Bluebell Vineyard Estates

Tours are £16 per person – this includes a full tour of the vineyard, bottling process and a guided tasting session

As the beautiful blossoms are in full bloom and the weather turning (slightly) warmer, I was intrigued to see what was happening to our English vines.

On the day super-cute Princess Charlotte Elizabeth Diana was born, we took a break from staring at the Lindo Wing doors (waiting for Kate, Wills & Charlotte to make an appearance), and visited Bluebell Vineyard Estates, a beautiful family run vineyard in East Sussex.

We met the lovely Colette, who manages Bluebell Vineyard. Immediately, we were whisked down to the budding vines – an exciting but also vulnerable time for the crop.

Bud break – shoots are beginning to grow from the buds

Originally a pig farm, Bluebell diversified into a vineyard in 2005. They planted the classic Champagne grape varieties – Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier with the main aim to produce fantastic English sparkling wine with minimal use of chemicals and herbicides.

Since producing the Estate’s crisp sparkling wine, they have received three coveted Decanter & IWC Silver medals. Colette explains that Bluebell’s wines are quintessentially English – fresh and crisp with clean fruit flavours.

Before we got stuck in to a guided tasting session, Colette showed us where the wine is fermented and stored. This was great to see and, if you’ve not seen this process before, I’d highly recommend you go – most vineyards keep this hidden!

The second fermentation – Bluebell’s sparkling wines are made by the méthode traditionelle

Bluebell are made from grapes grown in a single year, meaning every vintage is unique. Bluebell Vineyard Estates produce four delicious sparkling wines:

1. Hindleap Brut Rosé – A beautifully salmony-pink colour, this wine has a hint of berries and has a crisp, clean finish.

2. Hindleap Classic Cuvée – Produced from all three grape varieties, this has crisp, clean apple and citrus flavours.

3. Hindleap Seyval Blanc – Unusually delicious – not produced with the ‘classic’ Champagne grapes, this wine will leave you wanting more.

4. Hindleap Blanc de Blancs – Winner of the Decanter 2014 bronze award and exclusively made from Chardonnay grapes, this wine is dry and delicious.

HAPPY EASTER!

Happppppy Easter Sunday everyone! 

We want whichever kind of chicken that lays this egg!

Happy Easter!

Let’s brush past the fact this isn’t English or Welsh… because it is delicious and its name is perfect for Easter!

Smith & Sinclair

Six little sugar-dusted drops of heaven were delivered to Blotto’s HQ on Friday.

All were sweet, a few were fruity, a couple sour and all were boozy.

Warning: these tipple infused treats are for adult consumption only

These pastilles are incredibly moreish, so Smith & Sinclair ask you to eat responsibly

Melanie Goldsmith and Emile Bernard are behind the cocktail confectioners, Smith & Sinclair.

They cater for many events, including the mysterious Secret Cinema,  and can tailor their jewel-like sweets for any occasion.  Meet Melanie and Emile and buy some of their grown-up  Willy Wonka creations at Partridges Market.

Melanie and Emile attend the market fortnightly

Each luxury pastille is infused with spirits and natural flavourings to recreate iconic cocktails with a twist, as well as some leftfield concoctions to challenge the palate even more.

We’ve ranked the flavours in order of our favourite. It was a tough choice…

1) Spring Clean (Gin, Elderflower, Thyme)

This alcogum was light, floral and summery. It left a fresh taste on the palate with a subtle gin flavour.

2) Whisky Sour (A classic with a Grapefruit twist)

The closest thing to a whisky sour you could get. It was a tough call but we felt it could have been more sour which is why it’s won second place.

3) Cake Icing  (Whisky & Amaretto)

We certainly had a taste for their whisky based sweets. This was sweet and true to the name.

4) Spiced Rum (Dark rum & Warming spices)

Delicious warming spices initially fill the palate which is followed by a hum of rum. Delicious.

5) Mixed Berry Daiquiri (Summer Berries, Dark Rum and a Pink Peppercorn infused coating)

The least alcoholic tasting of the selection but still extremely yummy, very fruity but could be more peppery.

6) Gin & Tonic (Violet infused gin in a Lemon Sherbet coating)

An incredibly grown up version of the childhood violet sweets. Delicious if you enjoy the taste of violet.

Sugar and spice and all things nice….

