Trading through testing times. The English Market Traders continue to serve the people of Cork

Trading through testing times

The English Market Traders continue to serve the people of Cork 

The English Market has served the people of Cork since 1788 in the face of famine, flood, war and multiple recessions. As many of the English Market tenants continue to trade, it is almost certain that ‘global pandemic’ will soon be added to its list of triumphant battles.

Many of the food entrepreneurs and family businesses within the English Market have stepped up to recent challenges by diversifying and adapting from the traditional approach, to help support their communities, keep supply chains moving and ensure the viable continuity of their businesses. 

The English Market remains open for business in the heart of Cork City Centre as the traders today as in 1788, are as focussed as ever on “Serving the City”.

In addition, many of the innovative English Market Traders have recently introduced home delivery and order and collect services to support their customers who may be cocooning or unable to visit the Market during these times.

There is approximately 30 independent food retailers within the English Market open, providing a full supply of the very best of Irish produce including, freshly caught local fish and seafood, fresh fruit and vegetables, local farm reared meat and poultry, as well as some of Ireland’s best cheese, wine and preserve options - among a host of other foodie delights from both near and far. 

For customers visiting the English Market, there is the added advantage of free parking throughout the city and many social distancing, safety and security measures in place in the Market to keep shoppers and traders safe.

The English Market is open Monday to Saturday, 8am-6pm (although some traders are operating reduced opening hours), for further information please visit www.englishmarketcork.ie. To keep up to date with individual Trader information and regular updates visit @theenglishmarketcork on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.

Please find below the current detailed list of Traders open in the Market - with those offering click and collect or delivery services highlighted.

