WINE:A three-part guide to the best of summer drinks. This week: 12 light and refreshing white, rosé and sparkling wines, writes John Wilson
OVER THE NEXT three weeks, I will offer my 32 suggestions for summer drinking. covering sparkling wines, whites, rosés and reds, from the lightest and elegant to the most powerful. Priced from €8 upwards, but with an emphasis on the less expensive, I hope there will be something for everyone to enjoy this summer.
These white, rosé and sparkling wines are crisp and delicately fruity; wines to drink on their own, while sitting in the deck chair under the shade of a tree, out on a boat, on a picnic, or while watching the sun go down in the evening. They will also provide a perfect partner for canapés, seafood and light fish dishes.
You could go for a red wine, but do make sure that it is light and elegant. Tannic or very alcoholic wines are difficult to drink without food to support them.
Torres Esmeralda 2006, Catalunya 11%, €10.99It has been around for a long time, but it remains one of the great summer wines, with its light fragrance, full, mouth-watering rich peach and grape flavours, and low level of alcohol. Stockists: Tesco, Supervalu, Superquinn, O'Briens Wines, O'Donovans, Cork and many independents.
Van Volxem Saar Riesling 2006, Mosel-Saar-Ruwer 12%, €15.95The label is mercifully simple, the wine pure nectar. A perfect mix of honey, pineapple and lemon in the lightest but most beautifully concentrated wine. I beg you to try it. Stockists: Berry Brothers & Rudd, Dublin 2.
Delheim Sauvignon Blanc Chenin Blanc 2007, Stellenbosch, South Africa 13%, €9.99The Chenin gives it soft plump melon fruits, the Sauvignon life and refreshment. A lovely easy-drinking, crowd-pleasing wine at a more than fair price. Stockists: O'Briens Wines.
Dr L Riesling 2006 Mosel 8%, €11.99The price has risen recently, but it remains one of the best-value wines in the country. You may still be able to find it at €9.99 in a few outlets. This is an uplifting light wine with enticing floral aromas, racy crisp green fruits, with a touch of honey on the finish. Perfect sipping wine on a warm afternoon. Stockists: Widely available nationwide, including Jus De Vine, Portmarnock; O'Neills, South Circular Road; Redmonds, Ranelagh; Shevlins, Rathfarnham; Savages, Swords.
Tussock Sauvignon Blanc 2007 New Zealand 13%, €13.95One of the better New Zealand Sauvignons around at this price, with some nicely defined green fruits, a touch of gooseberry and a lovely lemon-lime zestiness. Perfect by itself, but would also go down very well with salads and lighter fish dishes. Stockists: Redmonds, Ranelagh; On the Grapevine, Dalkey & Booterstown; Donnybrook Fair; Lilac Wines, Fairview; Gibneys, Malahide; D Six, Harold's Cross; The Wine Centre, Kilkenny; Deveney's, Rathmines; Deveney's, Dundrum; Holland's, Bray; 64 Wine, Glasthule; Wicklow Wine Co; Cellars, Naas Rd.; Masters Wine Warehouse, Waterford; Country Choice Nenagh; Karwig Wines, Carrigaline; Cabot & Co, Westport; McHugh's, Kilbarrack & Artane; Ferguson's Fine Wines, Clifden.
Inycon Fiano 2007, Sicily 13%, €7.99This has been one of the best value white wines around for several years now. Crisp, refreshing pineapple fruits and a dry finish. Perfect party wine. Stockists: Dunnes Stores.
Joel Delaunay Touraine Sauvignon 2006 12%, €13.50Light and zesty with lemon sorbet and nettles, finishing bone dry. It would go nicely with fishy nibbles, but great by itself too. Stockists: Bin No 9, Clonskeagh; Redmond's, Ranelagh; Thomas's Deli, Foxrock.
Miro Sipon 2006, Ljutomer-Ormoz, Slovenia. 12%, €11.99Here is one to try out on your more adventurous friends. Sipon is the grape, Slovenia the country, and the wine is a lovely crisp fresh dry white that is sure to please Sauvignon-lovers. Stockists: On The Grapevine Dalkey and Booterstown; Wicklow Wine Co; Market 57, Westport; Poppy Seed, Clarinbridge; Cabot and Co, Westport.
Delheim Pinotage Rosé 2008, Stellenbosch, South Africa 12.5%, €9.99Pinotage rosé may not sound too enticing, but the Delheim version is filled with delicious fresh strawberries, and an off-dry finish. Made for summer drinking. Stockists: O'Briens Wines.
Guerrieri-Rizzardi Rosato Veronese 2007 12.5%, €11.99This was one of the best rosés around last summer, and this year's version is every bit as good. Ripe strawberries and raspberries, with a smooth texture and a slight touch of sweetness on the finish. Yum! Stockists: O'Briens Wines.
Jacob's Creek Sparkling Rosé 12%, €13.99One of the most sinful pleasures of summer has to be a late afternoon glass of bubbly al fresco, and there is no better value than JC fizz.
The rosé is wonderfully fruity, medium-bodied and lightly creamy; it slips down a treat. Stockists: Tesco, Dunnes Stores, O'Briens Wines, Molloys, Supervalu, Centra, Spar.
Gosset Brut Excellence NV Champagne 12% €40 If you want total decadence, go for a bottle of Gosset, a small house renowned for its excellent, sumptuous Champagnes. This has a lovely mix of raspberries and shortbread. Stockists: The Wicklow Arms, Delgany; Coolers, Swords; Fresh Stores.
Champagne competition winners
The winner of a magnum of Beaumont des Crayères Grande Réserve Champagne for the most entertaining description of a favourite, or least favourite wine is Barbara Lightfoot, of Milltown, Dublin 6.
Her winning entry is as follows:
"This Spanish red exudes a brooding, muscular, boisterous presence. Lithe and athletic yet plump and voluptuous, it combines the subtle nuances of fresh blood with the lively acidity and steely zing of graphite, resin, cigar ash, and creosote. It has a dense, loamy undertone of scorched-earth-scented black cherry. This heavy fruit profile underpins the mid-tones of melted licorice and soya sauce. Malolactic fermentation creates a soft, sensuous, lush mouth-feel. There are delicious hints of iron filings, violets and chocolate in the smooth finish. Dexterous in the company of scrambled eggs or hot curries. Serve at 61F."
The 12 runners-up, who will each receive a bottle of the Beaumont des Crayères Grande Réserve Champagne from O'Briens Wine Off-Licences are Steven Stanhope; Frances Kay Kilcaskin; Rosaleen Clarke-Gibson; Angela Feeney; Donal Murphy; Sarah Duffy; Kevin O'Higgins; Fintan O'Higgins; Una Hughes; Theresa McPadden; Fionnuala Cosgrove and Roisin Jenkins.