Two major factors currently affecting the wine trade are unpredictable currency fluctuations and weather ravaged vintages in key wine regions. These unfortunate circumstances look set to have a serious effect upon both supply levels and price. I had this in mind whilst at a recent tasting and so veered off the beaten track to go looking for wines which in years gone by were synonymous with both quality and value. As the tasting went on I was pleasantly surprised to find that two of the wines that we stock fit the bill perfectly.

Muscdet Sur Lie

A wine which hailes from the coastal region of the Loire Valley and is made from the Melon de Bourgogne variety. The first crucial thing to remember when looking at Muscadet is whether or not it says 'Sur Lie' on the label or not. This relates to the crucial practice of resting the wine on the lees for a period of time. This means that the dead yeast is left in contact with the wine for a period of time, which has the effect of creating a creamy, sometimes nutty, flavour. This is the classic Muscadet flavour and without this, Muscadet is just another light and fruity wine - that is not to say it's not pleasant, but you may be disappointed if you're expecting more flavour. 

Frascati

This is named after the town of Frascati which is located around 25km south of Rome. It is a fresh, dry style of white derived primarily from the Trebbiano grape, although blending with other varieties is permitted. The vineyards, on which the grapes are cultivated, contain a high proportion of volcanic rock which adds a distinctive mineral quality to the higher quality wines produced. Frascati is a wine that until recently has fallen by the way side. This is largely due to under investment at the production stage, however, with the implementation of modern techniques and technology, in both the vineyard and the winery, many wines of exceptional quality are mow being produced.

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