Well, that's how I recall that particular episode! The wine should have been a chilled bottle of Picpoul de Pinet, the local wine from this sea hugging edge of the Languedoc. Its a classic with sea food; just a perfect match.

But, despite having a tub of fresh seafood in the fridge, a 'really near its use by date' chicken won out and became the food accompaniment for the evening. A free-ranger stuffed with a mix of Goan Red and Wild rice mixed with chopped, fried, liver and onions. A stridently flavoured stuffing.

The wine/food combination was not a bad match by any stretch, the high acidity taking the liver and wild rice stuffing in its stride. The lemony, floral edge was fine with the chicken.

But you just have to ask... what would the partnership with the mixed seafood have been like?

Review0.3
Wine Tasting Note: Domaine Félines Picpoul de Pinet, 2007, Languedoc, France.
Waitrose £4.99. [More on Adegga]
Fresh, crisp and lively. Lemony, a touch of herb and a mineral edge give this a distinctive flavour. Dry. Alcohol 13%. Medium to full-bodied.

Andrew BarrowScribblings Rating - 90/100 [3.75 out of 5]

The author, Emeritus Professor Richard Selley from Imperial College London, claims that if average summer temperatures in the UK continue to rise as predicted, the Thames Valley, parts of Hampshire and the Severn valley, which currently contain many vineyards, will be too hot to support wine production within the next 75 years.

Instead, Professor Selley says, this land could be suitable for growing raisins, currents and sultanas.

If the climate changes in line with current Met Office predictions, by 2080 vast areas of the UK including Yorkshire and Lancashire will be able to grow vines for wines like Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon.

For the last 100 years 'cool' Germanic grape varieties have been planted in British vineyards to produce wines like Reisling. In the last 20 years some 'intermediate' French grape varieties have been successfully planted in southeast England, producing internationally prize-winning sparkling white wines made from Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay.

Explaining the significance of his new study, Emeritus Professor Selley from Imperial's Department of Earth Science and Engineering, said:

"My previous research has shown how the northernmost limit of UK wine-production has advanced and retreated up and down the country in direct relation to climatic changes since Roman times.

"Now, with models suggesting the average annual summer temperature in the south of England could increase by up to five degrees centigrade by 2080, I have been able to map how British viticulture could change beyond recognition in the coming years. Grapes that currently thrive in the south east of England could become limited to the cooler slopes of Snowdonia and the Peak District."

A great many wines do not make it for one reason or another to this website but I wanted to ensure the results were traceable; it is here that the gaps emerge.

The list below begins with the Wine Century Club's list, followed by other varieties that have been tasted. Each includes a link to a relevant wine here on Spittoon with the plan to up-date as the archives are trawled. Many, it is notied, could do with a revisit and a new tasting note.

The list actually numbers 186 varieties - ignoring the various odd-ball American hybrid varieties that are unlikely to be available in the UK, but including the additional varieties I might just have made the grade...

