Ask any self-respecting wine lover to name an Aussie wine region – chances are you’ll get the Barossa Valley as a response. And as BBQ season is now in full swing, it seems a fitting occasion to discuss one of Barossa’s finest – we’re talking Shiraz of course. Say hi to our all new Regions Barossa Valley Shiraz – already a hit at Most Wanted HQ.
As part of our new Regions range, we’re focussing on some of the most wanted regions around the world, and the grapes that grow best in them. And there aren’t many better matches than the Barossa Valley and Shiraz – especially when you add red meat (or maybe aubergine if you’re plant-based), a hot grill and a few socially-distanced mates.
So – the Barossa. It’s one of the country’s oldest wine producing regions, with the first vines planted in the mid 1800s, and has the honour of housing some of the world’s oldest vines. Yes folks, phylloxera, that pesky louse of the wine world, never reached this corner of the southern Hemisphere after decimating the vineyards of Europe in the nineteenth century. Never heard of it? Think global pandemic but for vines and you get the idea.
So what’s the big deal? A great history doesn’t always mean that great wines are still being made (ok France we get your point). The Barossa’s fortunes were sealed by those who got rich in the Gold Rush, returning home with money to invest in land and industry. It also benefits from its proximity to Adelaide, making it just that little bit easier to export than other, more far-flung wine regions. It’s a short hop and skip from the burbs to Barossa, which now produces over 20% off all Australian wine – and most importantly the premium stuff.
Old vines, super-stressed (that’s a good thing) and low yielding, dig deep to find water and nutrients, resulting in concentrated flavours and complex wines. Being close to the ocean, especially when you have the heat of an Australian summer to contend with, can do pretty good things to the wine. A big temperature difference between hot days and cold nights translates in to grapes which take longer to grow and are higher in acidity than they would otherwise be. So the wine stays balanced and can improve with age.
That’s not to say Barossa wines are fresh and zingy – far from it. If you’re looking for a lighter style of Shiraz, try our classic Shiraz, unoaked and hailing from the larger, all-encompassing region of South-Eastern Australia. Barossa Shiraz on the other hand, packs a more powerful punch, not just because its alcohol levels are bordering on scandalous (14.5% to be precise). It has a super-ripe velvety feel, and plenty of Plum/Chocolate/Oak. Forget restraint, this is an all-singing and dancing and baton-twirling fruit bomb of a wine. So whack some protein on the grill and get ready for a rollercoaster of a Shiraz ride.
Available to buy exclusively from our online wine shop. £54 per 6x75cl.
Hands up if you know your Albariño from your Sauvignon?
Spain’s signature white grape is not as well-known as we like to think. First things first, it can be a bit more pricey than your average white. A small production area and low yields keeps costs high and guarantees a very specific style of wine – it’s loved by sommeliers and hipsters alike for the exact reasons we’ve mentioned above.
Compared to other, quite frankly, fast and loose grape varieties, it’s not grown all over the world, preferring the cool, wet conditions of its native Galicia in north-west Spain, with some plantings just across the border in Portugal.
It’s in this breezy, Atlantic-influenced climate that Albariño thrives. The grapes are thick-skinned, meaning they weather a good storm and are less likely to be bothered by damp conditions – which is handy considering that the region gets on average 1800mm of rainfall a year.
The main production area is Rias Baixas, a denomination stretching along the Atlantic coast south of Santiago di Compostela. The close proximity to the ocean, combined with the grape’s natural aromatic character, results in wines that are amazingly fresh, light and bright, with mouth-watering peachy fruit. The wines are sometimes bottled with a very slight spritz still in the bottle, adding to the feeling of freshness.
As you might expect, they’re made for the food of the region. Throw any kind of seafood at a glass of Albarino and it will gladly accept – goose barnacles, mussels, sardines, or the highly prized sea urchins (pictured below).
Of course, if you can’t stretch to (or have no inclination to eat) sea urchins, follow advice from the team at Most Wanted HQ and pour yourself a chilled glass with your Friday night fish and chips. Winning all round.
