Helen McGinn After spending last week in London tasting around 100 wines a day (I was judging at the International Wine Challenge, not just really thirsty), I’m back and trying to get on top of things. It’s not going that well. The house is a tip, the laundry basket needs a room of its own, work has gone b-a-n-a-n-a-s and now everyone’s talking about Christmas which means having to get organised about presents and the whole thing just leaves me feeling exhausted. I think I need a glass of wine.
And possibly this sweatshirt below. Made by a friend of mine – Rae, see her website here – I’ve practically lived in my ‘Premier Cru’ super-soft navy sweatshirt since buying it last month. Now she’s kindly offered one of her new ‘Sparkling’ sweats and a bottle of Crémant (together worth over £55!) as a giveaway. I reckon you can slay (or ignore – up to you) anything whilst wearing one of these. Accessorise with a glass of fizz, obviously.
To enter, simply leave a comment on the blog or over on the KMWC Facebook or Instagram page. Usual T&C’s apply: open to UK residents over 18 and the competition closes at 11.59pm on the 30th November 2017. A winner will be picked at random and noticed by email on the 1st December 2017. Good luck!
Current white in the fridge: Villa Blanche Terret Blanc
Price: £8.49 - Buy From Waitrose
Terret Blanc (which autocorrect desperately wants to change to Ferret) is an old local grape variety grown in the Languedoc in southern France. But here, instead of it being used in a blend, it gets the stage to itself. And goodness, it sings. Light and bright, it’s got the citrus of Sauvignon but with a touch of apple too. If you’ve reached peak Picpoul, try this instead. Doesn’t need food but will perk up a plate of pitta and dips no end.
Current red in the rack: Trivento Malbec
Price: £6.50 - Buy From Asda
Talking of presents, this is a great one for teachers. Widely available (Tesco, Morrisons, Asda, Waitrose and lots more), it’s usually around £8 a bottle but is on offer in Asda at the moment. And it’s such a winter-friendly, warm red with juicy bramble fruits and cushion-soft tannins. Amazing value for money, this one’s a smart-looking gold medal winning wine too. What’s not to love? (Apart from the overuse of that phrase, obviously).
Fab to have a alternative to omni-present Prosecco. Will be trying it for my next planned girls night in!
Ah the stamina required at the IWC! Go! Go! Go! Tried the Terret from Waitrose – a nice refreshing tipple with grape variety interest. On the garment front (or back) – something decent to ponce around in on the vinous catwalk me thinks!
My George would say “get that one, it’s got tourettes!!!!” which he’d find really funny, particularly as his language has hit an all time teenage low! If I’m wearing that top at least I will look lovely while I swear back at him 😉 x
I haven’t tried this one before. For £55 you can’t go wrong though, right!
Love these tops (and your blog!) x
Villa Blanche is on my shopping list for trip to Waitrose tomorrow – will try out on girls evening on Friday – might get extra for tomorrow first though!
Loving the white wine suggestion…to be fair anything that goes with dips is a winner in my book. Loving the jumpers too
brilliant prize, cheers for the chance!
I would like the chance to sparkle!
Love the tops!
I love your ‘swine’ club Helen, that’s how my eyes seem to read KMWC !
Your blogs always make me smile and a sparkling top would be lovely too x
Count me in – if by some small miracle my name jumps from your hat I’ll pass the top over to Judy… Mx
Great wine blog – try lots of your suggestions. Love the jumpers too so please put my name in the ‘hat’.
I will try this weeks white suggestion, sounds great! thank you
Love the jumpers – would be great for my work’s Christmas party! The blogs are good too – especially when they sometimes recommend wines from the supermarket I work in. 🙂
All that glitters and all that…fingers crossed for a sparkling surprise in more ways than one.
The prize would be perfect for my fizzy Fridays. What to wear otherwise … it’s a first world issue .
Loving the blog always
Delicious wine AND snuggly sweatshirts … what’s not to love about crisp cold weather? Off to stock up on this week’s recommendations …
As a fan of the Picpoul – I’m keen to give the Terret a try! Even better in a Sparkling jumper
I can jump to it and not spill a drop of wine either 🙂 love these jumpers.x
My cousin had Cremant de Bourgogne at her (very posh) wedding instead of Champagne, back in 1990, when no-one had heard of it – it was lovely! Happy memories…
Love the blog, always try as many of the recommendations as possible.
For those of you who are thinking about the case of wines from the kmwc it’s fab and great value!
As for the jumper….I’d love the chance to win one!
Sparkling Cremant and sparkling sweatshirt, perfect combination, yes please to both!!
Oh yes put me in the hat please! It’ll have to be a large one!
Lucy
Love these jumpers! And love fizz! Keeping my fingers crossed 😊
Love the jumpers and love fizz so keeping everything crossed!
Got one of your Christmas case open beside me now, no presents bought yet & my 2&7 year olds are still up at 10.pm on a school night 😱…..but feeling slightly more “sparkling” for some reason 😉 The jumper & the fizz would have a good home here for sure!!
What a week! Now watching my swimming on a Friday night in cold Northern temperatures! Have the wine to go back to though.
Count me in for a Sparkling Christmas
Great blog this week, even better with chance to win Sparkling prize, thank you