I love Easter. It is a time of renewal, a wondrous time on the Christian calendar and also a time when relatives pitch up.

 

Sadly, sadly Frost has had to suffer for you all, and taste some wines – are they suitable for granny, mummy, and let’s forget about the kids. Grandpa? Oh OK. Daddy? – if he’s good.

 

With the weather as it is, salad could well be in evidence and as it’s Easter, fish, or so it was in my ‘growing up’ days, and still is.

 

Try Hancock & Hancock Fiano: made from a 2ha vineyard that was grafted onto chardonnay rootstock only in 2012. This single block is located in Seaview, in the north of McLaren Vale, (Australia S.A.) next to Blewitt Springs. All names to conjure with.

 

I’m off to Australia, to see friends I made when researching my first bestseller, Canopy of Silence so must try to visit as I will be in the vicinity. I am intending to take the Indian Pacific train across the Nullabor embarking at Adelaide, so I should have time to whizz a bit further south

 

A portion of the wine is fermented in old oak barrels and part in stainless steel. It is blended soon after ferment, fined, filtered and bottled in order to retain the fresh characteristics.

 

So, let’s get to the nitty gritty. Is it good? I should say so. Loved it. I think it would work as well as an aperitif or with fish. Some say it would work well with spicy or Asian dishes, but as I don’t really care for them, I can’t say.

 

When we toured several Australian vineyards a few years ago, I had a sneaky feeling they kept the best for themselves, but now I’m not sure. This Fiano is really good. Drink chilled, of course. Great.

 

Hancock & Gancock McLaren Vale. S.A.

RRP £14.55

Stockists: Luvians Bottleshop, Ann et Vin, Eynsham Cellars, Warren Wines, Amp Fine Wines

 

Another white: Errazuriz Estate Series – Pino Grigio 2015

 

 

The grapes are picked by hand in the Aconcagua Valley , Chile, and taken to the winery where they are lightly clarified and fermented in stainless steel tanks.

The grapes do well in the Mediterranean climate and of course Pino Grigio is suitable for so many foods.

 

We tried it with a rather good chicken dish, but it would work equally well with fish, shellfish, Italian dishes, picnics. Pino Grigio is considered by some to be   the Jack of all trades, but far from being the master of none, the Estate Series really is rather good. Oh dear, might have to have another glass…

 

Errazuriz Estate Series Pino Grigio 2015

RRP £10.30

Stockists: Amazon, Ann et Vin, The Bottleneck, Islington Wine