By Joe Beveridge, Key Account Manager and Tim Beck, Business development Manager

Day One, Chateau du Cleray (By Joe Beveridge, Key Account Manager)

The first stop was the beautiful Chateau du Cleray, 20 minutes to the east of Nantes, in the heart of the Muscadet region's Sevre et Maine zone, where the vineyards are between the River Sevre, and the River Maine. Our charismatic and generous host was Pierre-Jean Sauvion (or "Jean-Pierre with a twist") and to say this gentleman loves Muscadet is an understatement. The chateau has been in the family since 1935 and one of Pierre-Jean's earliest memories is falling into a fermenting vat and being pulled out by his father. He refers to his vineyard as his "garden", his job title as "pleasure maker" - and claims to be 52 years old (he looks 32), putting his youthful complexion purely down to the fact that he drinks Muscadet everyday.

Whilst doubts remain regarding his real age, there is no doubt Sauvion make excellent Muscadet. The wines we tasted both in the house's atmospheric vaulted cellars and during the sublime traditional 4 course lunch were all fresh, clean and crisp, and carried an extra richness and complexity due to the time spent ageing on their lees before botting. As Pierre-Jean puts it, leaving the wine for 6 months on it's lees (dead yeast particles) has the effect of "feeding the wine" and keeping at bay the pantomime villain oxidation, the bain of all Muscadet growers. The wines also had a slight fizz to them, and were certainly a great match for the parma ham and melon course we enjoyed round the family kitchen table.

It was a pleasure to spend a morning and lunchtime with such an enthusiastic, engaging winemaker (sorry, pleasure maker). Even if he didn't quite understand the game of cricket after my flawless explanation....

Day Two, Château De Fesles (By Tim Beck, Business Development manager)

Day two began with a scenic drive from Nantes, east towards Anjou to find the tiny appellation of Bonnezeaux. It was there we drove into the grounds of Château De Fesles (pronounced ‘Fell’) where we were greeted firstly by an enormous German Shepherd & then by the head winemaker Pierre Sauvion.

We were taken straight out into the vineyard, with some of us dressed slightly more appropriately for the distinct lack of summer weather than others. After surveying the border of the appellation, which stretched only to the windmill in one direction and the bottom of the field in the other, & learning about the specific sandy shale soils that characterise the appellation, we headed into the Château to sample some of the produce.

Château De Fesles produce wine from the majority of the key Loire varietals, however, it is the Bonnezeaux that it is most famed for. I must admit, we had been in the vineyard at least 20 minutes discussing the required climatic conditions for quality Bonnezeaux to be produced before it was explained to us exactly what Bonnezeaux was! That is not because we are not clued up on our wines, but because the appellation is only 220 acres & whilst Château De Fesles own the lions share, production is very small and the majority is drunk in Paris, it is certainly not a wine that is common place in the north of England! Made from 100% Chenin Blanc and produced only in the best of years, the grapes are hand picked using multiple passes over a period of weeks, Bonnezeaux ranks amongst the most respected sweet wines in France & after tasting various vintages we were not left wondering why.

We were also fortunate enough to be taken down into the cellars of Château De Fesles where we were shown the vast amounts of wines maturing, and maturing! Some of which dated as far back as 1924 and there didn’t seem to be a single vintage missing.

It is not only sweet wine that Château De Fesles is known for producing and the Château has attracted guests from far further afield than London & Manchester. Pierre told us that a couple of years ago, old Majestic favourite ‘Ken Forester’ of South African Chenin producing fame had visited to learn a thing or two about what can be done with Chenin Blanc. I am yet to see though a Bonnezeaux-esque sweet wine by Ken Forester in our South African portfolio. It was when we were talking about such visits that we got onto the topic of barrel ageing, and discovered that in this particular Château, it is not only French oak that is used to impart flavour but also new American oak as well as Acacia which raised a few eyebrows amongst us, however, when used in conjunction with the French oak the Chenin Blanc it produces is rich and complex.

