The Olympics will soon be coming to town, a welcome relief particularly for the Greeks from the constant barrage of gloomy economic news. Greece, the birth place of the games, is also largely regarded as the pioneer of intelligent wine making with evidence of early wine storage and pressing vessels dating back over 4000 years.
To celebrate Great British success at the London Games we have selected some medal winning wines, awarded for their excellence in the International Wine Challenge competition, the results of which have just been released. One of the most prestigious and influential wine competitions in the world, IWC attracts over 12,000 wines from 50 countries making it one of the toughest. Over 400 experienced judges, meticulously taste the wines up to six times with marks given for faithfulness to variety, country, region and vintage. Bronze Medal Winners…
Vesuvo Greco 2011 bronze – This bright lively white is cultivated as the name might suggest from the lava-enriched soil at the foot of the famous volcano. £12.90
Chocolan Gran Reserva Blend 2009 – This super smooth red is a fascinating blend of six different grape varieties, a complex, chocolately and tabacco spiciness on the finish. – £15.00 Silver Medal Winners…
Omrah Shiraz 2010 – Rich spicy Shiraz from the Margaret River wine region on Australia’s west coast – £12.00
Willunga Mclaren Vale Grenache 2010 Silver – This great value red from the picturesque McClaren Vale wine region south of Adelaide, is generously fruity with strawberry notes from this delicious grape of Chateauneuf du Pape fame. – £8.50
Stopham Estate Pinot Gris 2010 – Its great to see English wines doing well, the English sparkling wines won several gold medals but here is a hand crafted white worthy of your attention – £13.99
Gold Medal Winners…
Pouilly Fume Chateau de Tracy 2010 – This is an old favourite at N&P, Sauvignon Blanc is perhaps more recognizable these days as a Kiwi variety, try this traditionally made Loire valley Sauvignon, it really is fantastic. – £22.80
Marques de Caceras Gran Reserva 2004 – There can only be a few bottles of this extraordinary vintage left, a worthy gold winner from a well known estate. – £22.50