Ok, so we’re biased. And we do love cracking open a bottle on the odd occasion. But cans! Join the revolution folks, you’ve seen the hype, now it’s time to find out what all the fuss is about.
You can take a tinny anywhere
Within reason. We’re talking beach, picnic, barbecue, festival, camping – you know the drill. Long train journey? Canned wine is your friend. It’s convenient, easy to throw in your bag, and most importantly, you don’t need to bring a glass.
It solves those ‘just one glass’ occasions
Sorry what? Yes, they do exist. Ever fancied a glass of fizz but no one else does? Say hello to the can. And if you feel like sharing, then that’s why we created the four-pack…#WinningAllRound
It’s a bit of a lightweight
Cans are much lighter to transport than glass from source to customer (x17 lighter at equivalent volume if you’re asking) so have a lower carbon footprint.
Which is good.
It’s the superpower of the recycling world
Around 70% of aluminium cans are recycled globally, the highest of any recyclable resource. They’re almost always recycled back in to themselves, as opposed to plastics or glass which are often ‘down-cycled’. The recycled material back on shelf in as little as 60 days. True story.
It keeps the wine super-fresh
Light, fruity and fizzy wines are exactly what you want in a can – the wine stays super-fresh and you can cool your cans faster than it takes to say ‘make mine a large one’. Or whatever.
What’s on your list of New Years’ Resolutions? Start your own company? Run a marathon? Write a blog? Or maybe just aim for your five-a-day and take a walk rather than running for the bus?
Team Most Wanted are jumping on the whole Veganuary bandwagon with some plant-based recipes, naturally paired with our favourite vegan Most Wanted wines (hey we can do vegan, not sure we can do a whole month of no alcohol). It’s been an eye-opener to be honest and some fell at the first hurdle. There were those who spent hours chopping up veg, only to top it with a fried egg. And those who obviously didn’t realise that bacon came from pigs. But, you know, small steps and all that.
If you’re already committed to the cause then skip straight to the recipe and check out the full Most Wanted range to see which of our wines are suitable for vegans and vegetarians.
Which begs the question, what exactly is a vegan wine? In order to get your wine in the bottle crystal clear, with no dusty bits, winemakers usually add tiny amounts of a fining agent, some of which are made from animal-derived products (including egg white or gelatin). Hence the vegetarian or vegan labelling.
So how about forgetting your meat and Malbec fix (at least for the next few weeks). Here’s one of our favourite recipes, a vegan Biryani courtesy of Morrisons recipe pages, paired with SMOOTH/FRUITY Most Wanted Malbec from South Africa. There might not be any meat involved, but there’s enough punchy flavour in the food and wine to help you put those thoughts of chargrilled steak to bed (not literally).
Ingredients
1 tbsp sunflower oil
1 onion, peeled and finely sliced
2 garlic cloves, crushed
2cm piece root ginger, peeled and grated
1 tbsp garam masala
200g tenderstem broccoli, cut into 2-3cm pieces
300g wholegrain basmati rice, cooked
25g toasted flaked almonds
25g sultanas
4 tbsp. dairy-free yoghurt (optional)
Handful of fresh coriander, torn
Method
Heat the oil and fry the onion over a medium heat for about ten minutes or until golden.
Stir in the garlic, ginger and garam masala and cook for about one minute.
Add the tenderstem and continue to fry everything for a couple of minutes until the tenderstem is beginning to soften.
Stir in the cooked rice, half the almonds and all the sultanas. Season, then increase the heat and stir-fry for a few minutes until the rice is completely heated through.
Stir in the yogurt substitute and most of the coriander then spoon onto plates. Scatter over the remaining almonds and coriander, and pour yourself a glass!
