With 21st century Spanish winemaking on the move from its traditional Rioja heartlands, Majestic Buyer Matt Pym introduces a top new name to look out for.

Think of Spanish wines and your mind most likely turns to Rioja: Reservas and Gran Reservas with many years’ barrel and bottle ageing; classic names and labels, maybe all wrapped up in a golden wire cage. My own love for these wines is evidenced by the preponderance in my cellar of Rioja from wonderful recent vintages like ’01, ’04 and ’05. However, the real buzz in Spanish wine is coming from talented, ambitious young winemakers ready to explore other regions and varieties.

Spain has a wealth of amazing vineyard material, with 100-year-old vines not uncommon. In the past, much of this potential was wasted, but now these treasures are getting the recognition they deserve. The fruit is being transformed into plush, polished wines of grace, power and real regional character, by dynamic young companies like Vintae.

Vintae’s three Matsu wines, from Toro in the far west of Spain, unite the oriental culture of caring for nature (matsu is Japanese for wait) with advanced biodynamic techniques. All three are made from Tinta de Toro, the local variant of Tempranillo.

From circa 50-year-old vines and with just three months in oak, El Picaro (The Rogue) is all about fruit, with lush blackberries to the fore and a fresh, mineral finish. 14 months in oak and fruit from 90 to 100-year-old vines make El Recio (The Tough One) a serious wine whose intense chocolate, deep black fruit and vanilla aromas give way to a subtle mineral core offset by a silky, unctuous character. From 110-year-old vines, the superb, full-bodied El Viejo (The Old One) delivers a powerful aromatic array of pencil lead, spice box, lavender and black cherry. Of 3,989 bottles made in 2009, we have 600.

Vintae runs a project to make the best regional expressions of Garnacha throughout Spain, such as this one, from the rocky slate and gravel mountainsides in the Ribera del Queiles, east of Rioja. It’s a hard life for the 55-year-old vines, yet they struggle on to produce wonderful fruit for this youthful, full-bodied wine, with tobacco and wild berry aromas, great structure and refreshing minerality.

Matsu El Picaro 2010, Toro New!
£9.99 or £7.99 when you buy 2 bottles

Matsu El Recio 2009, Toro New!
£15.99 or £12.99 when you buy 2 bottles

Matsu El Viejo 2009, Toro New!
£25.00 or £20.00 when you buy 2 bottles
Limited Availability

La Garnacha 2010, Salvaje del Moncayo New!
£9.99 or £7.99 when you buy 2 bottles

Visit majestic.co.uk on your mobile to experience our brand new mobile site! It has all the fantastic features of the full site, our entire range of award winning wines and improved store finding functionality for when you’re out and about. AND you’ll still get FREE delivery from your friendly local store. Easy!

In the run up to the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee we are broadcasting two adverts nationwide that explain what Majestic is all about to people who may not have been to one of our stores before.

We all know that wine can be a bit baffling and in the commercials we see how Majestic helps some anxious first time customers. Chardonnay is not a word to be afraid of, and the tasting counter is there for you to find your new favourite.

This is also supported by print with a Majestic member of staff at the tasting counter appearing in national newspapers and magazines.

Come and Explore for more information

Chardonnay

Tasting Counter

Enjoy a fun-packed day of wine at the Museum of Science & Industry, Manchester, in the company of the Three Wine Men: Olly Smith, Oz Clarke & Tim Atkin MW.

We have a Majestic stand at the Three Wine Men tasting and so we can offer all you Majestic people a discount voucher! Here’s what to expect from the chaps…

“We’re on a mission to show you just how much fun wine can be. Join us as we travel the UK bringing you the best wines available on the market and hope you will come along and meet us, our producers, and retail exhibitors personally.”

We are so excited to be coming back to Manchester on 26th & 27th May. You will have a great time, whether you’re an expert, an enthusiast or just enjoy the odd glass.”

At an event, you simply:

• Pick up a glass
• Grab a tasting brochure
• Taste as many wines as you like

Oz, Tim and Olly will be on the floor all weekend, so ask them for tips & advice, or just say ‘hi’ – you don’t have to be an expert!

“Olly, Tim and Oz were lovely and approachable, very interesting and helpful. We had a great afternoon and discovered a range of beers as well as lots of lovely new wines. We are really looking forward to the next event”

Gillian Barbour, Manchester.

