreish tang from the cranberry, this is the one most like a normal soft drink, but without the nasties and cloying sweetness. Fantastic value.

Score: 7/10
Size: 330ml
ABV: 4%
Find here: £0.99

Sparkl Hard Seltzer - Lemon, Ginger & Chilli

The one for fans of vodka and slimline with a slice. Bucking the can trend in a glass bottle, this buzz water is subtle on flavour despite the addition of ginger and chilli. The real lemon zings and despite the alcohol, it feels strangely cleansing.

Score: 6.5/10
Size: 330ml
ABV: 4%
Find here: £30 for 12

Looking for more canned drink goodness? How about checking out these 5 Cracking Canned Drinks or if you’re looking for something slightly wackier then this Dill Pickle Hard Seltzer is always an option!

The Best Negroni Cocktail Recipes

With only three ingredients, the Negroni can seem like a fairly boring cocktail - but don’t be fooled. A true Negroni takes pride in the perfection of its simplicity, with the harmonious blend of gin, sweet vermouth and Campari akin to an extended note in the symphony of mixology… Okay maybe that was a bit much - but that doesn’t stop the Negroni being one of the UK’s most popular cocktails. 

This classic creation was made in Italy by request of its namesake: Count Camillo Negroni. Legend has it that the Count asked a bartender to strengthen his Americano (the cocktail, not the coffee), and the bartender duly swapped out the soda water for premium gin. We like the sound of them! In the spirit (pun intended) of the Count’s bartender, we too have put together some variations of the classic Negroni that you can try out today!

Classic Gin Negroni

Before you start veering off into crazy variations, you’ve got to nail the classic. Mastering the Negroni isn’t always easy, but it’s great fun. A gin we love for the classic is Monkey 47, bursting with 47 different botanicals. Fun fact: Monkey 47 is also 47% alcohol (they clearly have a lucky number)!

Ingredients

25ml Monkey 47 gin
25ml sweet vermouth
25ml Campari
orange slice for garnish

Method

Add ingredients to a mixing glass and fill with ice. Stir for 20-30 seconds until chilled. Strain into a rocks glass. Add large ice cubes and garnish with a slice of orange.

Find Monkey 47 Gin here

White Negroni

A White Negroni is essentially France’s version of the classic Italian drink. The story of its creation is that a British bartender working in France wanted to make a Negroni but couldn’t find Campari or sweet vermouth. Instead, he picked up two very French aperitifs and went with that. Then and there he was given French citizenship. Everybody clapped. Also Marie Antoinette returned from the dead, put her head back on and shook his hand (okay that might have been made up). 

Ingredients

37.5ml gin
25ml Lillet Blanc
12.5ml Suze liqueur
twist of lemon for garnish

Method

Add ingredients to a mixing glass and fill with ice. Stir for 20-30 seconds until chilled. Strain into a rocks glass over ice. Garnish with a twist of lemon.

Find Lillet Blanc here // Find Suze here

Boulevardier

You’ve probably heard of this cocktail before, but did you know that it’s a whiskey variation on a Negroni? Now you do. Tell your friends! For this cocktail, we’ve picked Brough Brothers Bourbon, a small batch bourbon boasting cooked fruit, vibrant spice and toasty oak notes.

Ingredients

45ml Brough Brothers Bourbon
25ml sweet vermouth
25ml Campari
twist of orange to garnish

Method

Chill a cocktail glass by placing it in the freezer. Pour all ingredients into a mixing glass and fill two thirds of the way with ice. Stir for around 30 seconds to chill and strain into the cocktail glass. Garnish with a twist of orange.

Find Brough Brothers Bourbon here

Prosecco Negroni (Negroni Sbagliato)

Go full on Italian with your Negroni and swap out the gin for Italy’s homegrown bubbly. Only Prosecco will do, so put down the Champagne! The Prosecco makes for a lighter Negroni, perfect for if you’re not a big fan of the bitterness Negronis can have. The Prosecco we’ve chosen is Extra Dry Giusti Rosalia Prosecco. As it’s extra dry, the slight sweetness knocks off the spirits’ bitterness. Definitely one to try.

Ingredients

25ml Giusti Rosalia Prosecco
25ml Campari
25ml sweet vermouth
orange slice to garnish

Method

Pour the Campari and vermouth into a rocks glass and fill with ice. Top up with Prosecco. Stir gently to chill and garnish with the orange slice.

Find Extra Dry Giusti Rosalia Prosecco Treviso here

Rosé Negroni

Bet you didn’t know you could get Rosé Vermouth. Turns out you can, and it’s a wonderful addition to this bittersweet Negroni variation. The strawberry liqueur adds a cheeky amount of fruitiness to the drink, an element you never knew your Negroni needed. Pick up a bottle of El Bandarra Vermut Rosé. Their funky frosted glass bottle looks great on your shelf, and it’s made from all organic ingredients! El Bandarra also make a great non-rosé vermouth too!

