It’s three weeks until Christmas, just in case you haven’t noticed. All the lights on the streets, Christmas markets, the smell of mulled wine mixed with wet asphalt, that’s the holly jolly season in the city. But there’s one thing that really matters, and that’s wine. The right wine for your personal Christmas feast makes the difference. And it doesn’t even have to be just for one day, Christmas is a season and it started already.

At Drinks&Co, we have prepared a delicious selection of white, red and sparkling wines for under £12 for you that set the perfect framework from now until the big family dinner.

White Wines for under £12

Villa Sparina Gavi Di Gavi 2016

Villa Sparina Gavi Di Gavi 2016 stands out as the historic identity of Villa Sparina. The Italian winemaker creates a true classic from Piedmont with the autochthone Cortese grapes showing a vivid expression and a unique freshness. A gem on every Christmas menu.

El Grifo Malvasia Seco Coleccion 2017

El Grifo Malvasia Seco Coleccion 2017: a white wine from the region of Lanzarote based on Malvasía of 2017. According to Uvinum users, this white deserves an evaluation of 4 of 5 points. Perfect to warm up from the cold outside.

Red Wines for under £12

Marqués de Cáceres Crianza 2012

From the fertile lands of La Rioja comes this Marqués de Cáceres Allevamento, a special red that combines tradition and innovation.
Elaborated by Marques de Cáceres, a winery that has been producing quality wines for more than four decades. It was founded in 1970 by Enrique Forner and was a pioneer in the renewal of Rioja wines. Currently, the fifth generation of the family is in charge of the winery. 

Pruno 2015

The most wanted red wine at Uvinum also come at the market’s best price. It’s one of the most appreciated and praised wines on the Spanish market: Pruno 2015. It has been qualified as one of the world’s best wines for its price-value-ratio in several vintages, spoiling our palate with its juicy aromas and fruity, smooth and enjoyable character once again.

Discover a wine, at under £10, that also conquered the heart of Robert Parker. Moreover, this vintage comes in a lot fewer bottles: Don’t miss out on yours!

E. Guigal Côtes du Rhône 2013

The E. Guigal Côtes du Rhône year after year remains faithful to its quality. A great classic, a know-how and an incomparable quality-price ratio. The E. Guigal Côtes du Rhône 2013 is an indispensable wine in its cellar which vintage after vintage is Nº1 of sales at Uvinum and many other wine merchants.

El Molar 2016

With El Molar 2016, Propiedad Vitícola Casa Castillo proves its high expertise once more. This Garnacha from Jumilla emphasises the appellation’s singularity. In a region with a hot and dry climate, where the brand’s winemakers mainly cultivate Monastrell grapes, El Molar 2016 stands out like a shiny diamond for its fruity touch. The previous vintage of 2015 already received high evaluations from nationally renowned wine guides and this vintage targets anew, excellent and well-earned critics. Don’t wait any longer and try a glass of this Jumilla gem.

Sparkling Wines for under £12

Parxet Brut

Parxet elaborates this Parxet Brut (£8.30), a sparkling wine from Cava vinified from Viura, Parellada, Pansa Blanca and Macabeo and has an alcohol content of 11.50%. The Parxet Brut finds an ideal companion in food like white meat and roast. The Uvinum community values the Parxet Brut with 3,7 of 5 points and also has the following ratings: peñín: 90. 

Col Vetoraz Prosecco Extra Dry

Col Vetoraz Prosecco Extra Dry is made with the Charmat method. This Prosecco Extra Dry wine has a persistent perlage. It’s a fruity sparkling, easy to drink, enjoyable. To be sipped with friends as an aperitif.

Castillo Perelada Brut Reserva

Over the decades, the Castillo Perelada Brut Reserva created its own identity thanks to the use of native grapes and the cultivation area’s mild climatic conditions. The Xarel.lo adds the sparkling’s distinctive character, flavour, and structure, the Macabeo cares for appreciated freshness and the Parrelada provides delicacy and elegance. Castillo Perelada Brut Reserva is a true masterpiece!

