48 Christmas In South London, Friday, November 18, 2011


Atipple to take your fancy W


By Sam Wylie-Harris


your Christmas cupboards and have your favourite wines close to hand. Whether you’re partial to reasonably priced frothybubbles, arich white or lip-smacking red,people liketodrink with their eyes and there's plenty of liquid persuasion to suit small purses and sophisticated palates.


ITH familyand friends to please and lots of parties to attend,it’simportant to fill up


started,try serving aglamorous cock- tail in an instant with the newTails range of shakers, such as the Cosmopolitan (£11.99, servesfour, 18 per cent abv, www.theonlineoff licence.co.uk). All lounge lizards have to do is add ice, shakeand pour into amartini glass... bottoms up! Forafestive toast before the meal,


Forahappysipper to get the party


with veggie dishes, bite-sized party food and dips. Forthe closest thing to the real deal,


tryTaste the Difference Prosecco Conegliano 2009 (£6.65 from £9.99 until Dec 31, Sainsbury’s). With a lovely creamymousse taste and plen- ty of white peach flavours, this fine Italian fizz will makeyour party rise from B-list to A-list in no time. Style-seekers will love the silver


and black label that’sbeen fashioned for La FarraProsecco Brut DOC (£10.49,


house.com). Weightier and slightly more complex, thesefeistybubbles are crisp and fresh with adollop of nectarine ripeness on the finish. A winner with smoked salmon blinis. Agood Spanish Cava is always a


www.champagneware


Choice: La Farra Prosecco Brut, DOC, £10.49 PA Photo/Handout


safe bet when friends drop by unex- pectedly. TryFreixenet Cordon Negro Brut NV (£6.99 from £8.99, until Jan 4, Waitrose). Made by the same method as Champagne, butwithout the hefty price tag, it’sablend of three traditional Cava grape varieties. With fresh melon flavours and ahint of pineapple rising from the glass, it’saneasy drinker


pop the cork on aFrench Cremant – made in the same traditional method, butwith grapes from outside the Champagne region. Winner of the Quality Drink Awards 2010, try Philippe Michel Cremant du Jura 2007 (£6.99, Aldi). Made with 100 per cent Chardonnay, it’srefreshingly


beat the excellent value Henri De Lorgere Macon-Villages 2007 (£4.99, Aldi). An IWC silver medal winner and Decanter Bronze, it’sa beautiful bargain Chardonnayfrom Burgundy.Crisp, food-friendlywith good acidity and satisfyinglyrefresh- ing, it’sano-brainer when the door- bell rings. South Africa produces some of the


dry, brightlyfruity with acreamyfin- ish and tight bubbles –aclassy serve your guests will swoon over. Wine-worthyoccasions call for medium-bodied reds and well-round- ed whites which have the versatility to stand on their own–and comple- ment various foods from mini quich- es, cocktail sausages and smoked salmon sandwiches, to ahearty chilli con carne –one of the best dishes for casual affairs. Forwhite wine lovers, youcan’t


most reasonable and easy drinking reds. TrySix Hats Fairtrade Shiraz 2009 (£5.48 from £6.97, until Dec 31, Asda), Silver and Best in Class 2010 IWSC award winner,it’snice and fruity with astreak of spice and kick of green-black pepper –agood glug- ger with nibbles. If you’re lusting after awarming red


Tryit: Freixenet Cordon NegroBrut,


£6.99 from £8.99, Dec 8toJan 4. PA Photo


to grace the table, tryCanaletto Primitivo Puglia 2008 (£6.99, Waitrose). Smooth and rich with blackberry leaping from the glass and faint hints of vanilla, it’sanideal match with acelebratoryroast dinner,


Taste: Taste the Difference Prosecco Conegliano 2009, £6.65


from £9.99, Sainsbury’s. PA Photo


or amidweek drinker with bite-sized pizzas. Finding ahalf-price deal on asister


red and white is always atriumph for the tastebuds –and the wine rack. When the festive fervour has to flow, tryLuis Felipe Edwards Reservado Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenere, Cabernet Franc 2010 (£3.99 from £7.99, until Jan 4, The Co-op) and Luis Felipe Edwards Reservado ChardonnayViognier (£3.99 from £7.99, until Jan 4, The Co-op). This Chilean double act will keep


everyone happy. The red blend is vel- vety smooth with ribbons of redcur- rant and soft tannins, while the ChardonnayViognier smacks of trop- ical fruit flavours with afragrant, honeyednose. Serve anyofthe above and your friends will be delighted.


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