Ingredients

25ml premium gin
25ml El Bandarra Vermut Rosé
12.5ml Aperol
12.5ml strawberry liqueur
strawberry, to garnish

Method

Pour all ingredients into a rocks glass and fill with ice. Stir to chill and add more ice. Garnish with the strawberry and enjoy!

Find El Bandarra Vermut Rosé here

The Founder: The Americano

Let us all sit around the fire and look at the family photo album of the Negroni. Way back when, the Negroni started as the ‘Americano’ (which actually started as the Milano-Torin,  but that’s a story for another time). It’s possible its name was given to it by the hoards of Prohibition-era American tourists that were big fans of the drink, but nobody’s 100% sure where the name comes from. As there are so few ingredients to the drink, it’s important they’re all excellent quality. The bottle we’ve picked for this Americano is Cocchi Storico Vermouth Di Torino: properly Italian, properly delicious.

Ingredients

35ml Campari
35ml Cocchi Storico Vermouth
soda water
orange wedge for garnish

Method

Pour Campari and vermouth into a highball glass and add ice. Top up with soda water. Garnish with the orange wedge and enjoy!

Find Cocchi Storico Vermouth Di Torino Here

Looking for more cocktail recipes? Then how about checking out One Drink, Three Ways: Macallan 12 or 5 Of The Best Scotch Whisky Cocktails To Drink Right Now!

Thursday Club with talk RADIO: Off the beaten track with The Wine Society

This week on the Thursday Club with Mike Graham on talkRADIO, we have a special guest! Helena is away, so Mr Freddy Bulmer is stepping in, presenting some fabulous, off-the-beaten-track wines. Freddy is a buyer at The Wine Society and is responsible for Australia, New Zealand, Austria, Eastern Europe as well as beers and cider. What a great job! Here are three Society wines that he’s handpicked for you from places that deserve a little more attention.

Villa Melnik Syrah, Bulgaria 2018

A brilliant value example of this superstar grape, grown in this instance in south-west Bulgaria! This is full bodied and bursting with fig and juicy blackcurrant flavours. There’s a peppery twist which gives this bargain bottle a warming bit of spice, and combined with the full, fruity flavours this makes it a perfect choice for Autumnal drinking. Worth veering of the beaten track for!

Find it here for £6.75

Xinomavro Jeunes Vignes, Thymiopoulos, Greece 2019 

This Greek red grape variety is little known in the UK but is well worth getting excited about! Coming from the north of Greece, not too far from the city of Thessaloniki, this medium bodied wine is similar to France’s pinot noir in some respects and northern Italy’s Barolo in others. Quite simply this has to be one of the best value wines available in the UK at the moment and it’s sure to surprise and delight all who fill their glass with it! Not to mention Apostolos Thymiopoulos, winemaker extraordinaire, is one of the nicest people in the wine world!

Find it here for £11.95

Nibiru Grundstein Rosé, Kamptal, Austria 2020 

This fresh, raspberry-sorbet-laden rosé comes from the beautiful rolling hills of Austria, around an hour west of Vienna. Made from an inspired blend of local grapes zweigelt and blauer portugieser, this has a delicious hint of freshly picked herbs and vivid red berry fruit. Light, bright and impossibly refreshing, this is the perfect rosé for drinking into Autumn as the summer comes to an end.

Find it here for £13.95

You can listen to previous episodes of Mike Graham’s show on talkradio TV here. For more infomration on the The Wine Society, click here!

What Are The Most Popular Red Wine Grapes?

With so many red wines out there it’s hard to know which bottle to choose. With that in mind, we’ve created this handy guide to the most popular red wine grapes including information on their characteristics, what to pair them with and which bottles we recommend…

Cabernet Sauvignon

Cabernet Sauvignon (often colloquially known as Cab Sauv) is the world’s most popular grape, being planted in a great many wine regions around the world. The wine has brilliant aging properties thanks to its full body and tannic structure and its rich, concentrated flavours of blackcurrant, cedar and mint are a pie that everyone wants a slice of.

Where Is Cabernet Sauvignon Grown?

As previously mentioned, Cabernet Sauvignon is almost everywhere as it’s fairly robust; its thick skin helps it cope well with both heat and cold. It’s popularity globally is also thanks to its association with very famous wines such as a Château Lafite from Bordeaux. Its spiritual home is still France (especially the Bordeaux region), but the grape has taken to California, Chile and Australia in particular extremely well.

