Eat & Drink
Originally published on Friday, 6th February 2009
Drinking On The Crunch
Everyone’s clearly feeling the pinch at the moment so WineChap’s first WineTips of 2009 will aim to reflect our penurious state.ShelfTalk: Prosecco
It was good enough for Obama’s inauguration party at the White House, and its definitely true that a top end Prosecco is infinitely more rewarding than a cheap Champagne (which will still be more expensive). Also, at one percent less alcoholic (11%), it makes falling off the wagon for detoxers less dramatic. There is certainly plenty of indifferent fizz about, but a good Prosecco from the hilly countryside of the Veneto should be a perfect balance of fruit and acidity with just a twist of sweetness – neither cloying nor tart. Two particularly fine examples are from Col Vetoraz and Bisol.
Col Vetoraz, Extra Dry available from Borough Wines & Roberson Bisol,
Crede 2007 available from Bibendum
BoozeBluff: ‘Never choose the second wine on the list – it's no better than the house offering, but restaurateurs make their biggest margin here because they know people don’t want to appear cheap’
There is actually a surprising amount of truth in this and the psychology behind it (that punters often avoid the first wine listed in preference for the next one down so they feel like they are showing more largesse). Restaurants are well aware of this, and so often put similarly priced wine in slot two, but with a slightly higher price. Now the bluffer can appear knowing rather than mean when insisting on ordering carafes of the Chianti Rufina. If further justification is required to mollify an unimpressed date, point out that ‘all good restaurants list a very reasonable house white and red … because these are the wines that they are personally endorsing’.
WineMate: Portuguese Reds and Milk Thistle
The increasingly improved reds from Portugal are hearty, potent, warming and cheap, so look out for them – and your head, the next day. Meanwhile, nothing exciting is growing in the ground or being birthed in the fields at the moment, so unless you are keen to spend money on cruciferous veg (broccoli, bok choi, kale, etc), save yourself the cash, by drinking your wines unaccompanied – just add a few drops extracted from this liver-regenerating silymarin-rich daisy. Or enjoy with the last of the season’s game birds, though they will cost more and are harder to find in Holland & Barratt.
Quinta da Murta Touriga Nacional / Syrah 2006 available from Handford Wines
Porta Velha Tinto, Tras-os-Montes 2003 available from Philglass & Swiggot
