As 2021 draws to a close, The Wine Tipster looks back on another busy year. From racing wins to wine tastings, there has been a lot to celebrate amidst the continuing pandemic.

In particular, 2021 has been an exciting year for Prosecco DOC Rosé Millesimato, as The Wine Tipster has been able to present to audiences at virtual and live events in his role as Prosecco DOC UK Ambassador. All of the Prosecco DOC producers of white and rosé wines have received great feedback from trade and consumers. If you haven’t already tried Prosecco Rosé then 2022 is the year!

Looking forward to 2022, The Wine Tipster has the perfect recommendations for seeing the new year in which have been firm favourites of his throughout 2021.

Winbirri Vineyards Bacchus 2020, Norfolk, England, £16.99, Waitrose

English and Welsh still wines remain overlooked. The Wine Tipster hopes that quality wines from grape varieties like Bacchus, Pinot Gris, and Chardonnay reach a wider audience in 2022. There are some great UK producers like Bolney Estate, Chapel Down, Woodchester Valley, Simpsons and of course Winbirri producing top class wines. The Wine Tipster first presented Winbirri Bacchus a few years ago and Winbirri first hit the headlines when winning the Platinum Best in Show medal for best value white wine made from a single grape variety at the Decanter World Wine Awards. The Winbirri Bacchus 2020 has been a firm Wine Tipster favourite in 2021 and wines made from Bacchus are reaching new levels as a dry style that should be shouted about more.

Domaine Tempier Rouge Classique 2018 Bandol, France, £29.50

Bandol wines are so underrated and The Wine Tipster’s Dad was a massive fan of Domaine Tempier. The excellent Savage Selection list the fabulous Domaine Tempier wines and their 2018 Rouge Classique. This includes one of The Wine Tipster’s favourite grape varieties, Mourvedre, and is very accessible now as well as after ageing for years. 

Domaine Tempier Rosé 2020, Bandol, France, £23.50 

This is a stunning dry rosé which has been so enjoyable in 2021 and will age for years. 

Andreas Syrah 2018, Boviei Valley, Wellington , Western Cape, South Africa, £21.95 Slurp, Cellar Door Wines

Andreas have 4.5 hectares of vineyards and The Wine Tipster first tasted their wines back in 2014. Their 2015 vintage was excellent and the 2018 is truly memorable, with beautiful intense dark ripe fruit flavours, attractive spicy, herbal and smoky notes, backed by well balanced oak, making an integrated wine that is not over-powering. A wine for South African and Northern Rhône fans too.  

Mediterranean Léoube Gin, £50 Daylesford Organics

Gin has remained incredibly popular in 2021 with the recently released Mediterranean Léoube Gin showcasing why the UK loves Gin so much. Known for their stunning Provence rosés, Léoube have introduced this spirited new addition, which is distilled with olives and wild Mediterranean botanicals. Try a little neat and as a gin and tonic, where you can pick these fabulous botanicals. Léoube recommend a range of lovely seasonal Mediterranean Léoube Gin cocktails too including Autumnal Gin Cocktail⁠.

The Wine Tipster’s recent pieces for The Jockey Club are full of Festive Wines and Christmas Cocktails which are great for seeing the new year too.

However you choose to celebrate, The Wine Tipster wishes you a very Happy New Year and a great 2022. Cheers!

The days are getting longer, the blossom is nearly in full bloom and Spring is finally here. If you’re wondering what wine to pair with your Easter treats then look no further because The Wine Tipster has a range of options to put a spring in your step.

As the last goodbye to Winter and the welcoming of Spring, you have the choice of both wintery and fresh wines at Easter. For the traditional lamb roast on Easter Sunday, a warming red from bordeaux, rioja, beaujolais, chianti or the rhône match the spread well. This Domaine Lucien Lardy Moulin-à-Vent 2019, Beaujolais, France (£14.99 Majestic) is great value and versatile.

Heading further south to the Rhône Valley, the medium-bodied and accessible Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre blend of  Les Dauphins Côtes du Rhône-Villages 2019, abv 13.5%, Rhone, France, (£9.99 Waitrose) pairs beautifully with a less traditional option such as Moroccan spiced lamb.

For a lighter option such as a zesty stuffed chicken or a spring vegetable tart then the Delheim Wild Ferment Chenin Blanc 2019, Stellenbosch, South Africa (£14.99 The Oxford Wine Company) is a superb lightly oaked, rich and complex white perfect for these pairing options.

