Low Alcohol Wine

Many people start the year with Dry January, and many wine lovers suggest Try January instead, which is an opportunity to try something you might not normally drink. Others prefer the Drink Less Drink Better motto. I think I will carry on drinking as normal, as I do have to taste a lot of wines to curate amazing yet affordable wine lists for my pop up wine bars, but I have taken this opportunity to try some low alcohol wines, and here are my top choices...

By law, low alcohol wine has up to 11% for whites and up to 12% for reds. So I started with Riesling, which often has a lower alcohol content because the sugars in the wine have not been fully fermented, resulting in a sweeter and lower alcohol wine. The great thing about Reisling is it has high acidity, so even though both these wines are off-dry, the acidity balances them well.

Dr. Loosen Ürziger Würzgarten Riesling Kabinett 8% from Waitrose £15.99

Dr L Grey Slate Riesling 10.5% from Waitrose £9.99

Another low alcohol wine, which is a personal favourite of mine, is Oaken Grove Benham Blush at 11%. A great tasting fruity rose. Also available from Waitrose for £11.49, or buy direct for £50 for six bottles.

I also found a fantastic light Sauvignon Blanc from Laithwaites for £12.49 called Stonewall which is only 9.5% (my mum drinks it because she often gets a reaction to wine, but doesn't with this one)

Then I thought I would try a dealcoholised Muscat that was recommended by a wine journalist friend of mine, called Natureo by Torres, which is only 0.5% alcohol and sells for £5.99 at Waitrose. It's not bad tasting, but you can definitely tell its missing the punch from alcohol.

I haven't found any decent red wines that are 12% or less - let me know if you do!

Personally, if I'm going to be drinking wine, I don't want to be restricted by alcohol content, so if I was going to do cut down my alcohol intake, I would go for something completely different, like a savoury soft drink. It's pretty pricey but I love the two Seedlip drinks (Garden or Spice), you mix them with tonic or soda so the gin-looking bottle lasts a long time, and they are delicious savoury soft drinks. Buy from Ocado for £27.99.

Top Wines Under £10 from 2017

I have hosted over 30 pop up wine bars as Princess and the Pinot in my first year and I'm feeling pretty chuffed. The wines change each month so you can imagine we get through a lot of different wines, and we're always on the hunt for wines that are great tasting and good value for money to showcase at our events. Here are our Top Wines Under £10 from the year. As you can see there are more reds than whites, and this is partly because reds are more popular at our pop up wine bars, but also because quality reds are easier to make than quality whites.

Learn more about Princess and the Pinot pop up wine bars at www.princessandthepinot.com/events

(Listed by type of wine then £ low to high)

Sparkling

Premier Estates Grand Rosé, Vino Spumante, Extra Dry, NV, 11%, from www.premierestateswine.co.uk £9.99

White

Puklavec & Friends, Sauvignon Blanc / Pinot Grigio, Slovenia, 2016, 12%, from Waitrose £7.99

Baily & Baily “Folio”, Riesling, Clare Valley, Australia, 2015, 11.5%, from Waitrose £8.49

Black Shack, Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, New Zealand, 2015, 13.5%, from Wine Rack £9.19

Borgo Magredo, Sauvignon Blanc, Friuli, Italy, 2015, 12.5%, from Wine Rack £9.99

Dr Loosen Grey Slate, Riesling, Feinherb, Mosel, Germany, 2014, 10.5%, from Waitrose £9.99

Rose

Oaken Grove, Benham Blush from oakengroveyineyard.co.uk £50 for 6

Red

Little Penguin, Shiraz, South Eastern Australia, 2013 13.5%, from Wine Rack £6.99

Cono Sur “Bicicleta”, Pinot Noir, Chile, 2016, 13%, from Sainsbury's £7.00

Dark Horse, Cab Sav, California, USA, 2015, 13.5%, from Sainsbury's £8.00

Paso Primero Tinto, Cab Sav / Merlot / Temperanillo, Somontano, Spain, 2016, 14.5%, from tanners-wines.co.uk £8.50

Anciano Gran Reserva, Tempranillo, Valdepenas, Spain, 2007, 13%, from Waitrose £8.99

Climbing, Shiraz, Orange, Australia, 2014, 14%, from Waitrose £8.99

Mulberry Bush, Shiraz / Merlot, Robertson, South Africa, 2015, 14%, from Laithwaites £8.99

Porta 6, Tinta Roriz / Castelão / Touriga Nacional, Lisboa, Portugal, 2012, 13.5%, from Majestic £8.99

Trivento Reserve, Malbec, Mendoza, Argentina, 2016, 12.5%, from Wine Rack £9.19

Pisano Cisplatino, Tannat, Progreso, Uruguay, 2015, 13.5%, from M&S £9.50

Columba Bianca Vitese, Nero D’Avola, Sicily, Italy, 2016, 14%, from wine-discovery.co.uk £9.50

Rex Mundi, Shiraz / Grenache, Roussillon, France, 2016, 13%, from Laithwaites £9.99

Learn more about Princess and the Pinot at www.princessandthepinot.com

To see the full list of Top 50 wines with tasplease click HERE

English Wine Flight

Top Tips
English wine has come a long way from the tart flabby wines that we used to make, to the 120 awards won at the International Wine Challenge 2016. Now even Taittinger, the French Champagne house, has bought some land in Kent to invest in English Sparkling wine. But it’s not just the sparklers that are outstanding, there are some English still wines that are worth a try, and here are three of them. Marlow (where I have my pop-up wine bar) is lucky to have several vineyards nearby, including Oaken Grove, Harrow & Hope, Chiltern Valley (Old Luxters), and Stanlake Park. Lets support our local producers and buy their wines, some of them are really rather lovely. Be aware that ‘British’ wine is different to ‘English’ wine. English wines are made from grapes that are grown here and then the wine is made here, whereas British wines import the juice to make here.