Chances are, there’ll be a great deal of thought going in to your Christmas dinner (and accompanying alcohol). But what about that snack-y stuff that we live on as soon as the party season gets going? There’s not much crisp and wine pairing going on now is there? Something that needs addressing pronto, given the social interactions that take place over a tortilla chip and a glass of the good stuff. A quick straw poll around the office reveals our top festive nibbles and more crucially, which wines you’re going to wash them down with.
Tortilla Chips with Most Wanted Albarino
Whether your go-to tortilla chip is fiery, cheesy or just plain cool, you’re going to need a glass of crisp white wine to get the juices flowing. Albarino has loads of SOFT/PEACHY/MOUTH-WATERING flavours – something that makes it great with spicy foods. It might also make you want to eat more crisps, in which case just add guacamole for one of your five-a-day.
Twiglets with Most Wanted Malbec
Love ’em or hate ’em, you’re bound to find yourself confronted by a bowl of these yeasty snacks at some point during December. So how do you deal with that strong marmite-y taste? Just add wine. We think Malbec has enough RICH FRUIT/PEPPER/SPICE to keep those flavourful twigs in line.
Cheese Balls with Most Wanted Sauvignon Blanc
These made the cut purely because our CEO buys his own weight in them every Christmas. Let’s address the cheese head on. We’re pretty sure most of you would grab your nearest bottle of red when faced with the fromage. How about shaking things up a bit with a fruity white? Our Sauvignon Blanc has lots of RIPE/TROPICAL/JUICY fruit that’ll work the room with any cheese flavoured nibble.
Pork Scratchings with Most Wanted Pinot Noir
It might not be top of your list of Christmas treats, but there’s no better flavour match than a ripe, fruity red with anything that contains a) salt and b) pork. Pinot Noir is lighter than your average red, but makes up for all that daintiness with plenty of CHERRY/PLUM/OAKY flavours. And if you find the odd hairy scratching, you’ll need a sip of something pretty quick.
Breadsticks with Most Wanted Lightly Sparkling Pinot Grigio cans
A versatile nibble with universal appeal needs a wine with the same ‘can-do’ attitude. Hence why we’re loving the breadstick and lightly sparkling Pinot Grigio combo – in a can of course (like there’s another way). If you like Prosecco then you’ll love Pinot Grigio fizz, with its LIGHT/FRESH/FRUITY vibe. And you can even hold both in the same hand. Now that’s what we call multi-tasking. Just don’t poke your eye out as you take a sip.
The days are getting shorter and it’s cold out there; the sofa, a glass or two of wine and a good series is pretty high on your list of priorities…we open our arms to winter.
We fully encourage this behaviour, so much so that we’ve made it our mission to find the most binge-worthy television shows at the moment and have paired them with wine to ensure you get the most entertainment and relaxation out of the limited time you may have. As always, we’ve got your back.
Black Mirror & Sauvignon Blanc: We know how dependent we have become on technology and perhaps sometimes think abut what will happen if robots took over the world. Oh, just us? Well, Black Mirror is an eye- opening thriller that explores techno-paranoia. It’s guaranteed to make you jump, so to save your sofa from red wine spillage, and you wondering if pouring white wine on it actually works and spending the next half an hour wading through online forums after googling red wine stain and missing the rest of the show, we’d recommend going for our delicious Sauvignon Blanc while contemplating the future of the world.
Narcos & Malbec: Pablo Escobar is back and out for vengeance in season two of Narcos. This season is full of even more bloodshed, backstabbing and bad words. Most Wanted’s Malbec might as well be Narcos’ match made in South American heaven as the literal French translation of Malbec means “bad mouth.” Pretty fitting, eh?
The Crown & Pinot Noir: Want to know what it feels like to be a member of the royal family for a night? Settle down with season two of The Crown and a glass of our Pinot Noir. The Crown shows Queen Elizabeth II at the very beginning of leading the monarchy – it’s a stressful job so we know that she’d enjoy a glass after a long day at work. The Queen will be more used to drinking wine from Burgundy – Fun Fact: a region who’s red wines are made from Pinot Noir- but if you are on a tighter budget than the Queen then our Pinot Noir fits the bill.
