Drinks of the Month

Tantalus Old Vines Riesling Natural Brut 2013

Posted by Fiona Beckett (Google+) on July 1 2016 at 12:39

I don’t often pick a wine you can’t buy in the UK for my wine of the week but as it’s Canada Day I’m making an exception. (Plus there are regular Canadian visitors to the site who may be able to get their hands on it. Lucky them!)

It was one of the highlights of my recent trip to the Okanagan Valley. Tantalus specialises in riesling but this sparkling version which costs 34.70 CA$ (£20.70 at the current rate of exchange) from the winery + shipping is quite exceptional, with true riesling character, gorgeous lime-streaked fruit and an incredible persistence and minerality. The vines which were planted back in 1978 are grown without recourse to herbicides or pesticides

I'd drink it as an aperitif with some south-east Asian-style nibbles

Cheeringly I have discovered that an outfit called Tour de Force, which specialises in Canadian wine, does import the rest of their range into the UK including the 2013 Old Vines Riesling, which is also amazing, for an admittedly pricey £34.99. They also supply a number of top restaurants including Social Wine and Tapas which has it on their list. (How about putting it on by the glass, fellas?)

Reichstrat von Buhl Riesling Sekt

In the meantime if you’re curious to find out what sparkling riesling tastes like Laithwaites is stocking a delicately, grapey, honeyed sekt from Von Buhl in the Pfalz at £18.99 which would make delicious summer drinking (and a welcome break from prosecco). Avery's, bizarrely given that it's part of the same group, charges £23.99.

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