What to drink when you can't leave the house and where to source it...
It's been a challenging few weeks for us all, but the independent wine shops of Cornwall have seriously risen to the challenge of providing, what even the government has deemed an essential service! For those of you not in Cornwall, many of these merchants offer delivery nationally.
Ellis Wharton are offering free delivery on wine and spirits to anywhere in Cornwall for orders of six bottle or more. Try the Terras Gauda Albarino "O Rosal" and find a local fisherman/woman to deliver you a fresh crab or lobster (I've seen many posts on Facebook); dress simply, the crab that is, and enjoy in your garden, in the sun, transporting yourself from lockdown in your living room to a summer's day on the Galician coast.
BinTwo are offering free local delivery on Wednesdays and Fridays on orders over £50 and have, amongst other things, an interesting range of English wines including their very own Fizzy Bum Bum, a Pet Nat (we'll talk about what this is in Sparkling week) made with the help of Trevibban Mill.
If you're in Truro, Old Chapel are delivering daily. Wadebridge Wines are offering free delivery to Wadebridge and surrounding areas including Newquay on orders of any size, I recommend trying the Barbera from Vigneti Massa, I imagine it would be good with some Spring lamb with a side of buttered green veggies and Cornish earlies or if you are vegetarian like me sub the lamb for sumac roasted aubergine.
Buchanan Wines deliver to North Cornwall and stock the most incredible Morgon from Marcel Lapierre (find out more about that in Beaujolais week).
For those in West Cornwall choose from the excellent selection at Scarlet Wines, lovely Lovetts or the newly created Little Palais, who have managed to launch their beautiful looking business during these tricky times.
A special mention goes to The Old Garage on the Roseland who have put together an impressive offering to compliment their wines including veg boxes, eggs, a huge selection of cheeses, charcuterie and more.
Finally let's not forget our local wine producers who all offer delivery too. A couple of my personal favourites are: Camel Valley's, Annie's Anniversary Brut; the perfect choice for anyone with a birthday during this period of isolation and Trevibban Mill's Merope is wonderful for bringing one of my go to lockdown suppers to life- frozen pea and garden mint risotto to life with half a glass in the pot, a glass for the chef and the rest of the bottle at the table.
Wine Merchants:
Ellis Wharton Wines, Indian Queens
Buchanan Wines
Scarlet Wines, Lelant
BinTwo, Padstow
Wadebridge Wines
The Old Garage, Roseland
Old Chapel Cellars, Truro
Little Palais, St Ives
Lovetts, Newlyn
Direct from the winery:
Trevibban Mill, Nr Padstow
Camel Valley, Nanstallon
Knightor Winery, Trethurgy
Polgoon, Penzance