Buy tickets via: www.threewinemen.co.uk
When you pay, enter the voucher code 3WINEFIVE and £5 will automatically be deducted from the price of every ticket you order.

ThreeWineMen on Facebook

@threewinemen on Twitter

Here at Majestic, we don’t need too many excuses to enjoy a glass or two of something great with friends. But in this summer of celebrations, we’re well and truly spoilt for choice!

With the eyes of the world turning to the British Isles this season, it’s up to us all to show them how we throw a good party. And what better way to get it started than firing up the barbie and trying out some of these great wine and food combos? Best of all, there’s no need to overcomplicate things. Barbecued food has a fabulous flavour all of its own, so you can keep things nice and simple – leaving you free to enjoy the festivities!

Côté Mas Blanc 2011, PGI Pays d’Oc, France New!

State-of-the-art vinification and ageing equipment combines with a focus on nature to create what the Paul Mas family call ‘agriculture raisonnée’. The result here is a floral blend of Grenache Blanc, Vermentino, Chardonnay and Sauvignon with peach and pear aromas. Pair with mustard, thyme and ginger spatchcock chicken.

Viñalba Reserva Malbec 2010, Mendoza, Argentina

Bordeaux-born Herve J. Fabre adopts a minimum intervention approach to winemaking, while making the most of Mendoza’s altitude to add elegance and balance to Viñalba’s wines. This example is effortlessly smooth, with sweet juicy black fruits complementing intense plum and dark chocolate notes. Firm tannins make it an ideal pairing for a good honest barbecued steak.

Rioja Reserva 2001, Viña Ardanza, La Rioja Alta, Spain

Rioja doesn’t get much better than this elegant, subtle wine. Smooth, oaky vanilla lies beneath luxurious layers of juicy red fruits, rugged earthiness and well-integrated medium tannins. Look beyond lamb and go for Alabama pork ribs with a sweet and spicy glaze.

Lunta Malbec 2009, Mendel Wines, Mendoza, Argentina

Fruit from 80-year-old vines makes this a wonderfully concentrated wine that still displays characteristic Mendoza finesse. A year in new French oak adds soft vanilla spice to those deep, rich brambly black fruits, with a hint of eucalyptus and generous tannin also on show. Pair with Turkish lamb burgers.

Les Hauts de Castelmaure Corbières 2009, France New!

Hand-picked grapes are left as bunches and vinified by carbonic maceration, before spending 11 months in French oak (20% new). This attention to detail is evident in a wine that delivers red fruits, hints of garrigue and spice on the nose and a silky palate with enhanced vanilla from the oak. Pair with some good wild boar sausages.

Majestic stores have taken to their twitter feeds and created their own wine hashtags too. Majestic Northampton have the #3wordwinereview that has caught on throughout all Majestic stores and the Majestic bunch; our most active followers on twitter.

On Monday night I went to a Spanish wine tasting with Majestic managers in the city of London. We tasted through around 20 wines, most of which were from Rioja. This was just a small sample of wines from one supplier that contributes to our range of wines from Spain, yet it made me realise just how diverse our Spanish range is; there is pretty much a wine for everyone, whatever your style… #pickyourstyle!

That’s how it happens, inadvertently whilst live tweeting the tasting. So whatever your style, at Majestic, you can #pickyourstyle…

Below are some tweets from Monday night. Tweet me your style @majesticwine

So many Riojas to choose from: age, producer, price… #pickyourstyle

— Majestic Wine (@majesticwine) April 23, 2012

Crianza, Reserva, Gran Reserva, Especial…? #pickyourstyle — Majestic Wine (@majesticwine) April 23, 2012

@majesticwine #pickyourstyle Castillo Ygay for me, as old as I can afford!

— Jim Marlow (@MarlowJim) April 23, 2012

“@lovechris: @majesticwine muga reserva 2001, had it the other day. Wine of the year so far” < #pickyourstyle

— Majestic Wine (@majesticwine) April 23, 2012

A good number of Rioja tasted tonight. What’s your style? #pickyourstyle@ Durius River Café instagr.am/p/JxypYIKyN8/

— Majestic Wine (@majesticwine) April 23, 2012

Summer has arrived for majestic.co.uk and there are lots of new wines to try out.

Each week on the Majestic Blog this summer we are featuring an article from our brand new Grape to Glass magazine: from food matches to fizz to handy party services, it’s all you need to keep the celebrations going right through the incredible summer ahead!