Company Name	Tenant	Details
Alternate Bread Company	Sheila Fitzpatrick	The Alternative Bread Company was established in 1997 by Sheila Fitzpatrick and sells a large range of handmade bread and baked goods, including a range of 100% organic sourdoughs, traditional Irish soda bread, syrian flatbread and a wide variety of gluten free, wheat free, dairy free and sugar free products. The Alternative Bread Company is open for business, operating during 8am -4pm. Offering a call and collect service and also offering a delivery service for elderly people - To place an order phone the shop on (021) 425 1347.
Ballycotton Seafood Ltd.	Adrian Walsh / Diane	Ballycotton Seafood is a family owned business, established in 1985, Ballycotton Seafood is open business as usual in the market with a full selection of superb fresh fish and seafood available. Also offering free local Cork delivery service (minimum order value €20) to place your order phone 021 4613122. Also offering call and collect service - phone the market stall on 021-4272093.
Best Meats	Paul / John Boyling	This traditional butchers was established in 1976 and now has had three generations of family preparing the “Best Meat” for the people of Cork since opening! Best Meats produces a range of fresh quality beef, lamb, pork and chicken. Their best selling product is their top quality beef. Business as usual. Slight change in hours - now operating 9am-5pm. Offering call and collect service from 021 4270563, pay over the phone available.
Bresnan Meats	Michael Bresnan	Bresnan’s Butchers was established in 1898 and is now a 4th generation butchers offering a high quality range of locally sourced meat. Bresnan’s is the family with the longest unbroken presence in the English Market which ensures a high level of care and custom in its service. Bresnan meats offer the best of home grown farm to fork, beef, lamb and pork from their Market stall business as usual from 9am-6pm Monday to Saturday.
Bubble Brothers	Billy Forrester	Bubble Brothers offer a carefully selected range of affordable, interesting wines and champagnes from around the world, alongside a variety of Cuban cigars.Open for business as usual in the market. Also offering free delivery for all orders of more than €100, to any address nationwide. Visit www.bubblebrothers.ie to place your order.
Café Marius	Sebastian Antoine	Cafe Marius take pride in offering local products, working exclusively with County Cork farmers and traders at the market to promote the importance of shopping local and supporting other traders. They have a selection of cakes, teas and coffees available. Open for takeaway only from their market stall.
Coffee Central	Mary Rose Daly	This family-run stall was established in 2000 and is on its second generation of management. Coffee Central offers a range of organic gourmet coffee and specialty loose leaf teas. Open in the market for takeaway only from Thursday to Saturday, 9am-5pm.
The Chicken Inn	Tim Mulcahy	Tim Mulcahy of The Chicken Inn, a third generation family business that is best known for providing quality and fresh poultry, pork and bacon, has recently launched their “Poultry in Motion” local delivery service offering customers free local Cork home delivery on orders €30 and above . Open For business in the market. To order, send an email to chickfoods.acc@gmail.com with your order, full name, address and telephone number.
Chocolate Stall	Rosemary Daly	The Chocolate Shop opened in 2000 as a specialist chocolate shop: unique in Ireland, it is independent of any manufacturer or franchise and therefore free to source only the best quality chocolate from the best artisan chocolatiers throughout the world. The Chocolate Shop is available for home delivery and click and collect from their website www.chocolate.ie
Coughlan Meats	Paul / Alan Murphy	Coughlan meats are a fifth generation family butchers serving the people of Cork for over half a century. Alan and the team pride themselves on having all locally sourced products. This butchers specialises in providing a range of quality beef, lamb, pork and poultry products. Open business as usual in the market and also offering click and collect service of from www.coughlanmeats.com
Durcans	Tom Durcan	Tom Durcan Meats specialise in sourcing and selling the finest quality local meats from dry aged Irish beef, succulent Irish spring lamb, locally produced fresh Irish pork and the freshest homemade speciality sausages. Tom Durcan Meats are open in the market and also offering order and collect and a free local delivery service. Order online on tomdurcanmeats.ie or phone the shop on 021 427 9141 to place your order. They will even add items from other stalls to your order on request!
Hassetts Bakery	Michael Hassett	Hassetts Bakery offers a wide range of products including artisan breads and confectionery. Open for business and have recently launched an order online service from www.hassettsbakery.com. You can order your freshly baked bread, pastries & confectionery and they will have your order ready for next day collection once ordered before 12.30pm.
Heavens Cakes	Joe Hegarty	Heaven’s Cakes is run by husband and wife team Team Joe & Barbara Hegarty. Both are classically trained chefs specialising in Cakes and Pastries. All produce at Heaven’s Cakes is handmade, using local ingredients wherever possible. Open in the market on Friday and Saturday only from 9.30-6pm.
Hederman's	Frank Hederman & Caroline Workman	Hederman Smoked Salmon is a first generation artisan producer of smoked wild and organic salmon, which they have been producing in Ireland’s only authentic timber smokehouse for nearly forty years. Hedermans is open business as usual in the market, have just launched a new Click and Collect service in addition to their delivery service, available to order from their website www.frankhederman.com.
K O'Connell's	Pat O'Connell	K O’Connell’s was established in 1962 and has been a thriving business since its opening nearly 60 years ago. O’Connell’s pride themselves on their customer service, the freshness of their products and their ability to source exotic fish for their customers. Their best sellers include salmon, cod, hake and prawns. Open for business from the market offering an amazing selection of fresh local seafood. Also offering a newly introduced  home delivery service - to place an order phone 021 427 6380 or email freshfish@eircom.net. Please specify which way you would like your fish prepared and the team will have it ready just the way you like it!
