Fitting e Bill

Summer Drinking

During the best days of summer Y Sgwâr is a pool of sun, edged with the stunning granite buildings of Dolgellau. On days like these, local customers in Meirionnydd go for fresh, easy-going, light drinking. Pinot Grigio is always a popular choice, as is the more unusual Siegerrebe from Whitecastle Vineyard near Abergavenny. After closing time, we often head for the hills, taking a little picnic to Llynnau Cregennan or Llyn Cynwch (Precipice Walk). These evenings are blissfully tranquil, staring out over the Mawddach, watching the world wind down with a glass of Pecorino in hand.

Many of us choose our wines by the season, and between barbecues and picnics, summer drinking tends to happen outside. Sales of sparkling wines shoot up with Prosecco leading the way, but can I suggest a different fizz? Challenge your friends with a delicious French crémant and see what they think – any reputable wine merchant will guide you to a decent one. Better still, many of the Welsh vineyards have splendid sparkling wines - look for Ancre Hill’s Blanc de Noirs. These sparklers from Wales will generally be drier and have a bit more structure and flavour.

With the climate we have in Wales, the wines produced are never going to be chunky blockbusters, but that’s their beauty over summer when you want something light. Everyone loves a Sauvignon full of elderflower, kiwi and gooseberry flavours but have you considered a Solaris from Wales? Light, fresh and fruity, this is ideal for drinking in the evening sunshine.

Lots of people head for rosé when the sun’s out, which is also great. If you’ve been put off by sweet Californian Zinfandel, then do try again: there’s a whole range of pink wines that have a bit more body and structure for al fresco dining. A rosé from Provence is perfect with salads and tarts. Here in Wales, go for Montgomery, who produce a beautiful crisp, dry rosé with Pinot Noir - or try Pant Du’s Rondo rosé from Penygroes. Spain produces many fuller-bodied rosados that are the traditional answer to a cool wine to drink with food in hot weather. These are gutsier and easily stand up to barbeque food, which, thanks to marinades and strong sauces combined with chargrilling, can be problematic.

We tend to go for lighter reds in the summer; a Valpolicella has a streak of acidity that will cut through some of the fatty foods we’ll be feasting upon. Alternatively, you could choose a Beaujolais. Wales does light and fruity flavours well and the Rondo grape is producing good results here, with that same acidity and herbiness, and bright brambly fruit on the nose.

Back to fizz, and a little something to go with your fruity puddings. What could be better than a sweet, frothy Moscato, generally light in alcohol? Enjoy it with sweet, sun-ripened strawberries, or better still, with meringues and cream. The blend of the wine’s sugary notes with the dessert is a delight. Ah! Those summer nights!

Dylan and Llinos Rowlands

Dylan and Llinos’s Top 5 Summer Drinking Wines

Ancre Hill, Blanc de Noirs. Scintillating ultra-dry fizz, a match for Champagne £34.50

Llaethliw Solaris – herby, light and refreshing. £17.50

Montgomery Rosé – refreshing pink grapefruit with a delicate palate of wild strawberries. £18.80

Provolo, Valpolicella– soft red wine with red cherries and plums £10.50

Great Scott!

Top tips from ‘down under’ to help you select a cracking wine this summer

It’s no accident that Fine Wines Direct have an exclusive distribution relationship with Allan Scott’s winery. He’s a stalwart of the New Zealand wine scene with over 45 years’ experience as a wine-maker and possesses an amazing depth of knowledge. Here he imparts a few pearls of wisdom that will help you enjoy your wine this summer.

taste.blas: Can you talk us through how to choose the right type of wine for the occasion over the summer?

Allan Scott: Barbecues tend to be about meat and to counter the richness usually found with meat I would generally recommend Bordeaux varietals. If it’s a “posh” BBQ it’s likely to be richer meats so Malbec, Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon are best. A “casual” BBQ is likely to have a wider range and therefore lighter meats and Pinot Noir or Merlot would be my choice.

It’s hard to directly match salads to wine but I’d suggest a Sauvignon Blanc – it’s bright and refreshing with a salad.

With sh I’d de nitely go for a dry Riesling because the usual Citrus overtones in Riesling enhance the sh avours in much the same way as squeezing a lemon would. Maybe Sauvignon Blanc if no dry Riesling available.

