ON THE GRAPEVINE
SAM WYLIE-HARRIS ON... TOP DROPS TO BOOST THE THRILL OF THE GRILL
WE might have had to put all those open-air parties, and casual cookouts with pals on hold for now, but you can still have fun being the pitmaster at home in your own garden.
Fire up the barbecue taste buds with some vibrant vino.
1 TORRES SANGRE DE TORO ORIGINAL 2018, SPAIN, £6 (was £7.25), Asda
A SPANISH gem from famous Sangre de Toro; this garnacha based blend is a deep cherry red that’s soft and easy and slips down a treat. A fruit-forward fiesta of jammy, juicy raspberry fruits, pair this easy-glugger with lamb kebabs, peppers and flat bread.
2 TESCO FINEST FAIRTRADE SOUTH AFRICAN PINOTAGE 2019, SOUTH AFRICA, £7, Tesco
WHILE we may not be able to ‘bring and braai’ with loved ones right now, SA’s signature grape brings everything to the party with its generously laden damson fruit, distinctive blackberry, smoke and rooibos aromas. The sweet, smoky finish will suit all your flame grilled meats.
3 DOMAINES PAUL MAS PICPOUL DE PINET 2018, FRANCE, £7.50, Co-op stores
IF all-rounder refreshing, work YOU’RE beautifully after this and white something a with good will seafood, salmon or cedar a chicken planked burger with sweet pickle relish. The refreshingly crisp varietal has delicate blossomy notes, apple, pear and lime flavours with zippy acidity on the finish. It’s also a delicious aperitif.
4 TRIVENTO MALBEC RESERVE 2018, MENDOZA, ARGENTINA, £8, Sainsbury’s
THIS wine’s delicious concentration of raspberry and blackberry fruit, lovely perfumed nose with hints of violets and cassis, velvety smooth mouthfeel and simple, straightforward yumminess make this a natural bedfellow with beef brisket, barbecue sauce, grilled steak fajitas and anything Tex Mex.
5 COORONG SOUNDS SHIRAZ 2019, SOUTH AUSTRALIA, £9.99, Virgin Wines
IF YOU want to drink in the Australian outdoor lifestyle, you can’t go wrong with this juicy, jammy shiraz which ticks all the right boxes if you love a wine that’s fragrant and fruit forward with a blackcurranty, spicy sweetness, sunny ripeness; and dangerously drinkable with a sweet chilli burger, ribs and bangers.