Landons Bacon	Stephen Landon	After farming for generations the Landon family established this stall in the English Market in 1990. They pride themselves on selling only the best and freshest of Irish pork and bacon. All of their products are prepared in house and all produce is locally sourced. Their rashers and bacon are highly acclaimed and are very popular among the people of Cork. Open for business as usual, Offering delivery to elderly vulnerable people during this time - contact Stephen on 086 862 0077 to place your order.
My Goodness	Virginia & Donal O'Gara	My Goodness was established in 2015 by Dónal and Virginia O’Gara. My Goodness is an award-winning ethical health focused business that specialises in vegan, raw, sugar free, gluten free and fermented probiotic products. All ingredients are sourced from local and organic suppliers where possible. My Goodness foods are open business as usual in the market and available for Click and Collect and home delivery through Neighbourfoods.ie .
Noonan's	Kathleen Noonan	This stall was established in 1955 by Kathleen Noonan and is now managed by Pauline Noonan as the second generation to run the family business. Noonan butchers specialises in pork with best sellers including the skirts and kidneys, bodice, crubeens and offal. All produce is sourced from Irish local producers with traditional old fashioned curing. They can do a delivery service - if needed, just to ring her on her mobile. They have their full product range available everyday and new hours during this time are 9.30-4pm.
O'Mahony Family Butchers	Eoin & Katherine O'Mahony	O’ Mahony’s was established in 1974 by Katherine O’Mahony. At this Stall you will find the very best, locally sourced meat such as specialist cuts of dry aged beef, Ballea Farm Lamb, rose veal, buffalo and venison. Open for business Tuesday-Saturday 9am-2.30pm . Offering click and collect from www.omahonysbutchers.com and will drop your order to the boot of your car.
O'Reilly's	Donagh O'Reilly	A O'Reilly is now a third generation family butcher. O'Reilly's continue to serve traditional Tripe and Drisheen to the people of Cork, as they have for the past 100 years. Call ahead to place your order on 021 427 0925 and collect, or one of the team will kindly drop it out to your car.
O'Sullivans Poultry	Glenys Landon	O’Sullivans began the business by rearing free range turkeys and chickens on their own farm in Cork. They moved into trading in the English Market in 1990. You can expect to find a variety of options available from free range chicken to wild Irish game. Open for business as usual in the market.
O'Sullivans	Tim O'Sullivan	Tim O’Sullivan Meats was established in 1939. Now Tim O’Sullivan is the 3rd generation butcher to lead the company and provides quality and fresh meats to local customers. This butcher sells beef, lamb, pork and poultry products and is best known for providing a large range of ready-made stir fry marinated products.
On the pigs back	Isabelle Sheridan	On the Pigs Back was established by 1992 by Isabelle Sheridan, a French native. This stall prides itself on its passion for Farmhouse Cheeses, Homemade Pates & Terrines made from family recipes. On the Pigs Back stock a full range of Irish Farmhouse Cheese as well as daily fresh Arbutus Bread. Open business as usual in the Market and also offer a nationwide delivery service from www.onthepigsback.ie and available to order through neighbourfood.ie.
Pots n Pans	Michael McBarron	Pots N Pans was established in 2004 and sells a range of household, kitchen and crockery supplies. Open business as usual in the market with social distancing practices in place.
Moynihan's Poultry	Noel O'Callaghan	Moynihan’s Poultry provides a variety of fresh Irish poultry products and eggs. The brand is proud to provide all shoppers with locally sourced poultry products which come from 100% approved Bord Bia farms. Moynihan’s poultry range of poultry cuts, eggs and value-added products ensures that each customer has a wide variety of options to choose from. Open for business as usual in the market.
Super Fruit	Michael Corrigan	Superfruit was established in 1969 by Michael Corrigan. This family business sells fresh fruit and vegetables from its popular market stall. This is worth a visit if you are looking for guaranteed farm to fork freshness. Open for business as usual, trading as normal with all welcome.
The Good Food Shop	Marc O'Mahony	The Good Food Shop is a certified organic trader and sells a wonderful selection of top quality fresh, organic fruit and vegetables as well as household staples and a vast range of specialty food items. Open for business as usual, with the normal opening times 9am-6pm. Delivery service available - email or phone in marcomahony@hotmail.com Possibly the only shop in Cork(Potentially Ireland) with yeast available - to bake bread. Fresh yeast and dried yeast delivery on saturday morning.
The Meat Centre	Ken Barrett	The Meat Centre was originally established in 1980 by first generation butcher Ken Barrett. A wide variety of fresh meats are on offer such as beef, lamb, pork and bacon. All produce are of the finest quality and are fully traceable from farm to fork. Open for business as usual in the market.
The Real Olive Company	Jenny Rose & Tobias Simmonds	The Real Olive Company was established in 1993 by Toby Simmonds and was the first olive stall in the country. Starting with just a few barrels of olives and growing now to include about 40 varieties of olives along with an extensive range of other Mediterranean produce, such as fresh pesto, hummus, tapenade and extra virgin olive oil as well as their own dairy -Toons Bridge Dairy. The Real Olive Co. deliver nationwide from their online shop www.therealoliveco.com
The Roughty Foodie	Margo Ann Murphy	The Roughty Foodie is now a third generation family run business. You can expect to find local and fresh real honest ingredients when visiting this market stall - they provide non perishable food gifts, seasonal fruits, local raw honeys, homemade jams and Irish crafts. The Roughty Foodie is open for business as usual and also providing a free local delivery service within the city limits, of their delicious 'Cocooning Food Hamper' filled with local produce for just €70! Call Margo on 087 635 2415 to place your order.
Toonsbridge Dairy	Jenny Rose & Tobias Simmonds	Toonsbridge was established in 2009, when The Real Olive Company recognised a high demand for Mediterranean cheeses that were imported and being sold to accompany their olive selection. Jenny-Rose Clarke of The Real Olive Co. took this as an opportunity to create a range of locally hand-made Mediterranean style cheeses, which has since become an award-winning stand alone brand of its own. Toonsbridge Dairy and The Sandwich Stall are open for business in the market. They are also offering an order and collect service. To place an order, call (021) 4806500 .

