Christmas Wines (And Other Drinks)

[sunny-dave]

A few Christmas Day suggestions from Chateau Sunny Dave ...

Aperitif :

A gorgeous Palo Cortado Sherry - dry at first taste and then all sorts of medicinal sweet flavours come through - either sip it neat (my preference) or chuck it over some ice.

https://www.majestic.co.uk/Pedro-s-Almacenista-Selection-Palo-Cortado-zid24009;pgid=1STMzVqRMjlSRp8uY3mtF3em0000D_U3nGZx;sid=dquFRxVNpYKCR00fqGyLRSVH7k9D0o2psD4fpIci?tracking=|searchterm:


Long Drink :

A great big bottle of Belgian fun - loads of cherry flavours and a refreshing zing

https://groceries.asda.com/product/bottled-lagers/leffe-ruby-abbey-beer/910001448113


Fizz :

Prosecco - this is the real deal - not engineered down to a price, but a proper smooth mousse and interesting peach/mango aftertastes

http://www.tesco.com/groceries/product/details/?id=292561021


Red Wine :

Malbec is my red grape of choice at the moment - I can't do any more than recommend my old favourite - it's what I'll have with my Roast Lamb on Christmas Eve :

https://www.majestic.co.uk/La-La-Land-Malbec-zid19122



Soft Drink :

Whilst you're in Sainsbury's, chuck some of these in your trolley - proper, sharp pop - no horrible sweeteners :

http://www.sainsburys.co.uk/shop/gb/groceries/fruit-flavoured/san-pellegrino-lemon-6x330ml

http://www.sainsburys.co.uk/shop/gb/groceries/san-pellegrino-aranciata-rossa--italian-sparkling-orange-bevarage-6x330ml


Bottoms Up

SD xx

[gness]

You do the food, Daisy....I'll bring the magnum of Prosecco I've been gifted......x

[tonyav]

Pink Pepper Gin, I've never heard of that, 237SJ.


Sooooo there was some Green stuff with the lobster, Daisy.

[237SJ]

Gins are becoming really popular now. The powers that be are trying to market them like they marketed vodka a few years ago

[Cloverjo]

Pink pepper gin. I must look out for that. Where can you get it?

[DaisyNonna]

What's your fancy foodwise gness?
Have to be New Year, hoping to be in Bournemouth for Christmas

[237SJ]

Cloverjo - I think they sell it in Waitrose. The Botanist is another gin that is interesting although I haven`t tried that one

[DaisyNonna]

Like green and white veg, not much orange Tony

[tonyav]

not much orange Tony


Neither do I, Daisy. Reminds me of that horrible Orange mush they used to try and force us to eat sometimes on school dinners, swede I think it was.

[Cloverjo]

Thanks 237. I must have a look for it. I love my gin.

[237SJ]

I keep meaning to go here but I haven`t got around to it yet. It`s a good way to sample some gins https://thelondonginclub.com/

[Cloverjo]

Lovely, 237. I must remember that for when I next go to London.

[GenuineclAss]

Love Malbec! A good Trivento is hard to beat. Open it a day before you need it to let it breathe. Tesco often do offers on cases of it, so I buy in bulk and store it.

[237SJ]

I have my doubts as to whether red wine needs to breathe. I don`t think it does

[GenuineclAss]

I've often found that straight after opening, a red can be quite sharp/acidic. After the bottle has been opened for a day, it mellows.

[sunny-dave]

I'm with the 'breathers' - I went to a lecture a few years ago where they did some blind tastings of wine opened either minutes or hours before - it was very obvious which was which.

I tend to slosh (literally) red wine into a jug/decanter and give it a couple of hours at least - turns a £6 bottle into a £9 bottle :)

[jno]

johnny, I used to have Mavrodaphne back in the days I used to have Blue Nun, Black Tower and green gills. But I tried some recently and it was still very pleasant, perhaps a bit less sweet but still lush.

[sunny-dave]

Never tried mavrodaphne - must put it on my bucket list :)

[aelmpvw]

i treat my christmas draught guinness to a dash of port

[sunny-dave]

Hmmm - now that is an interesting idea - I've put a slug of brandy in sometimes, but never Port ...

[gness]

Port! Brandy! You both adulterate Guinness???? Arrgghhhh! :-o