Our top picks: August

Figs
Figs
Afternoon Tea Week
Afternoon Tea Week
Peaches
Peaches
National Burger Day
National Burger Day

Each month, we will be bringing you our top picks of seasonal ingredients, our wine recommendations and important dates for your calendar.

Figs

Fresh figs bring a taste of the Mediterranean to our shores at this time of the year. They can be highly versatile; as a starter with goats cheese or ham, as a main, for example with duck, or as a dessert perhaps with a drizzle of honey. In all cases an intensely fruity wine like Riesling or Viognier would work well. We have some great examples but at a push would put forward JB Adam Riesling Reserve, La Playa Viognier or Sonberk Riesling while for the sweeter dishes the Moscato Passito from Cantine Colosi will really shine.

 

Afternoon Tea Week 12-18th

There is perhaps nothing more quintessentially English than an afternoon tea which has been a staple in high society since the mid-19th century. These days it is usually more of an occasional luxury though, often in celebration of a birthday, anniversary or other key date. As such, a good bottle of bubbles is definitely the best accompaniment and well, it has to be English really. Bluebell Vineyard’s medal-winning ‘Hindleap’ Blanc de Blancs 2014 is 100% Chardonnay and in its optimum drinking window right now.

 

Peaches

Peaches and nectarines are also great at this time of year. For a wine that actually taste like peach, try our Mt Difficulty Pinot Gris or our Chateau Pajzos 'T' Dry Furmint. With food, peaches wrapped in cured ham makes a great canapé or light starter and would pair well with Le Monde Prosecco. (Some of the Ellis team have recently taken a trip to see our friends at Le Monde, and you can read about it here). For a more indulgent dessert, a peach and almond puff pastry tart would be delicious with Domaine Guirouilh Jurancon Doux Half 2015.

 

National Burger Day 22nd

Perhaps at the opposite end of the image scale to afternoon tea, the humble burger has nevertheless been elevated significantly over the past decade or so. A pub or restaurant these days will often hang its hat on the quality of its burger(s) on offer. While the bread offering may vary from brioche to pretzel and the accompaniments may range from onion rings to Monterey cheese, the common factor must be a top quality meat patty. Match this with a smooth, medium-bodied red with good fresh acidity to balance the richness and fatty nature of the burger especially if it’s stacked with cheese and other extra ingredients. The Fincas de Azabache Rioja Garnacha or our new Domaine des Remizieres Crozes Hermitage `Cuvee Particuliere` would fit the bill admirably here. 

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