Mum’s in the Pink!

As a child, the presents I bought my Mum for Mothering Sunday varied. I always enjoyed the challenge and the chosen gifts ranged from bunches of freesias (Original I know) to vinyl. No not, some sort of wipe clean table cloth, but records. I remember buying Status Quo’s ‘You’re in the Army Now’, Rick Astley’s ‘Together Forever’ and ‘Eteranal Flame’ by the Bangles… The latter on 12 inch! Nothing to do with the fact that there was an extended version of ‘Walk Like an Egyptian’ on the b-side. My school friends will remember my obsession with this song as a 10 year old.

However, these days you can guess where my thoughts are – Wine! So with this in mind, here are a few treats to line up for Mum this weekend. Now, I know we couldn’t move for pink fizz on the shelves before Valentine’s Day but I can’t ignore a bargain sip so here are three of my favourites. You can’t go wrong with a drop of fizz. Marks & Spencer’s Bellante Sparkling Rosé from Italy is soft on the tongue and creamy too. There’s a subtle tang of sour cherries with ripe berries and is a deliciously light way to start a meal or just to sip on it’s own. With M&S’s ‘Buy 2 save 25%’ deal you can grab a bottle for the equivalent of £8. And I have to give a shout out to their beautiful Rhona Rosé by Graham Beck, which is down to £13 (also in M&S). This South African alternative to Champagne is delicate, delicious and completely moreish. It is such a classy bottle which you have to taste to believe (And thank you Fiona Beckett who brought this gorgeous fizz to my attention last week) and at that price, who cares if you open a couple of bottles?

And in the hope that the weather’s getting sunnier (Mmm, wishful thinking methinks) I’ve got a couple of really special still pink wines that I think you’re going to love. And if smoked salmon or shellfish on the menu, they’re going to match really well. One is The Co-Operative’s Pic saint Loup Rosé. I’m more familiar with red Pic Saint Loup (Sainsbury’s do a lovely one under their Taste the Difference label) but this pink version from the Cave des Coteaux du Pic in the heart of the appellation, is an intriguing blend of Syrah and Grenache. There’s a sweet rhubarb nose to the wine and tangy summer fruits and a hint of sloe gin when you taste it. It really is intriguing. The Co-operative Truly Irresistible Pic St Loup Rosé is £6.99.

And there’s a local pink gem out there too. Particularly local if you hail from the West like me. From their gorgeously picturesque Cotswold vineyard, Three Choirs winery have made this sumptuous and exciting rosé exclusively for Waitrose. The 2014 harvest was a good’n and this lush pink with an exciting strawberry and cherry sherbet hint and is truly delicious. It’s currently £9.99 in selected Waitrose stores (I got mine in the Chipping Sodbury branch – Probably the nicest Waitrose I’ve ever filmed in). The wine is also available online at http://www.waitrosecellar.com so get some in for the… Er, sunny weather!