Planet Earth II & Albariño: Just when you thought he couldn’t possibly get any better, David Attenborough has just gone and done Planet Earth II which is blowing minds all over the country. Whilst we’re on the topic of exotic destinations we might as well mention that Albariño tastes like tropical fruit, peach and grapefruit, perfect for when you want to pretend you’re sunbathing in Sahara Desert heat instead of trudging in flooded mud.
We’re massively excited to announce that our very own Albariño is now being stocked in Sainsbury’s, so much so that we’ve written a whole blog post so you can get to know this lesser known grape.
So step aside Pinot Grigio. Pipe down Chardonnay. Albariño is the new white wine in town, and it’s looking fresh.
So what even is Albariño, you ask?
Attention all Riojas- Albariño is soon to steal the spotlight as the most talked about Spanish wine. The Albariño grape stems from the northwest of Spain on the coast of Galicia in the Rías Baixas region to be exact – a region where it rains more than it does in Manchester – who knew that was possible? Although this grape is spreading its wings and trying to flourish in places like Australia and California, it won’t forget that it performs best in its natural habitat in northern Spain. So this humble grape needs to withstand the cold, wind and rain but its thick skin (literally) contributes to its intense aromas and all round awesomeness, making it a real winner and hard to beat.
So, not quite the region for a bit of winter sun, but perfect for this aromatic number and results in lip-smacking flavours of grapefruit, peach and tropical fruits. Sounds delicious, right?
For all you die-hard Sauvignon fans out there, Albariño is right up your street – Dry? Yes. Crisp? Absolutely. Fresh? Hell yes.
So what should you drink it with?
When you’re wandering through the supermarket, picking up almost every item to fulfill a Tuesday night craving, fear not! Albariño’s fresh, crisp and easy to drink attitude means it goes with most food including rich, salty, oily, fatty, spicy and tart food. The winning pairing is definitely with seafood though–it’s a match made in windy, rainy, Spanish heaven.
So when you’re next in Sainsbury’s (or Co-op, Bargain Booze or Nisa stores!) grab a bottle of this punchy Spanish number and you’ll see why we think it is a Most Wanted wine.
We’ve taken the liberty of listing some ideas on how to spend a night with Albariño: Choose One, Sit Back, and Enjoy
Girls night in after a long week? For your friends stuck in a Sauvignon rut, Albariño is there to save the day.
Friends over for dinner? Albariño pairs perfectly with fresh fish and seafood.
Party for one with a film and some pizza? Albariño has got it covered.
Craving spicy food after a plain day at the office? Albariño stands up to the chilli.
Romantic sushi date? Albariño tastes as fresh as the tuna
With heat waves driving us to wear bikinis in every green space salvageable and BBQ for every meal of the day (three hot dogs in one sitting is perfectly acceptable), we want to ensure you stay sufficiently hydrated whilst enjoying the great British summer.
So without further ado, our favourite BBQ pairings…
Malbec
Why do Argentinians make so much amazing BBQ meat? Because they have juicy Malbec to drink with it of course. Our fruit-bomb Malbec is the champion for BBQ meats and works brilliantly with rich, tangy BBQ sauces. Perfect for you carnivores out there.
Pinot Noir
With Malbec stealing the limelight with its epic BBQ pairing skills, we mustn’t forget the strong role this lighter red wine can play at the BBQ. Red with chicken or fish?! We hear you say. Oh yes. This deliciously fruity and balanced Pinot Noir has lighter flavours that don’t overpower white meat and fish.
Albariño
First up representing the whites is our Albariño. For those of you that won’t be devouring a steak with burger and sausage bap, it’s the perfect match for grilled fish and salad. Crisp? Yes. Fresh? Definitely. This comes from Galicia on the northern coast of Spain, where fish and seafood are part of everyday life, so no wonder a nice cold glass of this is the best match.
