Trés amusant Mr J. You're right that spirits and mixers seem much more the norm at drinks parties and supper affairs. The breadth of vermouths, amaros and fortified wines is also influencing broad minded hosts positively. I see tequila popping up more and more at chi-chi soirées. But what I really hanker after, at a hot summer bbq event, is a Sauternes slushy!
Lovely piece, although I’d contest the “poor selection of wine at reasonable prices” line — supermarkets have an insane amount of choice, often good, at reasonable prices (I mean £12-£17), especially with the search for different grapes from lesser-known regions (see the M+S found range). It’s true that pub wine lists are often dull, and big brands are always dull (never buy a wine whose makers have an advertising budget) but I’m always amazed that “book launch wines” are so often bad when you can get good wine at a reasonable price.
I quite agree it's just that party organisers never want to spend more than £6 or £7 - though you can get some quite drinkable stuff for that from the Wine Society. Thanks for M&S tip - I always forget that they have such interesting wines.
"You might get champagne if you’re very lucky, prosecco if you’re not." This rings horribly true, or if in Spain, some truly wicked 2€ (a bottle) Cava.
Trés amusant Mr J. You're right that spirits and mixers seem much more the norm at drinks parties and supper affairs. The breadth of vermouths, amaros and fortified wines is also influencing broad minded hosts positively. I see tequila popping up more and more at chi-chi soirées. But what I really hanker after, at a hot summer bbq event, is a Sauternes slushy!
Lovely piece, although I’d contest the “poor selection of wine at reasonable prices” line — supermarkets have an insane amount of choice, often good, at reasonable prices (I mean £12-£17), especially with the search for different grapes from lesser-known regions (see the M+S found range). It’s true that pub wine lists are often dull, and big brands are always dull (never buy a wine whose makers have an advertising budget) but I’m always amazed that “book launch wines” are so often bad when you can get good wine at a reasonable price.
I quite agree it's just that party organisers never want to spend more than £6 or £7 - though you can get some quite drinkable stuff for that from the Wine Society. Thanks for M&S tip - I always forget that they have such interesting wines.
Most entertaining and true. Really enjoyed this as my first read of the day
Ah thank you!
"You might get champagne if you’re very lucky, prosecco if you’re not." This rings horribly true, or if in Spain, some truly wicked 2€ (a bottle) Cava.
I remember drinking a lot of sub-Freixenet stuff in Barcelona in the '90s. The best tasted of nothing at all.
Indeed. The options were either that or an effervescent vomit quality if they'd gone too hard on the Chardonnay.