​An Occasional Tipple: Back to school with beautiful wine

Rich foods, tipplers, tend to throw a fatty blanket over one's taste buds. The acidity of the wine scrubs the tongue clean with each sip, allowing every mouthful of food to taste as fresh as the first while the wine's acidity now comes across as tartness or liveliness so that it seems the wine is almost dancing on the tongue. Champagne is an ideal match with most food because of its high acidity levels whilst Riesling, Sangiovese and Beaujolais Crus are also great food wines with near perfect acidity. And yes, My Madame agreed, the Montepulciano was an inspired choice.

Speaking of choice, how do you choose a nice bottle in a fancy restaurant without breaking the bank? You talk to the waiter. Tell them whether you prefer Old World or New World. Ask what wines they think are great bargains. Let them know your budget and what food you plan to have with it. Tell them about food and wine combinations you've enjoyed in the past or specific flavours or aromas that you are fond of in your wine . When they ask you to try the wine, pay close attention. If you're not happy, politely send it back with clear directions i.e. I'd prefer something a little fruitier or with just a tad less acidity or just a little bit more dry. They won't get it wrong second time round.

One wine I wouldn't be sending back is today's WINE OF THE WEEK, the fabulously fresh, lively and vibrantly aromatic 2022 Purato Catarratto Pinot Grigio (available at independent wine merchants or off-licences, generally around £10) where the lively, zesty Pinot Grigio is blended with the softer, richer indigenous Catarrato resulting in a complex, sophisticated white which went wonderfully well with the crab, rocket and avocado salad which I had prepared for our lunch last Sunday. Purato also do a fantastic job of being environmentally progressive (think vegan wines, recycled paper and glass as well as supporting projects which protect the environment rather than simply trying to stay carbon-neutral) whilst also producing magnificent wine.

And finally for today, how much should you pay to be sure of getting a good wine? Well, it depends how good a wine you want. As a general rule spending between £7 and £10 should get you a perfectly lovely wine. Less than £7 can be perilous because when one subtracts the tax, the shipping costs, manufacturing costs etc. how much is the liquid in the bottle actually worth? There are exceptions, of course, and Lidl in particular often stock excellent wines for around £6. Going up the ladder, you will find quite spectacular wines in the £15 to £50 bracket but unless you know what you're buying it's pot luck. Over £50 and you're more likely to be paying for the experience of tasting a really expensive bottle rather than the taste itself. Although, human psychology being what it is, that doesn't mean you won't convince yourself that you're drinking the best wine ever made.

Just one more thing- what's the best way to learn about wine? Taste it- as much and as often and as many different styles as possible. Keep notes of what you're drinking, what you liked and did not like and why. Simples, hey? And who knows maybe one day you'll know as much as me? And have your own wine column. If you don't have a dream, how are you going to have a dream come true? Till next week, tipplers, sante!