Aviva Gold

Just like the rose could be defined by the element of fire, this Aviva Gold might be perfectly equalled to liquid gold. Glowing, bright, magical, this sparkling wine is a pleasure for the sight as well as the palate. It is ideal to accompany desserts, sweets, chocolates, in a way which will delight the most glutton and will give your party the unique fun and bright touch that this sparkling wine can give. 

Cordon Negro Brut Magnum

Cordon Negro Brut is Freixenet’s most popular cava and is often referred to as the “Black Bottle Bubbly.”
Wine Spectator – “This shows more finesse than many of its peers, displaying a subtle juiciness, joined by aromatic apricot, quince, mandarin orange and almond notes. Finely meshed, with a lightly spiced finish.”

You could claim that going to the nearest pub for a few drinks is practically a national sport. Furthermore, friendships play a big part in our general wellbeing. So much so that we celebrate the annual World Friendship Day. And a mix of friends and drinks is a winning combination! Previously published research from Oxford University highlights that meeting our friends at the pub makes us more cheerful, healthy and happy.

The Pub: The Cathedral of Friendship

The pub is a natural meeting place and the social life in the pub provides a better quality of life for many. An important part of maintaining your social relationships is meeting face to face. The research from Oxford University did, in fact, indicate that persons who go to the local neighbourhood pub near their home or their workplace tend to have more close friends.

Solid friendships

It is said that going to pubs and bars helps to provide a solid social network. The social aspect helps to improve happiness and our health in general. The authors of the report stressed that it is better to make friends and maintain friendships when we meet physically. The social networks and the digital world are simply supplements that cannot replace human contact. When you meet up for a drink you strengthen the bonds of friendship.

On the other hand, researchers from the Department of Experimental Psychology at the University of Oxford also found that the locality of the pub plays a role. Pubs and bars in local neighbourhoods or in small municipalities offer greater benefits than the pubs located in more central areas and in cities. The neighbourhood pubs often have a more familiar setting, while the bigger and more central pubs do not offer the same atmosphere for maintaining friendships.

Go to the pub, but drink in moderation

When the Oxford study was published it also highlighted that limited and moderate alcohol consumption improves our well-being and some (but not all) social skills. Therefore, it is worth remembering the benefits of drinking in moderation.

The cosy bars and pubs offer a social setting, where you can enjoy a drink with your friends in a responsible community environment. So maybe it is a good idea to leave the house and meet up with some friends at the pub for a drink. Silence the smartphones, gather around the table, and enjoy a moment of good old-fashioned friendship.

Robert Mondavi Private Selection Cabernet Sauvignon 2017

Robert Mondavi Winery offers us this Robert Mondavi Private Selection Cabernet Sauvignon 2017. It is a Californian red wine which is based on clusters of cabernet sauvignon from 2017. It has an alcohol content of 13 %.

Feudo Arancio Cabernet Sauvignon 2017

Feudo Arancio Cabernet Sauvignon 2017: The winery Feudo Arancio presents Feudo Arancio Cabernet Sauvignon 2017. It is a Sicilian red wine that is made from cabernet sauvignon 2017 and it has an alcoholic strength of 13.5 %.

We already know the multiple benefits provided by wine. Many investigations show the beneficial consequences for the body that wine consumption has.

Therefore, Corporación Vinoloa reminds us, as a collection, the health benefits of this drink.

