WINE Mary Trease
of Weavers of Nottingham,
www.weaverswines.com F
OR summer drinking we British like to move away from the heady reds and
rich, concentrated whites and move towards lighter and more flowery wines. These styles tend to be more refreshing and crisp. The last thing you want to do on a baking day is to chew your way through a monstrous red which is much more suited to the winter nights. I really enjoy a glass of Sauvignon Blanc and I have chosen a New Zealand Sauvignon as my wine of the month.
In the late 1970s, pilot Chris
Pask, flying over the stony land west of Hastings, North Island, watched farmers struggle as one crop after another failed in the hot, arid terrain. “Grapes would do well there,” thought Chris. The previously barren land is today the internationally recognised Gimblett Gravels region. The very first vines were planted by Chris in 1981 and launched CJ Pask Winery. The first vintages were considered outstanding, both in fruit flavour intensity and colour, and since then the winery has gone from strength to strength, producing intensely flavoured wines that have earned both domestic and international acclaim. Wine maker Kate Radburnd heads a very strong team. Kate is also passionate about the environment and the winery strives to ensure they are leading the way in sustainable wine growing. Kate also makes splendid reds. Being further north it is too hot for the lighter Pinot Noir but do try out her C J Pask Syrah (£11.51) and the award- winning Pask Declaration Cabernet Merlot Malbec (£19.00). There is a wealth of lovely summer drinks that I can suggest but I always have a couple of Portuguese wines in my fridge. Terra a’Alter Viognier (£9.40), which is a little fuller in style with hints of apricot and spice, and Howards Folly
86 NOTTINGHAMSHIRE TODAY
‘For light reds I would look at wines from Tu s c a n y. There are some
Chiantis being made now’
charming
Buy of the
Month
This wine is light yellow-green in colour, the bouquet crisp and fresh with a delicate intensity of passion fruit, citrus and gooseberry aromas. The brisk, tangy and spotlessly clean palate has lemony and gently herbal fruit flavours. A must for the summer!
CJ Pask Sauvignon Blanc, Hawkes Bay New Zealand ( £ 8 .92 )
Alvarinho (£12.10), akin to Sauvignon Blanc, but a bit more ra cy. If you are having a barbecue then a good choice would be Ladera Verde Sauvignon Blanc and Merlot (both at £5.62) as a great value yet tasty wine duo from Chile. Today you cannot forget pink wines. Californian white Zinfandels always go down a treat. The slightly sweet strawberry and cream fruit charm is very popular. Of the delicate rosés from France, try Château Miraval Rosé (£13.68) from Provence, perfect with a salad, or even the Sancerre Rosé (£11.70) made by Etienne Daulny. You could always partner this with Etienne’s white Sancerre as well. For the lighter reds I would take a look at the wines from Tuscany. Made predominantly from the Sangiovese grape there are some charming quality Chiantis being made now. I must admit to having overlooked these wines in the past but, on a recent visit, I was most impressed. A warning: still be careful, as not everyone understands the need for quality in Italy, but good producers like Geografico, who make the wonderful Montegiachi Chianti Classico Riserva (£15.46), will make a perfect partner for your summer festivities.
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