I love autumn because there’s something in the changing temperature that encourages us to take a bit of extra time, whether that be an extra-long walk in the park, a few minutes extra sleep each night or considering how to eat and drink well in the coming months. With that in mind, here are some of my top organic drops in the run up to the festive season.
The November wine cellar
An easy way to improve what we drink on the run up to Christmas is to make the switch to organic wine. Wine made organically is not only better for the environment, it also by no means compromises on taste, in fact many share my view that it tastes much better than chemically-processed wine.
Fleury have to be one of my favourite biodynamic Champagne producers. Situated in the Southern block of Champagne in the Côte des Bar, the soil in this region is actually closer to that of Chablis and give the wines an amazing racy, mineral quality. This Champagne is made with 100% Pinot Noir, which is the dominant grape in this region and carries amazing acidity and notes of fresh redcurrant, perfect with your smoked salmon and any other richingredients used in your Christmas brekkies.
With so many rich foods around the Christmas table, it’s well worth investing in a few whites that are up to the job of working with the bounty of flavours and textures in the food. Riesling is a wonder with meats like goose whose gamey richness welcomes a slight touch of added sweetness and depth. Think notes of hazelnut, ripe peach and apple and a light dusting of white spice.
Dominio Basconcillos Ribera del Duero
I know we don’t need an extra reason to pour ourselves a healthy sized glass of red this Christmas, but let us help you make it a good one! This gem made from Tempranillo in Ribera Del Duero, Spain has all the power of a Rioja but due to its long cool evenings, adds real elegance and peppy acidity, balancing out any strong tannins and rendering it a perfect match with both dark meats and earthy veggie dishes such as nut roasts.
Each month Honey selects three bottles from our cellar for you to try. From vegan-friendly to low sulphur, there’s a new trio to discover (and learn all about the vineyards too).