• Prevents cardiovascular diseases. This is provided that the amount of 150 ml per day is not exceeded. The antioxidants that make it up increase the levels of ‘good’ cholesterol or HDL and this prevents the formation of clots.
• As a treatment for the gums. The benefits of drinking wine for your mouth are incredible. It is good for gum treatment and to clean the palate. The composition of the fermented grapes avoids the appearance of streptococci and bacteria related to caries, while it is also very effective against gingivitis and sore throats.
• Reduces the risk of dementia. New studies confirm that drinking two glasses of wine a day decreases inflammation and brain toxins, even those that are associated with Alzheimer’s.
• One feels happier. It has been shown that the intake of wine has also benefits in the mood. When you drink a glass, endorphins are released, relaxation increases and we are happier.
• Excellent to keep the line. Surely you did not know that wine can be the perfect ally to meet your weight loss goals. Red wine contains a compound that prevents the formation of fat cells and allows stimulating the existing ones to purify them and eliminate them.
• Wine-therapy for the skin. The benefits that wine brings on the skin are several. For example, it hydrates it deeply, providing greater elasticity, luminosity and fighting against free radicals.
• Improves the peripheral circulation of the dermis. And furthermore, wine favours the decongestion of tired legs and reduces the appearance of varicose veins.

Montarro Frisante Rosé

Rosé wine Montarro Frisante Rosé is produced in the Bairrada region

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Porta 6 2017

Porta 6 2017 is the product of the fertile vineyards from Alenquero and Cadaval, in the mountains in the North of Lisbon.

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The natural wines are becoming increasingly popular. They have entered a market in which the consumers demand more naturalness. The winemakers don’t add sulphites, and they grow the vines organically… these are just some of the characteristics of natural wines. Read on to understand and learn more about them.

Sustainable Agriculture

Winemakers produce biodynamic wines through sustainable agriculture. Therefore there is a focus on the preparation of the soil using minerals and vegetation. Furthermore, these winemakers respect the cycles in nature. This helps them to determine the sowing, processing, and harvesting times of the grapes. The winemakers who use these methods believe that it creates a safer and more authentic product. Francesca Bordin, f & b manager of Hotel Granados, explains: ”They are of the conviction that the growth of the strain is determined by the stars and the positions of the planets. They use natural influences that stem from plants and fermented manure to serve as natural fertilisers.”

Cultivation with Respect for the Environment

The Association of Producers of Natural Wines explains that winemakers respect the natural cycles when they produce the wines. Sulphur or copper sulphate are common and accepted treatments in organic farming, but they must limit the use to what is essential. “We don’t use chemical fertilisers, herbicides, pesticides, systemic fungicides and genetically engineered organisms,” they add.

No Added Sulphites

Francesca Bordin explains that there are main differences between conventional wines and natural wines. There are only naturally produced sulphites in natural wine. These are produced during the alcoholic fermentation of the must. ”The wine is an organically cultivated product and winemakers don’t add to or remove anything from this type of wine. They don’t use additives during the fermentation process because they want to reflect what the land itself adds above all else. The winemakers don’t filter or clarify the wine because they want to preserve the natural characteristics. It is not everyone that agrees with or understands this specific work philosophy.”

The Viticulturist, The Creator

The creator of the wine controls the vineyard, is responsible for all the work and makes the decisions. The Association of Producers of Natural Wines gives a lot of attention to this type of wine. They encourage the winegrowers to involve themselves directly in each task and to devote a significant amount of their time to the vineyard.

Honoro Vera Organic 2016

The winery Bodegas Juan Gil elaborates this Honoro Vera Organic 2016

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Le Naturel

According to Uvinum users, this red wine earns 5 out of 5 points.

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The wine sector of Catalonia grows. Barcelona is the axis of wine tourism, since many tourists who visit and stay in the city usually make wine routes at the cellars near Barcelona. We review some of them.

1. Agustí Torelló

Located in Sant Sadurní d’Anoia, one of the most important enclaves of cava and wine worldwide, Agustí Torelló has wines from the Penedès region. Its cavas are the result of the elaboration and production of the pressing of the native grapes of the area, such as Xarel·lo or Macabeo. You can visit the cellar, try their products and make tastings.

