To wine wisdom and beyond…
The Great Bristol Wine Fest really lived up to its name this weekend! In the second year of this event at the cool Bristol Paintworks venue, we gathered together a host of inspiring and exciting wines (with sparkling teas, vodkas, gin and more). The sheer diversity of wines to try was awesome – from Romanian orange wine to Essex chardonnay, Greek rosé to Burgundian classics, there was a whole world of wine to explore for the sell-out crowd of keen enthusiasts. The irrepressible Oz Clarke and Susy Atkins thoroughly enjoyed meeting all the guests and talking wine with them and have made a selection of their favourites from the event:
SPARKLING
CVNE Cava NV
‘Super lively, bright and crisp fizz with fresh green apple and apple peel. A little toast and yeastiness. Superior Cava!‘ – Susy Atkins
£15 Majestic
WHITES
Mallard Point Branch Line Chardonnay 2024
‘How they managed to make such a delicious Chardonnay as this is an unbelievable summer like 2024 is beyond me, but honestly if you like Chablis you’ll LOVE this.’ – Oz Clarke
£22.00 Mallard Point
Colle Gioie Passerina ‘Col Le Ali’ 2023
‘This is from about the rarest wine available in the whole of the UK, made in one small plastic barrel by a lady who’s married to the postman! Orange! But very approachable – toffee softness and a slight chewiness like a burr caught under your tongue.’ – Oz Clarke
£18.25 Bat and Bottle
Cramele Recas Feteasca Alba 2024
‘Brand new to the M&S ‘Found’ range for easy drinking and very appealing aromatic white with spicy pears, orange juice and orange blossom.’ – Susy Atkins
£7.50 M&S In store
Kleine Zalze Fair trade Reserve Sauvignon Blanc 2024
‘These grapes were grown on the west coast almost in sight of Robben Island, ripened by bright sunshine but chilled down by icy winds and the result is a lovely tangy, leafy, green apple favour but a mellow, gently mixture.’ – Oz Clarke
£9.00 Co-op
Maud Heath Vineyard Chardonnay 2018
‘Honestly! I didn’t know they could make Chardonnay this delicious in Wiltshire – and it’s nearly 7 years old! Beautifully balanced between crunchy apple fruit and mellow croissant crust.’ – Oz Clarke
£28.99 maudheathvineyard.co.uk
Esporão Quinta do Ameal Loureiro 2023
‘Very aromatic and a ‘whoosh’ of lemon juice. Tangy and lip-smacking! Hint of white apple blossom. Long, dry succulent finish.’ – Susy Atkins
£16.00 Amps Wine Merchants, Bon Coeur Fine Wines, Latitude Wine, Loki Wines
Jacques Frelin Vignobles, Terres de Bramefin – La Roussanne (Organic) 2023
‘A super example of this southern French grape showing all of its lush personality as well as juicy ripe peach and yellow apple fruit.’ – Oz Clarke
£15.99 Vinceremos
The Heretics Deluxe Seven Chardonnay 2023
Impressively complex and compelling Essex Chardonnay with fresh pineapple orange zest and mango and a long, fresh saline savoury finish. Bravo! – Susy Atkins
£35.00 wearetheheretics.com
ROSÉ
Journey’s End Wild Child Rosé 2024
‘Excellent rosé, not too delicate/frail. Instead showing plenty of red berries and a little citrus decent texture, food-worthy with creamy prawn pasta.’ – Susy Atkins
£10.50 VINVM
Argyrakis Wines Ati Rosé 2023
‘Best rosé I’ve tasted today. Lovely strawberry aroma, creamy texture, beautifully balanced acidity. A gem!’ – Susy Atkins
£25.99 koulagency.com
REDS
Averys Fine Red Burgundy 2022
‘Don’t look any further. If you thought Burgundy had become too expensive, this is an absolutely affordable smasher, scented, juicy and delicious’. – Oz Clarke
£22.00 Averys
Doña Paula El Alto Single Vineyard Malbec 2023
‘Fruity, chunky but in balance overall. Black fruits laced with vanilla and spice. Very long complex finish. Very classy!!’ – Susy Atkins
£12.00 Waitrose
Errázuriz Max Carménère 2022
‘Rich, juicy, mouthfilling, ripe black fruit coated in melted chocolate – spot on.’ Oz Clarke
£14.00 Tesco, Ocado
Vin Vineyards Paru 2019
‘Inviting fresh raspberry aroma. Ripe and smooth, well integrated oak. Good firm acidity. Love the blend of black cherryish Malbec and ripe raspberry from Cabernet Franc. Grilled lamb please!’ – Susy Atkins
£26.99 vinvineyards.com
Oatley Wines Signature Series G-21 Grenache 2021
‘Back to the future in Australia Grenache is one of their most ancient grapes – and its fruit perfect for today – quite light in colour but bursting with ripe strawberry fruit flecked with herbs and spices.’ – Oz Clarke
£18.00 The Wine Rooms Chew Magna
Sandridge Barton Wines Billy Field Blend 2023
‘Great outdoors summer wine! Properly dry, tastes of sour cherry drops in a lovely clear refreshing way. Chill for charcuterie!’ – Susy Atkins
£21.50 sandridgebarton.com
Viñalba Reserve Malbec X Abandon Ship 2020
‘Exactly what I want a Malbec to be – firm, bright, ripe with lush juicy purple-red fruit, not too much chewiness and just a hint of scent.’ – Oz Clarke
£16.00 vinhero.co.uk
Peter Lehmann Wines Portrait Cabernet Sauvignon 2022
‘Wonderful true blackcurrant, fresh and persistent on finish. Dab of fresh mint too – long finish, great value at £15! – Susy Atkins
£15.00 Tesco
Louis Jadot Beaune 1er Cru 2021
‘Love the smoothness, mellow roundness of this gorgeous strawberry fruit and long finish. Exceptional quality and a decent price tag to boot.’ – Susy Atkins
£40.00 Waitrose
SPIRITS
6 O’Clock Gin London Dry
‘It’s such a delight to find a really classy London Dry – bursting with fresh, tangy botanicals but beautifully soft in texture with no harshness at all.‘ – Oz Clarke
£38.00 6oclockgin.com
Dima’s Vodka
‘Texture, flavour, spice, perfume, drinkability – these are what makes Dima’s so good. Oh – there’s one more thing. This is Ukrainian. Ukrainian grain, Ukrainian people, Ukrainian spirit in every way.’ – Oz Clarke
£35.00 dimasvodka.com, Selfridges, Hedonism
ALE
Lost & Grounded Brewers Wanna Go to the Sun
‘Mellow pale ale with roasted cereal notes. Biscuity with a soft finish with some stone fruit – especially peaches.’ – Susy Atkins
£3.45 lostandgroundedstore.co.uk
NO and LOW
Saicho Hojicha Sparkling Tea
‘Fabulous stuff. What a good drink! Gently foaming, soothing and refreshing with a mellow hint of fruit ripeness and subtle, delightful smokiness like the crust of a fresh-baked loaf.‘ – Oz Clarke
£17.99 saichodrinks.com
