PLANET FRIERIENDL
The picks I’d like to share with you aren’t just good to drink (though, of course, nothing gets in here unless it passes my taste test). They’re also wines that have another feelgood factor to offer, in terms of their commitment to at least one element of sustainability.
First up is a smooth Italian red that would be useful as it goes well with lots of different foods. Monticelli Organic Rosso Piceno 2021 Italy (£8.85, Co-op) is made from half Sangiovese and half Montepulciano grapes, and tastes of wild berries with a twist of cherries and the plumpness of prunes. It would bring succulence to slices of roast gammon and has a mild earthiness that would also go well with goat.
If you like malbec, then try the juicy, blueberry-scented Domaine Bousquet Virgen Vineyards Organic Malbec 2022 Argentina (£13.95, Vintage Roots), which is made from grapes grown in the Tupungato region of Mendoza. Virgen is a natural wine made with no added sulphites. It’s also organic – and some. In 2022, Domaine Bousquet became only the fourth winery in the world – and the first outside the US – to achieve Regenerative Organic Certification (ROC™), a level of care for the environment that raises the bar on organic, aiming to “rehabilitate soil, respect animal welfare and improve the lives of farmers.”