2. Alella Vinícola Can Jonc

The DO Alella is strongly rooted in the area. It produces, elaborates and bottles wines and cavas of this appellation, that has vineyards just 15 km from Barcelona. In this area, modernist cellars abound, with amazing architecture. They not only offer quality in their wines but also enormous beauty in their facilities. Here you can take guided tours, activities in the vineyards and their surroundings, get to know the cellar, tasting workshops and be able to eat at its nearby restaurants.

3. Bodegas Freixenet

It is one of the most traditional cellars around the world. Its history rooted in the Penedès marks a before and after in the wine world of all time. Visitors enjoy a great experience when visiting Freixenet because one discovers how the cava is made, in addition to tasting it. A memorable visit.

4. Bodegas Pinord

It is fortunate to have such a large wine extension next to Barcelona. The most famous palates enjoy visiting these cellars because they offer tradition and modernity. In Vilafranca del Penedès, Bodegas Pinord presents 150 years of winemaking tradition. In their facilities, they produce more than five million bottles a year. Their wines are powerful and have all the art and tradition of the Penedès area.

5. Bodega Parés Baltà

In Pacs del Penedès there is Masia Can Baltà, which allows you to discover the vineyards of this important wine area, in addition to being able to see and touch the earth and taste its ecological and biodynamic wines.

6. Can Calopa-L’Olivera Cooperativa

In the Collserola Park of Barcelona there is a farmhouse, almost touching the big city. With the view one enjoys walking through the vineyard, in addition to knowing the process of organic wine elaboration.

Images: Uvinum and Armando Castillejos

Raventos D’Alella Santa María 2015

A white wine from Alella based on pansa blanca

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Blanc Pescador

The Blanc Pescador is a true success of an aromatic wine with a refreshingly light spritz.

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The wine will be flowing during World Rock Day, which is celebrated on July 13. Wine and rock are intimately linked through events and moments in history. We give you some examples of how these two worlds collide and create a perfect fusion.

The wine from U2

Rock lovers also drink wine. Just ask the Irish group U2, a world-famous rock band which has its own wine, The Joshua Tree Riesling. One of their albums influenced the choice of the name. The name gave rise to a wine in which the Riesling grape is the main protagonist.

Motörhead Shiraz

The British hard rock band created the wine Motörhead Shiraz, which is made with Shiraz grapes from Australia. It has been reported that they have sold more than 300,000 bottles worldwide.

Kiss Also Added a Wine to Their Repertoire

The 70’s rock band, Kiss, also created a wine: Kiss Zin Fire, which mixed pepper and blackberries, honouring the strength and power. It is no wonder that a band like Kiss would create a daring wine. It should be noted that they created many other wines before the Kiss Zin Fire. Unfortunately, they cannot be found as they are not being sold.

AC/DC: The Line of Wine

AC/DC is a heavy group but we can’t leave them off the list of rock bands that have created their own wine. The Australian band presented their AC/DC Wine line in collaboration with Warburn Estate winery. This means that it is not a single wine but several different wines. Each wine has been named after some of the most successful songs of the group. Therefore you can enjoy a Back in Black Shiraz, or why not a Highway to Hell Cabernet Sauvignon?

Festivals

Certain wineries and wine tourism destinations around the world let the world of rock and wine go hand in hand. They host-specific festivals and concerts to unite both concepts. This mix of wine and rock music at special celebratory events is always a success.

Very rock’n’roll labels

Ever since rock groups entered the world of wine, some wineries have chosen to pay their tribute to this musical style. They create labels and interesting names that have a great relationship. Bodega Renacer launched “Music Edition”, a limited edition of Punto Final Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon wines. These wines and labels pay tribute to the most renowned rock bands.

Honoro Vera 2017

Honoro Vera became known to the public when he was selected as a wine for dinner at the Oscars in Hollywood.

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Terras del Rei 2017

Terras del Rei 2017 derives its name from the ancient name of the Reguengos municipality which used to belong to the Portuguese Crown.

