26 Art with Michael Taylor

FOOD & DRINK

by Sadie Wilkins, Indie Wine Merchant

The art of matchmaking wines

Sometimes selling wine feels like a dating service, says Sadie Wilkins

Wine is not just a drink; it’s a talking point, it’s a social tool, a thank you, a sign of gratitude, a celebration, an overdue catch up... the list goes on. Quite simply, we connect through wine, and the bottles we crack open bookmark our lives. So, every time we recommend a bottle to a customer, whether it be a midweek pause to punctuate a long day or an occasion to mark something special, we see it as a privilege to be trusted with all those small and large moments in people’s lives. In short, we better make sure the wine sings the right tune from the glass, which is a real skill when faced with a library of wine made up of 1500 plus bottles! Equally, every bottle on our shelves tells a story – from the terroir to the winemaker and everything in between. We follow every wine we source from grape to glass, meeting winemakers along the way, before sharing its story with the good folk who come into our wine shop. So, there’s a lot to consider when making a recommendation – we’re like a dating service for wine drinkers, and we want to make sure that we get a second date. For us, shopping in an independent should mean finding not only great examples of the grape varieties, but also interesting interpretations of grapes and wines that hail from regions not so mainstream – the ‘weird and wonderful’ grapes. We sample everything we source for the shelves, and we carry it out blind too, without knowing the price – just the varieties and region. It’s something we are slightly obsessive about as we like to have zero preconceptions and let the wine do the talking. When you put this altogether, it means we know and love our wines for what they are, and feel passionate about sharing them with others.

We’ve got you

So, let’s put our skills to the test and find your perfect match this Valentine’s Day. Can we be so bold to guess your brief? You want something ‘nice’ to go with a tasty meal that’s more special than your usual but doesn’t break the bank, right? Well, here’s my thoughts, and I’m going to go with a red and a white that never disappoint! Though for a personalised recommendation, we’d love to see you in person, at the shop, where we can take on the challenge of your brief – whatever it may be!

“We sample Sadie’s suggestions:

everything we source For a red - steak is a Valentine’s for the shelves, and staple, and most people choose a Malbec, but here is a little twist. we carry it out blind Morande Reserva Carmenere is too, without knowing simply divine. the price” Think green bell pepper meets hedgerow fruit, with a firm backbone but without a huge tannin hit. This wine over delivers and every time I enjoy a glass it seems to give me another level of complexity. £12 per bottle.

For a white - Karim Mussi was inspired by his favourite poets to create this wine: William Shakespeare, Edgar Allan Poe, Jorge Luis Borges and Walt Whitman. Los Poetas Semillon is a fantastic wine from Argentina that is bursting with white flowers and peach aromas that lead onto citrus and tropical fruit flavour. Fantastic with white meats, salads, flavoursome fish dishes and even a goat’s cheese tart. £13 per bottle.

Jigsaw Winter Sunset on Okeford Hill (image Laura Hitchcock) Just click the picture to complete the jigsaw

(you can choose a different number of pieces - make it harder or easier, it’s up to you!).

A local expert from Citizen’s Advice provides timely tips on consumer issues. This Month: what to do if your summer holiday is cancelled?

Q We are hoping to book a holiday abroad this summer but we are worried it might get cancelled and we can’t afford to lose that much money. What can we do to protect ourselves?

A: This summer, many of us will be looking to book that sunny getaway we’ve been dreaming about for the past two years. But things aren’t completely certain so here are some top tips to help you maximize your chances of getting away and, if you can’t, ensure you get refunded:

1. Check the cancellation

conditions. If you have to cancel your holiday because you’re unwell or self-isolating, you may not be entitled to a refund. If the cancellation is because of a national lockdown, you should get a refund but it may take longer than normal to process.

2. Check the local entry

requirements. You might need a negative test before you fly and may need to self-isolate on arrival. If the destination country imposes new restrictions after you book but the flight is still going, you may not be entitled to a refund because you no longer want to travel. Keep in mind that the UK vaccination programme is much further advanced than many countries so they might not re-open at the same pace and in the same way as the UK.

3. Make sure you understand the entry requirements to the UK when you return.

The rules for people who have been vaccinated may be different to the rules for those who have not been vaccinated. Also, things can change quickly and may not be the same when you return as when you booked.

4. Pay by credit card if you can manage the repayments.

If you put at least the deposit on a credit card, the full amount of the holiday costing more than £100 and up to £30,000 is protected by

Section 75 of the Consumer

Credit Act. If you don’t have a credit card, pay by debit card rather than by cash, cheque or bank transfer. If things go wrong you can ask the bank to do a chargeback — even though this is voluntary on behalf of the bank, it often works.

5. If your holiday is cancelled, you may be offered refund credit notes.

Some refund credit notes are guaranteed and offer a refund, but they all have time limits. So, make sure the travel agent is protected by The Travel Association (ABTA). Make sure to use the credit notes or claim the refund before the expiry day. You don’t have to accept a refund credit note for cancelled package holidays which must be refunded in full by law within 14 days.

And, if your flight is cancelled by the airline, you should be refunded within 7 days.

For more help and support, take a look at our advice on holiday and transport or contact our consumer helpline. You should also check the government website advice on foreign travel and on returning to the UK.