I Spry with my little eye
Matt Jackson and his fiancée, Marzena Brodziak, are quite a couple. Owners of Spry Wines on Haddington Place they work in harmony together, Matt being an expert in Natural wines and Marzena putting tasty small plates together in the kitchen.
I recently enjoyed some unctuous duck rilletes and her zingy and super sharp home made pickles. Visiting on a Tuesday night last month, everything seemed dandy. The minimalist but cosy space was well filled and for a new venture, business was pretty good.
So what is a Natural wine?
Matt tells me there's no agreed definition but it is generally made from organic grapes with as little human and chemical intervention as possible. Matt's key points for choosing the wine he buys are that they are farmed organically using only naturally occurring yeasts, no fining agents and little to no filtering, yet most importantly that they taste good.
Matt and Marzena may not have open doors any longer but they do have a lot of fabulous stock, deli products and pickles all to be delivered on their bikes.
Follow @spry_wines on Instagram for menus and delivery options. So what might be a good self isolating wine to indulge in?
Matt recommends Le Puy, Emilien, 2016, a blend of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon from Bordeaux. Le Puy are one of the only growers that can be sure their vines are 100% chemical free.
Most of the vineyards in Bordeaux use lots and lots of chemicals, and even those who are certified organic are affected by the run-off of rainwater combined with these chemicals. Le Puy, on the other hand, have vines that are isolated on a plateau, which means they are not affected in anyway by the fertilisers and pesticides of the other growers.
Another shout out for a start-up business has to go to @sprEHd.
See what they did there? An Edinburgh based company bringing you a perfectly tailored charcuterie and cheese board with all the oatcake, cracker, pickle, olive and pate trimmings of your dreams. And in a compostable box! The standard but beautifully packaged box is £25 for two people. Order by DM on Instagram or email sprehd@outlook.com