Welcome back (to me)

Well, it's been almost exactly two years since I last posted a blog post. What have I been doing?

I guess over the last two years, time has run away from me a bit. Since I last posted, I've had another child, moved house, we've expanded our office at work, won a local award.

Since I last blogged, my family
has expanded

I just haven't had time. Or at least, I haven't found the time.

But I was recently talking to the lovely winemaker Nina Stocker at a Naked Wines tasting event in London. She asked me if I still did my blog (which I thought was super nice of her to remember given I think I'd only met her once before). And, it made me think how much I missed having something for me away from work and the kids and the piles and piles of washing (and the boxes of "stuff" I still haven't unpacked since moving).

Naked Wines Archangel

I still drink wine (and quite a bit of gin these days), I still travel (although now with two kids in tow), I'm still an Archangel at Naked Wines (but perhaps not the most prolific contributor to the Naked Wines forums) and I still love eating out whenever I can.

Winning an award with work

My other huge passion is green issues. I am a member of the Green Party and try wherever possible to be eco friendly.

So, I *think* I still have something to say and I'm going to give this blogging lark another go. Please bear with me as I may not be regular, I may be slightly less drunk and sociable than previously, but I shall try my best. And, if there is anything you'd like me to write about, please just drop me an email. You should be able to contact me through this blog.

A tale of Albarino

I've recently fallen a bit in love with a glass of Albarino and feel the need to spread the word.

Traditionally, this grape is grown in the warm and wet region of Galicia in Spain. With the finest Albarino wines coming from Rias Baixas DOC of Spain.

It is light, crisp, citrusy and perfect as an aperitif or with shellfish. So if you like a White Rioja, why not try a different Spanish Style give this grape a glug?

We went on holiday to Spain recently and I was really hoping to try lots of this style of wine. Maybe we were in the wrong area or perhaps the wrong type of resort, but I didn't see a single Albarino in a supermarket. An absolute travesty! 

So back here in the UK, here's a few I've recently enjoyed.

Definition Albarino 2016

I'm a big fan of the Majestic Definition range. It's their own label wine and most of the range that I've tried has been pretty good quality for the price. 

This Albarino is really light, fresh and has a lovely citrus bite. Pretty pure and not overly complex, this wine is dangerously drinkable and a confident crowd pleaser. At £11.99 a bottle, it's the most expensive I've tried but I would say worth the extra pennies.

Tres Mares Albarino

Available from Waitrose at £9.99, this wine has a bit more depth than the definition one. Slightly more golden in the glass, this Rias Baixas Albarino has an apple bite of acidity. 

Some Albarino wines can be unapproachably aromatic, but this one is definitely lighter and more easy drinking.

Medusa Albarino 2016

Priced at £9.99 from Majestic, this wine has easily the most attractive bottle design out of all the ones I've tried. It is also the most complex with more aromatic and peach notes and definitely more of a honey colour in the glass.

For me, this fresh, fruity wine is best served cold and will probably be your glass of wine if you like something off dry with ripe fruit flavours.

Carlos Rodrigues Albarino

This lip smacking Albarino is available from Naked Wines for £9.99. I first tried this at the Naked Wines Tasting tour in 2016 and I definitely went back to Carlos' table for more than one taste! 

It's crisp, fresh and full of apple and pear flavours. Again, serve ice cold and this clear, light coloured wine will definitely not disappoint. I can practically smell the salty air of the sea as I drink this. Definitely zesty, definitely refreshing and one to try. (apologies for the photo, my phone is broken, normal service will resume shortly).

So, if you haven't given this grape a go, I'd really urge you to. Grab yourself a glass, close your eyes and imagine you're on a breezy terrace in Sunny Spain with a plate of salty squid in front of you. And, if there are any you think I should try, then just let me know and I'll add to my list. Cheers!