Winners of summer
With wall-to wall-Wimbledon this week and the possibility of a trip to Henley to watch the rowing at the end of the week, the need for a good picnic and sunshine drinking has never been greater. Even if your sporting participation is no more than shifting the TV so you can see it from the comfort of a chair in the garden, a glass of something good adds enormously to the occasion.
Of course the traditional English summer drink is Pimms. Enjoyed in large quantities at any summer gathering, from weddings to pool parties, Pimms manages to add fun without adding too much alcohol. In fact ever since the alcohol level of Pimms was dropped from 31 per cent ABV to its present 25 per cent it has almost needed an extra shot of gin just to boost the flavour.
Pimms was invented back in the early 1800s by James Pimm who ran an oyster shop in the City of London. He first invented this gin-based No.1 Cup to go with his shellfish and it became so popular that he started bottling the stuff. Then came the other varieties of Pimms – No.2 was whisky-based, No. 3 contained brandy and so on. The other variations have all died out apart from a tiny amount of the vodka-based No. 6 which can still be found, although with some degree of difficulty. Now, if anyone asks for Pimms, it is the gin-based version which is produced.
The best way to make a Pimms is to first find a large jug and some good tall glasses. Pour the Pimms into the jug – the ratio depends on the time of day and how strong you like it, but generally one part Pimms to four parts mixer. Chop up a lemon and an orange and peel some of the rind from a cucumber and add them to the jug with a few sprigs of mint. Let these infuse until your guests arrive, then top up the jugs with ice-cold lemonade or ginger beer. I favour the latter, and occasionally use part fizzy water too, to cut down on the sweetness. Then add ice cubes and the drink is ready to serve. Try not to get too much fruit salad into the glasses. The occasional piece of orange is fine, and even a strawberry for garnish, but this is a drink, not a dessert.
Pimms costs an astonishing 12.56 (Tesco) for 70cl, although Sainsbury have an own-brand version called Pitchers at just 10.79. Often own-brands are a pale-shadow of the original but this one is really good with zesty orange notes and a faint streak of summer bitters which keep the palate clear even in sunshine. By the time you have added the fruit and the lemonade, no-one is going to notice the difference, so choose Pitchers for preference.
You can make your own version of Pimms by mixing one part of quality gin (such as Tanqueray), one part of red vermouth and half a measure of Bols Orange Curacao, but sourcing the ingredients and mixing it up is likely to work out more expensive than the ready-mix unless you are catering for a garden-full.
If you are heading for Wimbledon rather than just watching it from the comfort of your own armchair then you will only be allowed to take in one bottle of wine per person. And for heaven's sake, don't try and take in the whole picnic box. They are very strict about what you can carry in. So plan with care and take in a screw-topped bottle of something that will go with a day's worth of sandwiches and strawberries. Ros always does well in a picnic, and I love the delicate, elegant flavours of Domaine Begude Pinot Ros from the cool hills of Limoux in Southern France. Normally priced at 7.99 in Majestic it comes down to a very good value 6.99 when you buy two bottles. With rather more positive redcurrant fruit and delicious juicy flavours, Ch Guiot Ros 2008, also from Majestic (5.99 on multibuy) goes with everything from a chicken sandwich to
a salmon salad.
If you want to continue the overall Englishness of the occasion then head to the English wine shelves in Marks and Spencer. M&S has a delicious strawberry-scented English Ros made by Chapel Down Vineyards in Kent from vineyards across Kent, Essex and Sussex. With a mix of grape varieties in the blend, including Schnburger, Rondo, Dornfelder and Bacchus, this is a truly English taste with good fruit and a clean, crisp style. Normally 9.99, this wine is down to 7.99 until July 5.
Waitrose has the delicious Nyetimber 2001 (25.99) made from the same grapes as Champagne, on the same stretch of chalky soil as Champagne, although it is the bit that surfaces in West Sussex, and using the same winemaking method as Champagne. It's no wonder that it actually tastes as good as, and even better than many Champagnes. Rich and toasty with tremendous length and balance, this will be the right wine to drink should our players reach the quarter finals.
If you can't do without a sing-along with Cliff Richard at Wimbledon then grab a bottle of Vida Nova Ros 2008 (Waitrose 7.99) which comes from his wine estate in the Algarve. Made from Syrah and Aragnez this has warm, plummy fruit with a juicy raspberry finish.
Of course wins, trophies and good losers need to be toasted with fizz. Lanson Black Label has teamed up with Wimbledon to produce a limited edition version complete with its own purple jacket which will keep the bottle cool for a while (large branches of Tesco, on offer from 27.99 to 19.99 until July 5).
The best value ros fizz at present comes from Morrisons, where they have Codorniu Rosado Cava down from 11.99 to 5.99 until July 12.
It was slightly challenged at its full price, but you should make the most of the special offer for its fresh-tasting, clean, raspberry fruit.
Email to a friend
Print this page- Three-inch blanket of snow heading our way today
- Alan Shearer in list of favourites for Leeds and England jobs: Latest odds
- Barnsley’s Keith Hill invokes Fawlty Towers over link with Leeds job
- McCormack feels United search can be narrowed down
- Redfearn throws down gauntlet as queue builds at Elland Road
- Rival chips in with £500,000 to restore the original Harry Ramsden’s
- Visit from Princess as Serbian culture celebrated
- SportsTalk: Leeds United’s manager search, Super League and Calcutta Cup
- Libraries aren’t like supermarkets, they are magical places where dreams begin
- Strategic review will lead to job losses at Yorkshire Bank
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Yorkshire
Sunday 12 February 2012
Today
Light rain
Temperature: 1 C to 6 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: North west
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 4 C to 8 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: West
