It’s official: the evenings are brighter; the weather is warmer; our favourite season is here! The time has come to enjoy the English summertime and in what better fashion than with a splash of the very
best summer wine. We went on a quest to find the tipples that are a must-try this summer and paid a visit to the wine experts at Hotel du Vin Birmingham. After chatting all things vin with Head Sommelier, Stefan, it’s safe to say these serves are going to see us through to the end of the season (and beyond…)!
The wine cellar at Hotel du Vin is a sight to behold: tucked beneath the Bubble Lounge, the room boasts floor-to-ceiling brick shelves of the best wines from across the globe. Whether it’s fizz that takes your fancy, a 34-year-old blend or an award-winning St Andrea Egri Bikaver, HdV has you covered.
We asked Stefan to choose his two favourite wines for the summer, and the first he suggested was the Soellner Roter Veltliner von Gösing. This little known Austrian grape variety creates a wine that is completely unique. It is full of flavour, brimming with fruit on both the nose and
the palate, whilst balancing ripe apple and juicy plum notes with fresh zesty sharpness.
The result is a blend that is light, dry, and refreshing: perfect for an afternoon soaking up the sunshine. On Stefan’s recommendation, we sipped this crisp tipple with Hotel du Vin’s superfood salad: brimming with grains, greens, and goodness, the freshness of the wine complemented the dish wonderfully.
Stefan then opened our eyes to the dark side in the form of an Italian red… on ice! He presented us with a bottle of Azienda Agricola Cos Frappato Terre Siciliane, which had been chilled to a cool 14°C before pouring, as it enhances the light flavours hidden in the wine. Sweet, floral
and lively on the palate, this wine finishes off a cheese board with finesse: the ideal close to a summer evening meal.
Our two new favourite wines are available to enjoy the whole summer through at Hotel du Vin Birmingham. Whether you’re enjoying dinner in the Bistro, drinking al fresco in the courtyard, or soaking up the summer feeling in the Bubble Lounge, a glass of these summer staples should never be too far away.
