Wine Festival Update

Carringtons would like to invite you on a trip through the sun soaked French Mediterranean where vineyards mingle with olive groves, almond trees and the scent of wild herbs.

Beginning in the foothills of the Pyrenees beside the Spanish border in the area known as Roussillon, this arid land unveils its character through its wines.

The tasting experience continues through the Languedoc and its 2000 year-old tradition of growing vines and making wines from a multitude of grape varieties and styles.

After enjoying these hand crafted wines the trip continues and we cross the Rhone near Arles and enter Provence and carry on until we reach the small fishing village of Bandol, renowned for its Mourvedre dominated wines.

After Bandol it's time to think of heading home, so its with a heavy heart we leave Provence but further delights await us in the Rhone valley where we make a couple of stops in famous vineyards where Grenache and Syrah reign supreme but a host of other varietals are also used to add character and complexity.

Heading north up the Rhone Valley we take a left just before Lyon, where the Loire rises, and follow the river to where the climate and soil is superbly suited to the Sauvignon Blanc.

Unfortunately we are now running late for the ferry leaving from Normandy but determination and a quick calculation allows us to make one last stop to clean our palate with a tasting of cider and perry made from the ancient orchards of the region.

BON VOYAGE!!!!

Tickets are available are priced at £10 and are available here

Greater Manchester Wine Festival

As part of the Manchester Food and Drink Festival Carringtons will be taking part in the MFDF Independent and Local Wine Festival at Urbis on Friday 2nd and Saturday 3rd October. Our good friend Ciaran Rooney, General Manager and winemaker at Domaine Des Anges, Provence, France will be introducing his outstanding wines from the Domaine des Anges.

Ciaran is a native Dubliner and has been described by the Ireland’s Sunday Business Post as a “wine making genius”. Domaine des Anges is situated on a hillside facing Mont Ventoux, “The Giant of Provence”, which rises to 1912m in altitude. The mountain has a profound influence on the climate of the vineyards with cool evening breezes refreshing the vines in summer after the day’s intense heat, and so enabling the vines to maintain high natural acids and elegant tannins.

Join us at Urbis to experience these exceptional wines. Entry is £10 per day and the event will be open from 12pm - 3pm and 4pm - 8pm. Please come and say hello if you can make it.

Wine Tasting - Saturday 20th June

This Saturday come down to Chorlton to taste our fantastic new Spanish summer offerings from Celler Capcanes. Gina and Andy will introduce you to the Mas Donis Rosé and the Mas Donis Red.

Produced by a co-operative in the Priorato Hills both these wines are made with Garnacha and Syrah and are excellently priced at £6.99 for the Rosé and £7.99 for the Red.

The Rosé is very aromatic with flavours of strawberry and raspberry and has a long, fruity finish. The red is a medium ruby colour with fresh cherry and spiced cake flavours. Come and find out for yourself after about 2pm on Saturday.

Lost Dog in Carringtons

Customer Recommendation : 1 : Chris Dart : Maple Syrup Manhattan

Chris Dart is a fine gentleman, and also a lover of rum. So we were very surprised to hear that he has has recently been enjoying a new style of drink - Maple Syrup Manhattans.

Here's his recipe for the perfect mix:

50ml Makers Mark (£22.99)

25ml Noilly Prat Original Dry (£9.79)

25ml maple syrup (we don't sell this but we did find a very nice organic version at An Outlet, Manchester city centre for £4.99)

Dash of Angostura Bitters (£6.99)

Shake up with loads of ice (£3 per bag, crushed or cubed) and serve in a Martini glass.

Chris says, "This cocktail is not my original creation, I discovered it in a bar somewhere and liked it so much that I set about making my own version.

It's a very sweet drink but the maple syrup adds more than just the extra sweetness to the classic cocktail. you can use trial and error to find your perfect blend but my sweet tooth means I put that full 25ml shot of syrup in, and double the bourbon.

Makers Mark is sweet too, but not as sweet as some. It's good because while MM is a great bourbon it's not one you find painful to use in a cocktail (I will literally put anything in a cocktail).

I like to drink a Maple Syrup Manhattan with a plate of American style pancakes on Sunday mornings before a trip to Carringtons to cure my hangover."

Sounds divine......

If you have any recommendations please email rossingtonlovesbeer [at] live.co.uk

3 Rivers branch out Down Under

3 Rivers, one of Carringtons favourite local brewers is to export it's classic Manchester Ale to Australia, reports the Manchester Evening News.

The Reddish brewery has stocked their beer in Carringtons for some time now and we think it's great news that the rest of their world can get a taste of some of the best IPA the North West has to offer.

We are currently stocking these 3 Rivers beers:

Yummy Figgy Pudding - 7.5 % vol - £2.50

This exceptional Christmas winter ale is loved by connoisseurs and enjoyed by enthusiasts alike. Guaranteed to bring a rosy glow to the cheeks of most discerning drinkers, a selection of spices and English hops produces a delightfully warming brew, balanced with spoonfuls of plump fruit character. Surprisingly strong, this is a great beer for those who have a taste for Belgian brews.

The Ghost - 4 % vol - £1.99
This special edition tipple is an easy drinking golden ale with an underlying malt character and a light floral finish. Very smooth and drinkable. Named after, and featuring a portrait of The Hatter's Jim Gannon, 50 per cent of the profits on all bottles sold are donated to Stockport County FC.

Old Disreputable Ale - 5.2 % vol - £2.27
For those of you who like something a bit different, this ale is full of character. With hints of smooth liquorice in the body and a light bitter finish this is a great beer to enjoy with cheese and red meats.

Independent Retailers - Use Them Or Lose Them

Carringtons is proudly independent, so we read with interest this article in The Guardian about Purple Love Week 2009.

Sounds incredibly risque - but actually it's not. It is a national initiative to encourage people to make the most of their local food and drink retailers by showing them a bit of love on the week beginning 14th February.

Apparently, each fiver spent in the local economy is worth £25 by the time it leaves the community. So if two million people all spend £5 in their favourite local shop over the weekend they will helping to inject £50 million into local economies.

Here are some suggestions of how to spend your fiver on fine wine in Carringtons this weekend:

Bergerie de la Bastide 2007 (Red,White and Rose)

This is our house wine and excellent value at just £4.99.

The white is a mouthful (and then some). 80 per cent White Grenache with a nice belt of Picpoul for acidity.

Surprisingly good with Indian and Chinese food as well as grilled fish.

The red is a savoury assemblage of Grenache Noir (40%), Cinsault (30%) and Merlot (30%), a lovely effort built on the twin pillars of fruit and structure. Smooth and plummy and is incredibly versatile.


Moulin de Gassac Figaro 2006 (Red)

This infamous, organic French red is produced from the stony terroir of the Languedoc, and again offers great value for five quid.

Figaro is the farm wine from the famous Mas de Daumas Gassac, which was immortalised by Ian McEwan in 'Enduring Love':

"...Clarissa was passing me the bottle - a 1987 Daumas Dassac. This was the moment, this was the pinprick on the time map."