Just what is a Sustainable Wine? Not currently defined it could mean many things, although it tends to mean one that is produced using sustainable farming practices. Translated this means that the land is farmed in a way that encourages natural flora and fauna, keeps the use of pesticides and chemicals to a minimum and looks to the long term for farming that can sustain itself and future generations. i.e. it doesn’t strip the nutrients out of the soil (unlike modern farming methods).

Green Root Wine is a wine from the South of France that adopts all of these principles and more. This means using biodegradable/ recyclable packaging (1 litre bottles), minimal use of fossil fuels in the vineyard and winery and maximum recycling of waste. To encourage biodiversity and sustainability of the land they have also adopted minimal use of fertilisers, pesticides and fungicides. In practice this means that the package uses 33% less energy to produce and their aim is to have the lowest carbon footprint possible.

The wines are made from a mix of locally grown grapes and International varieties and taste great. The white is a Marsanne / Chardonnay blend and is slightly reminiscent of a white Burgundy, minerally with crisp citrus notes but a more tropical feel whereas the red is a single variety Cabernet Sauvignon with soft tannins, dominant blackcurrants and hints of dry cherries and chocolate.

When we think of rosé wine we think of spring weddings, long hot summers and garden barbecue’s but now that summer is over and winter is here does this mean we can’t enjoy a glass of pink anymore? Of course we can.

Rosés have many other advantages than just another cool and refreshing drink. For one they are great food wines and work well with dishes that are too robust for a white but not heavy enough for a red, such as tuna steak or paella. They are also great for supping all the way through a meal, so you don’t have to worry about buying a white and a red for supper (or about the hangover from mixing colours). A rosé will just as easily complement a steak as it will a garden salad or a vegetarian lasagne.

Secondly they are a good half way house for those of us who want something cold to drink but feel like a change from a dry white wine. With flavours of strawberries, cherries and raspberries they can be quite moreish and offer us something different in taste.

Thirdly depending on the depth of colour they can contain more health properties than a white wine. Red wines are famous for their health benefits due to the resveratrol which is found in the skins (as you know red wine making uses the skin) whereas white wine contains hardly any resveratrol at all. How long the grape skins are left in contact with the wine will determine the levels of resveratrol. A darker wine will contain more than a lighter one, so to maximise on health benefits go for a darker rosé such as a Spanish or Australian.

So forget the fact that snow is forecast for the end of this month and drink pink!

Have you had any good rosé wines lately? Or perhaps you have found a great food and wine match you would like to share? Drop us a line, we would love to hear from you.

Just what are biodynamic wines? Well, they are organic for one. Like organic wines they shy away from using man made fertilizers, fungicides and pesticides. The general idea behind both organic and Biodynamic is that the soil is fed naturally using compost.

However, Biodynamic farming takes it one step further by incorporating the natural rhythms of the earth (and cosmos) and viewing the vineyard as a holistic living system. Natural mineral rich composts and sprays are made using homeopathic principles and a particular calendar is followed for carrying out specifics in the vineyard.

Although there are only just over a 100 wine producers using the Biodynamic practices, it is a growing area, with both experienced and new winemakers adopting the principles with great results. Interestingly though, there is no scientific proof that it actually works but for many, the grape and the wine taste better. Certainly the wines can be more complex and there is a pureness about them that is pleasing but what this can be attributed to, who knows.

Soil analysis has been able to uncover a few clues. Soils taken from Biodynamic vineyards have indicated higher levels of microbial life and thicker vine roots than organic, which bodes well for a good quality grape. But perhaps the most important aspect is that with modern farming practices stripping the soil of essential minerals and trace elements Biodynamic (and organic) viticulture takes a step in the (much needed) direction of putting them back in again.

The increase of bulk buying and monthly subscriptions has prompted the question of how we store our wines. Is it necessary to store wine in a cellar and if so, what do you do if you live in a flat? If you have a cellar great but many people don’t these days.

When storing wine the main points to consider are that your wine needs to be kept cool, away from direct sunshine and kept lying flat (or slightly tilted) so anywhere you can achieve these three things is ideal: Preferably not the kitchen as the temperature varies too much when you cook but cold pantries are fine. Some garages are okay but not if they feel hot in summer and cold in winter and attics probably aren’t the best places as heat rises. Areas that I have found to be ideal are under the stair’s, hidden away in a dark corner somewhere or in a closed cupboard but anywhere away from direct sunlight, with a consistently cool temperature should be fine.

The second question to consider is that of ageing your wine.  About 90% of the wines we drink today are not meant for ageing. They are made to be drunk young, vibrant and fresh. The 10% of those that are meant for ageing will improve as they get older. By following the three points above – cool, away from direct sunlight and laying down – your wines should be fine and will change in flavour as they age. Although do note that the warmer your house is the quicker the wine will age.  The ideal temperature is between 7 – 15ᵒC but most houses/flats are warmer than this.

As a rule of thumb cheap and cheerful wines that you buy for immediate consumption should be drunk within a few months but could probably last for 12 months. Reds will last longer at around 24 months. Medium priced wines (£7+) should last between 1-5 years and wines for ageing (£10+) 5 – 10 years or more but the back of the label will give you more information. Do note though that the majority of whites and rosés should be drunk young, fresh and crisp.