The founder of Il Vino in Buckhurst Hill, Tony Long, gets us into the holiday spirit with his recommendations of wines to sample
Summer is finally here and it’s amazing how the aromas and flavours of a particular wine (just like a favourite fragrance) can transport you back to a particular place or time.
Getting away from it all for a relaxing break is an opportunity to experience not only new countries and cultures, but also to sample some outstanding local wines.
So much of our enjoyment on holidays is connected to the food and wine we experience, and in combination they can be truly memorable. A simple plate of freshly caught fruit-de-mare with a wonderfully crisp white wine can be something of incredible finesse and immense pleasure.
Whether it’s the azure blue sea and lemon-scented groves along the Amalfi coastline, or the array of gastronomic pleasures in Galicia from Bilbao to San Antonio, or a balmy evening on the beach at Biarritz, these are the memories that holidays and good times are made of.
Wherever you go in the world there is a wonderful selection of wines that will make the perfect choice for a picnic on the beach or a BBQ party at home, so taking the aforementioned destinations as inspiration, to the right are three delicious wines that you will want to come back to time and time again.
The essential ingredients for these kinds of wines are fresh citrus aromas, juicy tropical and stone fruits, and crisp mineral notes with a touch of coastal salinity, which these wines all have in different combinations.
A lot of local wines are made in relatively small quantities and many do not get exported, but when you find a delicious new wine you absolutely love, remember to make a note or just take a photo of the label, as finding these little gems again will be much easier when you come home.
Tony Long’s three picks for July
Feudi di San Gregorio, Cutizzi Greco di Tufo 2021, Campania, Italy, £21
Mid straw colour with lovely light Italian aroma of citrus, peach and almond blossom, complemented by lots of characteristic mineral complexity from the region’s volcanic soils. Light, refreshing and juicy with notes of nectarine, yellow apple and a lingering mineral apricot finish.
Gallina de Piel, Manar Dos Seixas Blanco 2018, Ribeiro, Spain, £23
Light gold in the glass. A blend of Treixdura with a small amount Godello, Albariño and Loureiro Blanca. A fresh nose with green apple, peach, citrus, lychee. Medium bodied on the palate with fine acidity, yellow fruits, peach, some green herbs. Good balance with fresh mineral notes with a hint of salinity to finish.
Alain Brumont, La Gascogne 2020, Côtes de Gascogne, France, £14
A wonderful combination of Sauvignon Blanc and Gros Manseng giving great balance between acidity and sweetness. A complex nose of lime, grapefruit, peach, yellow apple, pineapple and mango leading to refreshing notes of lemon, apple, elderflower, lychee and a lengthy finish. Crisp and refreshing for summer.
ll Vino is the premier independent wine merchant in West Essex, offering a selection of outstanding wines, champagnes, and cognacs and cigars from around the world. Il Vino is now offering customers private and corporate wine tasting events at their shop in Queens Road, Buckhurst Hill. ilvino.co.uk