What Does Cabernet Sauvignon Taste Like?

Cabernet Sauvignon has a distinct blackcurrant and dark forest berry flavour with some sort of leafy note. Its thick skin provides a lot of tannic structure too, making it very dry and full-bodied. Depending on the region, it can also have notes of peppercorns and spices.

What To Pair With Cabernet Sauvignon:

The full-bodied nature of Cabernet Sauvignon lends itself extremely well to rich, grilled meats and dishes with high flavour, protein and fat content.

Which Cabernet Sauvignon Should I Try?

Affordable: Apothic Cabernet Sauvignon UK £9 // US $8.98
Mid-Tier (Cabernet Sauvignon Blend): Château de Janicon Graves Rouge 2018 UK £14.83
Top-End: Mt Brave UK £79 // US $99.99

Merlot

Merlot tends to make softer, more medium-bodied, fruitier wines than Cabernet Sauvignon and the two are very often blended as they complement each other so well. 

Where Is Merlot Grown?

Merlot is grown in similar regions to Cabernet Sauvignon and is the other ‘famous’ Bordeaux grape. As Merlot takes less time to ripen, it can be grown in slightly cooler climates than Cabernet Sauvignon such as Northern Italy. For juicy, fruity, warmer climate Merlots, head to Australia, California and Chile as well as regional Southern France.

What Does Merlot Taste Like?

These warmer climate Merlots are often bolder and fruitier, offering flavours such as red plum, blackberry and even vine tomato. Cooler climate Merlots are more tart, with earthy notes and often, an iodine tang. 

What To Pair With A Merlot:

Merlot is a great wine to pair with food as it is so versatile. Easy drinking, inexpensive Merlots like creamy, tomatoey sauces. An earthier, old world Merlot is delicious with roasted meats and vegetables.

Which Merlot Should I Try?

Affordable: Château Tertre De Viaud Côtes De Bourg 2016 - UK £10.92
Top-End: Château Prieurs de la Commanderie Pomerol 2016 - £39.48

Pinot Noir

Pinot Noir is one of the world’s most popular red wine grapes. It can taste like a red wine but feel like a white, so is often the red that white wine drinkers pick. It is light bodied and elegant, with high acidity and very low tannin, coupled with a beautiful silky texture and classic flavour profile of spiced cherry, raspberry compote and earth.

Where Is Pinot Noir Grown?

Pinot Noir loves a cool climate and you can now find incredible bottles from many places around the globe. France produces a huge amount of it, with the majority coming from Burgundy, and since the 1990s, Germany has also been producing some stunning bottles, only here they tend to call it Spatburgunder. The USA has some very exciting styles coming out of Oregon and coastal California, and although not as widely known, there are many other countries around the world that produce some very good Pinot too, including the UK, New Zealand, Austria and Romania to name a few! If it’s a cool region, Pinot will do well. 

What To Pair With Pinot Noir:

Given its higher acidity and its low tannin, Pinot Noir pairs really well with many different dishes. For the lighter, fruitier versions, try it with fleshy fish like salmon, or chicken, whereas bolder Pinot Noirs such as those from Chile or New Zealand work really well with pork, duck, beef stews and mushrooms.

Which Pinot Noir Should I Try?

Affordable: Sanziana Pinot Noir Recas Cramele UK £8.50
Mid Tier: Sebastiani UK £25 // US $14.99
Top-End: Volnay Domaine Cyrot-Buthiau 2017 UK £35.95

Syrah

You might know this grape better as Shiraz; the Australian name for their most planted grape, but the two are technically the same, although the Shiraz style has morphed away from the Syrah style, hence the two names. These dark and brooding wines have wonderful aging capabilities and are excellent with all sorts of foods.

Where Is Syrah Grown?

Syrah thrives in warm and dry climates, which explains its massive success in Australia. However, the grape’s spiritual home is on the rocky, gravelly hillsides of the Northern Rhone region in France. California has also done well with the Syrah grape, though it is often left in the shadow of the ever popular Californian Cabernet Sauvignon.

What Does Syrah Taste Like?

Syrah creates powerful, full-bodied wines chock full of dark, plum fruit flavours, dried herbs and pepper. In the Southern Rhone valley in France, Syrah is a key component in famous blends such as Cotes-du-Rhone and Chateauneuf du Pape. New World Syrahs are often spicier and more fruit driven than Old World Syrahs, which offer more herbaceous notes and higher acidity. 

What To Pair With Syrah/Shiraz:

The punch of Syrah can sometimes be too much for foods with more delicate flavours, so pairing these wines with meaty and peppery dishes is the way to go. With an Australian Shiraz, don’t stray too far from the meaty flavours, however, the herbaceous, European Syrah is perfect for vegetables and game. A Californian Syrah is a good middle ground.

