WEEKDAY SUMMER WINES FOR WEEKDAY SUPPERS

My favourite times of the day - early morning and late evening. Its that peace and tranquillity that comes with each which almost matches each other. I say 'almost' because although I can spend both in the exact same place with what seems exactly the same overall light, (despite one being sunrise and the other sunset)

psychologically each is a completely different experience. The simple reason being that with morning follows the usual rat race and with evening I'm winding down and seeing that rat race fade in the distance only to be interrupted from thought to suggest a wine to open for the evening. A golden moment and happily one which at this time of year happens all too often!

Whites, roses and more whites are what I can’t get enough of right now. So much so that our little fridge in the basement is connected yet again to take those extra orders. I'm really into light weekday suppers of cold soups like ‘gazpacho’, different salads and anything grilled, so at the moment it’s all dry, light and very drinkable. Here’s a peek at what that basement fridge is offering us this week:

Folonari Soave, Veneto, Italy €6.60 We had this last night with an all in one dish of grilled chicken breast, courgette and aubergine. Just perfect. It’s also a fab party wine. Crisp and fruity with hints of ripe white peach.

Fontana Candida Frascati, Italy €8.54 The most famous Frascati in the world! Dry and crisp with a zesty citrus finish. On the menu tonight with pasta pesto and a mixed green salad. Also very delicious with seafood.

Marques de Riscal Verdejo, Rueda, Spain €6.87 We love this wine. It’s smooth, refreshing with tropical notes and has this slightly bitter touch on the finish. Grilled fish with a salsa verde – so good, so easy and so quick to prepare.

Vina Cimbron Sauvignon Blanc, Rueda, Spain €6.50 A real salad wine. It’s fresh yet also expressive. You’ll find floral notes, fruit and even herbs.

Domaine de Caseneuve Rose, Provence, France €9.99 How about refreshing ‘Gazpacho’ followed by Salade Nicoise? A celebration of the Mediterranean! This is definitely going to be Sotogrande’s summer 2011 rose!

Find them all at Anglo Wines. Buy a mixed case now - we'll deliver FREE of charge locally.

NEW WINES AND LAUNCH WINE TASTING AT ANGLO WINES

NEW Spanish wines have arrived at Anglo Wines courtesy of Bodegas Vitis Terrarum.

Situated in the region of Castilla la Mancha, Bodegas Vitis Terrarum is a pretty new ‘bodega’ having been founded in the year 2000.

Boasting biodynamic cultivation, Vitis Terrarum has a style which is quite different to classic winemaking as we know it. They have tremendous respect for the environment, therefore all agricultural processes are performed manually and only fermented organic sheep residue is used instead of chemical fertilisers. They do not use herbicides or pesticides, and neither do they resort to additional irrigation.

Grapes of mainly Tempranillo and a little Cabernet Sauvignon are hand-picked and sorted after which a natural fermentation process is followed. When it comes to aging, Vitis Terrarum doesn’t follow any set time scale, with the wine being moved from cask to cask 3 times within the year until it reaches the perfect balance between wine, wood and time.

Filtration, clarification and stabilisation are not carried out in order to maintain the qualities of such a fine and laborious wine. Bottling then takes place and the wine is left to age for 12 months under very strict conditions of darkness, controlled temperature and total silence.

Vitis Terrarum produces 20,000 bottles per annum of each of its two wines which are as follows:

Vitis Terrarum Tempranillo

A ‘Crianza’ style red wine using 100% Tempranillo which has been aged in French Allier oak for 12 months and another 12 months in bottle. Combining complexity and structure, this wine is at its best between 5 and 8 years.

Vitis Terrarum Tempranillo/Cabernet Sauvignon

Also a ‘Crianza’ style red wine with plenty of character. Produced from 90% Tempranillo grapes and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon which has spent 12 months aging in French Allier and American oak and a further 12 months in bottle. Best consumed within 5 years.

You’ll have the opportunity to taste these wines at a WINE TASTING at ANGLO WINES in Sotovila No IV, Pueblo Nuevo de Guadiaro on SATURDAY 23^rd APRIL 2011 from 7.30pm.

Please confirm your attendance by emailing richard.bell-young@anglowines.com

MOTHER'S DAY CHAMPAGNE BRUNCH

Make this Mother's Day really special by treating 'mum' to a very well deserved Champagne breakfast. Or, let her sleep in and surprise her with a Champagne brunch, inviting family and friends, although make sure she really keeps those feet up. After all, anyone can prepare breakfast and even brunch.

