TalkTV: World Cup Wine & Gin!

Who’d have thought it? England are still in the World Cup 2022! To celebrate, let’s look at a few drinks from some of the countries that are or have been in the running.

England

Morrisons The Best English Sparkling Wine 2010 

This vintage English fizz has been a smart find for professional winos since it hit the shelves. It’s made like champagne, from a great vintage year and it’s got loads of bottle age, giving it lots of complexity and flavour. If this were champagne, it would be three times the price. 

Find it here at Morrisons for £27

Uruguay

Specially Selected Albariño

It’s no surprise that a Spanish varietal has become Uruguay’s flagship grape when you consider that most of the winemaking community are descended from Basque immigrants. Hailing from Maldonado, close to the Atlantic, this a decent Albariño, somewhat bolder than the classic Rias Baixas version and with notes of quince, baked apple and white peach with a zesty acidity and saline finish. 

Find it here at Aldi for £9.99

Argentina

Graffigna Genuine Collection Malbec Reserve 2020

Graffigna is the 3rd oldest winery in Argentina, with more than 150 years of history to its name. Their Malbec now hails entirely from the premium region of the Uco Valley in Argentina and their aim is to give the wine more freshness rather than heavy oak. Excellent value and a great choice for festive feasting.

Find it here at Sainsbury’s on offer for £7.50

France

Mirabeau Gin Grapefruit Gimlet

As a special treat, I thought I’d bring in a favourite French gin of mine. Made by Mirabeau using rosé wine and Provençal botanicals such as thyme, rose and lavender, this premium gin really is Provence in a glass. It’s a gin you can sip alone with ice, but it also makes a killer G&T and a Gimlet.

Here’s a simple cocktail recipe, packed full of vitamin C:

The Mirabeau Pink Gimlet

50ml Mirabeau Dry Gin 

25ml Simple Syrup 

50ml Lime Juice (1 lime) 

75ml Pink Grapefruit Juice (1/2 a Grapefruit) 

Ice for shaker. 

Pour all the ingredients into an ice filled cocktail shaker. Shake together then strain into a coupe glass. Garnish with half a wheel of lime.

Find it here at Waitrose on offer for £28

TalkTV: German Wines for Winter

German wines are creeping their way back into our hearts as we eschew heavy, tannic, alcoholic wines for more softly spoken, elegant and supremely drinkable options. If you think you wouldn’t recognise German wines, think again as many of the world's best-loved wine grapes thrive here - they are just often under different names and we can get scared off by the language and slightly confusing sugar levels. It’s worth noting however that German is home to home to nearly 135 different grape varieties, from the well-known and loved Riesling and Pinot Noir, to lesser known grapes like Albalonga and Zweigeltrebe. 66.9% of production is dedicated to producing knock-out white wine, with 11.5% dedciated to Pinot Noir, which is known here as Spätburgunder. Here are some quintessentially German, cool, calm and collected wines that are perfect for all year round - including your festive feasts!

Pinot Gris, ‘Urmeer’, Weinhaus, Germany, 2021

This Pinot Gris (that’s the grape) is a rich, ripe and round wine with notes of oatmeal and orchard fruit but balanced by elegant minerality and bright raciness. Try this as a foil for foods with a bit of spice. Hailing from Rheinhessen, this is a fresher and fruitier version of Pinot Grigio.

Find it for £8.99 at Waitrose

Definition Mosel Riesling, Loosen, Germany, 2020

Riesling is the supermodel grape of Germany and Mosel is arguably it’s most famous home within Germany. This is a classic style from here: zesty, like freshly squeezed lime with a hint of rubber minerality. on the nose. On the palate there’s a bit of sweetness, but it’s brilliantly balanced with razor-like acidity. Not cloying at all. Made by the famous Ernst and Thomas Loosen and will be awesome with hard cheeses and anything with a hint of spice.