Chiltern Valley Dry, Reichensteiner, 2015, 11%
The Chiltern Valley Winery is based in Hambleden, between Marlow and Henley-on-Thames. It is open to the public and runs tours of the vineyard. This wine is made with the Reichensteiner grape, which ripens well, so is popular in England. This light and crisp white is refreshing and delicious, particularly if partnered with barbecued fish with a wedge of lime.
Available from Chiltern Valley Winery, Hambleden £11.95

Oaken Grove Benham Blush, Pinot Noir, England, 2014, 12.5%
Oaken Grove is a family-owned vineyard based in Fawley, near Henley-on-Thames. This wine is a
dry rosé made from 100% Pinot Noir. Enticing strawberries and cream on the nose with hints of
apple, peach and cherry cobbler flavour characteristics. Great served with pork chop and green beans.
Available from www.oakengroveyineyard.co.uk or Waitrose £11.49

Litmus, White Pinot Noir, England, 2013, 12.5%
Litmus is produced in the North Downs of Surrey. White Pinot Noir is richer than many white wines
because it’s made with red wine grapes. It has flavours of baked apple and pear, with zesty notes of honey, orange and ginger. A lovely full body with light oak. A great match for prawn tempura or turkey steaks in a creamy sauce.
Available from M&S £22

To find out more about Princess and the Pinot and our pop-up wine bars please visit www.princessandthepinot.com

English Still Wines

English wine has come a long way from the tart flabby wines of old to the 120 awards won at the International Wine Challenge 2016, and now even Tattinger, the French Champagne house, has bought some land in Kent to invest in English Sparkling wine. But its not just the sparklers that are outstanding, here are some English white, red and rose still wines I think are worth a try.

Ranked by price low-high, supermarket retailers shown where available.

Stanlake Park Hinton Grove, Berkshire (£10.49 Stanlake Park)
Although this is an off-dry aromatic wine, it is beautifully balanced so you don't notice the slight sweetness, making it an easy drinking tipple. Soft and interesting, like spotting an unusual butterfly. Made from Madeleine Angevine, Reichensteiner, Schonburger, Wurzer and Ehrenfelser grapes, this is a complex, well structured wine that will go well with Asian dishes like Thai Green Curry. Also Available from Rebellion Brewery in Marlow, Buckinghamshire.

Oaken Grove Benham Blush, Oxfordshire (£11.49 Waitrose or £50 for six if you buy direct)
A dry rose made from 100% Pinot Noir. Enticing strawberries and cream on the nose with hints of apple, peach and cherry cobbler flavour characteristics. Great served with pork chop and green beans. Reminiscent of sitting in an English country garden.

Chiltern Valley Dry, Oxfordshire (£11.95 Old Luxters)
Made with the Reichensteiner grape, this light and crisp white is refreshing and delicious, particularly if partnered with BBQ'd fish with a wedge of lime. Bright and breezy like standing outside on a ferry.

Sharpham Whole Berry Rose, Devon (£14.99 Waitrose)
A pale pink rose with strawberries and cherry blossom aromas. Made from 100% Dornfelder grapes and pressed as whole bunches, resulting in an off-dry wine with summer berries and soft tannins on the palate. Bright, fun and friendly, like a picnic in the park.

LDN Cru Bacchus (£15 London Cru)
Made from 100% Bacchus grapes grown in Kent with the wine made in London. Flavours of elderflower, cut grass and lemon rind, with a lovely mouthfeel from the lees-stirring (batonnage). Complex fleeting floral aromas, like walking through a meadow.

Bolney Estate Pinot Noir, West Sussex (£15.99 Waitrose)
A lightly oaked pinot noir, with medium body, packed with cherries, and a slight coconut aftertaste from the toasty oak. Fragrant and fruity, like walking around a farm shop. Great served with baked Camembert or glazed ham.

Litmus White Pinot, Surrey (£22 M&S)
An intriguing white wine made from red Pinot Noir grapes which results in a dry wine that mixes red and white characteristics, showing both red berry and spice with honey and floral notes. A lovely full body with light oak. A great match for prawn tempura or turkey steaks in a creamy sauce.

Trevibban Mill Black Ewe Red, Cornwall (£33 Trevibban Mill)
A violet colour accompanies forest fruits and star anise on the palate, with a lingering taste of raspberry leaf tea. Comforting and mildly exciting, like picking raspberries in your granny's garden. A complex full-bodied wine with soft tannins made form 100% Pinot Noir.

I ask you to try one (or more!) of the above and let me know what you think.

I will be serving a flight of three English wines at my next pop-up event in Marlow on 2nd and 3rd of June, come and say hello! Email soma@princessandthepinot.com to reserve a table.

To find out more about Princess and the Pinot and our pop-up wine bars please visit www.princessandthepinot.com