Alcho-sweets, cocktail confectionery, adult-only pastilles, whatever you want to call them they’re utterly ahhhhhhhhh-mazing!

Boozey, British and possibly the best thing to hit the confectionery scene.

You won’t want to share them

Get your Hix Fix with Blotto

The UK has been receiving a hammering from mother nature – the colossal amounts of rain has caused devastating flooding.

Luckily, Blotto HQ has managed to escape most of the downpours and remain relatively dry.

If this weather has made you feel glum, we have discovered a cocktail that promises* to cheer you up during this miserable rain.

Let us introduce to you…….

“The Hix Fix”

The notorious cocktail created by chef and London restaurateur, Mark Hix.

Mark His has also written several successful         cookery books

This delicious cocktail combines one of our favourite sparkling wines (yes … another one!) Nyetimber Classic Cuvee with Morello cherries soaked in Somerset apple eau de vie. Yum, yum, YUM!

Nyetimber is produced in West Sussex using traditional methods

This glorious golden fizz has a floral and fruity nose

Add a cherry and a spoonful of kirsch for a winning cocktail

During last weekend’s rugby, panic struck – no, not just Wales’s loss – we found ourselves short of the delicious Hix Fix cherries.

Out of sheer curiousity, we soaked Morello cherries in Kirsch. The result was not as perfectly balanced as Hix Fix, nor as moreish.  They were incredibly potent – just what was needed to see us through Wales’s poor performance.

A Hix Fix will make you spring into action

These Hix Fix cocktails will have you lickin’ your lips!

*Please note: these are strong cocktails, we recommend a maximum of two – if you choose to drink more… we accept no responsibility for your potentially embarrassing behaviour.

Sussex bubbles

If you’ve not got today’s The Times newspaper – get it!

If you have – turn to page 3 and check out the postgraduate course, it sounds like our kind of education…

We’re delighted to see Sussex’s sparkling wines get much deserved attention (and even happier to see our favourite Ridgeview get placed in the top three!).

Cheers to The Times!

The perfect Monday morning read

Blotto drinks cider

So last month we tried ale…. this month it’s cider.

A pint of cider used to be an underage pleasure – not something I really enjoyed but it was about all I felt safe ordering.

That was ten years ago. Times have changed. Tonight has shown that tastes have too.

If you like cider, how about Gwynt Y Ddraig’s award winning Perry Vale?

The 4.5%abv pear cider is the perfect summer drink

Serve chilled for a delicious thirst quencher

This Welsh cider is made in Llantwit Fardre using a traditional cider press. It is a blend of three pear varieties which produces a taste-bud-tingling pear aroma.

It was soft, delicate and highly refreshing – and that’s to a totally ignorant cider drinker’s taste buds!

It’s fruity, fizzy and with a fresh but not overpowering flavour of pear.

It certainly didn’t disappoint but it definitely failed to lure me away from sparkling wine.

The pear aroma caught Otto’s attention

After a moment of weakness, and a bruised ego, Otto was fighting fit

P.S. We hope you have all had a lovely week.

Unfortunately we’ve experienced a shocker – naughty Otto refused to get out of the pond and subsequently got hypothermia. It took lots of tummy tickles and hot water bottles but I am pleased to say he is back to his sprightly self.

Untapped Ale

I don’t know about you, but here at Blotto HQ Friday can’t come soon enough!

Thanks to our ‘no sparkling wine January’ New Years resolution, we stumbled across Untapped ales – a fizz alternative – granted a little less ladylike (although, I have heard from male friends that a girl who drinks a pint is sexy – is this right fellas?).

The Untapped brewers, Martyn and Owen, started in 2009 with two beers – Sundown and Eclipse – but have since multiplied to six super bottles.

The Monmouth based brewers have a simple philosophy: “Produce a range of top notch, hand made, home grown beers that refresh the wits and feed the soul.” 

The flavour

We picked up three bottles from Spirited Wines of Cardiff, for tasting purposes only – obviously, these were: U.P.A, Crystal and their simply superb stout Triple ‘S’.

Spirited Wines of Cardiff is situated on St Mary Street

What Untapped say:

U.P.A – “Designed to be an Indian Pale Ale style, the light straw colour of this beer belies its full and citrus fruit driven flavours. Distinctly hoppy, with wonderful aromas from Styrian Goldings hops, the finish is perfectly balanced and satisfying. A huge hit with Untapped fans!”

