So summer is here, apparently, and we all enjoy nothing more than a sneaky beverage after work or over the weekend, but whether you are dining alfresco or sitting inside watching the rain over a meal with friends, Jim Nicholson of JN Wine has some top tips on top tipples for UL readers from destinations we either love to visit or love to dream about visiting!
Wine has a sense of place and has the ability to transport you to its origin, to the land on which the grapes grew and to the people who harvested the grapes, pressed them and saw the finished product through to its bottle. And then that bottle ends up in your kitchen here in sunny Northern Ireland!
Whether as a reminder of a memorable holiday, perhaps one you are looking forward to, or maybe we can just tempt you to dream, we have provided suggestions from some of our favourite holiday destinations:
– Portugal – one of the most popular holiday destinations for Ulster travellers, yet Portugal’s wine regions and unique grape varieties are relatively unfamiliar to most. Their red wines are often blends of these fabulous native grapes with their weird and wonderful names. You don’t need to memorise their names but you are sure to be won over by the dense fruit and creamy spice of the Alento red in particular. Lush and juicy with sweet bramble fruit, it is the perfect match for summer lamb.
– Provence – nothing is more evocative of summers in Provence than a glass of chilled pale Rosé. Chateau Vignelaure is the perfect example. Dry and delicate yet well balanced, it has enticing strawberry fruit and a lingering finish. Try it with a fresh Salad Niçoise in your kitchen and you are practically there!
– Spain – Hard to pick out a single wine from Spain but Rioja is the one that most people know and love. The Paco Garcia Crianza has been aged in French oak for 12 months giving it a velvety smoothness, with hints of blackberry, coconut and flowers. Try it with some Spanish Manchego cheese or some wonderful Iberico ham for the full Spanish experience.
– Venice – Harry’s Bar in Venice was the birthplace of the Bellini cocktail – a sumptuous blend of fresh peach juice and prosecco. Take yourself there without the eye watering prices by reproducing the Bellini at home. Our Prosecco Spumante makes the perfect base, topped up with peach puree.
– California – lots of good wines from the sunshine state but perhaps most evocative is the Cline family’s Viognier. It is exotic and full of personality with abundant peach, apricot and honeysuckle on the nose and palate and is delicious with Asian stir fries.
– Loire Valley – the beautiful chateau of Chenonceaux is one of the highlights of the picturesque Loire Valley; it is also home to one of our favourite white wines! It has an intense grassy-lemon nose, a supple palate and delicate flavours of gooseberry with subtle touches of green apple, kiwi and passion fruit to delight the palate and engage the senses.
Last weekend JN Wine won its record 24th Regional Wine Merchant gong for Northern Ireland at the International Wine Challenge Awards in London, widely recognised as the Oscars of the global wine industry, recognising excellence, expertise and passion for wine.
Naming JN Wines Regional Merchant of the year, IWC judges commented on the company’s endeavours, mentioning “…a stunning list complemented by some very good events. An impressive shop environment with a strong online presence. They are not standing still but moving with the times, including reinventing their members club.”
To celebrate the landmark win, JN Wine is reintroducing the hugely popular JN Sparkling, which sold out at its launch last year due to the exceptional level of demand. For details on JN Sparkling and the other services, events and products available visit www.jnwine.com.
Owner Jim Nicholson is pictured in the company’s Crossgar headquarters.
