Fellow Wine Lovers,
I’ll be honest; I’m not sure what to write about today.
Having been hiding in the southern parts of Devon and Spain for the last couple of weeks, away from the news and scandals of British life, I feel strangely refreshed and happily uninformed – an unexpected digital detox and one I would thoroughly recommend. I also quickly realised that I wasn’t really missing Rishi, Suella, Boris and the gang, in spite of all the joy they bring, because greater joy can be found in a fine platter of chuletitas, a glass of Ribera del Duero and a couple of old friends – who knew?
I fully expect to be fully jaded by Monday but, for now, I’ll happily bathe in the afterglow.
So, what to talk about? It has come to our attention that this Saturday, 10th June, is World Gin Day. We assume this is an actual thing having only read it on social media because all of our Gin suppliers have been curiously quiet about it – perhaps every day for them is world gin day. Certainly I have a number of close acquaintances for whom World I’m-Not-Having-A- Gin-Today Day would be a just once a year occurrence.
Anyway, I’ve found the website and here is what they have to say:
World Gin Day: 10 June 2023
A global celebration of all things gin, held on the second Saturday in June
Organised by everyone’s favourite gin swigging primate: Gin Monkey, the idea is simple: get people together all around the world and raise a glass to the brilliant spirit that is GIN. Whether it’s in a cocktail, a G&T or neat as part of a tasting, let’s celebrate this wonderful juniper-laced spirit in all of its glory!
Discover what’s on in your area by searching for the #WorldGinDay hashtag across social media!
Seems to me to be quite a simple yet effective celebration, so let’s do it… we always have gin open to taste, so what better way to spend 10 minutes on a Saturday afternoon. The current selection is:
Eclectic Gin
Made for the buying group we are a part of, so only available in about 50 shops
- Original Blend 40% – £37
- The Spice Blend 45% – £39
Hepple Gin 45% – £38
Made by our good friend Walter up in the Northumberland National Park and our #1 best seller
Procera Blue Dot Gin 44% – £85
Made in Nairobi with botanicals sourced from across Africa, including Juniper Procera that only grows in the highlands of Kenya and Ethiopia.
Renegade Gin 42% – £38
Made in Battersea by our local Aussie distiller, Braden, who also makes the now infamous Chilli Bacon Vodka!
So, come and have a taste!
I imagine that for most of you The Portman Group will have little significance. However for us in the booze business it is a well-regarded social responsibility body and regulator for alcohol labelling, packaging and promotion in the UK. They have many guidelines and rules one of which is:
Appeal to Under 18s Rule 3.2(h) A drink, its packaging or promotion should not have a particular appeal to under-18s
So when we read the following, we thought of this rule:
‘Freixenet launches sparkling rosé ice pops in time for the summer. The new 5% ABV frozen popsicles, produced with rosé wine to recreate the light and fruity characteristics of Freixenet Italian Sparkling Rosé’
What on earth could go wrong, when has a child ever asked for a Calippo on a hot day?!
In sport, we’re getting a sneak preview of how the Australian cricketers are shaping up prior to the start of The Ashes and the news from The Oval is a bit scary. Football sees The Thames Ironworks FC travelling to Europe on Thursday nights next season, whilst Pep needs to stop overthinking things before tomorrow, as City bid to become the second club in Manchester to do the treble. Speaking of middle eastern sportswashing investment, golf has rolled over in a way previously unimaginable and now has a newly created PGA/LIV Golf entity whose new chairman is Yasir Al-Rumayyan. A quick search tells me he:
- is a key advisor to the crown prince of Saudi Arabia
- was appointed to lead Saudi Arabia’s public investment fund (PIF) in 2015, a fund that has become an increasingly powerful force in the sports world in recent years
- is chairman of the board for oil giant Saudi Aramco
- holds board positions with Uber and SoftBank
- is chairman of Newcastle United
- has played a key role in luring Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema to Saudi Arabia’s domestic league
No conflict of interests whatsoever.
And now to this week’s tasting wines: the white will be orange and the red will be chilled…
Cramele Recas Solara Orange Wine – £13.99 – This estate is owned by Englishman Philip Cox and his Romanian wife Elvira. Their immaculate vineyards, in mountainous terrain, are a combination of evolved plantings from 1447 and much more recent plantings too. A natural, minimal intervention wine, it is made by leaving the grape skins and seeds in contact with the pressed juice, creating a deep orange-hued finish. The wine ferments naturally without the addition of yeasts, sulphur or any other additions. The nose exhibits quince, Poire William and a hint of vanilla. A complex and structured palate, it is elegant with discreet fruit flavours of stone fruits, backed up with a complexity and long, balanced finish, incredibly fresh.
Beaujolais Villages ‘Cuvée Six’ 2021 – £11.99 – hailing from the villages of Jullié and Emeringes, and grown on the sandy granitic soils that produce the best Gamay, this is tender, round and fruity as you’d expect from a pure expression of the grape variety. Awesome lightly chilled with a plate of charcuterie on a sunny weekend!
That’s it from us as we wave goodbye to the tall and tan and young and lovely girl from Ipanema as she goes walking off into the sunset….