RAISE A GLASS
I’m always encouraging people to step outside of their comfort zone and try new wines. But perhaps you don’t know where to start.
One supermarket range first came across my radar almost ten years ago and I’m glad to see it’s still going strong, and that’s Asda’s Wine Atlas range.
The supermarket has sent me a few to try, and I’m pleased to report they’re still great value if you want to explore wines without breaking the bank.
There are now six wines in the range, all with a Mediterranean theme. The labels put you in mind of a holiday postcard sent back home. There are more reds due later in the year.
All are between £6 and £7, which feels like a pretty decent price for a bit of wine exploration.
So, what can you expect? Right now I’m sipping the silver-medal winning The Wine Atlas Carricante Terre Siciliane (left, £6.50).
It’s a native white grape from Sicily and it has flavours of white peach, apple, and a touch of lemon pith.
Or maybe try The Wine Atlas Greek Roditis Sauvignon Blanc (£7) which brings together the native Greek grape roditis with the more familiar sauvignon blanc grape (though not as punchy as an NZ version).
To a pink now, The Wine Atlas Monastrell Rosado (£6.50). It’s pretty as a picture, and is smashing with a lunchtime plate of meats and cheese in the summer sun.
Other Wine Atlas styles include one of my favourites, The Wine Atlas Feteasca Regala (£6) a white from Romania; a Portuguese red The Wine Atlas Jaen Dão (right, £7), and The Wine Atlas Île-deBeauté Rosé (£7) from Corsica.
In other news …
You can look for wines with a stamp of approval from expert judges now that the International Wine Challenge (IWC) has announced its champions for 2024.
Tesco won more medals than any other supermarket and took Own Label Range of the Year.
Its delicious (and excellent value)
Tesco Finest Dessert Semillon
2019 (left, £6.75, 37.5cl) picked up the Great Value Champion Sweet trophy.
Special praise too for the Co-op and its fortified Great Value Champion, Co-op Irresistible Pedro Ximénez (£7.50), while the champion great value red honour was awarded to Spar Languedoc
Rouge 2023 (£8.99).
You can find all the other champions at the IWC’s website.
■ Jane is a member of the Circle of Wine Writers. Find her on social media and online as One Foot in the Grapes.