At the start of the year, our Tastings & Events team ran a series of tastings which were a twist on our usual format, to help new members get to know us and longer-standing members get to know us better. If you ask anyone at Stevenage what ‘makes’ The Wine Society, it’s highly likely one of the first answers you’ll hear is, ‘the people’. So, we decided to ask some colleagues which wine they’d most like to have if stranded on a desert island.
The director’s cut
Director of Wine Pierre Mansour has been in wine his whole working life, and joined The Society buying team in 2003, so when asked to pick a desert-island wine, he was hard-pushed to narrow down his choice! In the end he went for a Rioja – the Muga family’s Reserva. ‘Having been Spain buyer for 15 years, I couldn’t not choose a Spanish wine! I genuinely believe that Muga’s Reserva is the best-value fine wine in our range. Based in the old railway quarter of Haro, Muga is a fine old bodega with its own cooperage, and we believe they are making some of the very best Rioja available today. I’m not sure when I’d be rescued or how I’d find somewhere suitable to store this, but it could keep for a few years easily. Chances are, I’d lose my resolve, crack it open and dream I was back in Haro!’
Bubbles for our PR Coordinator, Hannah
Hannah van Houweninge joined the team in January 2024, and coming from South Africa, she opted for a taste of home. ‘My desert-island pick has to be Simonsig Kaapse Vonkel MCC. Firstly, because if I am stuck on a desert island, I will of course need a good glass of fizz in hand to get through the day. Secondly, because you don’t get much better value for money than South African Methodé Cap Classique – we don’t know how long we are going to be on this island, we need to save where we can! Joking aside, this wine has been a favourite of mine pretty much since I began taking an interest in wine. It is delicious, reliable, and an easy crowd-pleaser (or the perfect solo-sip while watching the sunset).’
Member Services Adviser Paul picks a Pyrenean peculiarity
One of our Wine Specialists, Paul Riddett, takes time out from helping members with their wine selections and food-and-wine matching queries to dream of his own perfect pairings. ‘I love Cabidos Petit Manseng Sec, Cuvée Gaston Phoebus, Pyrénées Atlantiques 2019 (easier to drink than to say!) The petit manseng grape gives this full-bodied and dry wine an abundance of stone fruit and tropical notes which I reckon would be perfect for the surroundings! There’s just a touch of sweetness, making it a great alternative for paring with spicier dishes, especially Thai food, but it will cope well against richer poultry or fish dishes – if only I can find the ingredients! It’s an impressive wine for the price in my book.’
Classy chardonnay and precious memories for Fine Wine Manger Shaun
Having joined The Wine Society in 1981, Shaun Kiernan is one of our longest-serving members of staff. He’s had the opportunity to taste many a fine wine in his time and now he manages these for us! He picked a bold but elegant California chardonnay: ‘I love the wines of Au Bon Climat, they offer fantastic value, are brilliant examples of their style without being overdone. Rich, with a hint of oak but balanced and classy, this will bring back fond memories of the late great Jim Clendenen coming into Stevenage to do a tasting for us and regaling us with his funny stories. He was a real character and a winemaking genius.’
Corbières for Conrad, Showroom Fine Wine Adviser
Conrad Braganza went for a new rosé from an old friend – Racine rosé from Château Ollieux Romanis. ‘I have always had an affinity for Corbières, the reds are super-reliable and my go-to for a winter warmer, but I’m assuming it’s going to be hot on this island so I’m going for a rosé. I’ll keep this chilled in a rockpool and enjoy the hint of wild herbs with whatever seafood I can forage and hope I can catch the odd fish – red mullet would be perfect!’
It’s Cassis for me!
When asked what I’d pick, I panicked, then remembered a wonderful experience I had last summer in the improbably picturesque port of Cassis in Provence. The appellation of the same name is tiny, the vineyards tucked into the folds behind the towering limestone sea cliffs or calanques. I’d assumed the wines wouldn’t match the hype but was really taken with the subtly rich, vibrant herbaceous flavours which went so well with the plate of delicious, garlicky mussels in front of me. I’ll enjoy sipping Cassis Clos Val Bruyère Cuvée Kalahari, Château Barbanau 2019 and appreciate the peace and quiet of my desert island – a stark contrast to the south of France in high season!
Finally, we turned the question back on the Tastings Team
Events Manager Catherine Housden also went for a rosé, rather smartly opting for the 2.25-litre format of Rosé Duo des Plages, Pays d'Oc 2024 Bag-in-Box ‘This rosé screams "drink me on a beach!" so having as a desert island wine feels incredibly fitting. Plenty of bang for your buck, lots of bright crunchy red fruit from the cinsault/grenache blend and ideal to pair with any seafood I hopefully manage to catch to sustain myself while planning my escape! Also, once I've finished it, I can always use the bag as a flotation device or pillow!
