Fine wines for lean times! Part 1

19th Feb 2010

Thewineremedy team presents a fool proof guide on choosing the right wine to impress your date; or your mates.

Our own feelings on matching food and wine are rather conflicted. Personal preference, the sort of wines that we enjoy drinking should always rule the day.

That said, we have received requests from quite a few members who would like a guide on how to match food and wine - although some foods are totally unsuitable for any wine pairing. We remember trying to match Vindaloo with a bottle-it totally murdered the wine flavours. Still, we learnt our lesson!

Thewineremedy is only too happy to help and has prepared a simple 3 part guide on buying wine. The difficulty is separating the good stuff from the mountains of mediocre wine that supermarkets sell. The following are some of our favourite wines - all under £20 - that offer fantastic value and are simply lovely to drink. You will notice a lot of wines from New Zealand in the list, for price/quality ratio we find New Zealand wine unbeatable. Their wines have intense powerful flavours and people usually fall in love with them. They work well with most foods or for drinking alone. We also like to recommend wines that are easy to find, all of the following are available at major supermarkets. Enjoy!

Whites

2009 Wither Hills Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, New Zealand, Sainsbury's, £8.99

This is one of the most thrilling Marlborough sauvignons ever, at a reasonable price. This is a crisp and aromatic wine with mouthwatering, ripe, citrus and gooseberry-laden fruit, whose zingy style and mineral edge we defy anyone to dislike. Definitely a wine to impress.

2008 Cono Sur Viognier, Colchagua Valley, Chile, Waitrose, £6.64

Another intense aromatic white with ripe apricot and melon fruit and a subtle hint of spice on the palate. This would go well with Indian or Thai cuisine. An excellent value wine and perfect for dinner, this is one of the most impressive Viognier's that we have come across.

Rosé

2008 The Reach Sauvignon Blanc Rosé , Marlborough, New Zealand, Tesco, £7.79

Probably our favourite rosé at the moment, and not just for summer drinking.  You can enjoy this pale pink, delicious rosé all year round. It combines the passion fruit flavours of Sauvignon Blanc with hints of wild ripe strawberries. This wine is perfect for drinking without food.

Reds

2007 Villa Maria Reserve Pinot Noir, Marlborough, New Zealand, Tesco, £19.99

Pinot Noir can make stunningly beautiful wines - this example from New Zealand has a lovely bouquet and it is guaranteed to impress anyone who tries it.  Perfumed with an array of cherry fruit, it is complemented by spice and vanilla.  A wine for a special occasion!

2006 Bellingham Merlot Malbec, South Africa, Tesco £7.75

A perfect wine for red meats or richer pasta dishes, this is for people who like fuller wines. A full-bodied example, with aromas and flavours of red berries, blackcurrants and spice. Complex, velvety and smooth.