This week: New favourites from the Old World. Some fresh European arrivals to the Majestic range with food matching ideas from fresh sushi to steak and kidney pie…

Got a taste for it already? View the whole magazine online as a fancy flipbook, download the PDF, pick up a copy in store or  if you’re lucky enough wait for it to land through your letterbox later this week.

Cheers!

Let the celebrations continue with some fresh European arrivals.

Mas des Montagnes Terroirs d’Altitude Blanc 2010, Côtes de Roussillon New!
£9.99 or £8.49 when you buy 2 bottles

Origin: Patrick Léon, formerly of Domaines Baron Philippe de Rothschild, is consultant winemaker for this higher-altitude Roussillon estate.
Tasting Note: A mineral-tinged wine reminiscent of its stony-schist hillside origins. Its citrus backbone is joined by subtle hints of fennel and wild herbs.
Food Match: Any grilled fish, or baked sea bream with a salt crust.

Château Barthès Rosé 2011, Bandol New!
£11.99 or £9.99 when you buy 2 bottles

Origin: Former fashion model Monique Barthès started making wine in the late 1960s, and has since gone on to develop an award-winning 40 hectare estate.
Tasting Note: Classic Provence rosé with aromas of fresh red berries, pears and hints of floral perfume. The lithe, supple palate finishes with a subtle liquorice hint.
Food Match: Try with a seared tuna steak served with fresh green vegetables.

Chablis ‘La Collégiale’ 2011, Laroche New!
£13.99 or £11.99 when you buy 2 bottles

Origin: A high-quality Domaine Laroche Chablis made from fruit supplied by several partner growers.
Tasting Note: Pale gold with spring blossom nuances on the youthful citrus nose. Nicely focused fruit character on the fresh, harmonious palate plus a lingering stony texture on the finish.
Food Match: Freshly prepared sushi, or a salad of prawns and watercress.

Campofiorin 2008, Masi New!
£12.49 or £9.99 when you buy 2 bottles

Origin: From one of Veneto’s longest-standing producers, this wine gains richness and complexity from a secondary fermentation with some partially dried grapes.
Tasting Note: Ripe cherry aromas predominate, with vanilla and cinnamon nuances. Rich and mouth-filling, it has soft tannins and a velvety, savoury finish.
Food Match: A selection of matured cheeses, black olives and Parma ham.

Spolverino Toscano 2010, Carpineto New!
£12.49 or £9.99 when you buy 2 bottles

Origin: Italian for ‘feather duster’, Spolverino is a tongue-in-cheek reference to the Black Rooster, the emblem of Chianti Classico. Had the wine been bottled with a cork rather than screwcap, it would be classified as a Chianti Classico, hence the light-hearted dig on the label.
Tasting Note: Intense red cherries on nose and palate, interwoven with tobacco and violet notes. Juicy richness and snappy, youthful acidity.
Food Match: Best with barbecued red meats and game.

Rosso di Montalcino 2010, Il Poggione New!
£18.74 or £14.99 when you buy 2 bottles

Origin: The vineyards on the Tuscan slopes around Montalcino are known for Brunello, a dark-skinned, low-yielding clone of Sangiovese, but this lighter wine is made from the fruit of the younger vines.
Tasting Note: Intense nose of ripe red berries plus the toasty scent of 12 months in barrel. The smooth, mellow palate has satisfyingly chewy tannins.
Food Match: Rare-grilled steaks and portabello mushrooms.

1. Vina Pomal wines are 100% Tempranillo and the grapes come from your own vineyards around the winery in Rioja Alta. What difference does this make to the style of wine compared to other Riojas?

That is main difference! Our 250 hectares in Haro make the personality of our wines. We have a big influence from the fresher Atlantic climate. This and the predominant argilo calcaire (clay and limestone) soils mean we have a slow ripening. The result is that we are fortunate to have elegant, well balanced Tempranillo that ages well and provides smooth, fine Riojas.

2. The winery recently celebrated it’s centenary. What wines and food would you celebrate your 100th birthday with?

Something simple. A nice tomato salad and eggs with fries and “jamón” (essentially Spanish ham, egg & chips!) Being able to pair this with any of the wines I make today would be fantastic, it would be re-tasting wines from 63 years ago!

3. We have a twitter hashtag #3wordwinereview – can you give us a three word summary for Vina Pomal Crianza and for Vina Pomal Reserva?

