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