I must confess that I only stumbled across this grape very recently, though the Falanghina grape varieties are amongst the oldest type cultivated in Italy for wine-making. This particular bottle hails from the hillsides of the Beneventano region of Italy, a few hours drive North-East of Naples. It is thought that it's name is derived from the Latin falangae, or the stakes used to support the growing vines. It is an extremely light, zippy little white, pale in colour with a fresh zesty taste and a mild hint of pears. It is delicious served very chilled and I think could fast become my ...
Tesco Finest Côtes Catalanes Grenache 2010
The Grenache grape is the most widely planted grape for red wine and enjoys a somewhat mixed reputation, perhaps due to it's sheer abundancy. Although sometimes reviled it actually forms over 80% of the extremely popular and celebrated Châteauneuf-du-Pape. It requires hot and dry conditions and this particular red is made from the old Grenache vines of the Côtes Catalanes in the far south of France. It is a medium bodied, silky red and has a deep fruity flavour, mostly plum, with an almost dark-chocolate after taste. This type of deep red will stand up well against a hearty, meaty ...
The Wine Corner: Aldi Toscana Rosso, paired with Tomato and Bacon Pasta
After a little bit of research today I learnt that the best wine to accompany a tomato-based pasta dish would be something of the Sangiovese variety. Sangiovese is Italy's most commonly planted red grape which typically makes medium to full-bodied wine. It is the main, minimum 80%, constituent grape of Chianti wine. The wine I have picked, however, is not made solely from this grape. The San Zenone Toscana Rosso I have chosen is in fact a blend of primarily the San Giovese grape with both Merlot, the most widely planted grape of the French Bordeaux region, and Cabernet Sauvignon, a grape ...