Misunderstood chardonnay for your wine cellar | Alistair Gibson

One of the things I miss the most is the opportunity to meet winemakers and taste new wines at regular tasting events.

The last organised wine-tasting I attended was in London on March 3, and since then the wine trade has had to change the way it introduces new wine or new vintages to the wine trade.

I have attended virtual wine tastings online and taken part in presentations with winemakers from all around the world on Zoom, which has been fascinating.

Some of them will feature in this column in the coming weeks.

I’ve used this time to taste as many new wines from lesser known grape varieties and vineyard regions as possible, and that is where I start this week.

Pais is a grape variety that for many years was the backbone of the Chilean wine industry but is hardly known elsewhere.

There are many older vineyards still planted with pais and it is from these old vines that we are beginning to see some producers releasing single varietal wines.

Waitrose and Partners Pais 2018, Maule (Waitrose £7.99) is a perfect introduction to this light-bodied red grape.

It is very fresh with notes of crunchy red fruits, rose petals and some black pepper followed on the palate by juicy red fruits and bright acidity.

It is a little bit like a slightly wilder Beaujolais. You could happily chill this slightly and then serve with some simple grilled mackerel.

It was International Chardonnay Day last week – a rather misunderstood grape. I think that Exquisite Collection Padthaway Chardonnay 2018 (Aldi £5.99) is not only great value but also a reminder that Aussie chardonnay is no longer the oak-filled wine of yesteryear.

This is completely unoaked with ripe melon and pear on the nose and a creamy, textured palate balanced by fresh acidity.

Match with a fish pie or a broad bean risotto.

Rosé is another wine that needs no introduction, but if you are looking for a good-value alternative to Provence rosé, Pays D’Hérault Rosé 2019 (Aldi £6.49) really works. Pale in colour and deliciously fresh, this has summer red fruits, citrus and a little spice followed by a really dry and crisp palate. Try this with a salad Nicoise in the sunshine.