Aldi do a fantastic Chateauneuf du Pape for £8.99, though they don’t always have it in stock and Morrison’s do an excellent Argentinian Malbec for a fiver. Vivino is good if you want to check out wines, they have a scanner app, you just scan the label and it gives you reviews, prices etc.
It’s got popular as a wedding venue, they make personalised wines for the couples who get married there.
Yeah I’ve looked at it as a venue, but wondered if anyone here had actually tried it, the wine particularly
Traditionally have preferred reds - particularly Italian Barolo or most Bordeaux's. Visited a brilliant vineyard not far from Bergerac last year - the wine was the most incredible stuff I've ever tasted (although not cheap - starting price was €18/bottle direct from them!) However the heatwave this year got me into white wine for the first time. I do like Sancerre but again the price is rather eye-watering so it's an occasional treat.
Thunderbird. If your taste buds are shot, and you need to get trashed with a quickness, then "T-bird" is the drink for you.
Natural wines are getting better and better these days although they don't travel well so are harder to find. Also a bit expensive. Worth a try though because the absence of sulfites definitely leaves you feeling better in the morning.
Didn't know there was one, I'd be interested to try some though. I live close to leventhorpe vineyard in Leeds. Tried one of their whites a couple of years back. Spent about half an hour talking with the wife about its tartness, sourness and other qualities - then we decided that it was actually dog rough. Oz and James featured it on their british beer and wine programme a few years ago and came to the same conclusion. But, the white sparkle they do (leventhorpe, not oz and James) is actually really good and has won awards. I reckon British wines will have a good vintage this year with the summer we have had...that's if the storms this week haven't flattened the vines.
homebrew, its the future, most of what you pay over here goes to the taxman, the best for the price is Boyes Australian blend, one week to make 30 bottles at £1 each, better than any £4 bottle off the shelf. If you want to splash and put in a bit more effort, beaverdale would match any £8 bottle you could buy and comes in at a massive £1.25 per bottle but takes 6 weeks.
Chilean wine is pretty good. It’s also one of the few wine growing regions in the world not to suffer with Phylloxera.
Tried a lot of different red's, whites just don't do it for my wife and I, I have found that you won't go far wrong with Californian, Australian, and South African, tried, French, Spanish, Italian, Bulgarian, Argentinian, and probably some I have forgotten about. Just back from Italy and on the ferry over the Channel we got 2, 3ltr boxes, of Hardy's red for £20, not bad tasting either. The trouble is (well no its not really any trouble) but when its a birthday, anniversary, or having done someone a favour, you can guarantee that a reward will be a bottle of vino. By the way the Hardy's is Merlot and Shiraz, cheers.
Yes twice in August. Wine is excellent in particular the sparkling. Also makes for a great wedding venue. They have the perfect vine growing conditions- chalky, steep, south facing. They sell it at Drewton’s - well worth trying.
Thanks for that Syd. My Oz favourite is currently Barossa Ink but I have every sympathy with you for the inflated prices in Australia as it's usually cheaper to buy Aussie wine in the UK than down under!
I think, like most things, that by and large you get what you pay for regardless of where it's from. I also think that for most people, me included, there's a price point beyond which it's get hard to tell the difference. Especially when you crack open that 3rd bottle... I always check what Aldi have got, they do have some good stuff but you've got to be quick off the mark. Other than that I use Majestic or Waitrose. I like a good Viognier and if I'm feeling flush a Brunello de Montalcino goes down well, but really I'll drink just about anything.
