Helen McGinn A few weeks ago I found myself in central London with half an hour to kill between meetings. Normally I’d grab a coffee and head to Liberty’s stationary department but on this particular occasion I decided to do something a little more adventurous. I got another ear piercing. OK, so it hardly rates as truly rebellious but for this middle-aged mother of three, it felt good. Actually it felt bloody painful but now I’m thrilled with it. Just before having it done I asked the (much younger) lovely woman about to stick a needle through my ear if she thought it was a slightly ridiculous thing for me to do. ‘Not if it makes you happy.’ What she said.
Current white in the fridge: Santa Rita 120 Viognier
Price: £8.99 - Buy From Majestic
When the temperature drops, I want white wines with huggable flavours. You know, more tropical fruits than sharp lemons. And this Viognier from Chile brings it with gorgeous peach and apricot flavours wrapped in sunshine. Buy this as part of the Majestic mix six deal and it goes down to just £5.99 a bottle. Together with the red in the same 120 range, they make a great pair of crowd-pleasing party wines.
Current red in the rack: Santa Rita Medalla Real Cabernet Sauvignon
Price: £11.99 - Buy From Majestic
From Chile’s Maipo Valley, the Cabernet grape loves it here. Especially in the hands of this particular producer, one of the oldest in Chile. Packed with blackcurrant fruit flavours and gentle spice from oak ageing along with juicy velvet-soft tannins, it’s seriously good. Buy it as part of a mixed case of six and it’s even better value.
