Apparently 70% of all booze in the UK is bought when on offer. I was quite surprised by this. Until I thought about it, that is. I love a bargain. I can’t remember the last time I bought baby wipes that weren’t on a three-for-two offer. Crisps on buy-one-get-one-free? Ship ’em in. Washing powder, bags of apples, packs of mince, tins of tuna…you know the deal. When it comes to wine, I’ll check out the offers before heading to the rest of the wine aisle. The problem is, the choice of wines on offer seems to be getting a bit same-y. Baby, I’m bored.
Current white in the fridge: Cono Sur Viognier Reserve, £8.35, Tesco
Drank a chilled glass of this in the garden with my darling Ma last night, after watching Eldest Son play a violin solo in the school concert. A very big moment for him, a stomach-turning but proud one for me and Bearded Husband. Anyway, he was fab and the wine was delicious. Rich and bosomy, if you know what I mean. Ample. Voluptuous. You get the picture. The grape’s homeland is the Rhone Valley in France but here, it does a brilliant apricot shimmy with a peachy twirl at the end. I should probably give you better food match but we had this with those addictive beef and horseradish crisps from M&S and it worked perfectly.
Current red on the side: Stockman’s Station Pinot Noir 2008, Central Otago, £8ish, Tesco
Now this wine is normally double the price but I think Tesco was having a clear out so it was a lovely surprise. Either that, or the price on the shelf ticket was wrong. Whatever, I could. Not. Resist. New Zealand Pinot Noir? From Otago? Yes pur-lease. Silky, silky, silky soft tannins, soft raspberry fruit with smooth tannins (think stewed tea feeling on teeth but in a good way). It is delicious. I was supposed to be wine free tonight, but life is definitely too short not to drink a glass of good NZ Pinot Noir on a Wednesday evening just because I feel like it.
Chin chin x
They both sound lovely, and at my kind of prices. Your blog is definitely going to encourage my wine habit!
Yay! A wine on your blog I actually have tasted (when I was home recently), God bless Tesco.
Those crisps sound great…I was addicted to M&S's Prawn Cocktail crisps when I was a teenager…must say I'd like to try the beef/horseradish ones.
BW – oh good, glad to hear it! Brilliant to natter with you over delicious wine on Sat x
Vinogirl – really? Yay! The Stockman's Station, I bet…did you like?
Everything's on offer here in America – and they love giving you stuff for free. I always try to go to the local wine shop at the weekend, because they let you have a tasting (and that means a whole glass, not just a sip). But funnily enough they don't do huge deals on wine, because it isn't a supermarket product.
PS just got around to the karaoke meme! x
NVG – how interesting..everything on offer all but all just a bit on offer. Think I might prefer that.
Funny – I went to the pub and had a glass of wine yesterday lunch time (a very rare occurance, so I went a bit mad and had a large glass) and it was only then that my brain registered that I had just paid MORE for the glass (a nice chenin blanc…nothing to write home/or a blog about) than I typically pay for a bottle. I always always always buy my wine on offer. A ten quid bottle for a fiver, typically. Always Sainsburys. But after your description of the Voignier I might have to hot foot it to Tescos and up the budget a little.
Yes, as above everything's on constant sale here in the US, the Kiwi pinot sounds lovely. Apropos of nothing… interesting reference to your bearded husband, just read an article about how beards were tres chic just now! A la Brad etc…
Nicola – I know! Now I love a large glass but when not when you are paying the same as you would for a bottle in the shops…loving your love of shoes, btw. Very pleased to have found your blog.
ALW – funny, I think I prefer him without it and then when it goes, I miss it. Very annoying, apparently!