Brunch Menu Ideas

Coupe Sante (a muesli, fruit and yoghurt compote)

Waffles topped with Cream and Fruit Compote

Pancakes with Maple Syrup or Chocolate Sauce

Creamy Scrambled Eggs

Cold Meat Platter

Smoked Salmon

Chicken Liver Pate

Quiche Selection

Bread Basket (including crispy French baguette, croissants, fresh olive bread, multi-grain loaf and rye bread)

Champagne Recommendations

Being brunch, it's of course the norm to provide fresh orange juice, tea and coffee, although with Champagne on offer, you'll

probably find unused cups and plenty of leftover caffeine!

Here are 3 excellent value Champagnes which are just perfect for brunch and are readily available from Anglo Wines:

Champagne Enkvist Brut €24.40

Pinot Meunier, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Flavours of baked apple, vanilla and notes of hazelnut.

Champagne Jean-Noel Haton Brut €26.44

Majority Pinot Noir. Fresh, rich and toasty.

Champagne Perrier Jouet Rose €39.99

Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier. Fresh and soft fruit - strawberries and redcurrants.

Forgotten Sherry

With countless reports that Sherry consumption is in decline and that producers are engaging in time-consuming and costly efforts to re-launch 'brand Sherry', we think this wonderful wine style deserves some attention. After all, it is unique and is part of that Spanish culture which most of us here in Andalucia enjoy and love; crowded bars that burst with atmosphere and serve finger licking good 'tapas'. It also reminds us of fair week when locals take to the streets in celebration of their 'Feria Real' and enjoy a 'copita de Fino' (glass of Sherry). Even those who don't normally consume Sherry will have a glass! Why the decline in consumption though? Apart from it having an acquired taste, the fact that other more appealing beverages have flooded the market and the consumer seeing it as a drink of the past, we think another reason is that the consumer doesn't quite understand it and will therefore not try it out. But Sherry actually has many advantages in that it's probably one of the best food wines, one consumes less of it, it keeps well once opened and there are so many different styles that it will never bore!

Wine making began in Jerez in as far back as 1100BC and Sherry became very popular, especially in Great Britain in the 16th Century, which led to many styles being developed and cellars founded in Jerez by British families.

Palomino grapes are predominantly used for the dry varieties and Pedro Ximenez for the sweeter styles, as well as Moscatel, although this is not as common.

SHERRY STYLES

Fino: This is the driest and freshest style. The wine is aged under a cap of yeast (flor) to avoid contact with the air and therefore maintain its freshness.

Drake & Friends Fino en Rama €12.99

Lustau Puerto Fino €9.66

Manzanilla: Very similar to Fino although it is aged in the coastal town of Sanlucar de Barrameda which gives it a rather unique and interesting salty touch.

Lustau Manzanilla Papirusa €9.66

Manzanilla Pasada: As above, although is has been aged or partially oxidised to release nuttier flavours.

Lustau Manzanilla Pasada €16.99

Amontillado: An aged Fino that has lost its flor and then purposely exposed to oxygen to finish as a beautifully amber-coloured and nutty Sherry.

Rey Fernando de Castilla Amontillado €9.66

Drake & Friends Amontillado 12YO €26.99

Palo Cortado: As with Amontillado, this is also a Fino that has lost its flor, although its style is in between a Fino and an Amontillado. Nutty and complex, yet also fresh.

Lustau Palo Cortado Peninsular €19.84

Oloroso: This ages in barrel for many years without its flor. The result, brown-coloured, wonderfully rich and nutty. A favourite!

Lustau Emperatriz Eugenia Rare €35.60

Drake & Friends Oloroso VORS €79.99

Pedro Ximenez: The darkest in colour and richest in style. It is very sweet and has been produced by dried grapes whose fermentation has been stopped prematurely by the addition of spirit to maintain the sweetness. Delicious poured over vanilla ice cream.

Lustau Pedro Ximenez San Emilio €19.84

Drake & Friends Pedro Ximenez Very Old €69.99

Cream Sherry: A commercial style of Sherry that has been sweetened by the addition of Moscatel or Pedro Ximenez.

Rey Fernando de Castilla Cream €9.66

Shrove Tuesday

It’s Shrove Tuesday this week which means Pancake Day! Make flipping fun and special by pairing with wine. Ca’ Bianca Gavi at € 8.09 is ideal with savoury filled pancakes such as spinach, or if sticking to the favourite, simply lemon and sugar, Prunotto Moscato d’Asti at the special price of € 10.00 is heaven! Go to Delia Online for a spot on pancake recipe.

Further images from the Pago Vineyard

Images from the Pago Vineyard