Sauvignon Blanc
Our fruity and crisp New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc is perfect for those venturing beyond burgers and hot dogs. So good with veggie kebabs, grilled halloumi and prawn skewers with Thai marinades. Just thinking about it puts us in tastebud heaven.
Pair your food and wine like a pro with Most Wanted Wines this summer and remember we’d love to hear how your summer barbecue went.
So you rock up to a wine tasting, do the swill, take a sniff, have gurgle – now what flavours do you get? Um…wine-y?
Fear not. We’re here to arm you with a couple of key wine descriptors to ensure you can look the part and never get caught out by the wine lingo.
We know we’re advocates of #LosetheLingo but sometimes a little bit is all you need to impress.
Tannin? Not in this weather surely.
This is probably one of the most thrown around words in the wine world – we’ve all heard it, but have probably never used it. Well here is your chance to slip it in there the next time you’re tasting red wine. So how does a tannin taste? Well it’s quite bitter and dries out your mouth – kind of like putting a black tea bag on your tongue. So the more over-strewed tea the wine tastes, the higher the tannins. Nailed it. Some tannins are a bit more rounded and not so drying, which is a good thing. But it can be down to personal taste. Tannins also mellows out over time so older wines generally get smoother.
Oaky finish. Is that floor cleaner?
If you’ve heard about tannins, you’ve probably heard about a wine being ‘oaky’. It’s used to describe the flavour that oak gives the wine, which could be from oak-ageing in barrels or oak chips being used in the making of the wine. You’re not looking for tastes of tree bark with an undertone of freshly cut grass however. In fact it adds vanilla, dill, coconut and even butter to the taste. Almost like a cookie. Kind of.
Opulent. He sounds dreamy.
This isn’t a word with double meaning, it literally means the wine is rich, luxurious, smooth and bold. If a wine seems to flood your mouth with layers of flavour, we’d give this word a shot to describe it. You’ll sound well fancy.
Tart. How rude.
You know that face you pull when you bite into an un-ripe apple? If a wine makes you do that you can safely describe it as tart and probably move swiftly on to the next glass. That is all.
Full Bodied. I think you’ll find the word is curvy.
This describes the weight of the wine in your mouth and the general rule of thumb is the more alcoholic the wine, the more full bodied. Wine will either be light, medium or full bodied and is often compared to the feeling of skimmed, semi skimmed or full cream milk in your mouth. So if the wine feels like it’s coating every inch of your mouth, it’s probably a fuller bodied wine. If you can’t remember the description, go for semi skimmed milk and share the reactions with us.
This month we quizzed our Most Wanted Insiders on common wine myths and whether they thought they were fact or fiction. Here’s how they scored.
You should never pair white wine with steak
65% said myth. A hearty red is the traditional go-to for steak. Those things called ‘tannins’ you always hear wine experts go on about, bring out the flavours of the steak, whilst the fat in the steak softens the tannins to bring out the best in the wine. Teamwork.
You can also go for a bigger, richer white wine. It’s not a classic pairing but still works if red is not your thing.
But it’s great to see you’re not getting bogged down with the dos and don’ts of food pairings and sticking with the wine you enjoy. The jury is still out with our Insiders on this one.
Wine tastes better when it’s allowed to breathe outside the bottle
74% of our Insiders stood by this one and the belief isn’t misplaced. The short of the long is; when red wine is left to ‘breathe’ and mix with oxygen, the flavours are softened in a good way. By decanting the wine and leaving it to breathe for 1-2 hours, it allows the wine to come back to life after being cramped up in a bottle. No need for a fancy decanter, a normal jug will do the job!
Generally, younger wines, like ours, don’t benefit from decanting as much as older wines. Our wines taste great straight from the bottle (via a glass of course…)
The more expensive the wine the better it tastes
A whopping 95% of you went false and of course you’re right. There’s nothing out there to back this up, it’s down to your personal wine preference. We all love a savvy find so the fact than we can have our bargain and enjoy drinking it too is enough to get us up and out at the weekend. Cheers to that.
