Well, what a scorcher!
For those who prefer to drink rosé when it is really hot, then this was the ideal Summer. Having spent some time in Spain and Portugal this Summer, I have been drinking more of their delightful whites – Albariño, Vinho Verde, which has been much underrated in the past, and Verdejo.
Albariño is now well established as a white wine to drink with fish and other seafood. And rightly so – its fresh minerality complements well. Having spent some time in the main Albariño / Alvarinho region, we are more convinced than ever.
Vinho Verde, the correct pronunciation of which I was taught by a Portuguese producer (it is “Verd” – don’t pronounce the “e” at the end), is available all over the north of Portugal in carafes as the house wine, as well as bottles. It is a little variable in quality, some with more “spritz” than others, but in general, a great aperitif. Be careful though, although often lower in alcohol, it is very moorish and before you know it, a bottle has gone, and you are ordering a second! I tried the Vinho Verde Rosé for the first time this year too, which was a delight. Called, “verde” not because it is green, but because it is a young wine and should be drunk young. I am so pleased to see that this wine is now readily available in the UK
Verdejo is another grape variety that is often used as a house wine in Spanish bars, great with tapas. The grape is often harvested at night when the temperatures are lower. This helps keep the juice fresh and the resulting wine is aromatic and soft. Perfect for a light supper.
So – as we move into Autumn, with some lovely sunny days still forecast for later in the month and into October, these wines still have their place.
Harvest 2025
This Summer has (apparently) been the warmest summer on record in the UK, according to some sources. UK winemakers are excited for the harvest here this year, and “cautiously optimistic”.
‘Vintage 2025 is looking very promising,’ said Robb Merchant, owner of White Castle Vineyard in Abergavenny, Wales. (Decanter Magazine)
‘The rain over the past week has been good, and the later varieties [such as] Cabernet Franc, Regent and Phoenix will benefit from it.’
The 2018 harvest was considered one of the best recent vintages, and this year’s weather has been similar, so fingers crossed. Fiona Shiner, Woodchester Valley Vineyard founder, told Decanter Magazine this month, ‘I remember the 2018 season well. It was the perfect combination of conditions resulting in a bumper crop of amazing quality. Much like this year, the grass was brown but the vines were a vibrant green and thrived.’
In most areas, UK harvest is likely to start this or next week, although in some of the more southern vineyards, they have already started. The UK wine sector needs a good harvest this year as rain hit 2024 was not so good.
Our trips to the English Wineries were a great success this year – so much so, we will be starting them again early Spring next year.
If you fancy visiting an English Winery for a hen night / stag night / to celebrate a special birthday or any other event, let us know and we can organise a tour of any length -a day / 2 days / 4 days – whatever you want.
With Autumn around the corner, we are now looking at more red wines to stock up the wine rack. Why do we drink more red wine in the colder months?
We tend to drink more red wine in the winter for various reasons: red wine tends to have a higher alcohol content, they are more full bodied, which together with the tannins create a warming sensation. Red wines also typically have red autumnal fruit characteristics and lower acidity, all of which pairs well with the food we eat, like hearty stews and roasted meats. Of course, we tend to drink them at room temperature rather than chilled…obvious really.
We are planning a few tastings in the coming weeks, so keep an eye on our events page.
Best wishes for a sunny Autumn! And good luck to all our vineyard owner friends who are heading into harvest.
Penny and the GWO team
End of Summer Newsletter
Well, what a scorcher!
For those who prefer to drink rosé when it is really hot, then this was the ideal Summer. Having spent some time in Spain and Portugal this Summer, I have been drinking more of their delightful whites – Albariño, Vinho Verde, which has been much underrated in the past, and Verdejo.
Albariño is now well established as a white wine to drink with fish and other seafood. And rightly so – its fresh minerality complements well. Having spent some time in the main Albariño / Alvarinho region, we are more convinced than ever.
Vinho Verde, the correct pronunciation of which I was taught by a Portuguese producer (it is “Verd” – don’t pronounce the “e” at the end), is available all over the north of Portugal in carafes as the house wine, as well as bottles. It is a little variable in quality, some with more “spritz” than others, but in general, a great aperitif. Be careful though, although often lower in alcohol, it is very moorish and before you know it, a bottle has gone, and you are ordering a second! I tried the Vinho Verde Rosé for the first time this year too, which was a delight. Called, “verde” not because it is green, but because it is a young wine and should be drunk young. I am so pleased to see that this wine is now readily available in the UK
Verdejo is another grape variety that is often used as a house wine in Spanish bars, great with tapas. The grape is often harvested at night when the temperatures are lower. This helps keep the juice fresh and the resulting wine is aromatic and soft. Perfect for a light supper.
So – as we move into Autumn, with some lovely sunny days still forecast for later in the month and into October, these wines still have their place.
Harvest 2025
This Summer has (apparently) been the warmest summer on record in the UK, according to some sources. UK winemakers are excited for the harvest here this year, and “cautiously optimistic”.
‘Vintage 2025 is looking very promising,’ said Robb Merchant, owner of White Castle Vineyard in Abergavenny, Wales. (Decanter Magazine)
‘The rain over the past week has been good, and the later varieties [such as] Cabernet Franc, Regent and Phoenix will benefit from it.’
The 2018 harvest was considered one of the best recent vintages, and this year’s weather has been similar, so fingers crossed. Fiona Shiner, Woodchester Valley Vineyard founder, told Decanter Magazine this month, ‘I remember the 2018 season well. It was the perfect combination of conditions resulting in a bumper crop of amazing quality. Much like this year, the grass was brown but the vines were a vibrant green and thrived.’
In most areas, UK harvest is likely to start this or next week, although in some of the more southern vineyards, they have already started. The UK wine sector needs a good harvest this year as rain hit 2024 was not so good.
Our trips to the English Wineries were a great success this year – so much so, we will be starting them again early Spring next year.
If you fancy visiting an English Winery for a hen night / stag night / to celebrate a special birthday or any other event, let us know and we can organise a tour of any length -a day / 2 days / 4 days – whatever you want.
With Autumn around the corner, we are now looking at more red wines to stock up the wine rack. Why do we drink more red wine in the colder months?
We tend to drink more red wine in the winter for various reasons: red wine tends to have a higher alcohol content, they are more full bodied, which together with the tannins create a warming sensation. Red wines also typically have red autumnal fruit characteristics and lower acidity, all of which pairs well with the food we eat, like hearty stews and roasted meats. Of course, we tend to drink them at room temperature rather than chilled…obvious really.
We are planning a few tastings in the coming weeks, so keep an eye on our events page.
Best wishes for a sunny Autumn! And good luck to all our vineyard owner friends who are heading into harvest.
Penny and the GWO team
