If you are looking for trends in wine, Aldi wine buyer Aoife Habenicht has a few ideas as to what we will be drinking this year.
Apparently, the Irish obsession with Prosecco continues unabated. The retailer enjoyed double-digit growth in sparkling wines last year, all of it driven by Prosecco. This despite the fact that the chain introduced a Cava, to sit alongside the bargain Exquisite Cremant de Jura (€12.99), and promoted its (very drinkable) Champagne at under €20.
The other big sales driver is equally predictable. In the UK. it currently list 17 rosé wines; in Ireland, the number will rise to nine this summer.
WHITE WINES
The Wine Foundry Avesso 2018
Portugal, 12.5%, €8.99
Nice label and very decent refreshing wine with plump rounded juicy peaches. Drink it with scallops or chicken salads.
Exquisite Collection Rías-Baixas 2018
13%, €9.99
Pleasant soft pears and peaches cut through with a reviving acidity. Locally, the Galicians would drink this with shellfish.
ROSÉ WINES
Exquisite Collection Côtes de Provence Rosé 2018
12.5%, €9.49
Clean and refreshing, with tangy raspberry and strawberry fruits. Serve well-chilled by itself, or with summery chicken and seafood salads, or barbequed white meats.
Fleure de Prairie Côtes de Provence Rosé 2018
13%, €9.99
It comes in a very bling perfume bottle; riper and a little richer than the Exquisite rosé above, with similar red summer fruits.
RED WINES
Bouches du Rhône 2018, Provence
14%, €6.99
Good value for money at this price; plenty of soft sweet rounded ripe dark fruits. Very quaffable and perfect with barbequed and spicy grilled red meats.
Domaine du Ferrandière Merlot
13.5%, €8.49
A generous serving of ripe plum fruits with some nice grippy tannins. Roast lamb or beef.
