Island Life Magazine Ltd October/November 2006 | Page 74

FOOD - DRINK - ACCOMMODATION - Sponsored by - www.holidays2remember.co.uk

Autumnal Delights
By Tim Flint

As I write this column in mid
August, it is pouring with rain
and being terribly un-Islandlike. However it is with the wind
and rain in our hair that I start to
think of the best and most fruitful
time of year – Autumn - A truly
delightful time for wine and food
combinations.
October is the busiest time in
the vineyard calendar, with the
harvest and grape picking being
timed around the weather and
grape ripeness. The early autumn
storms can reek havoc on a full vine
with large bunches of grapes. With
the harvest safely in the winery,
the wine making can commence
for the season, and the speculators
can start judging the vintage for its
value and quality.
Autumn brings us in from the
gardens and patios, with thoughts
of warmer and fuller wines and
foods. We see lots of “foody” wines
selling at this time, from regions
like the south west of France with
its Cahors, Madiran, Gaillac and
Jurançon, through to the wonderful
gastronomic Piedmont of northern
Italy. From this fabulous undulating
region, we find beautiful Barbera
d’Alba, Barolo, Barberesco, and
Gavi. These are big full wines with
rich, warm, spicy, berry, truffle and
mineral notes matching well with
cassoulet, ripe red meats, game and
fowl. They also go very well with
rich fish dishes such as roast turbot

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- or with speciality and seasoned
cheeses.
November is my favourite time
with the beautiful juicy Beaujolais
Nouveau. If you haven’t tried this
for a while, give it another chance.
We have seen three outstanding
vintages and 2006 is also set to be
very good – I can’t wait! As with all
wines, you get what you pay for,
so don’t go too cheap. Look to pay
£5-£6 for some cracking Nouveau
and be handsomely rewarded. Try
booking into the Spyglass Inn,
Ventnor for the best Beaujolais
Day on the island. – Thursday 16th
November.
Sponsored by EUROVINES

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