Crianza: Everyday Great Rioja
Reserva: Rioja since 1908

4. With a few more words to spare – what else would you like people to know about the wines?

Vina Pomal was established in 1901 and is the oldest winery in the prestigious Rioja Alta district.
Vina Pomal is named after the vineyard plot in which all the fruit for the wines are sourced.
Viña Pomal has a great affinity with the UK. Back in the 1940′s, the wines were once bottled at Charing Cross station in London and Viña Pomal was reputed to be the favourite Rioja of Sir Winston Churchill!

5. Real Madrid or Barca?

Anything but Madrid or Barca!!! Real Zaragoza and Spain are my all time favourites. However, watching Barca play these days is a pleasure for anyone that likes football.

6. Cava or Champagne?

I enjoy all wines when they have a good personality. I love refreshing fruity cavas and elegant champagnes. From both I expect softness, and richness.

7. Tapas or Paella?

Tapas on Saturday night with the friends in Laurel Street (Logroño) and my mother’s Sunday paella. Unbeatable weekend food!

8. Picasso or Dali?

Dalí’s paintings. I prefer realist art and Dali’s surrealism is a representation of its own reality. (Also, Vina Pomal was once a favourite wine of Salvador Dali!)

9. What’s been your favourite place in the world that you’ve visited and why? And have you got a dream destination you haven’t visited yet?

The Salar de Uyuni impressed me a lot. It was my last a stop after one year travelling across South America and the Salar was just amazing – I would highly recommend. Japan and Asia in general are the places I would like to go next.

10. If you weren’t a winemaker what would you be?

Until the last moment I thought I was going to be a doctor like my father. But I am very happy that I changed my mind and became a winemaker. It is such an interesting, varied job and what better way to reward yourself at the end of the day than with a glass of wine!

For our final wine a recipe match Lizzie from the delicious. team brings the taste of a top-notch Chinese restaurant to your home but instead of going out save money and calories by cooking the dish yourself. Please visit the delicious. recipe page for a printable version.

Ingredients

• 500g diced pork loin
• 3 tbsp light soy sauce, plus extra to serve
• 1 tbsp sesame oil
• 2 tsp Chinese five-spice powder
• 1 garlic clove, crushed
• 2.5cm piece fresh ginger, grated
• 4 tbsp honey
• 2 tbsp vegetable oil
• 1 red pepper, sliced
• 60g mangetout, finely sliced
• 2 pak choi, cut into quarters
• Handful beansprouts
• Toasted sesame seeds, to serve

Method

1. Place the pork in a bowl with the soy sauce, sesame oil, five spice, garlic, ginger and honey. Toss together and set aside for 10 minutes.
2. Heat half the oil in a frying pan over a medium heat. Add the pork with a slotted spoon and fry until almost cooked. Add the marinade and bubble for 5 minutes until sticky.
3. Meanwhile, in a separate wok or frying pan, heat the remaining oil and stir-fry the pepper and mangetout with a splash of water for a few minutes. Add the pak choi and cook for a further minute, then stir in the beansprouts. Toss with the pork, drizzle with soy sauce, sprinkle with the sesame seeds and serve.

Nutritional info per serving: 337kcals, 16.6g fat (3.4g saturated), 30.8g protein, 17.1g carbs, 15.4g sugar, 3g salt

Will’s Wine Matches

Gewürztraminer ‘Les Princes Abbés’ 2009 Domaines Schlumberger

A wonderfully food-friendly wine that marries so well with the sticky pork and ginger edge. Slightly off-dry the hint of sweetness is picked up together with rose petals, oriental spice and tropical fruit flavours.

Bellingham ‘The Bernard Series’ Viognier 2010/2011 Western Cape

This is a big wine, but I think it goes toe to toe with the big flavours in the sticky pork. Peaches, lychees, rose petal and spice are complemented by rich layers of fruit with spicy undertones of white pepper. It’s a yummy mouthful.

In total a group of three teams flew out to France on the annual pilgrimage to find out what promise the 2011 vintage holds. Although there has not been as much initial hype around 2011, in comparison with 2009 and 2010, it is now seen by many that there will never be a truly bad vintage due to each winemakers knowledge and advances in the winemaking process.

For a round up of the week Nick Dagley, Fine Wine Buyer, has just written his vintage report, and you can also find his diary from the trip, along with daily reports from Kat, Ludovic and Adrian from the Lay and Wheeler team. Cheers to a good vintage!