By Naomi Course, Key Account Manager

Wines in Europe have been traditionally designed to go with the local foods from the area and indeed what can be nicer than food and wine with friends?

People in the UK do not often consider matching their food and wine however there are some simple tricks we can use that really allow the flavours in both to shine.

I have used several of these wines at recent customer food and wine evenings, all of which have proved very popular despite being initially nosed with some suspicion!

When matching foods it helps to think of the weight of a certain dish; a light dish such as a salad or white fish needs a light fresh wine. Similarly a rich creamy dish needs a full bodied wine.

Also if a good is dominated with a rich sauce this can impact on the character of a wine. A big fruity, hearty wine is needed to cope with the texture and body of a rich sauce.

All of the following wines are of a richer nature to enable them to partner richly flavoured and creamy dishes.

Vouvray la Grille

The other famous grape from Loire is Chenin Blanc (the most famous being Sauvignon Blanc), producing a richer ripe fruit flavor and a medium dry finish. The medium dry character can deter customers who prefer a dry wine but the weightier body and rich fruits enable the wine to partner rich dense foods. The acidity of the wine also leaves a refreshing finish. Try with a densely textured pate or a salty cold meat.

Turckheim Pinot Gris

The grape originates in Alsace and is picked at the very end of the season ensuring the grapes have had ample time to ripen to their full potential and giving a rich flavour profile.

An aromatic wine producing floral perfumed characters on the nose and on the palate

Mouthwatering acidity combined with rich fruit flavours make it an ideal match to rich flavours and textures such as coarse pate, smoked fish and salty Halloumi

Paul Mas Marsanne

Marsanne is one the traditional white trio form Rhone along with Roussane and Viognier.

The vines are harvested at night to keep the grapes cool and retain their acidity and freshness and 25% of the wine is aged in oak barrels to give a creamy mouthfeel without having to much oak influence,

White floral characters on the nose transform into honeydew melon, pears and hints of hazelnut on the palate.

The creamy mouthfeel ensures the wine works well with creamy sauces, parmesan laden risottos and beurre blanc but the high acidity then refreshes the palate leaving a clean finish.

By Louisa Cooper, Commercial Sales Support Manager

After working for Majestic for nearly four years I am very familiar with our range so it is always a treat to discover new wines outside of our range. I recently went to Italy on holiday and spent a few days in the heart of Chianti, whilst I was there I stayed in a farmhouse that produces its own wine. The two owners of the house make a small amount of Chianti every year and as a welcome present left out a bottle for me to sample, as well as a bottle of homemade olive oil and fresh bread. It was wonderful to drink the wine whilst overlooking the vines that produced it with the backdrop of the rolling Tuscan hills. I’ve bought a bottle back with me but I think it might be a bit different drinking it in my flat in London...

By Tom Bacon, Business Development Manager

(With help from, Jules Winepress, Alex Gittins, and Mark Cooper)

Day 1

What should have begun as a leisurely drive to the airport morphed into a dramatic race against the clock as an M25 closure and 17-mile tailback put paid to any thoughts of a gourmet Breakfast chez Stansted prior to our eagerly anticipated trip to the South of France.  The in-built Citroen C4 sat-nav, complete with the formerly redundant altometer, came into its own as rural Hertfordshire was treated to some of the finest driving since Maureen from Driving School discovered second gear.

This inauspicious start was further compounded when a certain Line Manager, who shall remain nameless, was asked to report back to security via public address system to retrieve his wallet, passport, boarding pass, phone, blackberry, keys and other assorted personal effects, which he had left, very trustingly, with security staff.

However, after a short flight and a landing which mirrored the final white-knuckle scenes from Memphis Belle, we arrived in Carcassonne and were met by our host, Tim Smith, from Gérard Bertrand.  A fantastic lunch ensued at the nearby Château de Pennautier before a short trip to Château l'Hospitalet - the jewel in the Gérard Bertrand Empire.

