Ring the changes this Christmas

Stuck in a wine rut?  Bored with the same old tried and tested?  Dare to be different this Christmas with a selection of wines that will keep you in your comfort zone of style, but may tempt you to try a few new gems.

At their recent, sell-out Portfolio tasting, Great Western Wine introduced a new add- on –  the wine walks.  Every half hour a group of guests who wanted to explore new wines but needed a bit of direction signed up for a 20 minute wine speed- date; call it personalised wine shopping if you will.  They told me the styles of wine they liked, we went and found something similar, yet completely different to their norm.

Fascinating; it got guests trying wines that they admitted, they would have ignored otherwise. My point; if you’re not sure, ask advice, and don’t be afraid of branching out, be it from Sauvignon blanc or Malbec.  And the proof?  Guests loved the new wines they were guided towards, and sales indicated that the new discoveries were some of the most popular of the evening.

Here’s a quick guide for ringing the changes this Christmas including some that you voted favourite of the night at our October tasting

If you like Malbec…. Dare to be different by staying with Argentinian wine, but trying out Argentina’s most widely grown, but lesser-known grape variety, Bonarda.  This proved hugely popular with Malbec-lovers at the Portfolio tasting.  Estacion 1883 Bonarda, Trapiche 2014 ( £11.95). Similarly rich, and sultry, Bonarda is the softer side of Argentinian reds – Packed to the brim with meltingly tender, seductive blackberry fruit, hints of violets and a smooth, spicy finish.  Bold, brazen, and with just as much personality as Malbec, but with a hint of softness. If Malbec is the muscular male lead in an Argentine tango, Bonarda is the feisty, seductive and entrancing female. Oh, and perfect for the festive feast!

If you like fruity whites … Some of the most popular requests on the tasting night, were to search out fruity whites. Wines that are not overly acidic, dry, but with more richness than many; succulent, full of flavour, great on their own  or with food. Two of the most popular wines on the night were lesser-known, deliciously mouthwatering whites that ticked all the boxes -  Yealands Estate Pinot Gris 2016 ( £12.95) – this is not a New Zealand version of Pinot Grigio, this is a vibrant, dynamic gem of a white, jam-packed with style and flavour – fleshy peach, ginger, nectarine, nutmeg, wild herbs, honeysuckle, with a lipsmackingly crisp finish – you name it, it’s probably got it.  This is one of my top choices for a white with Christmas lunch.  The other , lesser-known discovery of the night takes us back to Argentina Don David Torrontes El Esteco 2016 (£11.50).  What’s Torrontes? it’s Argentina’s white grape equivalent of Malbec, but far less known.  If you like aromatic, spicy, yet citrus-fresh whites, such as Riesling, give this one a try.  Exotic, fragrant,rose and apricot aromas almost trick the senses, and you might expect a sweeter style of wine; but don’t be fooled. This crisply fruity white has attitude, character and a killer finish ( back to my Argentine tango analogy!).  Our wine walk guests loved it – classy, bursting with as much tropical fruit character as could be packed in, and then soaring to a crescendo of  lemon and lime streaked freshness and zestiness on the finish.  Another top white wine match for Christmas – salmon, seafood, goose, turkey.  This one can take them all on.

If you like soft, lighter reds -   it’s not always easy to whittle out these styles, although Pinot Noir is the obvious route if you don’t like heavy reds;  quite frankly, I often prefer a more gentle, less assertive red, which isn’t overloaded on the alcohol or tannins front, but has a vibrant, juicy fruitiness, especially at Christmas time, with the overload of rich food.  Cerasuolo di Vittoria 2014, Planeta (£15.50) is just the ticket. Cerasuolo means cherry, and this is exactly how this wine tastes. From a blend of the Sicilian grapes Nero d’Avola and the lively Frappato, it’s bright, bouncy, and crammed with lively, juicy cherry and strawberry fruit, with a soft, velvety yet fresh flavour, a modest 13% alcohol, and a refreshing edge which will perk up jaded taste buds over the festive season.

Happy Christmas!

By Angela Mount