RAISE A GLASS

I posted a photo of a rum cocktail on Facebook the other day. A crisp, biting white rum, muddled with mint and topped with tonic, scrunched through with crushed ice.

Is that a white port, one of my FB friends asked?

Well no, but the question reminded me that I’ve been meaning to tell you about Quinta Da Pedra Alta Pedra No. 03 White Port (£18.95, Master of Malt).

Because port can be white, if you didn’t know.

Producers Quinta da Pedra Alta have created this port from three native grape varieties, rabigato, gouveio and viosinho. They use wild yeasts for the ferment, which adds some complexity to the finished sip. And that sip is lovely indeed. There are notes of pineapple, bruised and baked apples, pear and lemon; even a flirt with a summertime rose bed. The mouthfeel is silky and waxy and the flavours are long-lasting and giving.

A white port with lots of ice tonic and crushed mint leaves is a wonderful summer’s day treat. Or have it solo, as I’m doing now.

I enjoy the early evening treat of an aperitivo, but on weekdays, I’m not always keen on having a feisty alcoholic one.

I was interested to discover Tuscan Tree (RRP: £10.99-£11.99, 70cl),a non-alcoholic version. It is, I’m told, 0% abv distilled spirit “infused with real blood orange juice and Italian sparkling wine”.

My tastebuds have attuned to the bitter style of an Italian aperitivo in recent months. Would a non-alcoholic version bear up?

Well, the bitterness of orange is certainly there; it reminded me of the bitter pith from a premium, not sweet, marmalade.

With a couple of slices of orange, lots of tonic and a good chunk of ice, it makes for a refreshing glass. Though, hand on heart, I missed my alcoholic aperitivo kick!

Finally, a glass of red wine, and a red to greet the start of the football season. Sangre de Toro (£7.50, Tesco, Sainsburys, Asda) was in my life, and in my glass, a couple of times during the Euros.

Now football is back, perhaps its time to pour another one.

It’s a juicy red wine, made from garnacha and cariñena grapes.

The fruit flavours are of blackcurrant and plums, a fleck of dried strawberry and more than a fleck of spice.

Jane is a member of the Circle of Wine Writers. Find her on social media and online as One Foot in the Grapes.