Ways to use less water
as Códega de Larinho out of obscurity.
White wines from the south of France, known for its big-hitting reds, have also grown in sales and are made from varieties such as Roussanne and Grenache Blanc.
Rosé, perhaps the wine most readily associated with summer, has also undergone a remarkable transformation thanks to its surging popularity over the last 20 years and is now found in a huge number of guises.
Here are a few recommendations for wines to chill out with this summer – in the most varied way possible. Domaine de Pellehaut Family Reserve Rosé Syrah Tannat 2015 (£9.99 Rude Wines)
A herby and spicy rosé from south west France made from Syrah and Tannat – a variety peculiar to the region. Lots of strawberry aromas and flavours, and a fresh finish. Altano DOC Douro White 2016 (£9.99 from Tanners, The Wine Society, winedirect.co.uk, Auriol Wines)
The Douro is of course best known for Port, but increasingly Port families such as the Symingtons are turning to table wines to bolster their sales.
There are elevated vineyards in the Douro that offer perfect opportunities for maturing white grapes of which there are many, with indigenous varieties often growing together in the same places.
This wine is a blend of Malvasia Fina, Viosinho, Rabigato, Códega de Larinho and Moscatel Galego.
They produce the kind of wine I just love: slightly aromatic, textured but with a crisp finish.
There are floral notes here, a hint of honey and elderflower in particular. The palate is silky with a hint of almond and a clean finish. Open this one anywhere anytime. Seifried Grüner Veltliner 2016 £14.99 from Liquorice, Roberts & Speight, New Zealand Cellar, James Molden, Banstead Vintners, Trina’s wines)
Grüner Veltliner is native to Austria but is gaining ground in New Zealand. Hermann Seifried moved to Nelson with his Kiwi wife Agnes and began grafting vines WITH luck, you shouldn’t need to get there in the 1970s. the sprinkler out this
Seifried established summer. There’s been Grüner Veltliner in their no sign yet of a Eden Road vineyard and hosepipe ban, but we this 2016 vintage is a single should all be thinking vineyard parcel from this about ways to use less site. water – particularly the
The New Zealand terroir greenfingered among us.certainlyseemstobring out Grüner’s typical Here’s how you can characteristics. The nose is cut down on the quite vegetal and needs amount of fresh water toning down a little by you use this summer... chilling, which helps the Water early morning wine’s elegance. or dusk to reduce
The fruit has more than evaporation – Don’t a suggestion of pear and water in the heat of the there is a white pepper day. Put pots under edge that is quite typical of hanging baskets so the Grüner. A nice wine to overspill waters the match barbecued chicken plants below. in Asian sauces. Avoid sprinklers – A sprinkler can use up to 1,000 litres of drinking water, or 220 gallons, in an hour. There are so many products on the market now to help us save water that there’s really no excuse not to.
Don’t water established lawns – we have a long, hot spell, your lawn may turn a bit brown, but it will recover with the autumn rains.
Buy the right plant for you – Some plants need more water than Domaines De Bouts 2016 (£9 Tesco)
This terrific value white from the Rhone is part of the Domaines et Chateaux range showcasing classic French regional wines.
There’s a Burgundian quality to the integration of the oak and the fruit with enticing aromas of buttery pear and hazelnuts.
It’s with Roussanne and Grenache Blanc, which produce a rich and rounded palate that leans nicely toward green citrus flavours. If others, so if you’re planning a waterwise summer make sure you’ve got the right plants for your garden.
Recycle your water – Try to recycle water as a matter of course. Use a plastic bowl for washing up and then deposit the water on to your plants, as a small amount of washing up liquid isn’t going to hurt them.
Use the rain – Up to 85,000 litres of rain falls on your roof each year, so install a water butt and use it to water your plants and your car.
Choose your plant placement wisely – Some more thirsty specimens in pots may benefit from being placed on a tray lined with capillary matting, which soaks up the water and then delivers the moisture to the roots, gradually when it’s needed.
Mulch – Add a thick layer of mulch around your plants to prevent the soil from getting too hot. Leaves and bark work very well. Or use pebbles, needles, straw, fruit pips or newspaper.
‘The fruit has more than a suggestion of pear’