Weekend Celebration Picks

Another week passes us by and its time to talk wine before the weekend, In this edition I have included some great value wines and a couple of 'special occasion' wines.

Reasons to celebrate come along as often as fresh bread, a family members birthday, a promotion at work or perhaps someone has the delightful news of expecting a baby... there is always a wine to suit any occasion.

To start with I have picked out a fabulous white wine from the Loire Valley, JD Pabiot Pouilly-Fume. Mr Pabiot's vineyards are all certified as Organic, just recently he has also gained Bio-dynamic status - the only producer in the region that can boast this. The wine is drinking fantastically well at present and would complement dishes such as pan fried Turbot with local Samphire or Monkfish with potato dauphinoise & seaweed crisps.

My next choice is something I feel is excellent value for money, It's a Champagne and Brut an absolute must for celebrations... the tasting note for this wine is incredibly accurate, In my humble opinion you cannot find a better champagne in Jersey for the same price, everything Vazart produce is from their Grand Cru vineyards in Chouilly, which speaks volumes!

Algareiro, Albarino, a sublime wine! for just over £10 this comes highly recommended for those who wish to spend the evening with a fresh & vivid wine... pop this in your basket, Situated in Spain’s northwest corner, beautiful Galicia is known as “green Spain” for its verdant, foggy coastal environment that’s more reminiscent of Ireland than the rest of the country. Rias Baixas, its crown jewel, has achieved an international reputation thanks to a strong regional wine marketing campaign and the popularity of its indigenous superstar––the aromatic, vivacious Albarino grape. A cool growing season and substantial rainfall give Rias Baixas wines notable acidity, and the region’s clay and silt alluvial soil lends an unmistakable minerality

Santiago Reserva Rioja, pound for pound the best Rioja on the market at this price, Founded in 1870 in Haro, Rioja Santiago is the second oldest winery in La Rioja. One of only three wineries in the world that, due to its age, are permitted to use the word ‘Rioja’ for the wine name on the label. Nowadays Rioja Santiago is a modern winery, but the philosophy that surrounded the wines for more than 100 years has not changed: producing the highest quality Rioja wines

Domaine Gayda Flying Solo Red Blend, having spent the most of this month surrounded by Grenache & Syrah on my WSET course, I though it fitting to select this beauty. The wine's name derived from an interesting story about 20th century aviation, it had a fun label and most importantly it's and excellent value wine. You can expect a vibrant burst of acidity from the slow ripening of the thin skinned Grenache grape and subtle soft tannins from the Syrah, a classic blend of Northern Rhone meets Southern Rhone conceived in the Languedoc!