Warming autumnal wine picks from Helen McGinn
Sweater weather is back! After all that sunshine and rosé, I’m more than ready for big jumpers and glasses of suitably autumnal wines. This time of year, I find myself reaching for rounder whites and warming reds, especially when there’s hearty food involved. Here are some current favourites worth popping on the shopping list…
Tesco Finest Stellenbosch Chenin Blanc, £7.50, Tesco
Made by one of South Africa’s top family-owned Fairtrade producers located in Stellenbosch, Stellenrust ferment some of the blend in older French oak barrels to add a little more weight and texture to the gorgeous honey and stone fruit flavours. Bold and brilliantly moreish, it’s a great match for roast chicken.
Specially Selected Zweigelt, £6.79, Aldi
Made in Austria, Zweigelt is originally a crossing of two grapes called Blaufrankisch and St Laurent and together they create quite the fruit bomb! This one’s got just a touch of oak, but mostly it’s about the juicy blueberry and black cherry flavours. Great with chilli con carne.
Taste The Difference Western Australia Shiraz 2020, £8, Sainsbury’s
Made by legendary winemaker David Hohnen, founder of Cloudy Bay, this is a super elegant style of Shiraz from Western Australia. The mineral-rich soils suit the grape brilliantly, producing a juicy red with raspberry and black cherry flavours. A heavenly match for mushroom risotto.
Castillo De Zalin Organic Monastrell 2020, £7.50, Co-op
This gorgeous red is made from the Monastrell grape (known as Mourvedre elsewhere) in Jumilla, down in southeast Spain. Obviously, it’s pretty hot down here so don’t expect light-bodied wines! But if you’ve got a stew on the go, this is just what’s called for.
Helen’s new book This Is Us is out now! Follow Helen on Instagram @knackeredmother for more wine recommendations.