Which Syrah should I Try?

Affordable: McGuigan Reserve Shiraz UK £6
Mid-Tier: Penfolds Bin 28 Kalimna Shiraz UK £29.95 // US $27.99
Top-End: Mclaren Vale Yangarra Estate Ironheart Shiraz £89.97 // US $32.99

Malbec

Malbec is a grape with a rich history and a rich flavour. Though sometimes chosen as a better value substitute for Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec deserves its place on the list of most popular wine grapes.

Where Is Malbec Grown?

While Argentina’s pride and joy, the Malbec grape actually originated in South West France. Its move to a warmer, sunnier country by a hopeful French botanist allowed it to shine in a way it never had done in France before. Malbec loves altitude and thrives on the sunny slopes of Mendoza in Argentina and although this country now grows 70% of the world’s Malbec, the grape can still be found in its French home in the famous, black wines of Cahors and is becoming slowly more widespread in other New World regions such as New Zealand and Australia.

What Does Malbec Taste Like?

Classic Malbec is all about blueberry, raspberry and chocolate. It’s bold but often very smooth and with a bit of age can also offer more complex, savoury, leathery notes.

What To Pair With Malbec:

As you may suspect, an Argentinian Malbec loves a good steak! It’s a sure fire winner at any grill or barbecue and works very nicely with hard cow cheese too. It’s another one that can handle grilled veg well.

Which Malbec Should I Try?

Affordable: Tesco Finest Argentinian Malbec £8
Mid-Tier: Bramare Malbec Lujan de Cuyo UK £29.24 // US $39.99
Top-End: Catena Zapata Malbec Argentino US $149.99

Grenache

Grenache is not only known for its red wines, but also for the deep rosés that it can create. Its fruity nature (especially in its rosés) is very approachable and dangerously drinkable! A Grenache is a great pick with or without food.

Where Is Grenache Grown?

Unlike many of the grapes on this list, Grenache didn’t actually originate in France. Though it’s now planted all over France’s Southern Rhône region, Grenache originated in Spain (where it is labelled as Garnacha)! It’s not as widely grown in the New World as a Cabernet Sauvignon or a Merlot and its acreage has been sharply dropping in the past few decades (sad face).

What Does Grenache Taste Like?

Grenache’s fruity flavour is made up of its notes of strawberry and cinnamon, though depending on where the grape is grown, it can also produce notes of orange and grapefruit. 

What To Pair With A Grenache:

Though it’s definitely a winner with most grilled meats, lean towards something leaner with Grenache, such as lamb. It’s not just meat that you want to pair with Grenache, anything spicy or herbaceous is perfect with this fruity wine.

Which Grenache Should I Try?

Affordable: Waitrose Cotes du Rhone Villages £7.99
Mid-Tier: Anayón Garnacha £17.19
Top-End: Orin Swift 'Abstract' UK £39.99 // US $37.99

Tempranillo

There’s no doubt that Tempranillo (tem-pran-ee-o) is Spain’s favourite red grape, and its versatile flavour profile and texture makes it a treat for pairing with food. It’s most commonly known in its guise as Rioja (In Spain, the wine is often named after the region) but Tempranillo can be found all over Spain. If you’re planning a tapas night anytime soon, be sure to pick up a bottle of Tempranillo - you won’t regret it!

Where Is Tempranillo Grown?

Again, this grape is Spain through and through. Over 80% of the world’s Tempranillo comes from Spain but it has tiptoed its way across the border and is now fairly common in other countries like Portugal. Australia has also been experimenting with this grape, as it enjoys similar conditions to the old favourite, Aussie Shiraz. 

What Does Tempranillo Taste Like?

Tempranillo is simultaneously earthy and fruity, with notes of leather, strawberry cherry and spice. An Australian Tempranillo offers more chocolatey notes, sometimes even being juicer than a Spanish variant. It’s worth trying both New World and Old World Tempranillos to discover your favourites.

What To Pair With Tempranillo:

A fresh, young (‘joven’) Tempranillo is delicious alongside pasta and tomato dishes, whereas a bolder Tempranillo is more suited to meaty dishes. It’s all about trying what works for you and what doesn’t.

Which Tempranillo Should I Try?

Affordable: Finca Besaya Crianza 2017 UK: £9.99
Mid-Tier: Altos de Baroja Rioja Joven £10.75
Top-End:  Marqués de Murrieta Gran Reserva Rioja £50.50

Looking for more wine content? How about having a read of The Best Places in the UK to Drink English Wine or Cheap Champagne that Tastes Great.