Every Tuesday on the Majestic blog we feature a recipe from the delicious. magazine website matched up with the perfect wine pairings. It’s Bottoms up Tuesday!

This week the delicious. team cooks up a sustainably-caught cod to make this tasty fish supper, paired up with the perfect wine matches. For a printable version please visit the delicious. recipe page.

Ingredients

• 4 sustainably-caught cod steaks
• 2-4 rashers streaky bacon
• 250g mini plum tomatoes, halved
• A splash of balsamic vinegar
• A handful fresh basil leaves, to serve

Method

1. Drizzle a roasting tin with a little oil and add the cod steaks, skin-side down. Cut the rashers of streaky bacon into small pieces and scatter over the fish with the mini plum tomatoes. Season and add a splash of balsamic vinegar over each cod steak.
2. Bake in a preheated oven at 200°C/fan180°C/gas 6 for 10-12 minutes. Scatter with a handful fresh basil leaves to serve.

Mike’s Wine Matches

Pinot Grigio Superiore 2010/2011 Cantina Breganze

A vibrant Pinot Grigio that offers much more character and class than some. The mouth-watering citrus fruit flavours and subtle floral aromas provide a a great base for any fish dish but it is the acidity in this wine which will work perfectly with the salty bacon and tomatoes.

Goldwater Sauvignon Blanc 2010/2011 Marlborough

From the Wairau Valley in Marlborough, where Goldwater Estates practises sustainable viticulture and strict grape selection comes a wine offering masses of elderberry fruit and raspberry leaf aromas and exhibits an excellent minerally finish along the lines of Sancerre. A perfect match to a simply mid week fish dish such as this.

Like all our new stores it’s bright and air-conditioned, with over 800 wines from around the world to choose from. Hello to the new team: Paul, Andy and Joe.

Northallerton in the press and wikipedia

Northallerton is a market town in North Yorkshire.
There has been a settlement in Northallerton since Roman times.
Interestingly the whole town was nearly destroyed by William the Conquerer in 1069.
Northallerton Town FC and Wall’s County Town Brewery have launched 1895 Town Bitter, to commemorate the club’s proud history.
The best cup of tea in Yorkshire is at Bettys Cafe Tea Rooms, in Northallerton.

Why Northallerton?

The new store is located at the top of the high street near a Homebase and Sainsbury’s. The nearest Majestic stores to Northallerton are Darlington to the north and Ripon to the south, so we’ve found a cosy spot right inbetween the two. All the services a Majestic store has to offer are now even closer to home: daily instore tastings, staff with expert wine knowledge, fine wine, free delivery, free parking… and all our free Wine events: Wine Walks, Wine Courses and Wine Evenings.

Spring in Northallerton

With spring already upon us and the long Easter weekend starting tomorrow the whole team are looking forward to meeting lots of new people in Northallerton, recommending some great wines and getting to know the town. Their store web page and blog has already kicked off with a wine of the week and a wine course ready to book onto. Joe’s wine of the week is the Saint Clair Pioneer Block Sauvignon Blanc, a stunner of a Kiwi wine, it’s open to try on the tasting counter this week too!

Opening Events

To celebrate the opening, join us in-store between Friday 13 April and Sunday 15 April for a free glass of fizz and a selection of delicious charcuterie and cheeses, plus receive a FREE bottle of Prosecco di Conegliano when you buy your first mixed case of 6 bottles of wine. Visit the lovely new store to redeem it!

Contact

Unit 2, Lowgate Yard
High Street, Northallerton
DL7 8ED
01609 770 679
nal@majestic.co.uk
@majesticnthall
majestic.co.uk/northallerton

Ingredients

• 2 tbsp runny honey
• 1 tbsp English mustard
• 2 x 6-bone racks of lamb,
• trimmed of fat
• 1 tbsp olive oil, plus extra for greasing
• 150g small vine tomatoes (we used sultan jewel tomatoes)
• 3 heaped tbsp fresh mint leaves
• 2 tsp caster sugar
• 2 tbsp red wine vinegar

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 200°C/fan180°C/gas 6. In a bowl, mix together the honey, mustard and some seasoning. Brush all over the racks of lamb, place on a lightly oiled baking sheet, then roast for 25 minutes. Place the tomatoes on a small baking sheet, drizzle with 1 tbsp oil and roast alongside the lamb for the final 15 minutes.
2. To make the mint sauce, finely chop the mint, then place in a small bowl with the sugar and a pinch of salt. Stir to coat. Pour over 3 tbsp boiling water and the wine vinegar. Stir, then leave to infuse and cool.
3. Remove the lamb from the oven, then cover loosely with foil and leave to rest for 5 minutes before slicing into cutlets. Serve with the roasted tomatoes, mint sauce and lots of creamy mash, if you like.

