This week I ‘ave been mostly drinking...

Dianne Barrie, Company Administrator – Well, this week I ‘ave been mostly drinking Loredona Pinot Noir. I am still not convinced we have made the move in to spring yet here in Scotland, so for now I am sticking to red wines, and this pinot noir from California is the ideal wine for the current time of year. Full of lovely summer fruit flavours yet lighter on the palate than some of the richer reds we associate with winter. It is a lovely wine to accompany a lighter lunch, however the well-round character of this wine means it can also stand up to a more substantial meal, such as a mushroom and pancetta risotto, a tomato-based herb pasta dish or simply a margherita pizza! If you haven’t tried pinot noir wines before then I recommend you give this one a go as it is the perfect wine to make the transition from winter in to spring and summer.

Kieran German, Shop Manager – Remember the nineteen-nineties? They were good weren’t they? Britpop was in its pomp; Scotland could send its football team to the World Cup; George W. Who?; the economy was not on its knees; things could only get better; and we were all drinking Australian Shiraz. Well rekindle the good old days with a bottle of Bylines Shiraz (2005) – it has all the oomph of a big meaty Aussie bottle, showcasing beautiful home-made bramble jelly flavours [another nostalgia-fest] but is also balanced and with firm, unintrusive tannins. It has all the bombasticity we associate with the style, yet nuance and refinement – perhaps a nod to the fact that we’re grown-ups now, the world is a more complex place, and we like our wines to reward us, and go well with a cheeseboard.

Mark Powrie, Orders Team – This week I have been mostly drinking soft drinks. A bit random I know, however it is time to get in the zone for the summer holidays. Saying that, I am intrigued by Chase Vodka. We recently received this into our warehouse and the crisp, clean, beautiful bottle really caught my eye. Having a little sample of this, the taste was smooth, creamy and left a lovely after taste. Chase have a wide range of flavours to offer for their vodka and the Seville Orange Marmalade Vodka, over ice with a dash of soda or lemonade will be my drink of the summer I think……….

Moving into the Summer season, I feel that it is time to think about the summer tipple. Summer to me says Sparkling Rose…sitting in the garden, the BBQ sizzling away, glass of Reserve De Sours in hand. This wine is absolutely delicious and instantly appealing. The colour is a really bright salmon almost strawberry pink with flavours of ripe red summer berry fruits. With fine persistent bubbles, a very delicate mousse and on the palate it displays "strawberries and cream" like flavours with good length. You can buy this from a few suppliers, however, at £11.42 inc. VAT this is an absolute steal…make sure you stock up for the summer…….

Let’s raise our glasses to the sunshine and help it to come out to play………