Pick your audience is as valid advice in respect of wine as it is of other things.
Sometimes all Christmastime gatherings need is straightforward fare that oils the social wheels but will neither amaze nor disappoint anyone.
Today’s white option is an ideal lubricant for exactly those occasions where the company rather than the wine is the central focus.
Pleasant, competently made and not costing a king’s ransom are the main criteria.
Its red companion is a more serious choice but, again, good social wine that avoids the fullness and heaviness of more obvious wintertime choices.
It also offers a nod towards the lighter choices that are beginning to gain considerable traction.
Both will enhance any Christmas party.
Once again, pictures and hyperlinks are included where possible to make it easier to track down the wine in question.
First, then, that white
2023 Shallow Bay Sauvignon Blanc (£6 – instead of £6.75 until 31 December- with a Tesco Clubcard and 12.5 % abv):
To contrast with the customary Marlborough sauvignon that gets so much air time, today’s first wine is deliberately more subdued.
It is, however, a typical example of standard South African sauvignon and, better still, is available at a great value price.
Don’t be deterred by the smidgen of concluding savouriness, it is cut through emphatically and fully counterbalanced.
To ensure that is so, you can rely completely on the wine’s soft pear and Granny Smith apple flavours, gentle grassiness and crisp lime and lemon acidity.
Now for something more serious.
2022 Austrian Red (£9.50 at The Wine Society and 13.5%):
As consumers shift from heavier, tannic reds towards lighter, fruit-focused alternatives, zweigelt (Austria’s most planted black grape) stands likely to benefit.
It is the basis of this wine and, here, brings us bright raspberry, cherry, and red currant flavours.
That foundation is supported by tart acidity – although that, in turn, is balanced by a savoury twist and by allspice, walnut whip nuttiness and white pepper elements too.
This is the last Top Tip for 2024 but there is one more post prior to the site’s hibernation. It is the final part – next Monday – of my journey around the Christmas wine scene, which concludes with bubbles.
13 responses
Looking at party wines:
Way back in November 2023, Brian recommended an unusual Chardonnay/Gruner Veltliner blend from Australia, which was £9.99 at the time, as part of their Specially Selected range
As of today, it is reduced to just £4.85. Not sure if it is the same vintage, but I will be there shortly to find out
Nice choice with the Austrian Red Brian. I’m really getting into Austrian wines and I love the symmetry of the country’s distinctive red (Zweigelt) matched with a decent white (Grüner Veltliner). Mind you, the Sainsbury TtD Riesling is rather good too.
I know you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover but the label of TWS Austrian Red is a bit of a shocker. Why not something wine-related to represent the Austrian rural idyll? In comparison, the Lentsch Zweigelt at Waitrose (£9.99) has a striking red label in a modern style and I have to admit this was a factor that encouraged me to give it a go back in the summer. A loverly, fruity, drinkable red which is 100% Zweigelt. A nice alternative to Beaujolais or light Pinot Noir.
Morning Brian ..
Thanks as ever for your erudite recommendations here, and indeed for your column in the Scottish Daily Record Weekend Supplement on Saturday that I enjoy seeing in all it’s colourful joy, that features there too what you offer here today, and more besides.
I am lucky. I have time to give to shopping in person for all my groceries etc. that I know others will not have, busy elsewhere as they may be. I buy wine from Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Asda, Morrisons, Lidl and Aldi .. even the Co-op.
But I make no apologies for a continuing theme of championing The Wine Society for all they offer in the way of product but also their general ethic of trying to get it right in the way of quality but still retaining a strong element of affordability. Many proper, true, mid-week bottles they have at under £10.
If we think about being time-poor next to the possible need to shop in person at least somewhere on the ”high street” every week or so and all that entails in the way of travelling out to do it, (but then not always with many retailers who will deliver to our door at the most convenient time to us), there is an expense of some kind to us at every turn, vehicle fuel, wear and tear on the car, and indeed even on ourselves in the ”frazelled mad rush and crowded aisles”!!
The Wine Society as many already understand charges a flat fee of £40 to join a membership for their service. And what a service that is. And of course it’s not £40 gone forever for nothing tangible attaching because £20 of that fee goes straight to our account as a credit to spend as well will. So really it is only £20 to join. And that charge diminishes per bottle as we purchase over time.
Actual wine aside the most useful component of TWS membership I find is no-charge delivery regardless the size of our order AND how quickly it can come, sometimes within 24 hours!!
As I mentioned last week I know people giving a membership to TWS as a Xmas present. Brilliant! If I wasn’t a member already I’d love to have being given that …
So your recommendation of the Society’s Austrian Red 2022 today, this Zweigelt, at £9.50, is also a stand-out Champion in the TWS catalogue, along with another so listed that I devour way too quickly The Society’s Portuguese Red, Peninsula de Setúbal 2023 that is an astonishing £6.50 and yet again would I’m sure satisfy the enjoyment of any party goer alongside the Austrian.
Something to compliment your Tesco NZ-SB, a good contrast with a little more off-dry fruit I’ve just been finishing over the weekend, back again to the Asda Wine Atlas Feteasca Regala. Wow! That stuff for the money is amazing when bought as part of a mix-6-25% off deal, still on, £4.50.
Cheers .. Happy Xmas Brian .. one and all …
Austria is a tiny country,about the same population as New York city,and most of the wine making is in the eastern half.
Friedrich ‘Fritz’ Zweigelt was made head of the Vine Research Station in Klosterneuburg, near Vienna, in 1921 and within a year had struck gold by crossing two indigenous grape varieties
to produce Rot burger.