A keen historian, Tom explained that l'Hospitalet took its name from being a medieval refuge for plague ridden peasants – a suitable location given that La Clape massif, where l’Hospitalet is situated, was, at the time, an island…

Having checked into our rooms (aside from Mark who saw fit to remove the door handle from his bedroom door before then somehow managing to lock himself out of his room), we were then led on a tour of the 1,000 hectare l'Hospitalet grounds and winery. First, there was a brief ascent of "Herb Mountain", so-christened owing to the sheer number of wild herb varieties that would embarrass even Alan Titchmarsh's window box.   This allowed us spectacular views of the winery and surrounding vineyards.

Next we passed a cutting edge, biodynamic vegetable garden whose bounty was later to be keenly devoured at the excellent Château l'Hospitalet restaurant. This evident commitment to sustainable and eco-friendly agricultural practices has led to the Château being accredited with 'carbon neutral estate' status, which the hotel pamphlet proudly beams as "a symbol of our capacity to work with nature and the environment".



All of this finally led us to Gérard Bertrand's impressive wine-making facility and tasting cellar. This state-of-the-art set up is used to make Gérard's top cuvées - all of which we sampled at the in-house tasting room.

Gérard Bertrand Tasting

We were so impressed with the range of wines presented to us to taste at Gérard Bertrand’s Château l’Hospitalet.  To set the scene, you should try to understand that these wines really do live and breathe the land and climate.  If you consider the concept of ‘terroir’ to be a load of old tosh, then please do visit Château l’Hospitalet and allow yourself to be convinced (over a bottle of Gérard Bertrand’s Réserve Spéciale Viognier, on the terrace, naturellement).

The surrounding landscape is rife with dry, minerally limestone and an abundance of wild herbs, and the air is perfumed with heady lavender, red roses and sweet honeysuckle.  It’s so idyllically fragrant, that close your eyes for a second and you could quite easily think you were in a Jo Malone boutique…

Réserve Spéciale Viognier 2010

This wine is rather memorable for me, holding the accolade of being my first ever experience of Viognier, so it was very apt to be able to taste it in its natural habitat.  It’s just a delight to drink - so fresh with zippy yet elegant acidity, and an intensely aromatic nose of lychees, peaches and ripe apricots, with a twist of honey and a dash of spice.  Four months in oak calms down any overly volatile perfume aromas, and in addition lends the palate a full bodied creamy finish.

Château Hospitalet Reserve 2010, AOP Coteaux du Languedoc – La Clape

The array of micro-climates within the Languedoc-Rousillon region is quite remarkable, and La Clape (the region surrounding l’Hospitalet, situated in a shallow basin overlooked by mountains and just down the road from the beautiful historical city of Narbonne) is no exception.  Sweltering summer temperatures of 40 degrees in are gratefully moderated by the cool dry winds tumbling down from the mountains and in from the Mediterranean.  The grapes grown in La Clape are fortunately well accustomed to the local climate, and produce rich, fragrant wines.  This particular wine, a blend of Vermentino, Grenache Blanc and Bourbulenc, is bright golden in colour and brimming with ripe fleshy stone fruits.  Refreshing acidity and a steely minerality leaves a long clean finish, and the 8 months in oak provides body, balance, and complexity.

Domaine de L’Aigle Chardonnay 2009, AOP Limoux

Situated on the outskirts of Carcassonne is Limoux, where Bertrand grows Chardonnay and Pinot Noir on a 25 hectare estate, Domaine l’Aigle.  To qualify as Limoux AOP the wine must fermented as well as aged in oak.  The resulting wine has a delicately intense character.  Pineapple, peach and melon aromas are complimented by floral undertones and a rich buttery contribution from the oak.  Very elegant.

Domaine de Cigalus 2009, IGP OC

Vines on the 22 hectare Cigalus estate are raised according to biodynamic practises, which according to the winery, produces “the greatest expression of the terroir in the wines”.  This sumptuous blend of Chardonnay (80%), Viognier (15%) and Sauvignon Blanc (5%) could, in our opinion, rival many a white Burgundy.  The nose seduces you with honeyed apricots, marmalade and grapefruit, all extended on the palate with beautifully integrated oak, imparting a complex arrangement of butterscotch, hazelnuts and vanilla.  Superb.