So there you have it, the answers to our top wine myths, as promised.
Let us know if you’ve heard any bizarre wine facts/myths @Most_WantedWine.
Now Britain’s Got Talent is back, we’re feeling the ever-strong pull of a great takeaway and a glass of wine…or two. It’s only right that every SuBo moment or dog performing on it’s hind legs, is accompanied with a perfect pairing of wine.
We took the liberty of rounding up some of the nation’s most popular takeaways and matching them with our wines, so you don’t have to. You can thank us Saturday at 8pm.
Chicken Tikka Masala
Just when you thought there was nothing better than a Tikka Masala, our Malbec enters stage right. Its fruity style is so soft and smooth, it doesn’t fight with the spiciness of the curry; making it the ideal duo. Britain’s favourite curry just got the golden buzzer pressed by us.
Chicken Chow Mein
This crowd pleaser has been awarded the prestigious title of the UK’s top takeaway dish and so it goes hand-in-hand with another award winner – our very own fruity Pinot Noir. As Pinot Noir is a lighter red it goes perfectly with chicken, plus doesn’t overpower the more delicate Chinese flavours.
Sushi
Keeping it a bit lighter? We’ve got a wine for that – our fresh, crisp Albariño and sushi definitely deserves a medal. Albariño comes from a coastal region in northern Spain, where fish and seafood are part of everyday life, so it naturally pairs up with your favourite sashimi.
Cheeseburger
The best things come in pairs: there was Ant & Dec, Batman & Robin, Timon and Pumbaa, – now we have Malbec & Cheeseburger, another stellar duo. Everyone knows Malbec and red meat are the perfect partners. There is nothing more to say here.
Veggie Pizza
We all aim to have our 5-a-day but more than likely we don’t. Our solution: Veggies on top of your pizza. Sorted. Why not pair it with our crisp Sauvignon Blanc that goes perfectly with the cheese/veg combo. So call up your pizza man and start pouring a glass.
Your friends have succeeded in making you feel bad because you didn’t do Dry January. Or Vegan January. Or put any effort at all into becoming a better, healthier version of yourself January. Yep, you suck at adulting. So what do you do to fix it? You go veggie for Lent. Sigh.
You got this. We believe you can survive these forty days of endurance. And to help you, we’ve come up with perfectly decent dishes you can pair with our wines – even if you’re taking a holiday from carnivore living. Because your Most Wanted Wines are veggie, too.
Want a completely unique t-shirt designed by a leading British graffiti artist? Scroll on to see 45RPM’s work and how to get involved in our competition.
What do wine and art have in common? Plenty. What was Leonardo drinking while painting The Last Supper? Definitely not lemonade. We know that with great wine comes great art. This is why we asked Bristol-based graffiti artist, 45RPM, to create the artwork for our Winery Finery pop-up – an evening of no-bull wine tasting, music and a bit of culture to launch our new range.
It’s only 3 o’clock on a Friday, yet you’re already finding yourself incessantly watching the time and counting down the minutes until Wine O’Clock strikes. When it does, will you take delicate sips of a Pinot or glug down the Savvy B? Which type of Wine O’Clock drinker are you?
The sipper
The sipper is your middle of the road wine fan, wine-savvy but not too much, looking to get tipsy but not drunk. The sipper is the friend to turn to for good (read: not pompous and patronising) suggestions on which bottle you should bring to dinner, the one you can enjoy a good cheese board with knowing he won’t either get drunk or start commenting on the wine list.
With great wine, comes great responsibility. Which is why when sourcing new wines for the Most Wanted Wines range, we don’t do things by half. Sometimes we just have to bite the bullet and fly to South Africa… It’s a hard life, isn’t it?
Whether we’re talking boutique wineries or up-and-coming producers, wine regions don’t get as exciting as the Western Cape of South Africa.
The Cape Wine Trade Fair is the flagship business showcase of the South African wine industry. We were thrilled about checking out this energetic, maverick wine country, home of new, exciting producers.