Nutritional info per serving: 313kcals, 16.3g fat (5.8g saturated), 31.4g protein, 9.8g carbs, 9.3g sugar, 0.6g salt

Mike’s Wine Matches

Rioja Reserva 2006 Marqués de Riscal

Top quality Rioja from a famous producer at a great price. This Rioja is 90% Tempranillo, harvested from vines at least 15 years old. Older vines mean lower yields, lower yields mean intensely concentrated fruit flavour – in this case a gorgeous mouthful of fresh strawberry and red currant fruit. Two years in American oak casks have given the wine a soft and smooth vanilla character, while a further 3(ish) years of bottle age give it a meaty complexity. Pairing this wine with lamb is almost like adding a juicy dollop of cranberry sauce to the plate, while the velvety texture goes perfectly with the texture of the meat. All in all, a sumptuous match for your Easter lamb.

Château Guiot 2010 Costières de Nîmes

A stalwart of the Majestic range, and absolutely unbeatable value for money. Grenache and Syrah are blended in a style similar to Cotes-du-Rhone, with dense, juicy blackberry and plum fruit, with a peppery, spicey finish. Shut your eyes and this wine could almost be a Rasteau for about half the price. At home with lamb or any other roast meat. If you lightly chill it, the ripe fruit character will come to the fore, making this a perfect drink for the sunny (fingers crossed) bank holiday weekend.

What’s what in Berwick? via wikipedia

Berwick is in Northumberland at the mouth of the River Tweed
Berwick was a hotspot for centuries for border wars between England and Scotland
The last time it changed hands England reconquered it in 1482
There is much polemic surrounding Berwick’s history and reunification with Scotland. Find out more via wikipedia
Despite being in England, Berwick Rangers FC play in the Scottish Football League
The Royal Border Bridge was opened by Queen Victoria in 1850. It has 28 arches
Berwick is twinned with Berwick, Pennsylvania, United States

Why Berwick?

The new store is located on North Road coming into Berwick from Scotland off the A1, near a supermarket and shell petrol station. The nearest Majestic stores to Berwick at the moment are in Edinburgh, so now everybody nearby doesn’t have to travel to the Scottish capital for all the services a Majestic store has to offer: daily instore tastings, staff with expert wine knowledge, fine wine, free delivery, free parking… and all our free Wine events: Wine Walks, Wine Courses and Wine Evenings.

Spring in Berwick

With spring already upon us and Easter weekend just around the corner the whole team are looking forward to meeting lots of new people in Berwick, recommending some great wines and getting to know the town. Clare’s wine of choice is the Vina Ardanza Rioja, the perfect fine wine to go with lamb on Easter Sunday. It’s open to try on the tasting counter this week too!

Opening Events

To celebrate the opening, join us in-store between Friday 30 March and Sunday 1 April for a free glass of fizz and a selection of delicious charcuterie and cheeses, plus receive a FREE bottle of Prosecco di Conegliano when you buy your first mixed case of 6 bottles of wine. Visit the lovely new store to redeem it!

Contact

North Road
Berwick-upon-Tweed
TD15 1QQ
01289 303 224
but@majestic.co.uk
@majesticberwick
majestic.co.uk/berwickupontweed

The unseasonaly hot weather has brought out the rosé on Majestic tasting counters. Mike in East Molesey bathes in the Provence sunshine…

The Romans called the area nostra provincia (“our province”), giving the region its name. Just south of the Alps, it was the first Roman province outside Italy.
Wine has been made in this region for at least 2,600 years. Throughout the region’s history, viticulture and winemaking have been influenced by the cultures that have been present in Provence, which include the Romans, Gauls, Catalans,Ancient Greeks and Savoyards. These diverse groups introduced a large variety of grapes to the region, including grape varieties of Greek and Roman origin as well as Spanish, Italian and traditional French wine grapes.

