Real Wine Month at the Scarlet

Monday, 02 May 2012

Real Wine Month is a national promotion highlighting organic, biodynamic and natural wines made by artisan growers and winemakers, which will be poured by glass or featured on wine lists and catalogues in over 200 restaurants and independent retailers.

From Cheshire to Cornwall and the Hebrides to Hampshire natural wines will be promoted throughout the UK in over 200 restaurants, independent merchants and wholesalers. Wines featured at The Fair will be poured by the glass in pubs, bars, bistros and Michelin starred establishments whilst wine shops, retailers and wine clubs will be holding focused natural wine tastings and events for their customers
 
About Natural Wines

Not all wines are strictly ‘natural’.  Many are produced in bulk, using pesticides and other chemicals in the vineyard, mechanical harvesting, cultivated yeasts and the addition of acids or sugar.

Some smaller, artisan producers are turning away from these processes, believing that the end product is too standardized and doesn’t achieve that ultimate goal of winemaking – to express a sense of place. 

Working more sensitively with the soil and the vines using organic or biodynamic methods means that the vines are naturally healthy without the use of synthetic chemicals in the vineyard.  Grapes are manually harvested, natural yeasts supply the fermentation, levels of acid and sugar remain at natural levels, minimal filtration takes place and little or no sulphur is added.
 
Natural White
Château Tour des Gendres ‘Cuvée des Conti’ Sec 2009/10 (Bergerac, France) 12.5cl - £5.50 17.5cl - £9.00 50cl 23.00 bottle - £31.00
 
A creamy, Sauvignon Blanc-dominated effort, spending eight months on the lees and a month in barriques for the Semillon. Imagine waxy peaches and
sweet cashews. Why not try a glass with a chunk of brie & French baguette, or perhaps a Greek salad with cucumber and sundried tomatoes. The vineyard is based 5 minutes away from Bergerac airport.
 
Natural Red
Cotes du Rhone 2010, Terre de Mistral (Rhone, France) £5.00. 17.5cl £7.00, 50cl £18.50, bottle £26.00
 
Approachable style with hints of pepper and green herbs. This is a great induction to a red wine for those that don’t drink wine much. A trusty cotes du Rhone, you can’t go wrong, not a bad word to be said about this wine. It’s the perfect match to any good chicken dish, or perhaps a Sunday roast.
 
Natural Sparkling
Mas de Daumas Gassac Rose Frizant (Languedoc, France) 12.5cl £7.00 bottle £39.50
A pretty, sparkling and uplifting pink made from Cabernet Sauvignon, the less intense fruit from young vines. Cabernet Roses too often taste like lollipops but these grapes are picked early to keep the wine fresh.

Comments:  add new