Lidl Wine Tour: Wine Events Scotland
With a taste for adventure, we joined a Lidl Wine Tour with Wine Events Scotland, travelling virtually to South Africa, Chile, Australia & New Zealand, via Lidl’s latest selection of New World wines. This tasting was dominated by Sauvignon Blanc, demonstrating the varying styles. Richard Bampfield MW, Lead Taster for Lidl explained, “That’s where the quality & value is at the moment”.
Diana was a delightful host, with excellent visuals to demonstrate where the wines come from & how the climate effects the vineyard. Richard’s tasting notes were fascinating & he encouraged gatherers to share theirs too. It was interesting to see how our tastes differed, especially as we were asked to rate each wine on the following scale…
0 = Faulty
1 = I wouldn’t buy it
2 = Save it for the cooking
3 = Ok but maybe not my style
4 = Really enjoyed this wine, I’ll probably buy it
5 = Love it & I’m off to buy it!
Probably unsurprisingly, the ratings were split down the middle, with most scoring 3 and above.
I would recommend these tastings for the wine curious, as a more affordable way to start out on their wine adventures. As Richard explained, “Wine isn’t predictable and tastings allow us to explore & understand our own palate.”
The next Lidl Wine Tour is on 3rd August, exploring their selection of reds. Find out more here: www.grapegathering.com/gatherings/wine-events-scotland-lidl-wine-tour-red-wines
What we learnt
South African producers are struggling right now. With a halt in their domestic sales, they’re relying on exports, you can support them by trying more South African wine!
Sauvignon Blanc is one of the most distinctive grape varieties and renowned for making top quality wines in Sancerre & Bordeaux
Wine (both red & white) will keep up to 3/4 days, if you just keep it sealed and chilled
Keep an eye out for Lidl’s ‘Wine of the Week’ currently a Barolo, priced at a £7.99 - it won’t stay on the shelves long at that price!
The wines
There were 6 wines on the tasting list but we only managed to get 3 of them in our local Lidl - the Wine Tours only last for 2 months & clearly sell out fast!
The Pledge Sauvignon Blanc 2018
Western Cape, South Africa
£10.99
This was a richer style of Sauvignon which was super-refreshing and very drinkable. It possibly felt deceptively high in acidity due to the higher alcohol content (14%). I rated this 4. Gather with a goat’s cheese salad.
Axis Sauvignon Blanc/Sémillon 2020
Margaret River, Australia
£6.99
This is a classic Bordeaux blend where the Sémillon adds richness. Crispy and citrusy. Rated 4. Gather with a picnic including something fishy!
Viajero Chardonnay Gran Reserva 2019
Casablanca, Chile
£6.99
Refreshing with a bit of oak ageing to add some complexity, giving a slight sweet spiced character. Another 4! Gather with some smoked salmon.