1. Agiorgitiko - Gaia Estate 14-18 Rosé, 2004, Peloponnese, Greece
2. Aglianico - Cantine Sasso Aglianico del Vulture, 2005, Basilicata, Italy
3. Airén
4. Albariño - Fillaboa Seleccion Finca Monte Alto, 2002, Rias Baixas, Spain
5. Aleatico
6. Alfrocheiro - Pink Elephant Rosé, 2006, Estremadura, Portugal
7. Alicante Bouchet - Caiarossa, 2004, Tuscany, Italy
8. Aligoté
9. Arinto - Periquita White, 2007, Setabul, Portugal
10. Arneis
11. Arvine
12. Assyrtiko
13. Auxerrois
14. Avesso - Quinta de Covela Escolha, 2005, Minho, Portugal
15. Bacchus - Chapel Down Bacchus Reserve, 2003, England
16. Baco Noir
17. Baga
18. Barbera
19. Bical
20. Blaufränkisch - Weingärtner Cleebronn-Güglingen Samtrot Lemberger, 2004, Württemberg, Germany
21. Bobal
22. Bombino Bianco
23. Bonarda
24. Bourboulenc - Domaine de L'Olivette Blanc, 2006, VdP des Coteaux de Cabrerisse, France
25. Brachetto
26. Bual
27. Cabernet Franc - Domaine de l'Engarran, 2005 Vin de Pays d'Oc, France
28. Cabernet Sauvignon - Howard Park Scotsdale Cabernet Sauvignon, 2005, Great Southern, Western Australia
29. Canaiolo - Fattoria di Luiano Chianti Classico 2005, Chianti, Italy.
30. Carignan - Mas de la Seranne Antonin et Louis, 2003, Coteaux du Languedoc, France.
31. Carmenère - Palo Alto Reserva, 2006, Maule Valley, Chile
32. Castelão - Pink Elephant Rosé, 2006, Estremadura, Portugal
33. Catarratto
34. Catawba
35. Charbono
36. Chardonnay - Protero Gumeracha Chardonnay, Adelaide Hills, South Australia.
37. Chasselas
38. Chenin Blanc - Bellingham The Maverick Winemaker Chenin Blanc, 2007, Coastal Region, South Africa.
39. Cinsault - Domaine de l'Engarran, 2005 Vin de Pays d'Oc, France
40. Clairette
41. Coda di Volpe
42. Colombard - Kingfish Chardonnay, 2004, California.
43. Concord
44. Cortese - Araldica Madonnina Gavi, 2005, Gavi, Italy
45. Corvina - Bolla Amarone della Valpolicella Classico, 2004, Veneto, Italy.
46. Counoise
47. Cserzegi Fuszeres
48. De Chaunac
49. Delaware
50. Dolcetto
51. Dornfelder - Chapel Down English Rose, 2004, England
52. Erbaluce
53. Falanghina
54. Fer
55. Feteasca Alba - Plantaze Mountain Valley 'K', 2004, Lake Skadar, Montenegro
56. Fiano - Cantone del Barone Fiano di Avellino, 2001, Campania, Italy.
57. Folle Blanc
58. Frappato
59. Freisa
60. Furmint - Royal Tokaji Dry Furmint, 2006, Hungary
61. Gaglioppo
62. Gamay
63. Garganega
64. Gewürztraminer - Franz Haas Manna, 2005, Alto Adige, Italy
65. Godello - Bodega La Tapada Guitian Godello, 2002, Valdeorras, Spain
66. Graciano - Vinedos del Contino Graciano, 2001, Rioja, Spain
67. Grechetto
68. Greco - Vesevo Greco di Tufo, 2003, Campania, Italy
69. Grenache/Garnacha - Tendral Crianza, 2004, Priorato, Spain
70. Grenache Blanc - Domaine de L'Olivette Blanc, 2006, VdP des Coteaux de Cabrerisse, France.
71. Grignolino
72. Grolleau
73. Gros Manseng - Thierry and Guy Le Freak Sauvignon Blanc Gros Manseng, 2005, VdP de Côtes de Gasgogne, France
74. Grüner Veltliner - Felsner Grüner Veltliner, 2005, Kremstal, Austria.
75. Hárslevelü
76. Hondarrabi Zuri
77. Inzolia
78. Irsay Oliver
79. Kadarka
80. Kerner
81. Lagrein
82. Lambrusco
83. Len de L'el
84. Lladoner Pelut
85. Loureiro - Afros Loureiro Vinho Verde, 2004, Portugal
86. Macabeo - Miret Brut Reserva Cava, NV, Penedes, Spain
87. Malagousia
88. Malbec - Woodlands Cabernet Merlot, 2004, Margaret River, Western Australia
89. Malvasia
90. Malvasia Nera - Fattoria Mantellassi Morellino de Scansano, 2006, Tuscany, Italy.
91. Maréchal Foch
92. Marsanne - Domaine de L'Olivette Blanc, 2006, VdP des Coteaux de Cabrerisse, France
93. Marzemino
94. Mauzac
95. Mavrodapne
96. Melon de Bourgogne
97. Merlot - Montagnac Merlot, 2006, Vin de Pays d'Oc, France
98. Meunier
99. Molinara
100. Monica
101. Montepulciano - Salcheto Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, 2002, Tuscany, Italy
102. Mourvèdre - Thierry Rodriguez Mas Gabinele, 2002, Faugeres, Languedoc, France
103. Müller Thurgau
104. Muscadelle - Château Laures Blanc, 2006, Entre-Deux-Mers, Bordeaux, France
105. Muscat Blanc - Le Moulin des Nonnes Cuvée Inés, 2004, Minervois, France
106. Muscat of Alexandria - Periquita White, 2007, Setabul, Portugal
107. Muscat Ottonel
108. Nebbiolo - Produttori del Barbaresco Nebbiolo Langhe, 2002, Piedmont, Italy.
109. Negroamaro - Aliante Negroamaro di Puglia, 2001, Puglia, Italy
110. Nerello Mascalese
111. Nero D'Avola - Cusumano Benuara, 2003, Sicily, Italy.
112. Niagara
113. Norton
114. Palomino
115. Parellada - Miret Brut Reserva Cava, NV, Penedes, Spain
116. Pedro Ximénez - Perez Barquero Gran Barquero Pedro Ximenez, NV, Montilla, Spain
117. Petite Arvine
118. Petit Manseng - Thierry and Guy Le Freak Sauvignon Blanc Gros Manseng, 2005, VdP de Côtes de Gasgogne, France.
119. Petit Verdot - Caiarossa, 2004, Tuscany, Italy
120. Petite Sirah - L A Cetto Petite Sirah, 2004, Baja California, Mexico
121. Picpoul Blanc - Domaine Félines Picpoul de Pinet, 2007, Languedoc, France
122. Picpoul Noir
123. Piedrosso
124. Pigato
125. Pignolo
126. Pineau D'Aunis
127. Pinot Blanc - Chapel Down Pinot Reserve Sparkling, 2001, England
128. Pinot Gris - Gabbiano Pinot Grigio, 2007, Venezie, Italy
129. Pinot Noir - La Crema Pinot Noir, 2005, Sonoma Coast, California
130. Pinotage - Spier Wine Estate Private Collection Pinotage, 2002, Stellenbosch
131. Plavac Mali
132. Portugieser
133. Prosecco - Bisol Jeio Prosecco Brut, 2005, Veneto
134. Refosco
135. Roditis
136. Riesling - Rüdesheimer Berg Rottland Riesling Spätlese, 2002, Rheingau, Germany.
137. Rkatsiteli
138. Rondinella - Bolla Amarone della Valpolicella Classico, 2004, Veneto, Italy.
139. Roussanne - Domaine Piccinini Clos l'Angély, 2004, Minervois, France.
140. Ruby Cabernet
141. Ruché
142. Sagrantino
143. Sangiovese - Caiarossa, 2004, Tuscany, Italy
144. Saperavi
145. Sauvignon Blanc - Howard Park Sauvignon Blanc, 2007, Western Australia
146. Savagnin
147. Savatiano
148. Scheurebe - Lang Samling 88 Berrenauslese, 2002, Austria.
149. Schiava
150. Schioppettino
151. Schönburger
152. Semillon - Château Laures Blanc, 2006, Entre-Deux-Mers, Bordeaux, France
153. Sercial
154. Seyval Blanc - Chapel Down English Rose, 2004, England
155. Silvaner
156. St. Laurent
157. Syrah/Shiraz - Bundaleer Sparkling Shiraz, NV, Southern Flinders Ranges, South Australia
158. Tannat - Pizzorno Merlot/Tannat,, 2004, Canelon Chico, Uruguay
159. Tempranillo - Bodega La Legua Capricho, 2003, Cigales, Spain
160. Teroldego
161. Tinta Amerela
162. Tinta Barroca - Cape Heights Limited Release Tinta Barroca, 2005, Western Cape, South Africa
163. Tinta Negra Mole
164. Tinto Cão
165. Tocai Fruilano
166. Torrontés
167. Touriga Franca - Altano Reserva, 2000, Douro, Portugal.
168. Touriga Nacional - Duque de Viseu Tinto, 2002, Dão, Portugal
169. Trebbiano/Ugni Blanc
170. Uva di Troia
171. Valdiguié
172. Verdejov
173. Verdelho - Esk Valley Estate Black Label Verdelho, 2006, Hawke's Bay, New Zealand
174. Verdicchio - La Monacesca Verdicchio di Matelica, 2006, Marche, Italy
175. Vermentino - Cecchi Litorale Vermentino, 2004, Tuscany, Italy
176. Vernaccia
177. Vidal
178. Vignoles
179. Vilana
180. Viognier - Protero Gumeracha Viognier, 2005, Adelaide Hills, South Australia
181. Welschriesling - Feiler-Artinger Ruster Ausbruch, 2001, Neusiedlersee, Austria
182. Xarel-Lo - Cellar Cal Pla Mas D'En Compte Blanco, 2006, Priorat, Spain
183. Xynomavro
184. Zinfandel/Primitivo - Tusk 'n Red, 2004, Mendocino County, California
185. Zweigelt - c.