Gris Blanc (Rosé) 2010, IGP OC

Made from Grenache Gris, this rosé was a hit all round (not to mention a gentle easer into the 13 rich tannic reds that lay ahead!)  Grenache Gris is an interesting variety, retaining its light colour as a result of its failure to complete verasion.  Just 24 hours maceration gives a lovely light, bright salmon rosé; soft subtle red fruits on the nose and a dry refreshing palate with a slightly salty saline cleanse.  Where are the oysters when you need them?

Grand Terroir Montpeyroux 2009, AOP Montpeyroux

Montpeyroux (translating as stone mount), is situated on the outskirts of Montpellier, between the Mediterranean and the Larzac mountains.  Hand harvested Mourvèdre, Grenache, Carignan and Syrah produce a rich, earthy wine with complex flavours of black olives, pepper and cassis with a smoky, herbaceous character.

Domaine Villemajou 2009, AOP Corbiéres

In addition to being the first vineyard Gérard Bertrand inherited from his father, and having the accolade of being one of the oldest winemaking facilities in Corbiéres, dating back to Roman times, Domaine Villemajou also has the fortune of residing in Boutenac; the most reputable area of the Corbiéres appellation.  Fortunate indeed, for this particular wine scooped Gold and Silver medals at the 2011 IWC and Decanter awards, respectively.  With the usual suspects of Grenache, Syrah, Carignan and Mourvèdre, this wine is dominated by pungent aromas of blackcurrant, dark cherries, cedar, liquorice and smoky garrigue herbs.  The palate packs a fruity tannic punch with a sweetly spiced velvet glove.  A generous dose of oak makes this a perfect match for the rich meaty dishes typical of the region.

Grand Vin de l’Hospitalet 2009, AOP Languedoc du Languedoc La Clape

Whilst seemingly traditional, Bertrand can be quite technologically forward thinking.  Aside from the new ‘muscat O1’, a 10% abv wine made (through the use of a spinning cone), to fulfil consumer demands for lower alcohol wines, Bertrand is also experimenting with new crossings.  Within La Clape lies a small experimental station, where Cabernet Sauvignon and Grenache are crossed, to produce ‘Caladoc’.  This is blended with Syrah, Merlot, Grenache, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, to produce the Bordeaux-like Grand Vin de l’Hospitalet.  Robust but well structured with complex flavours of deep dark fruit, cedar, leather and chocolate.

La Viala 2008, AOP Minervois-la-Livinière

Livinière is renowned as the finest region within the Minervois appellation, so much so that a new appellation (Minervois-la- Livinière) was granted to promote it to Cru status.  Le Viala is situated at the foothills of the Black Mountains, at an altitude of 130m above sea level, so with a cooler climate the 30 year old Syrah vines can get a break from the heat and express their full potential.  Syrah is blended with old vine Grenache and Carignan, before 15 months ageing in new French oak.  The 2011 Decanter Gold medal winner is highly complex; opaque ruby in colour with a nose of cassis, port-like dark fruit, coffee and bitter chocolate.  Full bodied with ripe grippy tannins, the palate carries the aroma characteristics through, contributing sweet spice and a long earthy finish.


Following this thoroughly enjoyable 'dégustation',  a further unexpected treat materialised in the form of a Rodin exhibition complete with life-sized casts of 'Le Penseur'  and 'Le Baisse' and  a collection of eclectic, vintage photos of 1960's-era celebs taken by renowned French photographer Jean-Marie Perrier.   The art gallery, set around a grand circular staircase, towered skywards with snaps of a very young looking Rolling Stones, some chain-smoking Beatles, and a very sultry/poncy-looking French actor, who pleasingly, it dawned on us, will now be in his early 70's.



