A Wine Expert Shares Her Favourite Date-Night Bottles
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ELINE
Special occasions always call for champagne. People are starting to cotton on that you can get decent champagne outside of the big houses and brands. That said, my favourite is Veuve Clicquot’s La Grande Dame. Veuve Clicquot makes its staple rosé and yellow label every year from a blend of vintages from different harvests to achieve its unique style. When it has a really special vintage, it makes the wine from those grapes only – this is La Grande Dame.
Pinot noir is my go-to for an evening at home. I’ve been trying lots of bottles from outside Burgundy – the homeland of pinot noir – as it also works in some unexpected places around the world, like Oregon, California and New Zealand, which has just started importing pinot noir to the UK from a brand called Akitu, which is great.
My favourite date-night spot is The Tent (at the End of the Universe). John Javier’s food is always exceptional and there’s a small wine list. The restaurant is dimly lit so you can gaze into your date’s eyes, and there’s always a great DJ playing chilled-out music. You’re not allowed to take any pictures, so it feels romantic.
One of my favourite bottle shops is Eline in Hoxton. It’s connected to the restaurant which has an incredible range. I also love my friends at Emile Wines which delivers nationwide. Berry Bros & Rudd in St James’s is a classic – it's one of the UK’s oldest wine shops and has a great selection of affordable wines – its crémant de Limoux starts from about £13.
Keen to hear more? Here are Hannah’s extra-special – and supermarket – date-night picks…
FIZZ
Ruinart Second Skin Rosé Champagne, £86
There are going to be a lot of grand marques flying around this time of the year, so let me point you in the direction of one I think is particularly good. Ruinart’s Second Skin rosé champagne is juicy, layered and a pleasing dark pink.
Available here
Berry Bros. & Rudd Rosé by Champagne Leclerc Briant Extra Brut, £55
You’d usually be paying a hell of a lot more for Leclerc Briant, a biodynamic Champagne estate. But under wine merchant Berry Bros. & Rudd’s ‘own label’ you can get this enticing, zesty pink fizz for much less.
Available here
Langham Rosé NV, £34.95
English sparkling wine is ever on the up. And this, from Dorset-based producer Langham, is a great example of exactly why. Expect a core of cherry and strawberry, framed by brioche and a leafy herbaceousness.
Available here
WHITE WINE
Cave De Beblenheim Pinot Gris Reserve, £11.99
I recently featured this wine in my segment on Sunday Brunch, and it was a firm favourite with the guests. Smoky, oily and full of plump orchard fruit, this pulls its ripe flavours from Alsace’s sunny climate.
Available here
Château De Béru Chablis Terroirs De Béru, £39
This is an out-of-this-world chablis from Athénaïs Béru. This is a blend of plots from across the vineyards Athénaïs owns. Expect notes of crushed shells, lime zest and Cornish butter – with a richness from oak ageing for 12-18 months.
Available here
Bodegas Cota 45, 'Miraflores', £27
Palomino is the grape that makes up dry sherry, but this is an unfortified white wine. You’ll get lots of classic, nutty, salty, dried almond umami notes. It’s a good one to buy for the wine nerd in your life.
Available here
RED WINE
Ken Forrester Wine The Misfits Cinsault, £10
This was one of my favourite supermarket finds of the last year. It’s a South African wine made from a grape called cinsault. It’s made without the inclusion of the grape stalks, so it’s even smoother and more fruit driven than normal.
Available here
Don Tinto Tempranillo, £14
From the people who brought you hipsters’ favourite Chin Chin, this new ‘house red’ is designed for easy quaffing. It’s a 100% Spanish tempranillo, and its tactful use of oak brings a lick of vanilla.
Available here
Gusbourne Pinot Noir, £40
This bottle is an actually-very-good pinot noir from England. It’s made up of more black fruit than red, but doesn’t pull any punches on its juicy, spicy drinkability. Pure and aromatically complex.
Available here
Hannah Crosbie’s debut book Corker is out on 28th March, published by Ebury. Follow Hannah for more wine recommendations here and to try her new paired wine collaboration at Hithe + Seek, book a table here.
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