1. Nouvello - Arabella Sauvignon Blanc - Nouvello, 2008, Stellenbosh, South Africa
2. Mencia - Martin Códax Martín Sarmiento, 2004, Bierzo, Spain
3. Mazuelo - Tendral Crianza, 2004, Priorato, Spain
4. Durif - Campbells The Barkly Durif, 1997, Rutherglen, Australia.
5. Carel.lo - Miret Brut Reserva Cava, NV, Penedes, Spain
6. Parellada - Miret Brut Reserva Cava, NV, Penedes, Spain
7. Corvinone - Bolla Amarone della Valpolicella Classico, 2004, Veneto, Italy.
8. Jaen - Duque de Viseu Tinto, 2002, Dão, Portugal
9. Alfrocheiro - Duque de Viseu Tinto, 2002, Dão, Portugal
10. Albillo - el Furioso Albillo, 2003, Castilla y Leon, Spain.
11. Fernao Piras - Quinta da Alorna Portal da Águia, 2005, Ribatejo, Portugal
12. Juan Garcia - Bodegas Ribera de Pelazas Abadengo, 2003, Vinos de La Tierra Arribes del Duero, Spain.
13. Sauvignon Gris - Cousiño-Macul Sauvignon Gris, 2006, Maipo Valley, Chile.
14. Samtrot - Weingärtner Cleebronn-Güglingen Samtrot Lemberger, 2004, Württemberg, Germany
15. Verdiso - Bisol Prosecco di Valdobbiadene Crede, 2005, Veneto
16. Bacchus - Chapel Down Bacchus Reserve, 2003, England
17. Malvasia Bianco - Piana del Sole Tamerici Sauvignon Blanc, 2002, Salento, Italy
18. Maturana Tinta - Dioniso Ruiz Ijalba, 2002, Rioja, Spain
19. Grillo - Tria Grillo, 2002, Sicily, Italy
20. Lacrima - Stefano Mancinelli Lacrima di Morro di Alba, 2003, Piedmont, Italy.
21. Caladoc - Xavier Vignon Debut, NV, Vin de Table, France
22. Marselan - Xavier Vignon Debut, NV, Vin de Table, France
23. Vranac - Plantaze Mountain Valley 'V', 2003, Lake Skadar, Montenegro
24. Madeleine Angevine - Hendred Vineyard Runnington Hill, 2001, Oxfordshire. England
25. Neuberger - Feiler-Artinger Ruster Ausbruch, 2001, Neusiedlersee, Austria
26. Tressallier - Saint-Poureain Reserve Speciale, 2003, Loire France.
27. Melnik - Damianitza Uniqato Melnik, 2003, Bulgaria
28. Wildbacher - Jaunegg Blauer Wildbacher, 2001, Styria, Austria
29. Rabo de Ovelha - Casa Santos Quinta das Setencostas Branco, 2003, Alenquer, Portugal
30. Mandeleria - Creta Olympias Mirambello, 2002, Crete, Greece
31. Kotsifoli - Creta Olympias Mirambello, 2002, Crete, Greece
32. Pinot Meunier - Clover Hill Sparkling, 2000, Tasmania, Australia.
33. Chasan - Cellier de Pezens A Fleur de Sens, 2003, VdP des C�tes de Lastours, France
34. Lacrima - Stefano Mancinelli Lacrima di Morro di Alba, 2003, Piedmont, Italy.
35. Courbu - Domaine Berthoumieu Pacherene du Vic Bilh Sec, 2003, France
36. Pecorino - Caldora Colle dei Venti Pecorino 2007, Terre di Chieti, Abruzzo, Italy