Riding the crest of a cultural wave, we sauntered back to 'H', the Château’s Restaurant for dinner, where we enjoyed a chance meeting with "Monsieur le Grand Fromage" himself, Gérard Bertrand. Cutting an imposing figure at 6'6", the amiable ex-French rugby international stopped for a brief chat to enquire about our visit and to get our assessment of his latest vintage.
A superb feast of Mediterranean dishes prepared with some of the finest ingredients that the Languedoc has to offer, was a truly splendid way to end the day.  More information on the Hotel and restaurant at Château L'Hospitalet can be found at www.chateau-lhospitalet.com

Day 2

We awoke the next morning bathed in glorious sunshine and not-so-glorious fuzzy heads. After a light-ish continental breakfast (Tom, in a fit of gluttony, packed away 5 croissants,) Tim took us out to some of the Gérard Bertrand vineyards, towards Narbonne. The vast expanse of vineyards with surrounding mountains on all sides left us all awestruck by the sheer scale of the Bertrand operation.  Tim explained that the mountains protected these particular vineyards from hail, which had completely decimated the crop in the adjoining valleys the previous year.



Ever the Historian - this time drawing upon his encyclopaedic knowledge of pre-history - Tim also explained that these mountains contained caves which cradled the very first human life to be found in Europe - not even Bruce Forsyth was alive when these Homo Erectus were strutting about hunting and grunting around the Southern French countryside.  Indeed, we were driven right up to the cave where these fragments of human bone were first discovered. Interestingly, the cave entrance was halfway up the cliff face, which gave a real insight into how 450,000 years of erosion can impact our surroundings.



With midday gone it was clearly time for a tasting.  This was no easy task as a couple of the group were taken down by a bout of car sickness bought on by some pretty twisty roads that the Romans would not have been happy with. Nonetheless off to the Cave de Tautavel.  This was a super little tasting showing the value for money and quality that some good Caves are capable of producing.  The real highlight of this tasting was a delicious crisp Grenache Blanc; a grape variety that frequently pops up as part of a blend in this part of the world, but in this case is used to great effect as a single varietal.

Come the end of the tasting we were all harbouring Neanderthal-esque hunger pangs of our own and attentions quickly turned to what might lie in store for ' Le Dejeuner'.  Not knowing quite what to expect given we were now in the heart of Rustic France and seemingly miles away from any McDonalds-style eaterie, we rolled up to the alongside the gastro-phenomenon that is "Le Petit Gris".



This mysteriously-named rustic roadside retreat, as it transpired, was named after a type of edible snail prevalent in the region, and it soon became apparent that eating l'escargot was not only the way forward, but also the competitive amongst us saw it as more a badge of honour....how many snails could you possibly eat in one sitting?

The answer, as it turned out, varied wildly with Mark and Alex both content with a solid 10 and 11 empty shells to show for their efforts respectively - each snail met with an accompanying contorted face akin to that of a bulldog licking vinegar off a stinging nettle.   Jules upped the ante with a very respectable 20 shells (perhaps not all empty) littering her plate at the final reckoning. It could have been more too, had it not been made apparent that the gloopy, yellow liquid dripping off each snail was not in fact cheese, as initially thought, but instead a dodgy mucus-like snail secretion.   Anyway, Tom weighed in with a masterly, or so he thought, 21 snails and was suitably pleased with himself, until it transpired that Tim had cooly polished off a gargantuan 30 members of the molluscan class of Gastropoda of his own, and each one with the minimum of fuss. Not since Morgan Spurlock's 2004 documentary 'Supersize Me' has an eating performance garnered such adulation and respect (and it might be said horror) in equal measure.



Thankfully, lunching in the heart of the Languedoc region, there was enough red wine to wash the 'Petit Gris' from both our taste buds and our consciences and two delicious courses later, including one main course with nine separate types of fish, we bade a fond farewell to our legend of a host, Tim, as we were met by our host for the second leg of the trip, Antoine Leray, Sales Director at the Mont Tauch wine co-operative, based in the Fitou region.