It was only called Zweigelt ( pronounced Zvy gelt) later on.
This new crossing already attracted attention in the earlier years due to its particularly early wood ripeness, great fertility, resistance to rot, early grape ripening and low acidity’, according to Moser. It is also very frost resistant and was one of the few varieties that survived the great European frost of 1956.
There is some controversy attached to the name as Dr Zweigelt was an early and enthusiastic member of the Nazi party.Arrested for treason and war mongering in 1945 he was soon pardoned for making “oratorical mistakes’.( Austriawines com)
Zweigelt is often referred to as the Austrian Pinot Noir,but I think it is a bit more like Beaujolais.
Asda Alert!
The excellent Asquith Gardens English sparkling wine is a ridiculous VFM at £13.50 and the very tasty Crémant D’Alsace party fizz at £8.25 both on six mix offer,but ends on December 15 th- which is why I mention them now as Brian’s next post of fizz will be after the offer closes.
Great, thanks Paul – I had planned on nipping off to Asda first thing tomorrow. I am hoping to get some Vidal-Fleury Sant-Joseph 2018 which is apparently on offer down from £24 to £20, then 25% off. That is a lovely wine – although not optimistic that they will have it in stock. The Louis Jadot Beaujolais Village 2022 is also on offer – and that is a real classy crowd pleaser. Plus the Jaen Dao – which I hadn’t twigged is Mencia! (which I think could be the up and coming grape). Oh and the Extra Special NZ PN which is very nice. Happy Days!
Hello Richard,
Thanks for the cracking Asda recommendations.
I have just finished the excellent TWS Bordeaux testing kit.
I particularly enjoyed the Château La Garde Rouge Pessac – Léogan 2016.Normally way above my price range,but what a treat to taste and enjoy a top class claret, even if it was only a (heavily producer subsidised) 150ml!
Hi Paul,
There was no Saint-Joseph. They had just 2 bottles of the Extra Special NZ PN, but was 2023, not the 2020 vintage which I really liked, it was also reduced. Couldn’t resist so bought them both. But on return noticed a couple of reviews from people who liked previous vintages but thought the 2023 was awful! (Touch of the Eddie’s Rupertsberg phenomenon!) Will open a bottle in a couple of days, and if that bad will either take both back for a refund, or demote to cooking wine – it was under £7 a bottle, net. Got a Jaen, and the Special Dao and Douro, so will do a little 3 way Portuguese tasting soon. And the Wine Atlas Ile de Beaute, which I thought an excellent rose.
What was a bit silly is that I’d intended to buy a bottle of the “Nice Drop Pinotage” at standard price of £4.25. Am not a big, or medium, fan of Pinotage but this is a really good example of the lighter style, at a silly price. And wanted to buy it to show support for the buying team sourcing it! But because it was excluded from the 25% offer, thought I’d leave it for another day!
Regarding the Claret Tasting Kit, it was a great idea – to taste along with Matthew in your own time. I did the last 3 wines on a whim a while after the first 3. I really should have poured them out an hour or so earlier. I liked the “Museum Release” of the 2015 Anniversary Margaux, and actually treated myself to a half bottle of this before the tasting and before it sold out. Still expensive, but although I am lucky enough to TASTE pretty decent wines occasionally, there is nothing to beat having it at home, and with food. And when I buy a bottle over my budget, I just switch the heating off for a few days, and live on gruel. So not really that extravagant, all things considered.
Agree totally.
There is nothing wrong with upmarket wines as a special gift or treat for the Xmas table and nothing wrong with recommending wines over £10 at any time as long as the contributor enjoys them and thinks they are good value.
I know of a superb Santorini Assyrtiko which is £30.It is undoubtedly expensive, but relatively ,is great value and great drinking.
I think I will still keep the heating on and give the gruel a miss!
P.S That Margaux was classy and opulent.
Late additional comment: I opened one of the 2023 Extra Special NZ North Canterbury PInor Noir bottles today. (I was worried about some poor reviews on the Asda site.) Well – it had a lovely PN nose, and then ripe darkish fruits and a touch of spice. The ripe fruit made it a friendly style, although there was a touch of earthiness, which might put off some. Overall at the reduced price, plus 25% off, was a super wine for under £7!
For those less well off folks not able to participate in the extravagance of £15 plus bottles can I say that Aldi have a very decent list of top drawer wines mid-weekers here have previously enjoyed from their range that have 25% off and no need to mix 6 of anything … we get the deal choosing single bottles as we prefer.
Favourites abound like the red Salice Salentino at £5.75 and that Oz Chardonnay/Gruner Veltliner at a very attractive £4.85. But I’m hopeful when I go in to shop for my bone-in beef rib later in the week I’ll be able to get their Vouvray at £5.59 and best of all for Xmas Day aperitif Crement d’Alsace Rose at £7.09. Festivities can be quite tolerable not spending a fortune but still feeling a little indulgent .. awrabest …
Some may remember the Hirondelle scandal many years ago. Hugely popular and labelled as “Wine of Austria” only caught out when it’s published sales exceeded the total sales of all Austrian wine.
Just popped up to me who can’t just drive round and get the offer because I don’t have Waitrose close by. They have a selection of 6 bottles to cover most bases of £15 and more, all at £10
each. For sure if when I’m south of here after Xmas if the deal is still current I’ll have the white Macon .. the Beaujolais and the tawny port. Likely quality and great value marriage.