Entitled 'An Artist's Palate' the piece details the work by artist Johnny Jonas. I have a hard enough time keeping up with the luminaries of the wine world let alone the sphere of portrait artists but Jonas has painted such people as the Queen Mother, a Field Marshall and sundry parlimentarians.

He has also developed a 'wine recognition system' that displays a wines flavour though graphical representation. He even refers to each finished piece as a 'portrait', which strikes me as typical artist pompousness but he has managed to encompass the strength of a wines aroma and whether the wine is soft and rounded or crisp and acidic.

The system is now refined and patented worldwide; not convinced myself that it is easy to 'see' the wine as you can in, say, a photograph but then the information being imparted is more specific than a feeling or mood invoked by a picture. The final wine 'portraits' are quite complex but the premise is to display flavour in a graphical form which they certainly do. There is a 'scientific' overtone to the finished image.

The Drinks Business article finishes with an interesting thought:

If Jonas's thinking is just too blue-sky for us busy Westerners, consider for a moment the enormous potential of the Chinese wine market where people have been writing in 'pictures' for centuries."

For me that supermarket is Waitrose. The wine is a bottle of £4.99 South African white while the eye is drawn to a tortilla from the new Delicatezze range. Specifically Edamame Bean, Artichoke and Lemon Pesto Tortilla made from free range eggs, which appeared better value than other dishes in the same range; and more substantial too. Add a salad and a meal is made.

