Wines of the week: Tour de France
Terry Kirby picks out three wines matching each section of France's famous bike race
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Your support makes all the difference.One of the pleasures of the Tour de France – which began at Mont-Saint-Michel yesterday – is following its passage through the great wine producing areas of France. So here are three suggestions taken from this year’s route to enjoy.
July 4 - Stage Four: Saumur-Limoges
Wine Atlas Sauvignon Blanc Touraine 2014
As well as scenic chateaux and great sparklers, the Loire region is the original home of Sauvignon Blanc, where they produce refreshing, grassy whites, with lots of gooseberry and grapefruit flavours and none of the tropical fruits of the New World versions. This good value offering from the Touraine area east of Saumur is just perfect as an aperitif or for lighter fish dishes and goats cheese salads.
£5.97 Asda
July 13 Stage 11: Carcassonne – Montepellier
Domaine De Sainte Rose Coquille D’Oc 2015
The Tour route today passes through the heart of Languedoc-Roussillon, France's biggest wine region and home to dozens of local co-operatives and individual producers, including this expat English family, producing a lovely range of well-made, well priced wines near Servian. Try this succulent rosé, a typical Syrah/Grenache blend, full of red fruit flavours.
£7.49 Waitrose
July 18 – Stage 16: Moirans en Montagne - Bern
Domaine de La Pinte Arbois 2014
The mountainous Jura in eastern France is one of the less explored regions, both in terms of its scenery and often unusual wines, which include light and spicy reds and sherry-like whites. Made at Arbois, just to the west of the Tour route, this highly individual take on Chardonnay, rendered full bodied, aromatic and nutty, with notes of honey and exotic fruits, is perfect with rich seafood or white meat dishes, particularly pork or veal.
£16.00 Marks & Spencer
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