Find it for £9.99 mix 6 price at Majestic

The Society’s Saar Riesling, Germany 2019

A riper, richer version of a classic Riesling with an intense, lime and slate nose and rather tropical palate. A fuller body than the previous wine and hailing from a specific part of the Mosel. This Riesling would be great with salty hard cheese and spiced Asian dishes or Mexican tacos. 

Find it for £11.50 at The Wine Society

Wine map of Germany

Also try…

Joaquim Flick, Nonnberg, Riesling trocken, Germany 

This is a great example of a dry Riesling, with its quintessentially racy acidity and notes of green apple, lemon citrus and rubber. Juicy and powerful on the palate, it’s a great one for goats cheese or even poultry. 

Find it for £11.46 at Vinello

Pinot Noir, Josten & Klein Vom Schiefer, Germany

Did you know that Germany is the world’s third largest producer of Pinot Noir?This country really does to fantastic, elegant, smooth and light-bodied Pinot Noir. Think silky cherry and milk chocolate but light on its feet, ballerina-style. This one has a real depth and cpm[lexity too. perfect for Christmas lunch with all the trimmings. bear in mind that the German name for Pinot Noir is Spätburgunder.

Find it for £23.50 at the good wine shop

Red Wines for Halloween 2022

Are you drink ready for Hallowine, I mean, Halloween? You may have caught me on talkTV with Mike Graham talking about the first three wines on this list, but there are many more that are worth your attention! Here’s a list of spooktastic sips for various budgets.

The Dip 

The deliciously decorated bottle in red and black, is named after a demon dog that’s famous in Catalan legend. This rustic Spanish red, made from a blend of Tintorera and Tempranillo, screams dark, dried berry fruits and a kick of licorice spice. Try it with smoky or grilled meat. 

Find it at Laithwaites for £8.99 mix six price

The Wanderer Malbec 

This smart, day of the dead themed bottle is no gimmick when you taste the wine inside. A gorgeously classy, smooth Malbec made from grapes harvested from long lost vineyards in San Juan and left to hang longer than usual to boost concentration and ripe fruit flavours. A winter warmer that’s great alone or with rich, meaty dishes. 

Find it at Sainsbury’s on offer for £9 

Simpsons Sparkling Syrah

The first European sparkling Syrah /Shiraz I have come across and hailing from the Languedoc-Roussillon area in Southern France and made by English couple, Ruth and Charles Simpson. With more of those classic garrigue-like, French Syrah notes than the purple jam of Australia, this, served slightly chilled, is a brilliant match for Christmas turkey with the trimming, but also works well with duck and lamb cutlets.

Find it at Naked Wines for £14.99

T-bone Malbec 

A seriously delicious, juicy, Argentinian Malbec with a splash of Cabernet Sauvignon for structure. Great value and a perfect crowd pleaser. Make the most of the mix six price. 

Find it at Laithwaites for £7.99 mix 6 price

19 Crimes The Uprising, glow in the dark labels

You’ll want to keep the empty, limited edition, glow in the dark bottle of this 19 Crimes ‘Uprising’ red. A blend from Australia, this is another big and fruity red with notes of redcurrant, blackcurrant and baking spice

Find it at Asda on offer for £8

Chronic Cellars, Space Doubt Zinfandel

If you like your wine big, bold and figgy, then this Californian Zinfandel is right up your street. Think strawberry, plum and ripe fig with notes of baking spice. Delicious. 

Find it at Sainsburys for £13 

Velvet Devil Merlot

If anyone orders this Merlot, I will certainly NOT be leaving! (Geeky Sideways quote). This impressive, American Merlot hails form the fine wine region of Washington State and boast velvety tones of red berry, cedar and tobacco leaf. Very smart. 

Find it on Ocado for £17

Palermo, Orin Swift, Napa Valley

The Iconic Orin Swift winery in Napa brings us this hefty, 2018 vintage Cabernet Sauvignon, ‘Palermo’. Brooding and powerful, think bold flavours of cassis and mint, cedar, raspberry and plenty of complexity. Get it open to air and have with a big hunk of cheese, pie or steak.