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Both wine and art are integral parts of the history of the world. As a result, art and wine have often crossed paths throughout the centuries. There are Egyptian frescoes referring to the grape harvests. Artists have also created mosaics dedicated to Dionysian, Baroque, Impressionist or Cubist paintings … Wine truly serves as inspiration in every era and style.

Below we’ll show you some examples of great works of art in which wine plays a part. Do you know them?

The Wedding Feast at Cana – Paolo Veronese

“The Wedding Feast at Cana” is a colossal work by the painter Paolo Caliari, known as Paolo Veronese (1528-1588). It measures an impressive 6.77 m x 9.94 m. The painting dates to 1562, when Veronese was commissioned to decorate the refectory of the Monastery of San Giorgio Maggiore in Venice.

The painting represents the famous biblical episode of the wedding at Cana, during which Jesus transformed water into wine. If you want to admire the painting in its full glory, you must go to the Louvre in Paris. Napoleon brought it here in 1797.

Bacchus – Caravaggio

Caravaggio (1571-1610) painted the portrait of the god Bacchus between 1596 and 1598. The protagonist is represented according to traditional iconography: naked, with a crown of vine leaves on his head and a glass of red wine in his hand, which he seems to be offering to the viewer.

Experts believe that Caravaggio used a mirror and his own reflected image to study the position of his hand. It is for this reason that Bacchus holds the glass with his left hand.

You can enjoy this painting at the Uffizi Gallery in Florence.

Meeting of Drinkers – Bartolomeo Manfredi

Bartolomeo Manfredi (1582-1622) represented a style similar to Caravaggio’s style. In his painting “Meeting of Drinkers”, the figures emerge from a dark background, violently illuminated by a light that comes from above. It is a painting that gives a feeling of suspense and restlessness, well represented by the overcrowded position and the expressions of the characters.

The painting, dating from 1621, is now located at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.

Luncheon of the Boating Party – Renoir

The famous “Le déjeuner des canotiers” by Pierre-Auguste Renoir (1841-1919) dates to 1881. Today you can find it preserved in the Phillips Collection in Washington.

The painting features the terrace of the Fournaise restaurant on the island of Chatou. The Parisian rowers who loved to practice their sport along the Seine often also frequented this fine establishment. It is a festive and joyful scene that shows 14 people gathered around the same table to enjoy a Sunday afternoon.

It is a painting with bright and soft tones, which gives the viewer a feeling of lightness.

The Night Café – Vincent Van Gogh

Blinding, loud, anguished. “The Night Café” (1888) by Vincent van Gogh (1853-1890) is an attempt to represent the human degeneration that occurs in bars at night.

In the late-night establishments, the most dreadful human passions come to light aided by alcohol. According to the painter, the most suitable colours to represent restlessness and despair are red and green. These colours are plentiful in the painting.

If you are curious to see the original painting, you will find it in the Art Gallery of Yale University.

The Day After – Edvard Munch

Wine is a source of great joy … But do not exaggerate! The Norwegian painter Edvard Munch (1863-1944) wanted to represent the drama of the hangover in the painting “The Day After” (1895). The title already says everything you need to know.

The main protagonist is represented on the bed, in a less than elegant position. In the foreground, you can see the bottles and glasses which were abandoned there the night before. It is a sad scene, which represents the physical consequences and loneliness caused by the abuse of alcohol.

You can admire the painting up close in Nasjonalgalleriet in Oslo.

Two Women Sitting at a Bar – Pablo Picasso

The painting dates to the blue period of the painter Pablo Picasso (1881-1973). As the name suggests, “Two women sitting in a bar” (1902) – also called “Two prostitutes sitting in a bar” – represents two girls dressed in blue sitting at the counter of a cafe. The girls, however, do not seem to enjoy themselves.

The slouching shoulders and the lowered faces imbue a feeling of sadness and boredom, a sensation highlighted even more by the cold and muted tones of the painting. The provocative clothes seem to suggest the profession of the two, who wait in the bar for the next customer.

The painting is on display at the Hiroshima Art Museum, Japan.