CorkBilly’s Drinks Digest#2. Wines, Spirits and Beers. Pinot Noir a little off-colour? You need Rubired.

CorkBilly’s Drinks Digest

Wines, Spirits and Beers

Recent arrivals at Bubble Brothers

“In the last few weeks we've received wines from the grand cru champagne house of André Clouet, a sublime organic Nero d'Avola, a bold Spanish red from Toro and too many more to fit in here.” More info online. 

Christmas at The Franciscan Well

“We are gearing ourselves up for the Christmas holidays here in the Well! 

Once again we will be turning our award winning beer hall into a winter wonderland. Through out the month of December we will have live music, cocktails & hot drinks from the MONK cocktail bar (as well as a new seasonal menu ) and Christmas markets! 

The market will run on Saturday the 8th and Saturday the 15th of December from 1-6pm. They will be run by local artists who will be selling original handmade gifts such as hats, cards, ceramic pieces, wooden cheese boards and much more! Admission is free.” More info on their Facebook.

Christmas Gin Festival

The Revolution Bar, John Street, Waterford.

November 30th from 8.00pm

Check the bar’s facebook page for tickets.

“as with Harvest Festival we have invited some of the best Gin Companies in the Country to showcase their products for you. Your Ticket will entitle you to a lovely Gin Glass (to take home). 4 Gin & Tonics of you Choice. We will also have some nice Christmas drinks to try. ALL GIN COMPANIES WILL HAVE BOTTLES OF GIN FOR SALE FOR THE PERFECT CHRISTMAS PRESENT.”

Heart of Spain 1st birthday 8th December 

Lebanon’s Massaya 

I met Massaya’s Sami Ghosn in Cork a year years back, not long after he had returned from the US to help revive the family vineyards. You’d think the family would have enough on its plate with the uncertainties of the region without worrying about the future of the planet. But they do and they do something about it:

“For years now we have been treating our waste water, we have made our compost, recycled waste, encouraged our team to reduce their carbon footprints, given preference to local producers, chosen ingredients and material that were as natural as possible, planted our kitchen garden, planted bamboos to recycle water, prioritized organic treatments of vineyards, reduced to minimum the use of sulfur, oxygenated water for use in irrigation, and followed the moon calendar to filtrate and bottle our wines.” For more on the remarkable Massaya vineyard, read here   

Rioja

The Rain in Spain. 