It’s only natural then that we sent our brightest minds down to Cape Town in mid-September to bring home some of this incredible wine buzz. And what a dream team it was: Managing Director Paul, Sales Manager Mark and Sourcing Director Clem, flew to the fair to meet with suppliers and get stuck into all the new wines on offer.
The wine industry in South Africa stretches back into the 17th century, making it the oldest ‘New World’ wine producer. But especially today there’s a real energy and excitement in some of its up-and-coming regions. Take for example the Swartland region in the Western Cape, which produces boutique and varied wines with incredible quality from producers you just don’t see in the UK.
Throughout the trade fair, the quality from the entry-level wines right through to the top, small volume boutique producers was excellent. But for our team of hardy researchers, there could only be one winner, and after some serious thought and deliberation it was agreed that the star of the show was a wine synonymous with South Africa, Chenin Blanc.
Chenin Blanc, also known locally as Steen, is the most widely planted grape variety in South Africa, accounting for nearly one-fifth of all vineyards, nearly twice the amount of Chenin Blanc planted in France!
Historically, the Chenin Blanc grape had a tendency to produce some “iffy” quality wines at the lower end of the spectrum, but that’s now safely in the past. The versatility of the grape and real focus on the quality it can produce is now being realised, with some fantastic wines from simple, fresh Chenins right through to show-stopping barrel-fermented oak aged wines.
Cape Town is an amazing and vibrant city to visit. There are great restaurants, beautiful landscapes, and most importantly incredible wine at a very reasonable price, especially with the current exchange rate!
Stuck for Christmas pairing ideas but keen on getting festive? Then kick-start the party season with this top five Christmas foods to pair up with Most Wanted Malbec, the latest addition to our wine range now available at Tesco online, McColl’s and Nisa (RRSP: £7.99).
Slow-roast sirloin of beef with red wine gravy
Perfect to feed a crowd, this dish is will satisfy even the largest of families. Follow Chef Paul Merrett’s recipe on Tesco’s website to whip up the perfect slow roast and pair it up with Most Wanted Malbec, a heavenly match with red meat.
Chestnut, mushroom and shallot pie recipe
Are you a veggie? Fear not! Our Malbec is suitable for vegetarians and pairs perfectly with a fine veggie dish too. Made with red wine and cooked chestnuts, this pie is the best dish to enjoy at a family dinner or wrapped in a blanket. Follow Tesco’s recipe, match it with a glass of our Malbec and enjoy both in front of the fireplace for the ultimate winter night in.
Mince pies
Our Malbec may be Argentinian, but it does love a good old British tradition. So why not pick up a box of mince pies and match the deliciously sweet spices with your Most Wanted Malbec?
Christmas pudding
What’s Christmas without a traditional, plump pud? Whether you make it with family or with mates, whether you get it delivered or you buy it in the shops, a good old Christmas pudding is perfect to enjoy with our Malbec at the Christmas table.
Cheese boards
Not big on desserts? Not a problem! Most Wanted Malbec works great with a cheese board – and it’s a real globe-trotter, as it pairs perfectly with Italian Taleggio cheese, French blue cheese or Spanish Manchego.
You may have missed out on the Tesco Wine Fairs in London, Manchester, Bristol or Edinburgh but don’t panic: the Most Wanted Wines team is here to give you a sneak peek into the wine crowd, to show you that you can be a wine insider without commenting on tannins and bouquets.
The Crowd
Isn’t it just poncey, posh people that go to wine fairs? No! It’s for everyone. You, me, your mates – even your mum! The crowd at Tesco Wine Fairs ranges from people looking to stock up on wines for Christmas to young couples looking for the best wine for their wedding.
But then, of course, you’ve got the wine fair regulars, people who proudly tell you they’ve gone every year since the start of time and that it’s the highlight of their year as they travel the world sip by sip. Mostly though, it’s just normal people having a nice day and trying a glass of wine, or two, or three. We love to speak to wine adventurers: those people who push themselves out of their comfort zone and try things they haven’t bought before. But we love trying to cajole those who are a little hesitant to try something new, too.