The next time you walk through the doors of a museum, focus your eyes and try to find as many glasses as possible in the paintings on the walls.

Follador Prosecco Valdobbiadene Brut

Follador Prosecco Valdobbiadene Brut: This is a sparkling wine from Prosecco Di Conegliano-Valdobbiadene with selected clusters of glera.

Sassicaia 2015

Sassicaia 2015: a red wine from Bolgheri Sassicaia based on cabernet sauvignon and cabernet franc from 2015 and with an alcoholic content of 13.5%.

Hortas do Caseirinho

An excellent white wine from Portugal with a unique price-performance ratio.

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Ramón Bilbao Gran Reserva 2010

It pairs well with roast lamb, red meats and sauces.

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Eating meat, in moderation, and drinking wine are both pleasures. And if we combine the two with each other it’s even better, don’t you think?

Red meat goes well with red wine, but other types of meat can be paired perfectly with other types of wines. A rosé, in addition to red, pairs very well with steak tartar. At the same time, a good entrecote of veal is perfect with strong and consistent red wines (Priorat, Penedès, and Malbec or Cabernet Sauvignon grapes). The meat will taste better, but in addition, the pairing always depends on the sauce that is used to season the red meat.

Poultry and chicken are preferable with white and light red wines. Poultry meat is very versatile and therefore requires different wines. Wines produced on the Syrah grape go very well with duck, and once again it is worth mentioning the Cabernet Sauvignon, a grape that is strong on the palate, which surely compliments this type of meat. It is recommended pairing game (partridge or pheasant, ostrich) with young red wines.

Pork can be paired with any type of wine, whether white wines or rosé wines. The meat is more mellow and tender, and it does not need to be paired with wines that are too strong.

And the sausages? When we prepare meat on the grill or barbeque, often with some sausages on the side, we often choose red wines to accompany the meal. Similarly, we often choose the full-bodied red wine when preparing lamb as this meat is denser and more marked.

If we opt for baked or roasted meats, then, thanks to slow cooking and great preparation, it is better to drink more concentrated wines, such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Merlot. Again, the Cabernet Sauvignon pairs really well with dishes such as osso buco.

Azul Portugal Setúbal Rosé 2017

The Azul Portugal Setúbal Rosé 2017 is a rosé wine from Setubal produced by Azul Portugal made of touriga nacional and aragonêz.

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Porta 6 Vinho Verde Branco 2018

The wine comes from the famous Portuguese wine region Vinho Verde, which is located in the north of Portugal.

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Wine has become an essential element in most restaurants. Currently you can find there several Appellations of Origin from many different places and special gastronomic wine lists, endorsed by sommeliers who join forces with the chefs to create perfect pairings. Follow our route of the best restaurants with wine pairing in Barcelona.

1. Barcelonas, at the Gran Hotel La Florida

At this restaurant you can enjoy high cuisine, not only for its location, 500 meters above the city, near the Tibidabo, but also because it takes good care of every detail of its cuisine, Mediterranean and Catalan, where the chef Jordi Delfa offers two different tasting menus for those who wish a total immersion in the new gastronomy. These are paired carefully with wines of varieties of geographical proximity represented in the appellations Montsant, Priorat or Penedés, taking also into account other areas such as Rioja and Ribera del Duero, organic wines, Sherry wines, French wines and a wide variety of champagnes.

2. Sintonía

The ex-Bulli Pablo Tomás proposes a menu that one can build “a la carte”, according to the dishes that are available at that moment. But the highlight is that they have a wine list of 100 references, eminently from small producers, focusing on the gastronomic side. Prepared by Patricia Pacho, maître of the restaurant, Catalan wines take centre stage, as well as champagnes, sparkling wines or wines by the glass. Its pairing pays attention to combining products from the land with wines also from the same origin. The bouillabaisse stands out with a rosé from the area of ​​Soria, and the red wine Ferret from Priorat for the veal knuckle with vegetables, cut in front of the diner. “Some vegetables with a light and aromatic wine could help that intended balance. A barrel with deeper notes is perfect for a white meat that has a more complex elaboration”, explains Patricia Pacho.