U.P.A has a beautiful light straw colour

Crystal – “An Untapped take on a classic beer. Traditionally strong, our wheat beer is triple filtered before bottling for a clean finish. Full to bursting with all the distinct flavours of this style, with a delicate hop texture and rich mouthfeel. To be enjoyed with or without yeast as you prefer! Best drunk super-chilled…!”

A delicious wheat beer

Triple ‘S’ – “A powerful mix of multiple malts give this stout its intense black colour and heady aromas. Amazingly rich, upfront flavours give way to a mellow yet luscious finish, with bags of long lasting hop character. A beautiful beer to refresh your soul at the end of the day.”

A real hit for stout lovers

What Blotto says:

As an ale ‘virgin’ – believe it or not –  I found these all remarkably palatable.

U.P.A – A typical British ale, it is light flavour which is remarkable as it is 4.5%abv, it has flavours of hop with a fresh, authentic real ale taste.

Crystal – The ‘Wicked Wheat Beer’ was my personal favourite, perhaps appeals to a female palate thats accustomed to mainly drinking fizz! It was also deceptively light for 6.0%abv.

Triple ‘S‘ – This ‘Simply Superb Stout’ doesn’t have the extra dry, bitterness of original Guinness stout but it has a toasted, mellow depth, which is interesting and delicious.

We strongly recommend that you try these ales but make sure you don’t leave them lying around for someone to get their paws on…

Otto – the pint sized pup!

A softer drink for the festive limbo period

Christmas has been and gone in a flash.

While some of you may be rejoicing, others will be counting down the months, weeks and days until the festive hype comes around once again.

Here at Blotto we lived up our name in every sense. A case of Gusbourne was guzzled down before the turkey had made an appearance.

Otto has his eyes firmly on the prize

The limbo period between Christmas and New Year seems to be ultra disorientating this year; perhaps due to Christmas Day falling on a Wednesday.

If you are feeling as though you would prefer a softer drink before the next big booze up, head to one of London’s top mocktail bars.

For the total abstainer

Redemption is an alcohol-free bar situated in Portobello. Their main aim is to offer you an alcohol-free enticing drinks (who would have thought?). Redemption offer everything from mocktails to fruit infusions as well as some delicious detox grub to kick start your New Year’s resolution!

Not only does this gastrobar serve up  mouth-watering mocktails and wholesome food but they also support charities which work with people struggling with addictions.

By no means is this a place to have a dull cup of flat lemonade and some rabbit food, rather if offers “a night out but a night off”. Perfect for this limbo period.

For the half’n’half

For half’n’half in every sense why not head to Dishoom in Covent Garden? Here you can feast on fine Indian cuisine while indulging yourself with non-alcoholic cocktails.

The non-alcoholic cocktails look equally as delicious as their alcoholic sisters with the “rose & cardamom lassi” and “mango and fennel lassi” caught our eye.

I’m a Dachshund not a doll!

‘Tis the season for luscious liqueurs

Dear scrooges,

Face the fact Christmas is coming. It’s here. It’s upon us.

The day of gluttony and endless family board games is edging closer.  We all know there is one thing that makes the Christmas period easier: the consumption of our favourite beverages.

Finding the family squabbles and Brussels sprout induced farts too much? Why not indulge yourself with a liqueur? It is Christmas after all.

If you are fed up of the usual overly spiced Christmas drinks then try something new and show your support for the Welsh liqueur producers.

What is a liqueur made of?

Liqueurs are sweet alcoholic beverages that can be consumed on their own or used in a cocktail.

Typically liqueurs are spirits infused with fruits, herbs or cream. I’m sure you can all think of the most well-known creamy liqueur – whose TV adverts are equally decadent as the product.

Celteg produce fruit wines, liqueurs and preserves

 “The home of Welsh whisky”

One of the most famous Welsh Whisky distilleries is Penderyn.

Penderyn are now also producing a premium cream based liqueur Merlyn: Welsh Cream Liqueur. 

The internationally respected whisky producers combine Welsh malted barley spirit with fresh cream to produce the fudge-toffee flavoured liqueur.

Penderyn recommend serving the 17% Abv liqueur straight over ice.

Whose liqueur is that alcoholic beverage?