To start, the obvious wine is a good Methode Traditionnelle (which is the term used to describe the traditional way to make champagne, that’s o en used by non-Champagne sparklings) such as our Cecilia Sparkling Rosé or Champagne itself.

When it comes to desserts, the tradition is to match with sweeter wines, but in many situations, unless there’s one in the cellar or at the back of a cupboard (which are likely to be old and therefore usually over the hill) it’s perfectly OK for desserts to be ‘matched’ with the le overs from the previous wines served.

For a lazy sunny a ernoon it’s de nitely Rosé and the fruitier the better. Other choices would be Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling or Pinot Gris. Gewürztraminer is a variety o en overlooked as an a ernoon choice but great if snacking with cheese.

t.b: People o en worry about matching the right grape or style to food – what’s your view?

AS: I tend to avoid tagging wines to particular foods just because it’s a traditional match. Instead, I just hope that the wine I choose is enjoyable and ts the occasion and circumstances that it’s being served in. For instance, I wouldn’t turn my nose up if I was o ered a gutsy Malbec with sh and chips - even though not an obvious match, I am sure it would be appreciated just as much.

t.b: How do you choose a good wine?

AS: Same story, don’t get too hung up on it – it’s hard to choose a book by its cover and a lot of wines are bought by label. I tend to be less choosy when purchasing. I enjoy the contents hoping that the varietal characteristics expected in that particular wine are apparent, it has balance of possible sweetness and acidity and, if advanced in any way, that it has good integration.

t.b: Why is it worth spending a bit more? Is there a sweet spot?

AS: To be honest it is di cult to make a decent wine that will retail under £10 so anything below is likely to be produced in a manner which does not do the wine any favours. Because £10 is borderline quality I tend to go a little higher. A good rule of thumb to me at home when buying is to spend £20 -£30 (40-60 NZ$) - I would be con dent that the wine will meet expectations. If not, I don’t hesitate to take it back (I could write an essay on this subject!)

t.b: How important is a good wine supplier, especially when you’re not sure what to buy and whose wines to trust?

AS: We are very fortunate to have had Fine Wines Direct UK based in Cardi as our importer and distributor over a long time and appreciate that, like us, they are a family business and share the same values of being personally responsible for every outcome. Time certainly brings trust and our relationship has continued to go from strength to strength to the point we can almost read each-other’s minds. And it’s the same principle if you’re buying wine from a retailer. If you trust the people you’re buying from, then you can rely on their advice and rest assured that you’re getting a great wine for your money and one you’re likely to enjoy.

t.b: Your top tips for the summer from your range?

AS: Top tips would be either Scott Base or Allan Scott Rose or perhaps the 2019 Sauvignon Blanc which is soon to arrive as a “out on the patio” drink. For something more serious, I think Generations Chardonnay is a winner and perhaps Scott Base Pinot Noir which is even more serious. Our complete range is available at FWDUK wine shop 242 Penarth Road, Cardi .

Allan Scott Wines are available exclusively at Fine Wines Direct, 242 Penarth Road, Cardi CF11 8TU. Tel: 029 2078 7500. www. newinesdirectuk.com

Fine Wines Direct are a 3 time nalist at the prestigious Harpers Awards for ‘Wine Wholesaler of the Year’. ey stock a huge range of wines, many exclusive, and spirits in their shop. ey also have tasting rooms and a unique bonded warehouse.

Award-winning artisan chutneys, curds, preserves, jams, mustards and marmalades all handmade to traditional family recipes in St Clears.

Available to the trade and public via our website, quality retail and food markets.

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MORGANS BREW

TEA COMPANY

We are specialist suppliers of loose leaf teas and infusions from established plantations. Our blends are sourced from a collection of old and new recipes. We sell our own brand of 46 loose leaf teas and accessories via online webshop.

We love to share our passion for tea in all its myriad forms and delight in inspiring our customers to try new flavours and recipes.We want to encourage our customers to think differently about they use tea and infusions for drinking and culinary use. Our aromatic and flavour-rich blends are endlessly versatile; whether it be a satisfying cuppa, a delicate herbal pick-me-up, as an aromatic culinary ingredient or as a twist to an elegant cocktail. From black teas to caffeine-free, from herbal to fruit infusion – all our teas are blended for your enjoyment. You can drink our teas and infusions in the morning, mid-day, afternoon, evening - and as a nightcap.

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