Today the region is known predominately for its rosé wines. Provence has a classic Mediterranean climate, with the sea forming its southern border. Mild winters are followed by very warm summers with little rainfall. Sunshine is found in abundance in this region with the grapevines receiving more than 3,000 hours per year, twice the amount needed to ripen grapes fully. The strong mistral wind from the north provides positive influences on the viticulture. While it can cool the grapes from the heat and dry the grapes after rain, providing some protection against rot and grape diseases.

There is an AOC requirement that at least 20% of the rosé must be blended from wine produced by the saignee method of maceration. This means that red grapes are slightly crushed and left to macerate for a short time, releasing a pink juice that is later blended with other wines to create optimum flavour. This method helps to adjust the balance the perfect level and brinks more complexity the wine. Grape Varieties are numerous: Cinsault grape is specifically used for rosé wine but the other grapes, Grenache, Syrah, Mouvèdre, Carignan and Cabernet Sauvignon, are used as well for red and rosé wine.
Examples of Provençal wines have flavours and aromas that reflect the garrigue landscape of the region which includes wild lavender, rosemary, thyme and are packed with refreshing acidity, complexity and summer red berry notes.

Say hello to Mike in East Molesey on twitter @majesticmol

Day 2

After making the most of Thursday afternoon, we all got up bright and early to visit the Viñalba vineyards in Gualtallary, a high altitude micro-region in the Uco Valley, fast becoming one of the most fashionable areas of Mendoza to grow grapes since both Viñalba  and Catena have blazed a trail there. The vineyards are stunningly beautiful as they are situated in the foothills of the Andes, in an area where you can see the snow-capped peaks of some of the highest mountains in the whole range. This photo from my phone hardly does the scenery justice, but might just be enough of a teaser to get you all thinking of arranging your own trip. The picking you can see going on is not the actual vintage – this is a vineyard of Cabernet Franc at about 1300 metres altitude which won’t ripen for another 3 weeks or so. Instead this is a ‘green harvest’, with the pickers removing bunches of grapes from the vines, leaving just one on each shoot. This concentrates the vine’s energy into ripening fewer bunches, meaning they all reach full ripeness with an amazing concentration of flavour. We were allowed to have a go ourselves – and were put to shame with the regular vineyard workers able to clear a whole row in the time it took us to finish of just one vine.

Another highlight of the vineyard was a young Touriga Nacional vineyard – the highest in the world at 1630 metres above sea level. And I’ve got this far talking about vineyards in Medoza without even mentioning the Malbec – don’t worry there was plenty of that too! We visited a plot where the aspect makes the grapes ripen a week or two earlier and tasted the grapes – a week away from ripening and they tasted irresistibly sweet and delicious. Here’s one, about 3 seconds before I ate it.

Our kind hosts didn’t want us to feel like we were working too hard, so after a morning in the vineyards it was time for another enormous lunch. We were welcomed to the Cabaña at the top of the vineyards with a glass of Viñalba Torrontes – deliciously refreshing on this hot and sunny day, a fab alternative to Sauvignon Blanc. Followed by appetisers including beef-filled empanadas, and tiny chorizo burgers topped with cheese. For mains of course it had to be an asado, this time pork, lamb and goat cooked al asador, and paired with an array of Viñalba reds. Interestingly, they serve all the reds slightly chilled – a trick I’ll be continuing in the UK. Lunch lasted all afternoon (in the short time we were in Argentina, there wasn’t a single meal which lasted less than 3 hours), after which, the younger members of the Viñalba members took us out on the town, amazing us all with their friendliness. They put us to shame with their fantastic English, and they made valiant (but ultimately unsuccessful) attempts not to laugh at my terrible attempts to speak Spanish!

Day 3

Saturday, the final trip of the day, started with a tasting of the full Viñalba range at the winery. The standout wine for me was the Gran Reserva Malbec, actually made from the fruit of vines grown just outside the winery in Luján de Cuyo, some of which are over 100 years old. Powerful but polished with juicy black fruit character, this was my favourite wine of the trip.

