The island of Ile de Re is known for its prison, salt marshes, oyster farming and olive oil, but mostly as a wonderful place to visit for scenic viewing. The main town, Saint-Martin, is full of people who look like they shop at the French equilvalent of The Daylesford Farm Shop. Mr and Mrs Wine Tipster are staying at the modestly sized and stylish Le Clos Saint-Martin. Ile de Re is easily reached by bridge from La Rochelle.
In UK supermarket life, nip into Sainsbury’s and take advantage of some terrific wines on offer at 33% off. Castelvero Gavi 2009, Italy, now 4.65 from 6.99, is one of the easy drinking whites of 2010. Jacob’s Creek Shiraz Cabernet 2008, Australia, now 4.65 from 6.99, classy, ultra consistent red, waving the big brand flag. Campo Viejo Rioja Reserva 2005, Spain, now 6.65 from 9.99, is an excellent example of a red from this vintage that is ready for drinking now.
Meanwhile we are off to visit an oyster farm and take in a light lunch.

In The Loire soaking up the clouds, autumnal notes and Euro Pop.The weather may not have played a trump card but the vino experience has reminded me of what The Loire can really offer. So for those of you back home, try out three favourite whites

of mine from this region:Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference Muscadet – Sèvre et Maine 2009, 6.29; Pouilly Fume Jean Pabiot 2008,12.95,www.tanners-wines.co.uk; Sancerre Domaine Vacheron 2008, 17.99,Waitrose. Off to find the sun and some moules.

Before I complement South Africa I must partially praise my horseracing tips from Goodwood last week. Rileykeepsthefaith and Noverre To Go both ran into each way money, whilst on Thursday Age of Aquarius looked sure to win but sadly the horse broke down when clear – saved for stud duties.Last Tuesday I was at The Wines of South Africa, Taste the Earth event and although I could only sample a selection of the 160 wines on offer there were plenty of stars. Kicking off with Southern Right Sauvignon Blanc, Hemel en Aarde, 2009, £9.99 a soft, oily, citrus flavoured and impressively structured white. Stockists: www.slurp.co.uk, Beaconsfield Wine Cellars. . Delheim Shiraz, 2006, £12.95 is dark, earthy, spicy, chocolaty and full bodied. Stockist: Wine Rack. Moving to a top producer, Thelema ‘the mint’ Cabernet Sauvignon, 2007, £19.99 really is correctly named and combining with the minty, herbaceous character is classic, high quality blackberry fruit, which is very impressive . Stockist: UK Agent, Enotria, Tel: 0208 – 961 – 4411.

Today is the third day of The Glorious Goodwood Horse Racing Festival which will finish on Saturday. Goodwood, which is near Chichester in West Sussex, is one of the most picturesque racecourses in the country and their festival provides top class racing. The 3.25 2 mile Artemis Goodwood Cup today is my favourite race of the week and Age of Aquarius is rightfully heading the betting. Tomorrow Duncan has a lively chance in the 2.10 Glorious Stakes because he finished second last time out to Harbinger, the stunning winner of the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes last weekend and there is nothing to match Harbinger in this field. Saturday features the tricky 3.10 Stewards Cup, so have a small each way wager on Rileyskeepingthefaith and Noverre To Go. If you are looking for a vino match to enjoy your racing then Delaire Sauvignon Blanc 2009, South Africa, £8.84 from Justerini & Brooks is refreshing, dry and crisp with herbaceous and spicy character. Delaire was one of several classy wines at The Wines Of South Africa Taste the Earth Tasting this week.
Goodwood selections:
Thursday 3.25 Age of Aquarius win 11/8.
Friday 2.10 Duncan win 11/10.
Saturday 3.10 Noverre To Go each way 12/1 and Rileyskeepingthefaith each way 20/1.

Louise and I are about to indulge in a weekend of DIY. I have to admit to finding DIY as appealing as physics and will need a post paint rolling solution on Saturday night. A wine I discovered recently which will brighten any mood is Vino Frizzante Pinot Grigio, £6.99, Marks and Spencer. This dry, lightly sparkling wine delivers enough Pinot Grigio flavour to make this a really attractive aperitif style of vino. For those of you who need a red solution try Diemersfontein Pinotage 2009, South Africa, £7.99, Waitrose. I think Diemersfontein’s Pinotage is one of the best on the market and they really deliver vintage after vintage with their enticing coffee and chocolate flavoured medium bodied red.

