Blog Post by Paul Fogarty
What on earth is a wine merchant doing blogging about Dry January? Well, for a start, our shops are – unlike the weather – warm and dry, and very comforting to anyone tired of trudging around in the sleet and wind. We are particularly proud of the welcome we can now offer in the Oxford Street wine bar, in the centre of Harrogate, but our shops on Leeds Road (a little further out of town) and in Collingham are lovely to visit, too. Tom and I have had a mooch around the shelves and selected some dry wines that we think will really shine and sparkle in these murky days.
Talking of sparkle, let’s start with some dry Champagne. We all need something joyful right now, and the Serveaux Pur Meunier Brut is just the job. Meunier is the shy sibling of the Champagne family of grapes, usually playing a mere supporting role to the more famous Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Here, Serveaux have made it the star of the show, bringing its orchard fruit flavours and leafy aromas into a gorgeous glass of well-balanced, lively fizz. It’s a perfect companion to juicy olives.
Dry sherries are my not-so-secret passion. They can be rich and complex or light and savoury. I love a delicate, slightly salty Manzanilla with marinated anchovies or roasted almonds. With bigger flavours, cured meats and strong cheeses, I’d go for an Amontillado or Oloroso. The Michaela range from Bodegas Barón are all great value for money, showing off the almost magical process that turns an uninteresting, neutral-tasting wine into a variety of multi-dimensional and versatile drinks that will stimulate your appetite, compliment your food and blow your mind. Try the complex and aromatic Michaela Oloroso by the glass at the Oxford Street wine bar, or take any of the range home by the bottle.
Another wine we have by the glass is Tom’s favourite, the Domaine du Pré Semelé Sauvignon Blanc from Sancerre. This wine showcases the mineral brightness of Loire Valley wines. French Sauvignon is generally less herbal than those from the New World, and this subtle, citrussy wine is an absolute classic. Drink it on its own as an aperitif, or enjoy its grassy characteristics with light, fresh cheeses and herby salads. Another take on Sauvignon Blanc is the Animalia Orange Wine from Chile. This really benefits from the grape’s bright acidity. The nose is savoury, with aromas of tomato leaf and good olive oil. On the palate, it’s tangy and fruity, with some side notes of white pepper that come from the skin-contact fermentation.
Finally, let’s look to South Africa, home to the Kleine Oranjerie winery. Their Viognier wine is a lovely example of what this grape can be. Fleshy white peach flavours are complimented by apricot acidity, floral hints of honeysuckle and just a touch of saffron. Can you believe Viognier was nearly extinct forty years ago? We should be grateful to those growers who saved it and to wine producers like Kleine Oranjerie who showed us how fresh and delicious it can be.
For all my tongue-in-cheek use of “Dry January” in this blog, I firmly believe that anyone who chooses not to consume alcohol should be catered for. Dry January encourages us as drinkers to re-evaluate our relationship with alcohol. We all have plenty of friends, too, who prefer to avoid alcohol for other reasons: medical, cultural, safety or just because they don’t fancy it.
Our alcohol-free ranges provide options for anyone looking for a lighter option. For beer drinkers, we have both lager and IPA. The Krombacher 0.0% is a light, fresh lager with absolutely no alcohol whatsoever, while Vandestreek Playground IPA is a modern, American-style IPA from the Netherlands. It contains less than half a percent alcohol, making it less suitable for total abstainers but still low enough to be considered legally alcohol-free. (For context, a ripe banana is likely to have a similar, but slightly higher, alcohol content.)
We stock two alcohol-free sparkling wines. Zonin Cuvée Zero 0% is similar in style to Prosecco, with its softer mousse and mild acidity. If you prefer French style sparkling wines, Chavin Zero Blanc de Blancs is a crémant from the south of France, made from Chardonnay grapes. It enjoys bright acidity and lemony freshness. Both of these wines have been fully dealcoholised. Lovers of still wine will enjoy Dom Zero Riesling. It is just off dry and shows all the best character of the grape. Think lime zest and Granny Smith apples, with just a touch of residual sugar to soften the acidity.
Whatever you’re drinking this January, we wish you a happy and healthy new year.