Find it at Majestic for £44.99 Mix 6 price

Words by Helena Nicklin

talkTV: Perfect Halloween Wines

In case you are wondering, it was very hard to not call this article ‘hallowines’ but that would have not worked for SEO, so here we are! Perfect halloween wines for your delectation. There is a theme here of course, with rich and spicy, blood red vino in various guises from around the world and a spooky, sparkling red thrown into the mix. Here are the three wines I’m tasting with Mike Graham on talkTV and a link to more options on thethreedrinkers.com.

The Dip 

The deliciously decorated bottle in red and black, is named after a demon dog that’s famous in Catalan legend. This rustic Spanish red, made from a blend of Tintorera and Tempranillo, screams dark, dried berry fruits and a kick of licorice spice. Try it with smoky or grilled meat. 

Find it at Laithwaites for £8.99 mix six price

The Wanderer Malbec 

This smart, day of the dead themed bottle is no gimmick when you taste the wine inside. A gorgeously classy, smooth Malbec made from grapes harvested from long lost vineyards in San Juan and left to hang longer than usual to boost concentration and ripe fruit flavours. A winter warmer that’s great alone or with rich, meaty dishes. 

Find it at Sainsbury’s on offer for £9 

Simpsons Sparkling Syrah

The first European sparkling Syrah /Shiraz I have come across and hailing from the Languedoc-Roussillon area in Southern France and made by English couple, Ruth and Charles Simpson. With more of those classic garrigue-like, French Syrah notes than the purple jam of Australia, this, served slightly chilled, is a brilliant match for Christmas turkey with the trimming, but also works well with duck and lamb cutlets.

Find it at Naked Wines for £14.99

See more spooktastic halloween wine suggestions here!

10 English Wines You Need To Try

With English Wine Week now in full swing, we wanted to shine a light on one of England’s greatest exports: English wine! Gone are the days when English wine was considered to be a joke. Our wines, both still and sparkling, are now being embraced as some of the very best out there. Here are some great bottles from producers that really should be on your radar.

KENT

Springfield Chardonnay, Balfour Winery, 2020 (as seen on talkTV with Helena)

Balfour’s very first barrel-aged Chardonnay, this is a Chardonnay modelled on a white Burgundy, yet keeping that characteristic Kentish freshness. Creamy and with a hint of spice from the new oak barrels, there’s a ton of ripe, orchard fruit notes here, a smoky grapefruit note, a slick of moreish saline and a granny smith apple skin tang.
Size: 750ml
ABV: 12%
Price: £25
Find here: Balfourwinery.com

SURREY

Broadwoods Folly, Rosé Brut, NV (as seen on talkTV with Helena)

This peppy pink made by the famous Denbies Estate and named after the mock gothic tower overlooking the vineyards, shows that English sparkling wine doesn't have to cost the earth to be good. Crisp and refreshing, this is a sherbety pink with notes of crunchy raspberry and rosehip, a touch of brioche and a quintessentially English lafiness on the finish. Its bright acidity and touch of flintiness would make this a winner with smoked salmon. 

Size: 750ml
ABV: 12%
Price: £15.99
Find here: Lidl

HAMPSHIRE

Hambledon Classic Cuvée NV (as seen on talkTV with Helena)

Established in 1952 by Major-General Sir Guy Salisbury-Jones, Hambledon is England’s oldest vineyard and can be found nestled in the home of Cricket at Hambledon in Hampshire. Their Classic Cuvée is again, a blend of all three traditional grapes, (56% Chardonnay, 27% Pinot Noir, 17% Pinot Meunier). Grapes are handpicked on the estate and this cuvée uses the 2017 harvest as a base with 20% reserve wines added, giving it the characteristic toasty richness that Hambledon has become famous for. Hambledon also does fantastic tours, tastings and events. 