There was a late Late Harvest in Spain for 2018 following an early on in 2017. Ripening was delayed and picking times have turned out to be the major headache of the vintage. But it wasn’t the same all over the country. Terrific insight here  from Spanish Wine Lover with no less than eight stories from around the country.

Labels Battle as California winemaker used labels that carried the Oregon AVA. Then there’s the Rubired concentrate that gives Pinot Noir more colour!!

The Feds have stepped into the middle of a simmering battle over wine provenance by ordering a California winemaker to change labels that carried the Oregon AVA, even though the wines were made in Lodi. Read more here. 

Nomad Wine at Spit Cork. The Pick of Burgundy.

Nomad Wine at Spit Cork
The Pick of Burgundy

Julian (Bubble Brothers) and, right, Michael (Bradley's of Cork)

Nomad Wine has for the past decade been known as the Burgundy specialists in Ireland. Jérémy Delannoy, who joined founders Thierry Grillet and Charles Derain in 2016, told me that they have expanded into “lesser known regions of France” and that was evident on their stand at Spit Cork. But Burgundy lovers need not fret. They travel there each year to taste the new vintages. With both the founders in the restaurant business, they are strong on food and wine pairings.

Vermentino from the Languedoc is perhaps an unexpected wine on the list but the Domaine Provenquire IGP Pays D’Oc 2016 caught my eye. Very pale yet very enjoyable with the “creaminess” typical of the variety.

Some Beaujolais Chardonnay ends up, quite legitimately, as Burgundy and it is rare enough to find a Beaujolais white in Ireland. Here’s a good one to try: Domaine des Nugues Beaujolais Village 2016, moderate fruity aromas, fresh and pure on the palate, with an impressively long finish.

Jérémy pointed me in the direction of Domaine Goisot, first to their Bourgogne Aligoté 2016. Green highlights in the light gold colour, a melange of floral and fruit in the aromas, also on the palate, a little spice too, well balanced with a long finish. 

Welcome to Nomad

But the big surprise from this producer was the Saint Bris “Exogyra Virgula” 2015, the surprise being that the grape variety was Sauvignon Blanc, a really different and very interesting expression of the grape. Citrus and floral on the nose continue on to the palate where you’ll also note some spice. Drink it young. 

It goes well with seafood, shellfish, fish, calf sweetbreads, cheese soufflés, goat cheese, Comté, Emmental, Munster and Roquefort cheese. By the way, both Goisot wines have a recommended serving temperature of 12 to 13 degrees.

Perhaps my favourite white here was the Jurançon Sec La Part Davant 2015 by Cavin Larredya, a blend of Gros Manseng, Petit Manseng, and Petit Courbou. Peach aromas, but also floral, continued on the velvety palate all the way to a long and satisfying finish.

Then I moved from the south west foothills to the Rhone for the first of reds: Domaine des Lises Equinoxe Crozes-Hermitage 2016. a delicious Syrah, ripe black fruit and lingering finish.

From there it was Burgundy and Pinot Noir all the way, starting with Les Tilles 2014 by Domaine Jacques Cacheux, a striking amalgam of red berry fruit and then a long finish. “Drink now or in another year,” advised Jérémy.

Soon he was pouring the Domaine Raquillet Mercurey Vieilles Vignes 2016. Not too much to say here: beautiful fruit, beautiful body, beautiful finish.

Back a year now to the Maranges 1er Cru Clos de la Boutiere 2015 by Domaine Bachelet Monnot. This is a classic Burgundy with expressive aromas, great depth and texture, fresh acidity and so very well balanced, superb finish as well.

