Gig in the Garden: The Drinks!

Here's what we're tasting this weekend chez Chris Evans...

It’s that time again - Gig in the Garden at the home of legendary radio DJ Chris Evans with James Blunt, Jack Savoretti and Danny Jones entertaining us all. I am back presenting the drinks offering, and here’s who I’ve brought along this year:

THE WINE

Tasked to pair just one white, one pink and one red with the sumptuous menus from José Pizarro, Chris Mackett, Atul Kochar and Mark Wogan, I chose some great all-rounder styles:

WHITE - Terra Organica, Parcel Series No. 1 Grillo, Sicily

Sicily produces some phenomenal, seriously accessible wines made with their indigenous grape varieties and Grillo is one of my favourites. A great crowd pleaser, this organic white is elegantly tropical with notes of orange and pineapple and a slick of refreshing salinity. This will be a winner with José's fish and Atul’s samosas particularly.

Available at Ocado and terraorganica.co.uk

PINK - Isola d’Amore ‘Love Island’ Rosé, Corsica

Here’s something a little different from the classic pink Provence: a rosé from Corsica! While still pale and pretty, this blend of Syrah and Grenache with the local Niellucciu and Sciaccarellu varieties gives a floral and strawberry-scented hit on the nose, followed up by a creamy, flavoursome palate of grapefruit, peach and pomegranate. A great, all-rounder, foodie pink with enough texture to cover all the food bases.

Available at Ocado

RED - Terra Organica, Primitivo, Italy

Another organic wine - from Puglia this time. This grape makes bold red wines that are famously juicy, packed full of figgy, dark chocolate notes and a generous splash of blackberry. This is what you want with a steak (Hi Chris Mackett) but it will also be spicy with spicy pepperoni on a pizza (Hello Mark Wogan). It’s like a huge hug in a class.

Available from Ocado and terraorganica.co.uk

THE NON-ALC SPARKLING TEA

For the non drinkers and zebra stripers, we have generously been sent a range of elegant sparkling teas from Saicho. These beautifully presented drinks are made with single origin teas

Saicho Jasmine

They say: Scented with jasmine blossoms, this green tea from Fuding, in Fujian province, China, has a delicate floral aroma and notes of apple sherbet, lychee and vanilla, making it a refreshing aperitif.

Saicho Hojicha

They say: Originating in Kyoto in the 1920s as a way of utilising leftover leaves, stems, stalks and twigs, Hojicha is a roasted green tea from Japan. The tea has a deep umami character and notes of nori seaweed, roasted hazelnut and delicate smoke, with dry and woody tannins.

Saicho Darjeeling

They say: This black tea was grown in the foothills of the Himalayas in Darjeeling, India. Harvested in the summer to develop its unique Darjeeling muscatel flavour, the tea has notes of mandarin, ginger, wood spice and gentle, dry tannins.

See more at saichodrinks.com

For the beer and spirits, we are joined by a trio of drinky friends from the Isle of Wight, where I now live:

THE BEER & SPIRITS

Wight Knuckle Brewery

Wight Knuckle has exploded onto the craft brewing scene to become the name to know in its home on the Isle of Wight. Sustainably made, vegan and made with local ingredients, Rob Oglander will be pouring unfiltered lager, pale ale, black IPA and a medium cider from the Beerfender. See more at wightknucklebrewery.com

Wight Whisky

Wight Whisky is the island’s only dedicated whisky distillery. Made with local water and local barley from Isle of Wight grain, this is a modern company who are making their mark on the world of English whisky. We’ll be trying the signature malt blend as well as their brand new, No. 1 single malt. Come and meet the founders, Lucy & Matt Gregg. See more at wightwhisky.com

Mermaid Gin (Vodka & Rum)

The Isle of Wight’s famous gin brand joins us from the Isle of Wight Distillery to showcase their original gin in its iconic blue bottle plus its friends, Zest gin, Pink gin, Salt Vodka and Spiced Rum. Founder Xavier Baker will be there himself mixing things up! See more at isleofwightdistillery.com

Non-Alc Functional Beer

Impossibrew

Back again in the non-alcoholic beer camp is Impossibrew with its deliciously refreshing, functional beer that uses GABA technology and nootropics to give you that slight chilled out buzz without the hangover. See more at impossibrew.co.uk

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