And what better occasion to do so than a wine fair? It’s a great way to do this without committing to buying a bottle in the shops that you maybe won’t like! You just might discover a new favourite…
The Vibe
Our most adventurous guests joined in on the party wearing our exclusive Most Wanted Wines sunglasses, showing everyone how you don’t need summer to have a good time: good wine starts the fun.
A wine fair might not be a club night, but the atmosphere is always really energetic and buzzy – even before everyone has had a few glasses! It’s always great to see people excited to taste new wines and discover something they haven’t tried before.
There’s nothing like honest feedback from the people who matter, our customers. It reminds us and them that we’re not intimidating wine tasters, but that we’re an approachable bunch always ready to answer your questions about wine! We can never get enough feedback, so if you were at any of the fairs drop us a message on Facebook or Twitter – we’d love to hear from you!
The Wine
Time to get down to the nitty-gritty and what we were all down there for: the wine. The Most Wanted Sauvignon Blanc received the most praise from everyone who sampled it.
Our new kid on the block, Most Wanted’s Malbec, was really popular too – so watch this space to find out the best way to pair it up with your Christmas meals.
To see all the fun from the Tesco Wine Fairs, check out our Facebook album
Last week we said goodbye to pompous wine tastings and hello to wine tasting done our way.
#WineryFinery had all the right ingredients for the perfect night out; London’s trendy Gallery Different, classy artworks, bloggers, journalists, and a photo booth for the posers out there. But best over all, we showcased our range of affordable and unpretentious wine, available to everyone on the night for the price of a tweet.
If you didn’t manage to make it down on the night, do not worry! We’d still love to hear from you to find out your wine wants and tastes to inform what should come next in our ever expanding range of wines from around the world.
You can have your say by becoming a Most Wanted Insider, your chance to make an impact on the wine world. Each month we ask our Insiders for help, advice and input. In return, we’ll treat you like a bonafide wine VIP, with sneak previews, exclusive rewards and much more.
See what went down at #WineryFinery by checking out our photo gallery of the night and make sure you get tweeting. We’ll answer back by making you a true insider, a wine VIP. It doesn’t get much better than that.
Let’s get things straight: we are wine drinkers, not sommeliers. Forget floral finishes and the legs on a glass: Most Wanted Wines is here to cut out the bull and tell it like it is.
We’re waving goodbye to all that ‘la de dah, chitter chatter’ about wine. We’ll tell you what you want to know to make a decision, so you can get on with the best part of buying wine, enjoying it with friends. With a range of old favourites and new, exciting corkers to try, think of it like a fast-track ticket to the world’s most wanted wines.
Whether you’re looking for a red to sip on the sofa or a zingy white to pair with your takeaway, our range doesn’t disappoint. Our Albariño from the northern Spanish region of Rías Baixas is becoming a cult for tapas bar goers, while our tropical Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand will make you stand out from the crowd at a mate’s house party – for a good reason.
We know you’ll love our reds too: the Pinot Noir is from New Zealand’s South Island, and is a good bet for a cosy night in with a cheeky Chinese takeaway, while our Argentinian Malbec is the perfect match to a good old spag bol.
Our wines are available at Co-op, Sainsbury’s, Tesco Wine By The Case, Booths, Nisa, Bargain Booze, Wine Rack and they’re coming soon to McColl’s, all for under a tenner. Don’t worry, you’ll spot them a mile off with the bottles’ slick monochrome packaging. Even our labels stick to the facts. No fluff: just the bits you need to know.
We like to think wine should be a little more fun and a little less bull! So our advice is pour, sit back and enjoy – you’re gonna love them!
![Loving the Most Wanted Wines Pinot Noir!]](http://mostwantedwines.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Loving-the-Most-Wanted-Wines-Pinot-Noir.jpg)
