Wine and I'm fine...

'Tis the Season to be 'jolly'...

And for me, that most definitely involves a tipple (or two). After nearly 10 years of wine study and many exams, I feel it only fair to summarise what I've picked up into something more digestible!
There is a whole WORLD of wine out there, and I remember well adopting that rather 'glazed over' look after 20 minutes of weighing up the 'deals' on offer in the wine aisle..
​So, to save time, money, and bad choices, head to grapesmith.co.uk

FOR QUAFFING

​FOR ENTERTAINING

• Southern Italian Reds (Nero D'Avola for instance) or Spanish Garnacha or Tempranillo are cheerful, easy drinking reds, around the £8-12 mark. 

I love Picpoul de Pinet for a party - not like Sauvignon, not like Chardonnay, and not a wine that is going to offend (or worse still, bore!) Unoaked and refreshing with a ripe citrus and sea-sidey character. Always around £10

FOR CHRISTMAS TURKEY

• RED - go classic, go classy, go GOOD red Burgundy. My house favourite at the moment is the ethereal Michel Juliot Mercurey.
  
• If you want a little more muscle, Mas d'Alezon Faugeres is spicy and sexy and warming. Grrr.
  
• WHITE - Pouilly Fume is divine and delicate. Mineral, green fruited, aromatic, and steely. Tres elegant.  If you want a little more in the way of 'guts' then a Chassagne Montrachet should hit should hit the spot. Multifaceted pleasure, and a finish so long you'll still be tasting on Boxing Day! Be prepared to put your hand in your pocket though (well it is Christmas!) 

OTHER NEED-TO-KNOW TIPS

• Nearly £3 on every bottle of wine is TAX. Add shipping cost, bottling, labelling, etc. etc. and it quickly mounts up to a fair figure. As soon as you spend over approx £6 on a bottle of wine, you are getting proportionately better 'wine value' The difference between an £8 bottle and a £10 bottle is probably the best £2 you can spend! If you spend over £12 the 'wine value' doubles again and then you're really on to something...
• The 'Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc' is a saturated market these days.. If nothing else, check the back to see if it was 'Imported and bottled in Guildford (for instance)' - if so, it's not worth the 'half price' offer it claims. Better still, try something from Casablanca Valley or Elqui or Limari (all in Chile.) Amazing wines and great value to be found.
• If you like full bodied, gutsy and fabulous red wines, but need a break from Argentinian Malbec (or Australian Shiraz)! then Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon from the Colchagua region should float your boat. Mid-range Primitivo from Puglia is also a big bear-hug of a wine, and often organic (which is a good thing). Don't forget the Rhone though! Good Cotes du Rhone Villages can offer stunning value. in this style.
• Spanish wines from other regions than 'Rioja' are often very good and just as delicious, for less ££, Try Garnacha from Terra Alta or one of the central regions around Madrid such as Gredos. For something Pinot noir-esque, try Mencia (grape) from northern regions, such Bierzo or Ribera Sacra. These aren't wines you'll find in the supermarket - go visit your local indie wine store. 

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The most important thing..? ENJOY. And like all things in life, quality over quantity