Fin de Part 1.  Part 2 to follow… stay tuned

By Simon Gartside, Business Development Manager

Being the new boy of the team and also unusually, having joined Majestic Commercial from the 'outside' it is fair to say that I have had a busy first few weeks. Not least because of getting myself acquainted with as many of the fabulous wines Majestic have to offer. A tough chore and no mistake...


Some highlights thus far for me from the On Trade Exclusive Range would have to be the excellent Baron de Baussac Viognier with it’s typical Peach and Apricot characteristics coupled with its very impressive bottle presentation, a must for a list. Equally impressive is the Carignan from the same Baron de Baussac stable. Maybe not quite so summery but if you are more of a 'red wine no matter what the season' person, as I am, then it is a very pleasing glass indeed and I think perfect with a steak from the barbecue.


Finishing with something a touch lighter but still in the red arena, I was grateful to a colleague recently who suggested I try the Moulin-a-Vent 'Les Bruyeres' 2008. Certainly light and elegant,'this medium-bodied wine is packed full of vibrant berry fruit with soft tannins and a gorgeous balancing acidity'. Indeed so. Raspberries is my abiding memory and well worth considering.

Baron de Baussac Viognier, PGI Pays d'Oc, France

Baron de Baussac, Carignan Vieilles Vignes, Pays de l'Hérault

By Beth Lodwick, Business Development Manager

If you live within reasonable distance of Lymington in Hampshire then I strongly advise you to take a trip to Graze restaurant (Hampshire, SO41 9BG), trust me, you will not be disappointed! I ventured there this Saturday with the other half and the parents to celebrate their 12th wedding anniversary, but you don’t need an occasion to visit Graze, just find any excuse you can! From the moment you set foot inside the place you feel instantly relaxed and you wish you could stay there forever. Unfortunately we only had 2 hours on the parking meter!

Everything about Graze is done just perfectly, and this is all down to Niki and Kate, sisters who lovingly put their hearts and souls into making sure your dining experience is one to remember. Niki greeted us on arrival and proceeded to make our mouths water by reeling off all the ‘must have’ dishes which we simply could not leave the building without trying. She also passionately explained the ‘concept’ of Graze and how she would make sure we ordered enough dishes and had the right balance of flavours to make our experience just perfect.

First things first, drinks. The wine list at Graze is fantastic. So I may be a little biased as we do supply the majority of it but the fact it is so interesting is down to Niki and her passion for wine. She is open to putting really quirky interesting wines on the list which she loves to drink herself, so she can hand sell them to her customers. That’s what it’s all about. We chose a bottle of Laroche 'L' Viognier and Casablanca Beers for the guys. If you haven’t tried Casablanca Beer, make sure you hunt it out.

The concept behind Graze is small dishes, like tapas, only not just Spanish, from all over the world. It was quite a mission to decide what to order because basically we wanted everything! You can chose from the 2 for £7 menu which is fantastic value but we decided to be a little more indulgent! The star performers of the meal were:

> Baba Ghanoush with toasted rosemary focaccia

> Baby Chilli Salt Squid with a honey and teriyaki dip

> Monkfish, Pancetta and Cherry Tomato skewers in a zesty lemon sauce Chorizo, Apple and Brie risotto

> Courgette Fritters with Greek Feta and Mint

> Saffron & Chardonnay Chicken & Chorizo skewers with rosemary aioli

All the dishes were absolutely delicious but I have to say my favourite was the chorizo risotto, closely followed by the Chilli squid which was cooked to perfection! We finished the meal with giant Cappuccinos and an apricot tart tatin to share which put us 10 minutes over our parking but it well worth the risk! Graze is the kind of place you wish you had on your doorstep. Once you’ve been once I can guarantee you will want to go back!

By Tim Beck, Business Development Manager

I was always taught that if something appears too good to be true then it generally is, and that there is always a catch. Now although this may appear to be a rather sceptical viewpoint I have always found it to be pretty accurate. I may have tested this theory to my own detriment – one disastrous trip to Spain springs to mind!