Size: 750ml
ABV: 12%
Price: £34.99 (or £23.99 as part of a mixed 6 case)
Find here: Majestic

SUSSEX

Ambriel, English Reserve, Single Vineyard, Demi-Sec, NV (as seen on talkTV with Helena)

People can be sniffy about wines they perceive as sweet and the term ‘demi-sec’, which means ‘semi-sweet’, has been left somewhat in the eighties and early nineties. What’s wonderful about this demi-sec, which is a single estate wine made with 100% Pinot Noir grapes and made in the traditional method, is that when you taste it, you just perceive that extra dash of sweetness simply as fruit and flavour. This extra fruitiness beautifully counters the salt in cheese and is an absolute cracker with wedding cake! 

Size: 750ml
ABV: 11%
Price: £33.95
Find here: Corney and Barrow

others to try

OXFORDSHIRE

Doe Eyed Queen, Single Estate Vintage, English Sparkling, 2017

Where fine wine meets fashion, Doe Eyed Queen came from its founder Amy spending years exploring restaurants across London and realising the significant impact that the aesthetic appearance of a restaurant and its food had on taste. Amy wanted to create a wine that was as sophisticated and unique on the outside as the inside bottle. Made from Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from the 2017 vintage, it’s vegan, organic and sustainably made. Peachy and rich in flavour with notes of red fruit and brioche, it certainly tastes as good as it looks. 

Size: 750ml
ABV: 12%
Price: £40
Find here: doeeyedqueen.com

HAMPSHIRE

Hattingley Valley, Classic Reserve

Hattingley Valley winery is found in rural Hampshire where the first vines were planted in 2008 and the first wines released in 2013. Made by multiple award-winning female winemaker Emma Rice with 53% Chardonnay, 31% Pinot Noir and 16% Pinot Meunier grapes, the Classic Reserve is Hattingley’s most widely available and most loved wine. A non-vintage sparkler based on the somewhat challenging 2015 vintage, this is the wine that gives you a true flavour of the Hattingley house style: Golden with fine bubbles, elegant notes of brioche, nougat and a touch of oak with a characteristic hedgerow note on the finish.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 12%
Price: £30
Find here: Waitrose

Rathfinny Estate Blanc de Noirs 2018

Rathfinny has an enviable position on the sunny, south-facing slopes of England’s South Downs in Alfriston, Sussex. It has quickly made a name for itself as one of England’s finest wine producers. Blanc de Noirs is a sparkling wine made only from black /red grapes which in this case are Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier and these wine grapes came from just one single harvest in 2018, which has been dubbed the vintage of the decade. Rathfinny has a style that is rich but precise with a fantastic, lean, mineral character. Seriously elegant and will keep for a while. Rathfinny is another great place for a vineyard picnic too!

Size: 750ml
ABV: 12%
Price: £38.95 (or £36.95 when in a case of six) 
Find here: Lea & Sandeman

Wild Rose, Black Chalk, 2018

If a wine style can be described as ‘precise’, then Black Chalk are the masters of it. Made in tiny batches from grapes grown on the chalky soils of Hampshire and using the traditional method, this rosé is at once rich, crisp and pure. Think raspberries and strawberries with elegant effervescence and a brilliant balance of fruit and acidity. 

Size: 750ml
ABV: 12%
Price: £40
Find here: blackchalkwine.co.uk

KENT

Balfour Brut Rosé 2018

A renowned winery located on the Hush Heath Estate in Kent, the Balfour sparkling brut rosé was the first ever English wine to win a gold medal and the Trophy at the International Wine Challenge. This 2018 vintage wine is only ever made in tiny quantities from a single vineyard and it has a special story. The estate has belonged to the Balfour-Lynn family for three generations, but it was Richard and Leslie’s idea to plant vines at Hush Heath in 2002, with a view to making a pink sparkling wine like their favourite ever Champagne: Billecart Salmon Rosé. Their thinking was “If we can’t sell it, we’ll drink it”. But they did sell it and the rest is history. It’s a great place for lunch and a tasting with a lovely walk around the vines and the apple trees too. 