Ingredients

• 200g cooking chorizo, thickly sliced
• 2 free-range skinless chicken breasts, sliced
• 1 red onion, finely sliced
• 1 avocado, sliced
• 12 cherry tomatoes, halved
• Juice of 1 lime
• Extra-virgin olive oil for drizzling
• 4 flour tortillas
• 200g chunky houmous
• 1 little gem lettuce, shredded

Method

1. Heat a frying pan over a medium heat, then fry the chorizo for a couple of minutes until crisp. Remove with a slotted spoon and set aside. Add the chicken to the pan and fry for 5 minutes, turning, until cooked through, then set aside.
2. Meanwhile, in a bowl, pour boiling water over the red onion and leave for 2 minutes, then drain and refresh under cold water (this will mellow the flavour of the onion). Set aside.
3. Place the avocado and tomatoes in a bowl, squeeze over the lime juice, then drizzle with olive oil. Mix well to combine. Warm the tortillas in a clean frying pan or a low oven.
4. Serve the warm tortillas with bowls of the chorizo, chicken, onion, and avocado salad, along with bowls of houmous and shredded lettuce for everyone to make their own wraps.

Nutritional info Per serving: 564kcals, 26.9g fat (7.7g saturated), 36.4g protein, 47.1g carbs (5.6g sugars), 2.1g salt, 6.2g fibre

Mike’s Wine Matches

Rueda Blanco 2010/2011 Marqués de Riscal

£8.49 or Buy 2 still Spanish wines between £5 and £25 save 20% = £6.79

From the eminent Rioja producer Marqués de Riscal, this is an intriguing white from the Verdejo grape. I am biased towards this wine as I chose it for my wedding day. If you are looking to something different to New Zealand sauvignon, Verdejo is a great place to start; this wine has all the green fruit flavours with crisp acidity and a fresh finish. This will partner perfectly with the spice of the chorizo and the texture of the avocado, outside on the lawn in the sunshine….Perfect!

Durius Natural Reserve Tempranillo 2005 Arribes del Duero

£6.99 or Buy 2 still Spanish wines between £5 and £25 save 20% = £5.59

The versatility of this dish invites you to match it to both red and white wines. From a fantastic vineyard site in a Natural Park on the banks of the Duero River, comes this soft, rich tempranillo with smooth tannins and heaps of jammy, dark fruit flavours combined with a subtle use of oak. Another cracking match to the chorizo, or any barbecue style meat dish.

This was the sight that greeted me at 8am on Thursday on the short flight from Santiago de Chile to Mendoza. After a 15 hour delay to the journey, I was almost in Argentina and ready to start eating steak paired with wines from Viñalba, my hosts for the duration of the trip.

After a quick pitstop at the hotel, myself and 3 other Majestic managers were driven into the foothills of the Andes for an asado – the famous Argentinian barbecue. Hervé J. Fabre, the winemaker at Viñalba warned us the food would be basic, and the meat maybe tough. He needn’t have – I was blown away by round after round of delicious steak coming off ‘la parilla’. And surprised to find that over here they like their meat well done, but soon won over by the mouthwatering, almost crackling type outer layer, made by using plenty of salt to crisp up the fat in the meat. Can you tell I really love food yet?! Perfectly accompanied by Vinalba Malbec Reserva of course.

After we’d eaten, we were thrown on to horseback for a ride higher into the hills. The views were amazing, but you’ll have to take my word for it as there are no pictures – had I known how the Gauchos ride one handed I’d have asked our guide to use my camera!

Later, all walking like John Wayne, we met up with the other half our group for some dinner, then bed for some much needed sleep. The next two days promise vineyard visits, more steak, wine tastings, more steak, a harvest party, and more steak.

There’ll be two more diary installments on Grape to Glass – you can also see an album of my photos from the trip on Facebook.com/majesticwine, or follow @majesticwine. I’m using the hashtag #mendoza2012 and mainly talk about steak.

Hasta luego………..

What to drink in-between seasons? Anna in Chiswick finds the right balance…

So with a distinct turn in the weather comes that sway away from the winter warming reds to those lighter wines for brighter days. However if you love your reds, as I do, sometimes you’re just not ready to part with them for the chilled down whites. But worry not, there is an answer, and it comes in the form of St Clair Pinot Noir.

Produced by the Ibbotson family in Marlborough, New Zealand, the Pinot Noir grape makes use of those long sunny hours producing a barrage of mouth watering fruits such as cherry, plums and red currants. With soft mellow tannins and refreshing acidity this is a well balanced approachable red. A refreshing change for heavy red wine lovers and light enough for those who would normally shy away from reds altogether.

Perfect for those spring days whilst your whites wait for the summer sun.

Hooray for Pinot Noir! Thanks Anna. Say hello to Anna on twitter @majesticchswick