What To Drink At Fortnum's With Helen McGinn | Al Fresco Case
WHAT TO DRINK AT FORTNUM'S
WITH HELEN McGINN
The Al Fresco Case
Al fresco season is well and truly upon us and as picnic rugs are unfurled up and down the country, award-winning wine expert, presenter and author Helen McGinn, aka @knackeredmother, joins us in the nick of time with her third curated wine case - the al fresco wine edit. Cheers!
‘From picnics to full blown barbecue feasts, I’ve raided the Fortnum’s range and picked out some favourites for all your al fresco moments. There’s a secret Italian rosé along with two very different whites, one from France and one from Spain. And for the reds we’ve got a ridiculously good Malbec from Argentina and a full-bodied Shiraz from a legendary Australian winemaking family. Time to take it outside…'
1.
Fortnum's Bardolino Chiaretto Rosé, Casaretti
£13.95
Made from a blend of local organic grapes, winemaker Stefano Casaretti is the third generation to work his family’s vineyard in Bardolino, not far from Veneto. A brilliant Italian rosé that leaves many a pale pink from Provence in the shade.
2.
Fortnum's Muscadet Sur Lie, Domaine de la Moriniere
£12.50
The beauty of the Loire Valley – aside from the vineyards – is the understated nature of its wines. This crisp white from the eastern end of the valley close to the Atlantic coast is from one of the best spots in the region and aged on its lees for seven months adding even more deliciousness to the glass.
3.
Fortnum's Clare Valley Shiraz
£16.50
Glance at the label and the name on the front gives you a clue as to what to expect inside the bottle. Jim Barry was the first qualified winemaker in the Clare Valley and the family are real pioneers of the region. Jim’s grandson Tom produces this unbelievably good, rich red wine exclusively for Fortnum's.
‘When Fortnum’s asked if I’d like to collaborate on some wine selections I wondered if I might be dreaming. Seriously – I’ve loved the Fortnum’s wine shop for years, often finding an excuse to wander the aisles in the name of research. A real hidden gem, the choice of wines is surprisingly eclectic with everything from brilliant go-to bottles to something a little (or a lot) more special from many of the world’s best wine producers. Join me as I journey through the Fortnum & Mason wine range and discover for yourself just how much joy they bring to the table!’
Helen McGinn
4.
Zárate Albariño 2023, Rías Baixas
£24
Galician winemaker Eulogio Pomares has a reputation for making some of the best Albariño wines in the world and for good reason – he manages to capture incredible freshness and something of the sea in the bottle.
5.
This Is Not Another Lovely Malbec, Riccitelli
£18.95
The irony is this Malbec is indeed lovely, but it’s so much more than that. Made by star winemaker Matias Riccitelli, he does as little as possible (known as minimal intervention winemaking) which sounds lazy but actually means the grapes and terroir do the talking.
6.
Vinho Verde Tinto 'Pardusco', Anselmo Mendes
£18
When the sun is shining and the right food calls for it, a chillable red makes for a refreshing change. This relatively rare Portuguese red from Vinho Verde works perfectly when popped in the ice bucket, bringing out snappy cherry fruit flavours.
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