Coming home to seafood and superb wine

If you happen to’re new right here and are questioning what this implies, please bear with me, as most of my readers usually hove to do (as I very not often make sense at the beginning).

Nonetheless common readers – reminiscent of my mom and my editor – now’s the time to breathe a sigh of reduction as, for as soon as, this week I can’t be droning on and on about loneliness, abandonment and rejection.

Sure, it solely took three months however my beloved spouse, the illustrious Madame G., has lastly concluded her enterprise affairs in France and, PCR checks allowing, ought to have touched down on the Emerald Isle yesterday…fingers, toes and everythings else crossed.

Naturally, when a traveller comes residence – to our beautiful residence, Rose Cottage – what they crave most of all is a few scrumptious meals and what’s higher than a giant hearty bowl of warming soup?

I’m very sceptical about serving wine with soup however could make an exception for my fabulous seafood chowder…it’s a little bit little bit of indulgence and an opportunity to spoil my higher half.

Plenty of fish, potatoes, greens, cream and inventory – certain, in the precise palms it’s nearly a stew.

And can go splendidly effectively with as we speak’s Wine of the Week, the elegant, zesty and reassuringly complicated 2020 Serena Cordero Pinot Grigio (£8.99, Bare Wines, go to www.nakedwines.com).

This easy-drinking Moldovan wine is filled with citrus and pear flavours alongside hints of floral aromatics earlier than a lingering, deeply satisfying end to tickle the style buds.

In fact, some bubbles over the weekend appear necessary too, why ever not?

In addition to celebrating my Madame’s return, I’m additionally elevating a glass to myself and previous individuals in every single place following my third successive victory in tennis over my proficient and extremely spirited 13-year previous god-daughter, Lucia. There’s life within the auld canine but!

From Lidl, the fabulously contemporary, aromatic and racy Italia Rosé Prosecco Further Dry (at the moment £12.49) matches the invoice to a tee (sorry fallacious sport).

Offered in a surprising cut-glass bottle, this irrepressibly effervescent splash of pink is filled with intoxicating citrus and tangy pink berry flavours that are expertly complemented by beguiling backnotes suggestive of lemony biscuits.

I plan to serve it with nibbles of Melba toast topped with cream cheese and smoked trout…who might resist?

Lovers of pink (did I point out that my Madame is a pink?), I’ll always remember you.

Immediately’s ultimate choice is the country, sturdy and delightfully savoury 2019 Montaria Reserva Vinho Tinto (£9.99, Bare Wines).

A medium-bodied lubricious palate with loads of berry and cherry flavours, properly balanced by smooth tannins, earlier than a magnificently prolonged end with hints of black pepper, this Portuguese pink will profit from being served very barely chilled.

We’ll be having ours with a barbecue of Merguez sausages, marinated rooster thighs and a gently spiced tabbouleh.

My lonely days are over. Give it about 48 hours and I’ll be lamenting my lack of freedom and scheming to get some high quality ‘Me Time’ once more. Take pleasure in your wine and thanks for bearing with me throughout this troublesome interval. Until subsequent week, tipplers, sante!

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