squaremeal.co.uk � 117
WINE
Sommelier stamp of approval
BRILLIANT BUBBLES FOR SUMMER
CANADIAN
Canada might not be the first country
that springs to mind when you think
sparkling, but trust us, the wines from
Nova Scotia producer Benjamin Bridge
are worth seeking out. Made in the
classic method (like Champagne) the
range includes 2008 Brut and 2008
Brut Reserve, but our pick of the
bunch is Benjamin Bridge Méthode
Classique Rosé 2011 (£33,
Friarwood). With pretty rose notes
on both the nose and palate, it's
fresh, elegant and very drinkable.
ITALIAN
Zonin owns the largest Prosecco
vineyards in Italy, so you can be
sure of consistent quality with its
wines. Zonin Prosecco Brut NV
(£11.99, Majestic) is a great value fizz,
with a touch of sweetness, flavours of
apples and pears, plus creamy almond
and floral aromas.
SPANISH
From Italy to Spain, and something a
little dierent: Freixenet Ice Cava
(£12, Morrisons) has been designed
specifically to be enjoyed over ice.
Serve it in a wine glass with ice
cubes - and add 50ml St-Germain
Elderflower Liqueur for a
sophisticated summer drink.
For more sparkling suggestions see
What to Drink Now (p.120) and
our Champagne Special (p.173)
�e annual Sommelier Wine Awards
(SWA) competition, organised by Square
Meal's sister publication Imbibe, is a great
indication of which regions to look out
for on restaurant wine lists in the next 12
months. Competition director Chris Losh
said: "�ere were probably three main
trends this year: the strong performance of
France, with all its classic regions
- from Chablis to Bordeaux
to Sancerre - which hasn't
always been the case; the
continued growth of more
niched countries like Turkey,
Portugal and England -
particularly with its sparklers;
and the encouraging return to form
of the New World with its red
wines. After an o-year in
2015, the medal count was up
20 per cent this year."
Keep an eye out for the SWA
logo on bottles and wine lists as
an indication of quality.
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S O M M E L I E S W I N E A W A R D . C O M
PINOT PERFECTION
Iconic New Zealand producer Cloudy Bay has
launched the 2014 vintage of its Te Wahi Pinot Noir.
Though best known for its Sauvignon Blanc, the
winery has also been making Pinot since 1989. "In
New Zealand we're able to produce good, reliable
Pinot Noir, year in, year out," said senior
winemaker Tim Heath.
Te Wahi (which means 'the place' in Maori)
is made using grapes from the 23-hectare
Northburn Vineyard in Central Otago, which
Heath described as "the most continental
vineyard in New Zealand" as it's the
furthest from the sea. With classic Pinot
raspberry aromas, it's a precisely made
wine, showing good depth of black and red
fruit, plus an elegant hint of spice.
£63.20, Harvey Nichols