Fish is traditional on Good Friday but can be hard to pair with a suitable wine. For an easy option for any fish dish, the un-oaked Bouchard Finlayson ‘Sans Barrique’ Chardonnay 2019, Cape South Coast, South Africa (£14.60 Tanners) is stunning.

Or if you are looking for an Easter wine for under a tenner then Dark Horse Chardonnay 2019, California, USA is widely available (£8-£9 from Asda, Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Waitrose) and great with fish.

Eggs are a must at Easter, both savoury and sweet. However you like your eggs in the morning, Prosecco DOC is the perfect accompaniment to Brunch, and the Le Colture Sylvoz Prosecco DOC Brut, Treviso, Veneto (£12.95 Corney & Barrow) really hits the spot.

For chocolate eggs, a drier Brut Prosecco DOC balances the sweetness of the chocolate in the most delicious way. Celebrate in style with the Le Rughe Prosecco DOC Rosé Millesimato 2020 Brut, Treviso, Veneto (£14.95 and £26.95 in magnum Beverage Boys) – a glass of pink bubbly with a milk chocolate Easter egg is just right for Easter!   

For a great Spring spirit, the cosmic Moon Cherry Gin (£34.95 Master of Malt, £34.95 The Gin Stall, £34.99 Beverage Boys) with Twelve Below Apple & Garden Mint Tonic (£2.25 Beverage Boys) is refreshingly simple and delicious. Get a free 500ml bottle of Classic Twelve Below Tonic with every Moon Gin purchase from Beverage Boys.

Share your Easter celebration pictures and wine pairings with The Wine Tipster on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook. Happy Spring!

I’m looking forward to the Northumberland Plate Handicap at Newcastle as I’m a massive fan of these staying Handicaps and this year’s renewal is certainly competitive. I’m also interested to see Aloe Vera make her return in the 3.00 at Newcastle as I think she could have a very successful 2020.

English Wine Week finishes tomorrow and there is no doubt that Wines of Great Britain have done an excellent job here for all producers as there has been so much engagement here.

I have a bottle of Coates & Seely Brut Reserve NV from the hills of Hampshire chilling on ice to enjoy after racing. Hopefully, celebrating a winner or two!

Cheers

The Wine Tipster

1.50 Newcastle – Chipchase Stakes (Group 3) 6f   

With Brando disappointing once too often these days, have a look at Kevin Ryan’s other good sprinter, Major Jumbo, here. He’s got the potential plot draw in stall 12, which is going to enable him to grab the stands rail, often favoured, and with no other potential pacemaker he can set his own fractions. Could be hard to pass if so. Unibet 9/2 win

2.40 Newmarket – Criterion Stakes (Group 3) 7f

Limato is the class act but his record after a long break isn’t great, and he may need it. Yafta for the Richard Hannon team keeps threatening to win one of these and his close fifth behind Space Blues at Haydock earlier in the month looks all the better after he won easily in France On Thursday. Drawn next to likely pacemaker Vale Of Kent, should have his chance late. Unibet 9/1 each way

3.00 Newcastle – Exchange Hoppings Fillies’ Stakes (Group 3) 1m 2f

Aloe Vera (nap) was pulled out at Royal Ascot because of the testing conditions on the Thursday. She hasn’t been seen for over a year, since winning a Listed contest at Goodwood on her second start, having won on debut. She looked a very exciting prospect for the Ralph Beckett team, and I have been waiting for her return to action. Unibet 9/4 win

3.35 Northumberland Plate (Handicap) 2m ½f

Cosmelli (Gay Kelleway) clearly runs well at Newcastle as he won the Plate consolation race in 2018 and no arguing his chance from a handicapping point of view, 8lb lower than when a 2½l fifth in the race last year. In good form over trips too short since return and ought to be thereabouts. Unibet 11/1 each way (Unibet are paying five places)

Anyonecanhaveitall for Mark Johnston bumped into a well-handicapped improver in the shape of Oleg at Pontefract, the winner coming from an impossible position to nail him on the post. I watched this race at the time and the first two finished four lengths clear and the form looks very solid. He has had 4 lengths win and a neck second in two runs at Newcastle so clearly handles the track. Unibet 16/1 each way (Unibet are paying five places)

7.15 Curragh – Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby (Group 1) 1m 4f

Fiscal Rules for Jim Bolger was a staying-on fifth in the Irish 2000 but this step up in trip is going to make a difference – his half-sister Cimeara needs 1 mile four furlongs as a minimum, and the dam was a 12f horse. The fact he was thrown into the 2000 after just one run in a maiden shows trainer clearly thinks plenty of him. Expect a big step forward here. Unibet 13/2 each way

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