Once you know it’s there it can become all encompassing, overwhelming even in it’s ubiquity. Obviously if Insta influencers are posting about it then it must be time to get on board. For years it simply passed me by, a growth in Spring but really not worthy of a second thought. In abundance locally Cow Parsley is suddenly everywhere; the tall hollow stems decorating roadside verges and hedgerows with masses of frothy, white flowers. Inexperienced foragers beware though, the notoriously poisonous plant Hemlock produces similar umbrella like clusters of white flowers in Summer.

Most people’s poison gains a pinkish hue this time of year, so thought best to keep you up to date with this year’s range of rosé with local elections done and those seemingly endless Jubilee celebrations imminent.

First up, Du Grappin Bagnums are in stock (who doesn’t want a magnum in a bag for an outdoor party?) and ready to go. Their rosé is 100% juicy, fruity Cinsault from Nyons in the central Rhone. Also just arrived their very latest Bagnum, AOC Cotes du Rhone Blanc… a Roussanne, a bright and floral grape that does particularly well on the gravelly slopes formed from the debris of the glaciers that carved the Rhone Valley. Picked by hand and pressed into stainless steel for fermentation and aged for five months on lies for texture.

CUBI

Small bag in box, rosé options. Take your pick from this pair of cute Cubi wines, three litres (4 x 750ml), très Français and the perfect size for fridge stashing until the sun really shines.

AOP Beaujolais Rosé, 100% gamay– dangerously easy drinking, pale, bone dry redcurrant and blackcurrant predominant. The one in the Harlequin box.
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Orélie Rosé – Cab Sauv, Grenache Gris, Gamay and Syrah blend from Vignerons Ardechois set in a truely stunning part of SE France. The wine is rose petal in colour with layers of cherry and ripe strawberry fruit. A fuller bodied, food friendly, fresh and fruity rosé perfect with tomato based dishes or grilled fish.

SOMERSET

‘The land of the Summer people’. Spring, at last, so time for the latest (2021) vintage of Ingrid Bates’ fabulous Somerset Rosé. Light, dry and with Strawberry notes, plus only 11.5% AVB. 85% Regent, 15% Seyval Blanc and very easy drinking.

The only bottles we list on our website! Our forward-thinking parish council has secured some of the Dunleavy Sparkling white for our Jubilee Jamboree. Lovely work.