Waitrose Heston Fruit Cup

I’ve never been a great fan of Pimm’s so I wasn’t expecting much from the Heston Blumenthal Fruit Cup which has just been launched by Waitrose.

It’s produced by Chase Distillery and based on the Heston Earl Grey and Lemon Gin which I was also surprised to like as much as I did.The fruit cup also includes elderflower, blackcurrant and raspberry liqueurs.

They suggest you serve it in a tall glass with lightly crushed raspberries and a couple of fine slices of peeled fresh sliced ginger. Pour over 2 x 25ml measures of the Heston Fruit Cup and 150ml ginger ale (so 1:3), add a few cubes of ice, a squeeze of lime and garnish with fresh rosemary and lime zest (not sure about the zest as a garnish but the rosemary makes it.) It’s incredibly good - fruity without being too sweet and with a lovely aromatic note from the bergamot you don’t get with Pimm's.

You can also apparently mix it with lemonade, sliced strawberries and mint.

It’s on an introductory offer at £16 until June 4th when it will revert to a rather pricier £21.35 so I’d snap up a couple of bottles now.

Laurent Miquel Vendanges Nocturnes Viognier 2013, Pays d’Oc

I like the lushness of Viognier but often find cheaper ones a bit muted, however this one from Languedoc producer Laurent Miquel which is on offer currently at £6.70 in Waitrose and online* is the real deal.

Although unoaked and relatively low (for Viognier) in alcohol at 13% it’s really rich with the seductive peach and apricot fruit that makes Viognier so alluring. I’d drink it with roast chicken, dishes with creamy sauces or even a mild curry like a korma. (See other Viognier pairings here)

Other wines you might want to pick up in the Waitrose ‘European showcase’ promotion which lasts until May 20th are:

Les Nivières Saumur at £6.69 - a crunchy light Loire red to serve chilled. Great with seared tuna

Quinta de Azevedo Vinho Verde at £6.63 - light (11.5%) crisp white from Portugal. Refreshing summer drinking with salads and dips

Cune Barrel Fermented Rioja Blanco at £7.86 - gorgeous lush rich white from the Rioja region. Good with rich Spanish-style fish dishes

Domaine Wachau Grüner Veltliner at £7.79 - a good example of Austria’s versatile white wine grape - try with Asian style salads and noodle dishes

Cave de Turckheim Gewurztraminer at £8.39 - exotically scented white to drink with curries, especially a duck curry

You may also find this post useful: My favourite food pairings for viognier

*Although the vintage being offered online is 2012. You’d be better off with the 2013 if you can find it in-store.