The Tour de France is a wonderful spectacle and I know people who simply tune in for the beautiful scenery rather than for the crashes and ripped lycra. As a velo nut I have been to several stages of Le Tour, enjoying a day in the mountains and then a relaxing dinner with a glass of vino. This year I am settling for i player coverage and some quality French wines. La Difference Viognier/Muscat 2009, Catalan, £5.80, immediately appealing, aromatic and thirst quenching, grapey white from southern France. Stockist: Tesco. Domaine Pinson Chablis 2008, Burgundy, £14.43, stylish combination of steely, minerally character combined with taut Chardonnay fruit. Don’t let the fridge numb all those subtle flavours. Stockist: Berry Brothers & Rudd. Esprit de Buganay Rose 2009, Provence, £8.49 down to £6.29 is at the premium end of pink drinking with classy, ripe strawberry fruit, zesty character and a long tangy finish. Stockist: Waitrose.
Now for the mountains stages and where is that lycra?

Post World Cup, whilst patriotism has gone into temporary hibernation and the vuvuzelas have been laid to rest until the next sporting event The Wine Tipster can indulge in blogs featuring

a vino selection from several different countries. However, despite trying to bin the footie it is difficult to forget the host nation so taste Lyngrove Sauvignon Blanc 2009, South Africa, £5.99. Stockist: Coop. Straight-forward grassy, exotically flavoured fresh Sauvignon Blanc from the Western Cape. For the sparkling fans amongst you, Jacob’s Creek Blanc de Blanc NV, Australia, £9.99 is not heavy handed with its crisp, light and creamy Chardonnay flavours. Stockists: Budgens, Londis.One of the star wines of the summer is Touriga Nacional Tejo 2007, Portugal, £6.99 in store or £75.49 online for a case of 12 = £6.29 a bottle.This medium bodied red has delicious dark fruit flavours, soft tannins and lovely balance, proving what Touriga Nacional can achieve away from the Douro. Stockists: Marks & Spencer and Marks & Spencer online.

Fluid is a very good online London bar and restaurant guide that is easy to navigate. If you are looking for confirmation that you are making the right choice in booking a particularly restaurant then check out if this dining establishment has been reviewed by Fluid. Alternatively, if your guest only eats Italian food there are the top ten restaurants listed by country, or if a fussy friend only like wine bars, then you can find the top ten chart toppers for this type of outlet.
Fluid in their news section has a range of features including restaurant festivals, new openings and interviews. If you click on the Fluid link there is an interesting interview with some bloke covering English Wines, punk rock and favourite wines!

I first came across Adam Franklin and his battered guitar playing live in the wonderful Sophia in 2005. It was clear that the guitar, if not the man, had been on the rock and roll motorway. A non-wikipedia check revealed that Adam had spent the nineties fronting the powerful Swervedriver as the main guitarist and singer. In 2000, Adam went solo and created Toshack Highway but they lacked a bit of power in front of goal and the partnership name was ditched with the release of his first album as Adam Franklin in 2007. I Could Sleep for A Thousand Years is Adam’s third album and now credited in the title are his Bolts of Melody band. This excellent album rocks along like old Swervedriver stuff with a couple of large Rhone corkers in Yesterday Has Gone Forever and I’ll be Yr Mechanic opening proceedings before slipping into melodic, Franklin Furmint contemplation with I Want You Right Now. You are nearly reaching for a Mourvedre driven Bandol as a

couple of sombre pieces follow before you are rescued by the assertive Spent Bullets. Ok, even though Adam sings about the Endless Summer this isn’t barbecue backing music and so open the Domaine Tempier anyway. Buy Adam’s album from the super friendly Second Motion Records.

Thank you to all the nice people of Bath who attended this show. The seminars were great fun and as promised this is the list of the wines we tasted at The Wines of Rioja show: Cosme Palacio White 2007, £9.99, a good combination of subtle oak and lemony fruit flavours. Stockist: Harrods. Marques de Murrieta Capellania Blanco Reserva 2004, £16.00, top class single vineyard white Rioja with balanced intensity of oak and fruit flavours. An ideal food match for smoked fish. Stockists: Waitrose, Laithwaites, Harvey Nichols, Fortnum & Mason. Faustino V Rosado 2009, £7.19, is a lovely, dry aperitif style, with soft, ripe strawberry and raspberry fruit flavours. Stockist: Ocado. Conde de Valdemar Tinto Crianza 2005, £10.99, medium bodied red,dark fruit flavours, good structure, ideal with lamb. Stockists: Oddbins. Campo Viejo Tinto Reserva 2005, £9.99 super smooth blend of Tempranillo, Mazuelo and Graciano with subtle spice, damson, blackcurrant hints and soft tannins. Ideal to drink now.Campillo Tinto Gran Reserva 1995, £21.00, is a classic reminder of how good old fashioned Rioja can be.100% Tempranillo, medium bodied, mellow, earthy, integrated oak, tangy fruit and a wine to enjoy over the next 2-3 years. Match with lamb and avoid full flavoured cheeses. Stockists: St Austell Brewery Tel: 08452-411122, Sussex Victuallers Tel:01903-856223, Oakdene Fine Wine Importers Tel: 01237-451291.
If you would like to find out more about Rioja then go to the excellent Wine From Rioja website at: www.winesfromrioja.co.uk