Fine Wine Design

With lighter nights and with spring definitely in the air, our thoughts are turning to the glorious BBQs we can have, the lazy lunches we can enjoy, and the delicious wines we can drink. But what do the experts recommend for our spring and summer soirées? Where should we be storing our wines to keep them at their best and what will taste good with them? We caught up with 3 wine experts for the lowdown.

1. The wines you need to try this Spring Summer

Phil Innes, director of Loki Wine said: “Spring is all about freshness and acidity in wines, I would urge everyone to try a dry German Riesling, these wines are perfect for spring and far removed from the old Blue Nun and Black Tower from the 80’s.” Janet Harrison owner of Cracking Wine suggests we opt for rosé, saying: “Aldi have a great selection out at the moment.  Their Exquisite Collection Touraine rosé 2017 at £5.99 was a favourite of mine at the spring tasting earlier this year.” Whilst Guy Seddon, fine wine buyer at Corney and Barrow Wine Merchant plumps for a light summery red Beaujolais like Domaine Labruyere Coeur de Terroirs 2014 at £22.95.

2. How best to store your wine

With all those lovely wines to try, let’s talk wine storage. But if your own personal wine cellar isn’t an option, what’s the next best thing? “To be honest I wouldn’t panic too much unless you are storing your wine for a long time, a general rule of thumb though is to store the wine lying down and in a place with a consistent, non-extreme temperature,” advises Phil Innes. Our Chrome Wire Shelving Wine Rack is a floor standing wine rack with 5 shelves to keep bottles in the necessary lying down position, and stores up to 45 bottles. Or, for a wine rack that also doubles up as an extra storage space, try the Chrome Wire Shelving Unit for Kitchens. This metal wine rack is ideal to be tucked away in your pantry or utility room.

3. Tasting like a pro

We’ve all seen the wine aficionados swirling and swilling their wines, but what’s the proper way to taste wine like a pro? Janet Harrison who is also founder of the Fizz Festival said: “As long as you swirl the wine around your mouth, coating every surface, you will get a good idea of the acidity, tannins and body.  Sucking in air whilst you are doing this is meant to be the best thing, but it isn’t easy or natural for most people.  Some people love to slurp and why not, imagine you are using mouthwash!” Corney and Barrow’s Guy Seddon urges us to try to taste the wine’s component parts- the fruit, the acidity, the tannins, saying: “This might seem strange at first, but will help you to decide whether this is a wine you like or not. Our senses of taste and smell are so under-used by most of us, but you can easily begin to train yourself.”

4. The food and wine pairing

So we have the wine, but what should we serve with it? Janet comes to the rescue, saying: “The very best match with Champagne is, of course, fish and chips! The acidity cuts through the fat and the bubbles match the crunchy batter. For a Beaujolais, a classic match is charcuterie, what could be better at this time of year than a lovely platter of cured meats and a chilled bottle of Bo-Jo!” Guy Seddon encourages us to experiment: “How about a chilled Pinot Noir with seafood, or a rich Riesling with game? Aromatic wines such as Gewurztraminer, Muscat or Torrontes with spicy dishes can work well.”

So, with our wine dilemmas solved, all that’s left is to enjoy! As always though, please remember to be drink aware and drink responsibly.

For more clever and inventive wine racking, shelving and storage ideas, contact Urbaboxx today!