Two of the top Welsh liqueur producers, Celteg and Condessa, are exhibiting stalls at Cardiff’s busy Christmas market.

Celteg offer a gourmet miniature liqueur selection

Celteg

Celteg is a family run business which started up in Ceredigion, rural North Wales, in 1985.

The Welsh Food and Drink Award system have presented Celteg with many awards for their liqueurs.

“traditional and popular”

In 2008, their best-seller sloe gin (25% abv) collected a highly coveted 3 Gold Star Award from the Great Taste Awards. Gwil Page, of Celteg wines, describes the sloe gin as “a traditional and popular drink”.

Celteg have brought out a new raspberry liqueur which is made with vodka. Page disclosed that this has proved popular in recent months but refused to reveal any hints to their secret recipe.

Page recommends you try their Welsh elderport liqueur which is made by combining brandy with blackberries and elderberries; it is then aged in an oak barrel.

For a sumptuous Christmas treat Page suggests pairing the Welsh elderport liqueur with a cheese board. He suggests drinking the liqueur on its own or mixing it with a sparkling wine for a festive celebration.

Celteg not only produce liqueurs but also a variety of fruit wines and preserves. They have truly got into the Christmas spirit with their “cranberry sauce and Welsh elderport” preserve. Celteg recommend pairing this fruity preserve with any game bird.

Why not visit their Cardiff Christmas stall?

Condessa

Condessa Welsh Liqueurs market themselves as “The Finest Cream Liqueurs and Fruit Liqueurs in the UK”. They are one of the oldest Welsh Liqueur producers.

Condessa have been producing liqueurs for over 40 years. The business, originally set up in Chester in 1969, moved to Anglesey in 1989.

Paul Piejus, who runs Condessa’s Cardiff stall, discloses, “I would say our best sellers are definitely sloe gin and [original] Welsh cream.”

Condessa’s Christmas stall is situated opposite Cardiff’s iconic castle

Another top-seller is praline cream which Piejus describes as “liquid forrero rocher”.  He suggests creating a winter-warming mug of hot chocolate with a shot of  praline liqueur for a “delicious” alternative.

Alternatively he suggests serving the cream based liqueurs over lots of ice. He explains the fruit based liqueurs could be mixed with tonic water or sparkling wine. For the ultimate luxurious treat why not try a shot over ice-cream?

Condessa offer a variety of liqueurs and spirits, including poteen

Condessa has a large customer base with many returning customers, Piejus explains, “We have a lot of returning customers and they know exactly what they want.”

Condessa offer “build your own” gift boxes with a variety of five miniature bottles of liqueurs which would be perfect for Christmas presents (or just a cheeky tasting).

Family success

Family run businesses are often difficult to start up and maintain because of emotional stress, however, when they succeed they are often very popular. Both Celteg and Condessa are examples of successful family run businesses.

The sheer amount of advertising in recent years has made Christmas obscenely commercialised and materialistic.

The stress of Christmas makes it often easy to oversee how important this special period of time is for families.

So, if you find yourself feeling stressed in the festive period why not pour yourself a liqueur and cherish the moment? After all, Christmas only comes once a year.

Otto is looking forward to nibbling some left-over turkey

Listen below for Blotto’s ‘Christmas best-sellers’ interview with Celteg’s Gwil Page.

Looking for a fruity number?

Tonight I am cooking chicken in a creamy tarragon sauce. I am pairing this French classic with Wickham’s Fumé Special Release 2011.

This wine is produced from Bacchus and Reichensteiner grapes and aged in French oak barrels.

This charming white is the perfect tipple to consume with chicken or fish

Its light, fruity nose and clean, acidic flavour balances perfectly with this dish. The Fumé Special Release 2011 is aged in oak barrels for 6 months and as a result the wine leaves a delicious oak hum on the palate.

The label looks as impressive as the delicious wine

John and Caroline Charnley planted the Wickham Vineyard in 1984 in the heart if the Hampshire countryside. The vineyard, situated on the south coast between Southampton and Portsmouth, grows 10 different grape varieties across 18 acres.

Wickham went into administration last year but was thankfully saved by former manager, Wilhem Mead, who bought the company.

So bottoms up to Wickham; I strongly suggest trying this wine with white meat or fish.

This wine would work perfectly for a dinner party

Bon appetit!

(I bought this wine in Waitrose, it is for sale on Wickhams’s website, £10.99)