ALL OVER THE SHOP 🤷‍♀️

What’s up winos,

Heavy weekend? No? Just me? Hard to believe that while I was trekking through the Vermont badlands I was off the sauce for three whole weeks. I honestly don’t know what I was thinking. It’s good to be back.

Maybe it was the extended break from drinking, or maybe Mercury is in retrograde again, but my drinking tastes since I came back have been eclectic, to say the least. I want to drink everything and anything. So here’s a little bit of everything, from my mind palace to yours.

First up, a new hottie from Austria - a new bottling from Joiseph, the ‘Fogosch’ Gruner, which in my most humble opinion continues to be a highly underrated grape, often passed over for its sexier cousin, Riesling. You might recognise the bottle - Joiseph do a stunning light red that we ordered so much of over the summer that we managed to take it out of stock with the importer (oops), but this will fill the void nicely. Textured, spicy whites are ideal to bring us into six months of winter. Just over the border in Deutschland, we also picked up this proper Riesling from Staffelter Hof, who continue to kick goals with every cuvee they produce, and this one is really something. Their importer received it four years ago, gave it a taste, and thought it had so much potential that they sat on it. Until now. Seriously worth the wait - whatever science has been happening inside the bottle for the last four years has yielded incredible results. Sharp, concentrated fruit, mouth watering acidity, complex petrol aromas - basically a checklist of everything you want from Riesling. You need this in your fridge, just take my word for it.

If you like doing things in real life, pumped to announce the new date for our tasting of the wines of Cantina Giardino, hosted by our pal Fred at Tutto Wines. On the 5th of November we’ll be tasting through three cracking cuvees from the southern Italian stalwarts who love showing off Irprinia’s indigenous varieties. It’s gonna be a lovely, cosy autumnal evening, so grab your tickets here. Trust me, you already have enough videos of firework displays on your phone. Come to this instead. If you can’t wait until then, jump on their wines here - we just added their saucy, brooding Aglianico and their saline, citrusy Fiano.

Speaking of real life, the first sesh of le salon de Dan’s is SOLD OUT, you crazy cats, so if you haven’t got your ticket yet you’d better jump on the second session before it goes the same way. ICYMI, £30 gets you as much wine as you can consume in the space of three hours. Like bottomless brunch, but without the eggs benny. Who needs it?

Last up, just a couple of bargain bangers I’ve been enjoying recently, in case you’re having an expensive month like I am (still paying off all that stupid dehydrated food I had to buy for that stupid hike I stupidly did) - Descombes’ Brouilly, which has been flying BTG chez dan’s, works just as well with a little chill if you’re still pretending it’s summer as it does served room temp if you’re in the winter warmer frame of mind; the addictively drinkable Clarete from Quinta da Boavista, for those after something fun (and also those who feel like doing a good deed, as the recent wildfires in Portugal tragically wiped out their estate); and this delicious easy skinsy from Georgia, perfect if you’re trying to convince your nan to drink orange wine for the first time. Just tell her it’s Pinot Grigio. Lol.

Enjoy bbz!

xoxo

Megan