Size: 750ml
ABV: 12%
Price: £39.99 (£33.99 at time of publishing)
Find here: Waitrose

Balfour Blanc de Noirs 2018

Another stunning sparkling wine from the Hush Heath Estate, this Blanc de Noirs made from the superb 2018 vintage is a prime example of English sparkling wine at its best. It has notes of orange, citrus and pear and gentle notes of red fruits on the finish. Pair this with meaty fish for a match made in heaven!

Size: 750ml
ABV: 12%
Price: £40
Find here: www.balfourwinery.com

TalkTV: Award-Winning Wines From Spain

When we hear the words Spanish wine, what do we immediately think of? Rioja? Certainly. Cava? Probably. Anything else? Today is all about discovering some grapes and regions that wine buffs love but that don’t get enough recognition in our normal, wine-drinking consumer world. Below, I’ve picked three wines that recently made the top 100 list at the prestigious Wines of Spain Awards, judged by a top team of wine pros. CLick the button below to see the full list.

Godello

Godello is a Spanish white wine grape that has been finding favour over recent years as a great alternative to Sauvignon, Soave, Gavi and the usual suspects. It’s most popular in Galicia where Albariño is king, but can be found in other Spanish regions as well as across the world where it is also known as Gouveio (Portugal) and Agudelo (France). It’s a grape whose style will change based on terroir and winemaking techniques but very generally, is often zesty, refreshing, saline and textured with notes of grapefruit and lime and a hint of smokiness. 

Try: Godello Pepa Porter, Adegas Terrae 2021

Hailing from the lesser known, dry and granite-rich D.O. Monterrei, which is located in the southeast corner of the province of Ourense in Galicia, this wine made the top 100 list and is cracking value. Think savoury stone fruit and a slick of salty licorice and lime. Delicious. 

Find it for £12-13 from Vinissimus & VinoDirect.com 

Garnacha Blanca (White Grenache)

White Garnacha, aka Grenache, to give it its more usual French name, is a grape that has been on the rise in Spain recently and does fantastically well. This is probably due to the popularity of red Grenache (Grenache Noir), even though it’s technically a different grape that behaves very differently. We are seeing a revival of Garnacha Blanca in the regions of Priorat,  Aragón and Montsant but it is also increasingly common in Rioja blends as well as in top end, single-varietal wines. It’s storming it in Navarra too at the moment, with acreage growing from 2.5 to 123H in fifteen years. It is no longer a minor grape variety so if you like rich and weighty white wines, seek out a Garnacha Blanca. Try this grape with rich and creamy poultry or rice dishes. 

Try: Perelada Només Garnatxa Blanca 2021 (Best White Over £10)

Hailing from the region of ​​Empordà in Spain, this is 100% white Grenache and a great example of it at that. Think weighty, fleshy and creamy white wine with notes of melon, vanilla, baked apple and white chocolate. Great with food like hard cheese, nuts and poultry. 

Find it from £10.50- at Vinissimus & AMPS Wine Merchants

Ribera del Duero

Not a grape but a wine region, Ribera del Duero D.O. is located about 200 miles southwest of Rioja in the greater region of Castilla y León on the banks of the Duero River. It is famous for making powerful red wines predominantly with the Tempranillo grape, like Rioja but while the wines tend to use the same blends as their more famous neighbour, the style is more concentrated, pure fruited, complex and powerful thanks to harsher, hotter conditions and slightly different soils. They are beefy wines that do well with hard cow cheese and meaty dishes. 

Try: Laderas del Norte, Arzuaga, Ribera del Duero 2020

The powerful, organic red is concentrated but silky in texture with wild strawberry and spice notes, licorice and chocolatey notes. Needs some time open and it will age beautifully. Find an older vintage if you can.