Taking little more than 15 minutes in the oven you might need to make use of the quick-chill machine to get the white to non-shelf, drinkable temperature.

Review0.3

Wine Tasting Note: Nederburg Chardonnay-Viognier, 2007, Western Cape, South Africa.
Available from Waitrose for £4.99. [More on Adegga]
Crisp and refreshing - a touch acidic perhaps but nicely rounded with peach, melon and floral notes. The Chardonnay has seen some barrel ageing, but the whole is lifted by the lemon floweriness of the Viognier. It's fine and fine summer-garden drinking. Alcohol 13.5%. Fine with the salad-tortilla combination; you don't afterall, want anything you have to think too much about.

Andrew BarrowScribblings Rating - 84/100 [3 out of 5]

"For example, when powerful and heavy music such as rock is heard, wines such as Montes Alpha Cabernet Sauvignon were perceived as tasting 60 per cent more powerful and heavy than when no music is heard. Similarly, when bold and fresh styles of music such as pop were heard, Montes Alpha Chardonnay was perceived as tasting 40 per cent more bold and fresh than when no music is heard.

In conclusion, it can be said that the style of music we listen to whilst drinking wine has a direct correlation on the taste of that wine. In the psychology field this is known as sensory priming.

Some previous music/wine research had noticeable buying pattern changes in supermarkets but this is the first time I have heard of music effecting taste directly.

The research is an extension of Montes wine-making techniques. They apparently play continual Gregorian chants to their wine barrels, believing that the gentle vibrations of the chants aid the maturation and ageing of their wines.

I have some samples of both the wines and the music used in the research coming to me next week; could be interesting!

Granted, the UK does have a wine industry (and I have a vineyard within walking distance of my home, that I have yet to visit!) but it doesn't really rank that highly in global terms. Blogging may be about finding a niche and English wine is certainly that, but generally I don't enjoy the wines that much.

Similar, I expect, to writing on another under-dog of the wine world, Sherry. As there is so much more to the world's most famous fortified wine than Bristol Cream, a delight to discover a blog specialising in the subject. If you have any interest in Sherry than a visit to Vinos de Jerez etc... is suggested.

Penned by Justin Roberts he describes Vinos De Jerez etc... as being

about as fashionable as sherry is at the moment"

Recent posts have concentrated on comparing two wines of a similar style - two Pedro Ximénez and Tio Pepe vs La Ina for example. Lucky for us that Justin is based in Jerez de la Frontera, a better location for covering Sherry you couldn't hope to find!

Me? I don't give a monkeys. Dessert wines aside, I just don't like the grape.

I would rather not drink something akin to kerosene (aged Riesling) and when young most taste of little more than lime-splashed sugar water. Some of the mineral and lime Australian dry Rieslings I do enjoy; it might just come down to the European versions (generally) being low in alcohol. This is a bit strange as the weighty wines, often with an inkling of sweetness (thinking Pinot Gris, New World Chard's) are just what I enjoy. Alternatively high acidity as found in New Zealand Sauvignons is another characteristic of Riesling; love the former; ignore the latter. OK, so I WILL drink Rieslings; I just wish I was drinking something else, that's all.

In the spirit of Wine Blogging Wednesday a bottle of German Riesling found its way into the fridge. The Riesling range in Waitrose was rather impressive. Ranging in price from £6.99 up to £15.99 I do wonder how many they actually sell. Good to see a distinct lack of those Germanic scripted labels put down as one of the main reasons for disappointing sales of German wine over the last few years.

Review0.3
Wine Tasting Note: Rüdesheimer Berg Rottland Riesling Spätlese, 2002, Rheingau, Germany.

Stockist: Waitrose Price: £9.99 [More on Adegga]
Rather a surprise in the quality here - nicely judged acidity balanced with a under-ripe pear and lime flavoured lightly sweet palate. Honey on the nose. Fresh crisp acidity and no noticeable kerosene from a wine still young from the 2002 vintage. Alcohol 8%.

The Dr Wegeler estate was founded in 1882 and is now run by the 4th generation of the same family.


Andrew BarrowScribblings Rating - 86/100 [3.25 out of 5]

The picture is a little dark (taken late in the evening) but highlights the wines (and sweeter Rieslings in general) affinity with spicy food. The dish is Chili Beef Ramen from the Wagamama Cookbook one of favourite 'oriental' cookbooks. A white wine with beef! Almost as radical as me drinking a German Riesling!