That said, there are rare occasions when we are presented with a deal that is just too good, and is true! A case in point would be the contents of the Australian parcel of wine that Majestic have managed to get their hands on and are arriving into stores as I write this.

The highlight of the bunch I feel, being the Somerton Semillon Sauvignon Blanc, £3.74 ex VAT. With its grapes sourced from sites across South Eastern Australia, it encapsulates the trademark gooseberry & citrus characters from the Sauvignon that British drinkers currently crave, whilst the Semillon adds a certain smoothness, light peachy fruit & body to the wine.

Please contact your Account Manager if you would like to order this wine.

By Alastair Fleming, Key Account Manager for Majestic Commercial

With summer virtually upon us it’s time to start preparing for whatever good weather Mother Nature decides to throw at us this year. So whilst we’re thinking of pulling the barbeque out and wearing shorts for the first time in 6 months it’s also time to start thing about summer wines! For me when good weather comes I instinctively think Rosé wine and Europe is the place to go for value driven, mouth watering refreshing summer pinks. Below I have highlighted two of my favourites:

Torre Alta Pinot Grigio Rosé, Italy
(exclusively available to our Commercial customers)

This wine demonstrates just why Pinot Grigio Rosé is so popular at the moment. The elegant bouquet displays strawberry aromas in abundance and intense notes of acacia flowers. Dry, soft and well-balanced on the palate with a round and full bodied structure. Pinot Grigio 95%, Merlot 5%.

Château de Sours Rosé, Bordeaux

Château de Sours, situated on a limestone plateau near Libourne and Pomerol, has been producing wine for over 200 years and is leading the renewed interest in Bordeaux rosé. A deep, bright-coloured rosé with rich strawberry and plum fruit flavours and a long lingering finish. Try with cold meats and pâtes.

By Matt Davenport, Key Account Manager for Majestic Commercial

In 2000 when I joined Majestic most people were buying one of 3 wines, Chardonnay, Chardonnay or if they were really adventurous, Chardonnay. People couldn’t get enough of the stuff. It seemed that the full bodied flavours of butterscotch and vanilla from the oak barrels hit the spot for almost every wine drinker.

Nowadays though, most of the sales analysis we do for Restaurants reveals that as a nation we're rather fond of Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Grigio, why? For a start it’s definitely true that you can have too much of a good thing and at some point you’re going to want something different. But also these grape varieties offer freshness, liveliness and youthfulness with a subtle hint of style, elegance and welcomed fruit, a sharp contrast to the hard hitting new world Chardonnays. So, no wonder they appeal to so many people.

But if you go off the beaten track and steer away from Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Grigio and you had to pick a wine for your family and friends at a restaurant, what are the alternatives?

I’ve singled out two wines that offer very different characteristics but are simply fantastic wines with or without food.

Baron de Baussac Viognier £5.08* Ex VAT

Pale yellow in colour, with intense aromas of white flowers. The palate is rich and lush with tropical fruits, dried apricots, hazelnuts and honey.

This wine would go superbly with a variety of foods such as salads, chicken and pork dishes.


Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi, Monte Schiavo £4.99* Ex VAT

With pure citrus fruit, especially pineapple and lime, and a refreshing crisp finish, the palate is left invigorated after drinking this wine. 

With the invigorating citrus fruits this wine would be perfect with a variety fish dishes and white meats. This wine is not over powering and would give the fish a welcomed lift.

*Prices valid until 29 August 2011

With the Royal Wedding almost upon us our colleagues in Chapel Down winery have chosen to share in the celebrations by allowing us to sell their fantastic English Rose for a mind blowing £6.99 inc VAT. If ever there was a better time to show off what our country can do with wine and celebrate this glorious weather then I havent known it!

English Rose is like taking a sip of a classic English strawberry field in summer!

At that price the chance arises to sell the wine by the glass and really get your customers enthused about our home produce. But hurry, the £6.99 inc VAT deal only lasts until 2nd May 2011.

Contact your Majestic Commercial account manager or your local Majestic store for further details.