Find the 2017 vintage at Harvey Nichols & Wadebridge Wines for £20- £21.50

Find out what else we’ve been tasting with Mike Graham on talkTV here. 

talkTV: Jubilee Drinkies!

The platinum Jubilee bank holiday is here! Time for fun frolics and fiestas. Here is an eclectic mix of fabulous booze that will suit all kinds of celebrations.

Soave, 2021

Made for M&S by Casa Girelli in the Veneto, which is the home of Soave, this is a really lovely, refreshing, pear-scented Soave for a ridiculous price. Soave is named after the production area rather than the grape used to make it, which will always be Garganega. It was a style famous before Pinot Grigio but it’s coming back with a bang. Their £7.50 version is even lovelier. 

Find it at M&S for £5.50 in store.

Nerello Cappuccio, 2020

Cappuccio means hood and it describes the shape of the vine leaves that cloak the grapes to protect it from the hot sun. A Sicilian variety that loves the volcanic soils of Etna particularly, this is a grape that used to be used in blends a lot but is now finding its feet as a single varietal. Usually deep in colour with lots of fruit but not too heavy or tannic, this is a textured red that works well lightly chilled. It’s part of the M&S ‘Found’ range championing less known grapes. 

Find it at M&S for £7

The Society's Exhibition English Sparkling Wine NV

Produced exclusively for The WIn Society by the well-loved producer Ridgeview who are based in Sussex, this fizz is a blend of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier, the three champagne grapes. With notes of baked apple and topasty spice, it’s apple pie in a glass!

The Wine Society, £24

Top Jubilee Tipples for Every Budget

Whether you’re having a street party or not, with a double bank holiday, chances are there will be some celebrating going on! Here are a few Jubilee- tastic drinkies that will suit every budget. 

La Gioiosa Prosecco Rosé Millesimato Brut

La Gioiosa Prosecco has released a Limited-Edition Prosecco Rosé Millesimato in collaboration with British designer Yvonne Ellen just in time for us to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee!

The label features Yvonne’s pet budgies, Paul and Simon as well as a parakeet - a breed found in abundance in London’s Hyde Park. The flowers are versions of some beautiful native Italian plants intertwined with leaves from Glera and Pinot Nero grape which are the two grapes used to make this fizz. It’s elegant and aromatic with notes of pear, cherry and almond. 

Find it for £9.50 - £10.99 at Sainsbury’s (on offer),  Waitrose and various supermarkets.

Lateral Cabernet Sauvignon, Chile 2021

With the cost of living crisis, everything is getting more expensive. Enter Tesco to save the day, with a range of wines for £5 and under. This Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon does a great job of actually tasting like the grape it’s made from with notes of ripe blackcurrant, mocha and spice. It’s smooth and medium-bodied - awesome with steak and grilled meats. There are 11 wines in the range from Malbec to Pinot Grigio and Chenin Blanc. 

Find it for £3.89 at  Tesco

M&S Strawberry Gin Liqueur (20% abv)

With a bottle that is so pretty you might not want to open it, M&S are offering a sweet, Strawberry gin with very very subtle juniper notes that’s a bit of a guilty pleasure. Try it neat over ice, with lemonade or in cocktails. Made by the famous Warner’s Distillery in Northamptonshire and a great idea for gifting. 

Find it for £16 at M&S in stores only

Buckingham Palace Gin (42%)

Your splash out option is this small batch, elegant and aromatic gin that has been made with botanicals hand-picked from Buckingham palace’s very own grand including Lemon verbena, hawthorn berries and mulberry leaves. This is an exclusive bottling for Waitrose and it would make the perfect gift. You’ll want to keep the bottle afterwards too.

Find it for £40 exclusively at Waitrose

See what else we’ve been tasting on talkTV here.