Hard to beat that but Nomad had just the ticket: the biodynamically produced Vosne-Romanée Les Chalandins 2014 by Domaine Jacques Cacheux. Dark fruits on the nose, elegant and silky, complex, one sip to paradise. Great way to end my “visit” to Nomad!

Many of the Nomad wines are available via SIYPS online.

Last week, one hundred bottles of “wine without make-up” were up for tasting in the River Lee Hotel thanks to the combined efforts of four Dublin wine companies. Spit, as it as the combination is called, consists of Winemason, Nomad Wine, Vinostito, and Grapecircus and virtually all the wines were organic. And there wasn't a dud among them. To read our account of the Vinostito stand, please click here . Also at Spit Cork Winemason and Grapecircus.

Celebrating international Tempranillo Day?

Celebrating international Tempranillo Day?

In Rioja, you may well hear familiar accents

If you ever find yourself in Rioja searching for Tempranillo, don't be surprised if you hear familiar accents in the bodegas. I was there a few years ago and at each of the three wineries visited in one afternoon, I was greeted by someone who had learned their English in Ireland, two in Dublin and one in Cork.

Rioja vineyards seen through the glass of Bai Gorri.
The receptionist here had learned her English in Cork. Doubcha by gorri.

Vinasperi Rioja (DOC) Crianza 2012, 13.5%, €15.15 Wines Direct

Celebrating international Tempranillo Day? Here’s a duo of bottles to help, one from Rioja Alavese and one below from Alta. Alavese is the most northerly of the three Rioja sub regions; the others are Alta (to the South West) and Baja (to the South East). 

This light bodied dry red is said to be a good example of the “modern style of Rioja”, a very pleasant one at that. It is quite a dark red and has pretty intense dark fruit aromas. And attractive fruit flavours also feature on the plum-y palate, barely a trace of tannins, just light and juicy, very approachable with a persistent finish. Highly Recommended.

Bodegas Gran Martinez Gold Selection Rioja (DOC) Crianza 2013, 13%, €17.30 Bubble Brothers (this bottle bought at Cinnamon Cottage).

This is a medium red colour with cherries and raspberries in the aromas and on the palate too where you'll also notice smoothness and power, vanilla and spice, fine tannins and a decent finish. Delicious and a touch more serious than the Vinasperi and also Highly Recommended.

The fruit comes from 40 year old vines; it spends 12 months in French and US oak and they recommend pairing it with roast lamb or beef.

Tempranillo, indigenous to Spain and used in the great Rioja and Ribera del Duero wines, is planted in 500,000 acres of the world’s vineyards, making it the fourth most planted wine grape, and that would be enough to celebrate.

Until recently, this noble grape’s entire acreage was almost all grown in Spain. But things have changed. Tempranillo today is grown in many more countries including the United States, Italy, Mexico, New Zealand, Chile, Argentina, South Africa, Australia, France, Portugal, Turkey, Canada, China, Thailand, and more.

You’ll notice a Crianza sticker on these bottles and other coloured stickers on other bottles from Rioja. Here’s the key:

The green label (cosecha) indicates less than one year in oak, less than one in bottle.

The red label (crianza) indicates 1 year in oak, 1 in bottle.

The burgundy (reserva) indicates 1 year in oak, 2 in bottle.

The royal blue (gran reserva) indicates 2 years in oak, three years in bottle.

The periods are mimimum.

* 2017 Australia Day Tastings will be held in London on the 24 January at a brand new venue, B1 Bloomsbury Square, in Edinburgh on 26 January at The Balmoral Hotel and in Dublin on 30 January at the RHA Gallery.

California Trio. Zin, Zin and PN

California Trio

Zin, Zin and PN

Zinfandel now has a birth cert. Until only recently, it was California's "mystery grape" because its origins were unknown. 

