Enjoy summer in Edinburgh with one of these fabulous wines
Summer in Edinburgh can be a hit and miss affair, but when it hits, you need to make the most of it! We asked wine expert Amy Hutchison of Bibo Wine & Events to reveal her top wine picks for summer in Edinburgh…
Edinburgh is a city built for summertime shindiggery, despite, and let’s face it, the somewhat erratic weather. It is a capital city that energises when the summer season arrives….from picnics, barbeques and sundowners in one of the city’s countless green spaces, to the eclectic festival line up which includes the Jazz & Blues Festival; Foodies Festival; International Book Festival – not to mention the Fringe!
There is something about Summer that makes us reach for a bottle, a corkscrew and a bunch of glasses to share a bottle of wine with good friends. Whether you are picnicking at Inverleith Park, barbequing in the Meadows or meeting friends for drinks ahead of a festival show, I’ve put together a few of my favourite wines
that are just the ticket for toasting in summer in this captivating city…
NV Bouvet Ladubay, Saumur, France
Where to buy; Majestic £10.99 per bottle
Crémant is a superb alternative to Champagne, being made in exactly the same way (the méthode traditionelle) but a fraction of the price.
This Crémant is from Saumur in the Loire Valley in France and is made using 100% Chenin Blanc. I showed this at a recent tasting and it went down a treat. Full of apples, honeysuckle and light floral nuances as well as some lovely toast and vanilla notes.
Bouvet Ladubay is the Loire Valley’s second oldest producer and one of Saumur’s leading sparkling wine houses. All in all, a perfect sparkler for summer and absolutely delicious!
2016 Faustino Rivera Albarino, Rias Baixas, Spain
Where to buy; Sainsbury’s £12 per bottle
From the region of Rias Baixas in Galicia in North West Spain, Albarino is the local and main variety grown here and is one of Spain’s most distinctive white grapes.
A classic partner to fish and seafood, this is an aromatic variety with a classic character of peach and apricot balanced with an underlying minerality.
This is a gorgeous example, (in a very funky blue bottle) super fresh with lovely crisp acidity, lots of stone fruits and a subtle herbal note. N.B., Tastes even better when drunk outside with friends. Summer in Edinburgh just got even better.
2014 First Creek, Hunter Valley Semillon, Australia
Where to buy; Oddbins Brunstfield £14.50 per bottle
Ok, so this might be stretching the budget a wee bit for a white wine BUT this is divine!
Semillon from the Hunter Valley in Australia is really unique. When it is first bottled it is relatively neutral but leave it in its bottle for a few years and you are rewarded with an amazingly rich, full bodied white wine packed full of citrus, stone fruits, honey and nuts.
You could mistake this for being oaked, it is so complex, amazingly though these flavours are simply down to the wine evolving in the bottle. Delicious now and in 10 years time….if you can wait that long!
2015 Château de Berne, Côtes de Provence Rosé, France
Where to buy; Majestic £13.99
Summer just isn’t summer without cracking open a bottle of delicious light pink rosé. This is gorgeously delicate, light and dry.
Provence is one of my favourite rosé regions, and drinking this, you can’t help but think of hot sun and eating al fresco next to fields of lavender (life goals!).
This is a pretty, light salmon colour in the glass and packed full of summer fruits; strawberries, raspberries and red cherries. In a very swish square shaped bottle, this oozes French chic. Château de Berne is a luxurious spa and 18th Century estate…. just close your eyes and imagine that lavender on Bruntsfield Links….
2017 Bodegas Muga, Rioja Rosado
Where to buy; Waitrose Cellar £9.99 per bottle
From one of my all time favourite Spanish producers – Bodegas Muga. These guys make seriously good wines and have done so for generations. They have a huge respect for tradition whilst employing modern winemaking methods with perfect precision.
If you think you know rosé then you need to try this wine, as this is not your average run of the mill pretty pink rosé. A beautiful salmon colour, rich and complex having spent 3 months resting on its lees (dead yeast cells) this wine has a firm texture and good acidity with a myriad of citrus, apricots, strawberries and creamy, buttery notes. This is the ultimate partner in crime to a picnic in the park this Summer in Edinburgh. Also look out for their Rioja Blanco Reserva…..
2015 Georges Duboeuf, Morgon
Where to buy; Waitrose Cellar £11.79 per bottle
Light reds are definitely key to summer drinking and Beaujolais should be at the top of everyone’s summer red wine wish list. This example is from the village of Morgon, in Beaujolais and is what is known as a ‘Beaujolais Cru’. There are ten ‘Cru’ villages in total and these represent the highest quality tier in the region.
Beaujolais is always made from 100% Gamay, which is a grape variety that tends to be pretty low in tannin and light in body. Morgon tends to be one of the richer styles with more body so is the perfect friend to have at a BBQ. Think red fruit; strawberries, raspberries and cherries. It also ages well so is a good wine to keep on the rack.
…If this sumptuous Summer selection has tempted you to learn more, you can look Amy up at www.bibowineandevents.co.uk . Amy writes a regular blog and hosts a range of themed wine tastings in an informal and fun environment that allows you to taste at least 6 wines all accompanied by locally sourced cheeses and nibbles. You can also find Amy on Instagram and Facebook.