Tag: White Wine

Tempus Two… or three

A lovely Sauvignon Blanc that is different. Not as powerful as the classic ones from New Zealand, not as sweet as the classic ones from Chile, a very well balanced and enjoyable drop.

I visited the Tempus Two winery in the Hunter Valley in Australia on my last trip and enjoyed the tasting there so brought back an example of one of their more expensive wine.

This one though is easily available from Waitrose right in the UK for £7.99 and I think that it’s nicely priced for this wine.

Hope you enjoy it this summer.

Viognier only in Verbier ?

Last night in Criccieth, Wales, I found myself in a restaurant (Dylan’s) with a Viognier looking like the best white choice on the wine list…

My good friend Helen loves her Viognier but others love their Pinot Grigio (which I don’t particularly care for)… so I was not necessarily immediately convinced ! But feeling adventurous, I decided to try it.

Well… it turned out a tasty choice: dry yet rich and aromatic, with intense hints of peach and apricots. It was well rounded and fresh, went down well with our various fish courses and got praises around the table.

I read that the Viognier grape variety was originally brought to France by the Romans from Croatia. The most famous Viogniers are now made in the Rhône valley but other fine examples can be found in South Australia, South Africa and also from the south eastern Langudoc-Roussillon region of France like this example here.

So in summary, do give it a try. It was a good reasonably priced find and provided a new alternative to the ubiquitous Sauvignon Blanc (if you are like me and a bit fed up of always drinking the same thing).

Oh, and if you are still waiting for the link to Verbier, I am afraid that there is none! I just could not find anything else to vaguely rhyme with Viognier ! But hapy to receive your ideas for a better title…

Hidden OZ gem

Lots of things can be said about Marks & Spencer, and their food hall is definitely good, but what about their wine offering? I must admit to not being a regular, but then the other day, my better half spotted this bottle and bought one to try.

Well, let me tell you it is absolutely lovely ! It’s dry and tastes of passion fruit and melon. It’s not as fresh and zesty as a Sauvignon Blanc but that’s the point: it is a different grape and a different taste. It is a richer and more luscious taste, a lesser known grape that people should discover.

But it’s a grape I know very well and loved when I was living in Australia. So I wanted to know more about this wine. I had a good look at the label and was simply stunned by the small print I discovered in the bottom corner !


From my favorite Hunter Valley Winery: Tyrrell’s !!

I just love Tyrrell’s products and I always try and visit their winery whenever I am back in OZ. Their wines are superb examples of Hunter Valley whites and reds. I even brought back an example from my last visit: their best Semillon: a Vat 1. They keep and develop for a long time. This is one of their premium wines and unfortunately its price reflects this.

But the best news is that there is 30% off at the moment on M&S wines, so the M&S Hunter Valley Semillon is only £8.66 a bottle. You can sample a Tyrrell’s Semillon on a budget !

So hurry up because we bought the last 6 bottles at our local store. Enjoy !