DNA fingerprinting has confirmed that Italy's Primitivo and Crljenak Kastelanski, an ancient Croatian variety, are genetically identical to Zinfandel grapes. However, differences in vine vigor and cluster size separate Zinfandel from its genetic twins, and further differences in cultivation, terroir and winemaking combine to give Zinfandel its own particular flavor profile with a truly American name, history and style. On wine labels, U.S. regulations require that Zinfandel and Primitivo be identified separately. Read more...

California Wines – Less is More is the title of a Wine Tasting  in Ballymaloe next week (9th) and I’d bet that a Zin or two will be featured.

Clos du Val Napa Valley Zinfandel 2013, 14.5%, €29.95 O’Brien’s

From the very first sip, there was no doubt but that this Zinfandel was going to get a Very Highly Recommended. The drinking was spread over two days: it just got better.

Color is a rich purple and the vibrant aromas are not at all shy: dark frit and more. It is magnificent on the palate, with its warming mouthfeel, full of red fruit flavours, vanilla too, some spice as well, fine tannins. It is rich and full bodied, elegant and refined, with a lingering finish. And, yes, Very Highly Recommended. 

The wine is produced in California but the the food match was made in Douglas. I bought the wine in O;Brien;s there and paired it with a gorgeous Pork and Prune Terrine from On the Pig’s Back. On the second day, it went very well indeed with mousaka. 

Clos du Val was started by John Goelet in 1970 and it was quality from day one. Wines of California, an excellent recent book on the area, particularly recommends their reserve Napa Cabernet Sauvignon (2008) and the Carneros Reserve Chardonnay.

Dancing Bull Zinfandel 2012 (Lodi, California), 14%, €10.00 on offer and widely available.

This is a wine for the barbecue, before during and after. A fun wine. Pretty good fun though and Highly Recommended. Generally, it seems that a fun wine in California is well removed from a poor wine.

Rioe fruit notes, particularly strawberries, dominate the aromas.No shortage of fruity flavours on the palate and there are vanilla notes too. Intense enough with traces of spice and pretty good length as well. Small amounts of Petite Sirah and Tempranillo have been added “for increased intensity and dark fruit characteristics”. Most of the Zin fruit comes from Lodi, the self-proclaimed “Zinfandel Capital of the World”.

Lodi has some of the oldest Zinfandel vines in California, many dating back to the Gold Rush of 1849. Lodi’s wine industry continued to flourish through Prohibition, thanks to farmers who maintained their crops for legally sanctioned “home winemaking.” Today, Lodi is Wine Enthusiast’s 2015 Wine Region of the Year and a leading producer of California’s top varieties. However, with over 100 varieties now in production, Lodi offers a vast portfolio of diverse and interesting wines, all of which thrive in the region’s Mediterranean climate of warm days and cool nights. More on Lodi here.

Cycles Gladiator Pinot Noir, Central Coast 2013, 13.5%, €18.00 Bubble Brothers

Pinot Noir hasn't the best of reputations on the vineyard: capricious, a prima donna. But this is a delicate delight, Californian by birth but strong traces of a Burgundian accent, and is Highly Recommended. Cooperage: 40% new French oak, 60% neutral oak. The winery recommends pairing it with porcini and cremini mushroom risotto or roast rosemary chicken.

It has the typical light red colour, cherry to medium garnet. There is a beautiful red fruit nose, cherries plus berries. Fruit flavours follow through on the vibrant palate, restrained spice, fine tannins too, a lovely balance to this easy-drinking medium-bodied beauty and an excellent finish to boot.

Some 40,000 acres of Pinot Noir are now grown in California, well up on the 25,000 acres of 2004. Its popularity, according to the Wines of California, “is due to the general trend towards lighter, higher-acid food-friendly wines”. This lively Gladiator is certainly one of them, a good juicy one at that.

I bought this one from Bubble Brothers in the English Market and got good advice from Paddy. Must also say that the company's website is excellent, giving good detail on a big range of wines from around the world.