3. Caelis

The Caelis wine list is based on local and Spanish wines, as well as French, Italian, German and American wines. They offer 350 references and also different and new options that the sommelier and the chef try, in order to offer something outside of the usual. Here we find several tasting menus: the Tierra y Mar (“Land and Sea”) is shorter and paired only with Catalan wines, while the Celebration is longer, and there are wines from all over the world.

4. Nora BCN

There are restaurants that surprise for their thorough and extensive wine list. At Nora there is a “wine room” where you can eat or dine with wine pairings to combine perfectly, with a mix of Catalan and international cuisine.

Porta 6 2017

PPorta 6 2017 is the product of the fertile vineyards from Alenquero and Cadaval, in the mountains in the North of Lisbon.

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Hortas do Caseirinho

An excellent white wine from Portugal with a unique price-performance ratio.

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Martian wine may seem totally surreal and very much like science fiction. We are likely to think like that because humans have not yet set foot on the red planet. But we have already taken some very important steps in that direction. We have sent satellites and space crafts to Mars that are exploring this faraway world at this very moment. And with our discoveries so far, some people have also raised the question whether it would be possible to make wine on Mars.

Grapes for Wine from Mars: Where Did the Idea Originate?

Is it all a joke? Not at all. The outlandish idea originated in Georgia, a country that boasts of winemaking traditions going back thousands of years. The founders of this project believe that Georgia, with its proud history of viticulture, should also be the pioneers of introducing winemaking on Mars.

Apparently, a group of researchers and Georgian businessmen have joined an appeal from NASA to produce greenhouse varieties of vines and grapes that are suitable for growing on Mars. The so-called IX Millennium project is in the hands of the Georgian space research agency, the Tbilisi University of Commerce and Technology, the National Museum and a company named Space Farms.

A Futuristic Project

The project seems to be serious. One of the scientists working on this project is developing a bacterium that could transform the arid and dusty soil of Mars into fertile land. The long-term intention is to transform the soil of Mars so we can start growing plants.

Another aim of the project is to produce a variety of grape that is indigenous to Georgia. The researchers have therefore studied the 525 varieties in the country. The first results conclude that it might be possible to use the variety called Rkatsiteli. This variety is normally used to produce white wine and it has notes of green apple.

The Georgian grape varieties are tested in an environment here on earth that mimics that of Mars. By creating similar conditions, we get an idea of how they develop in this specific atmosphere. They plan to produce wine from these grapes to get a clearer indication of whether, in the future, it is possible to make wine with grapes from Mars.

However, the process to produce the first bottle of Martian wine will be very long. The Georgian researchers do not need to hurry. Most importantly, NASA must first continue to explore the territory and find a way to get to Mars safely.

Georgian Wine

According to history, the Georgian territories are the areas of origin of the vine shoots and the birthplace of viticulture. Winemaking tools, such as wine presses and different wine containers made of metal or clay, have been found during geological excavations in the territory. There is archaeological evidence for grape wine and viticulture dating all the way back to the early Neolithic period.

The region with the highest wine production lies in the eastern part of the country, a region called ”Kajeti”. This region is still the centre of Georgian winemaking to this day. The grape harvest is taken to the marani or winery, where the grapes are deposited in the sacjenli or wooden containers like hollow trunks.

Only time will tell whether Georgia will also claim the title as the cradle of Martian wine. But for now, they have an undeniable claim to being the pioneers of winemaking on Planet Earth.

Farnese I Muri Primitivo Puglia Vigneti del Salento 2017

The Primitivo “I Muri” from Vigneto di Salento, the Apulian winery of Farnese, is a very juicy and fruity red wine.

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Casal Mendes Rosé

As a table wine, the Casal Mendes Rosé cuts quite a figure.

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