Flavours from the Cellar, the wine concept from Mercure Hotels is launching their new summer collection picked by Masters of Wine Susie Barrie and Peter Richards.
The latest additions to the list have been carefully handpicked to join the Flavours from the Cellar collection, which features an exclusive selection of locally inspired, quality and affordable wines. The experts have handpicked the wines available to suit the season, and provide an easy and affordable drinking experience to excite and inspire hotel guests. Joining the collection is a red, a rosé and white wine, all from Europe and all picked with care and expertise by Susie and Peter.
Chilled out White
Zero-G Grüner Veltliner, 2015, 12% (Austria)
Zero-G is a delicious ‘chilled-out’ white wine, perfect for summer and made in the little-known Wagram region of Austria. Unique in its crisp and refreshing flavour, Susie describes how they have selected it as an ‘apple-scented, smooth, and gently spicy white’, perfect for summer relaxation! Zero-G is the perfect accompaniment to summery salads and fish dishes when served lightly chilled.
Cheerful Cherries
Alfa Zeta ‘R’ Rosato Corvina, 2015, 12% (Italy)
The delicious rosé Alfa Zeta ‘R’ Rosato is made by a New Zealander from fruit grown around Verona in the northern regions of Italy. A charming, easy going dry rosé bursting with cherry flavours typical of this grape variety. Peter recommends serving it well chilled as an aperitif or with brightly flavoured dishes such as tuna Niçoise or a creamy chicken curry.
Spanish Sunshine
Primero Graciano Garnacha, 2014, 13% (Spain)
Soak up the Spanish sunshine with this peppery, dark-fruited red wine. Peter explains how ‘Graciano gives perfume and spice, while Garnacha is juicy and succulent – resulting in a wonderfully moreish, smoky, and deeply satisfying wine’. An example of the excellent quality of modern Navarra wines, El Primero is delicious paired with full-flavoured, meaty dishes and served, interestingly, very slightly chilled.
In addition to the three wines selected by Susie and Peter, there is also a tailored and unique wine selection available on the menu at all Mercure hotels. These will be individual to each hotel, as part of their locally inspired Flavours from the Cellar wine list.
Mercure’s ambassadors Susie and Peter said, “From the chilled out white, to an easy-going rosé and smoky red wine, these three deliciously affordable wines should put everyone in a summery mood.”
The married masters of wine have been working with Mercure hotels in the UK to choose a selection of wines for Mercure’s unique wine offering, which has been available across the 72 Mercure hotels in the UK since January 2015. In addition to working with Mercure, Susie and Peter are also resident wine presenters on BBC 1’s Saturday Kitchen and have a growing profile in the international media for their expertise.
For more information click here