Hello from Team Alteus! We hope you’ve enjoyed two of the three Bank Holidays we have in May! We don’t know about you but it’s been really great to have an extra few days to spend time with friends and family and also get out in the garden (well a little bit at least!). Hopefully Summer is not too far away and we can get the BBQ going! And, we have another Bank Holiday in a couple of weeks’ time!

We had great fun hosting the Coronation Tasting event on 4^th May. We showcased some iconic wines including Sancerre, Barolo and Gran Reserva Rioja. It was a fab way to kick start a historic weekend. The nibbles from Willow Tree Bakery were delicious, if extremely naughty! You can follow Laura on Facebook and Instagram where you can see which Farmer’s markets she is selling at. @willowtree_bakery

Our next tasting Thursday 22^nd June

Our next tasting will focus on Italy. We love the range of wines we have from all across Italy and in recent months we have brought some new lines in, so we’d love to share with you how great and varied the wines are! Nibbles to accompany will reflect the cuisine of Italy. Tickets are available on the website and cost £15 per head www.alteuswines.co.uk just search for Tasting. Alternative you can call or drop into the shop to buy your tickets. The evening will follow our normal format, starting at 6.30pm with a welcome drink and then 5 great wines to try. We wrap up around 8.30pm.

Wine Recommendations

T’s recommendation (talking of Italy!) is the Vitese Zibibbo is from Sicily. It is a grape that is linked to the Muscat family, so not widely known. It is crisp and fruity with notes of succulent white peach combined with soft floral aromatics of orange blossom and jasmine. Elegant and perfumed with a long, zesty citrus finish. A lovely Summer wine. It’s £12.49.

Al’s recommendation is a fabulous Malbec that we recently got back in stock, The Owl & the Dust Devil. This wine is a single varietal Malbec which exhibits richness of fruit on the palate whilst maintaining an overall elegance in style which is the hallmark of its origin, the high altitude (3,500ft above sea level) Remolinos Vineyard.  It has spent 14 months in French oak, which adds beautiful soft spice and vanilla notes on the finish. It’s £17.95.

Finally, don’t forget the fantastic Sussex products we have in stock. Our county has so much wonderful produce and entrepreneurial spirit that we really are spoilt for choice, especially when it comes to Sparkling wines, Gins and Craft Beers. To call out a few:

Mousehall Gin from Tidebrook, Wadhurst: £39.95

Birch Gin from Wadhurst: £35.95

Generation Gin Summer Cup from South Chailey. A fabulous alternative to Pimms: £31.95

5 different ales from 360 degrees brewery: from £3.75

Hindleap Sparkling wines from Bluebell Vineyard at Sheffield Park: £32.95