Unusual wines – on your doorstep
By Jennifer Meredith
The nights are still a little longer than we’d like, and the weather leaves a lot to be desired; but luckily for us, we live in a town filled with excellent food and drink spots to see us through the last few weeks of winter. And what better way to make the evenings a little more exciting than with a glass of wine from off the beaten track?
For a date night out
For a romantic outing or a special night with friends, why not head to Heist? Book yourselves a table at The Boatyard, a great restaurant with a focus on local fish from the Hastings fishing fleet and surrounding areas – So of course, you should try a delicious fish dish!
Pair this with a spectacular wine from Loire de Da, their bottle shop and bar packed full of natural and biodynamic wines. If you’d like to really make it an occasion with something special try the remarkably elegant Davenport Limney Estate Sparkling Wine: a classic blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, from Will Davenport’s organic estate vineyard in Rotherfield. It’s aged for five years and made using traditional methods, resulting in a wine with a rich creamy aroma with plenty of fresh crisp fruit on the palate. You won’t be disappointed!
Casual glass with friends
Collected Fictions, also in the heart of St Leonards, have curated an exciting collection of wine for you to choose from; and as of October last year, they have opened a drink-in space where you can have a glass (or two) with friends. They have a great selection of interesting and ever-rotating wines that you may not have tried before.
Try a bottle of Golden Blend by Zurab Topuridze, a gem from Georgia (which produces plenty of outstanding orange wine). It’s delicate and crisp whilst being packed full of tropical fruit flavours like mango and lychee with some citrus and floral to balance it out. The acidity creates a fresh and superbly easy-to-drink wine; a great example of how delicious orange wine can be.
Cosy night in
If you’re not ready to brave the chilly evenings, our favourite craft beer shop, Eel & Bear, also have a fantastic selection of wines – perfect if you’re a household that can’t decide on your drink of choice.
For that cosy night in, you can’t beat a warming red, so why not try the Gran Cerdo Tempranillo. It’s a natural wine with plenty of character. It has the juiciness of Tempranillo and plenty of flavour, cherries, raspberries and a hint of pluminess, without any oak or funkiness taking over. An easy-drinking, great value red.
So take a look around. If you’re up for supporting local businesses and finding something you’ve not tried before, there are plenty of spots in Hastings and St Leonards where you can find an exceptional and unusual wine.
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