Still on me but I have made something I think some of you might find useful. Ahead of this Friday’s twitter wine tasting with Mumsnet (I KNOW!) at 8.30pm – all details here – here’s a short video about how to taste wine. Do excuse the sweatshirt and slippers and the fact that my face is a bit shiny and red (I’d just had a bath and decided to skip hair and make up). And sorry about that wink. I don’t know why I do it, but I do. But, the result is a film that teaches you all you need to know ahead of this Friday’s tasting. Really hope you can make it. Bring your own peanuts.
Current white on the side: Casillero del Diablo Viognier 2011, £7.13, Tesco.com
Viognier is a punchy little grape, responsible for making wines with a ton of apricot fruit, a measure of spice and usually quite a generous dose of alcohol. This one, from one of Chile’s slightly cooler regions in the north called the Casablanca Valley, is beautifully done. All that said apricot fruit but with a really lovely honeysuckle note, good enough to dab behind the ears. Not advisable though, the only thing you will attract is fruit flies. Asian food is often the default suggestion with Viognier because of that natural spiciness but I think it does a roast chicken just as well.
Current red in the rack: Mas Amiel Maury 2010, £12.99, The Solent Cellar
This is from my very favourite local independent wine shop and is – as wine goes – utterly bonkers. It’s a sweet red wine, known as Vin Doux Naturel, made by a producer in Maury, Roussillon in the South of France. Made from the Grenache Noir grape, alcohol spirit is added to the vat so slowing down the fermentation. The result is …well… imagine face-planting a slice of dark chocolate torte covered in redcurrants. That. And is goes a dream with store cupboard white or dark chocolate just in case you don’t have a torte to hand.
Chin chin x
Love that face! I'm going to practise in front of the mirror! And I plan to be there on Friday too. Good luck with the mumsnetters!
Thanks, so pleased you will be there!
Love this and I'm not even a wine drinker! Shall be passing on to the husband forthwith
Aw, thank you Tara 🙂
I think I may have to try that red, I do like the sound of face planting in a chocolate torte
I heartily recommend. It is an amazing glass of pure decadence. Am rather hoping you might pop by the tasting on Friday…will you brave it? Go on, Fool! You know you want to! 😉
Love your video – and the red face really made me smile. Are you sure it's been the bath and not a little upfront tasting? 😉 xx
Ha ha – promise that is my wine-free look! And would be so lovely to have you there but know you have got your hands rather full…hope all well with the babes x
PS: Will try to make it on Friday. Am home alone with the baby and Lil' L…
I'll be sitting at a piano lesson on Friday, as it's 3.30 here, but I'll take a look at Twitter and pretend I'm there drinking wine…
Yeah, go on! That will be fab! Just remember to look interested and nod when the piano teacher asks you something.