Paphos Life

Lincoln wrote: ↑Tue May 30, 2017 3:20 pm Just bought four bottles of red Two Melrot and two Cabernet-Syrah My favorite reds.

You'll be back tomorrow then to replen.

I can drink the odd glass of "Melrot" but to be totally honest, I have problems with red wine - no matter whether it's cheap or expensive, it feels like someone is clenching my lower jawbones together on either side of my face after each mouthful.... The only way I can manage red wine is if it's cold (not chilled) straight out of the fridge and preferably mixed with soda water or lemonade.

If someone can tell me how I can get round this, I would be very pleased to give it a try because my other half likes red wine.

When in Cyprus, I used to have a glass of wine when I came home from work so hubby used to get me the boxed ones from Lidl or Papantonious at less than 2 euros a box. Even better when they had a special offer on. Some I could drink straight from the box, others I would have in a tall glass with soda.

My 2 favourite whites have been from Tziakkas and Ayia Mavri (the blue bottle) and I believe both are produced using Xinisteri grapes, around €5 or €6 a bottle depending where you buy it from. One other very nice one (I don't recall the name as it was in 2013) was in a wine bar in Limassol old town and that was a Chilean, again quite a citrus taste so it seems this must be my preference.

I'm no wine snob, in fact I rarely touch the stuff (never mix the grapes with the grain, as they say. And there's plenty of grain in Bells and Famous Grouse...)

But I've always understood that red wine should be served at room temperature, with the cork pulled an hour before consuming, and enjoyed with red meat like beef, lamb, venison etc.

While white wine should be chilled to 5ºc fridge temperature, and accompany white meat (pork, chicken etc) and fish dishes. Have I got something wrong here?

Cheers- AL

You are both right and wrong, Al.

The "rule" always used to be red, chambre'd, with red meats, and white chilled, with fish & white meat. However, nowadays, it is usual to drink whichever you prefer, irrespective of colour and meat/fish. After all, if you don't like the wine, whatever colour it is will not add any enjoyment to your meal.

I do find, however, that my taste buds change - apparently with my mood and age - but I agree with Pete, Vouni is jolly good every day drinking wine, just have to remember to decant it into a bottle first to avoid drinking too much in one sitting . And, of course, Tall Horse on special offer from Alpha Mega is lovely.

I was horrified last month to discover, on a trip back to UK to visit family, that wines in the local Waitrose were anything from £7 upwards!!!! Fortunately for the sake of my purse, there was a special offer on Waitrose own brand quite drinkable Spanish red of about £5 a bottle.

Most definitely, the price of wine is a bit of a shock in UK after those €2 boxes! And the cheap ones I've tried at around £4.50 a bottle have no taste to them..... hence, I'm happily trying all various flavours of fruit cider and back on the Strongbow and a gin on Friday. We did have a nice one from Lidl the other week - graded 9 in their rating system. It was about £7 for the bottle and yes, worth paying that bit extra for.

If ever our friends decide to relocate back to UK for one reason or another, we're asking them to stick a case of wine boxes in their container

PhotoLady wrote: ↑Tue May 30, 2017 7:28 pm
If ever our friends decide to relocate back to UK for one reason or another, we're asking them to stick a case of wine boxes in their container

What do you do for the second week....?

Seriously, we came back to the UK for the first time in 18 months last week and were disappointed at the price of wine - no decent offers anywhere, even on a case. Bought some Spanish tempranillo from Tesco at £6.49 and wish I'd not bothered. Flying back on Thursday and can't wait to raid M&S and Lidl.

M&S in Cyprus - for what exactly. Not wine, surely?

Awww, it made me smile.... and brightened up my day. Spent most of it outside painting a dark stained overlap wood fence a smoky grey colour and it's been driving me mad! The wine conversation helped very muchly

PhotoLady wrote: ↑Tue May 30, 2017 8:39 pm M&S in Cyprus - for what exactly. Not wine, surely?

M&S wines in CY are fantastic value. For example, they sell an Italian red/white/rose litre at 3.50 euros. The same wine retails at M&S in the UK at £7.50. There are some wonderful Argentinian, Chilean, South African and French wines at superb prices ( 4.50/5/ euros).

The quality and variety of M&S wine, IMHO, is excellent. Plus their "buy 6, get the 7th free" offer.

What may be of surprise is that M&S in Paphos sells more wine than all other CY M&S shops added together. Says a lot about the ex-pats in Paphos, I suspect......hic.

You learn something new everyday.... I can't remember the last time I bought something in a Marks and Sparks store. I used to buy underwear from there many years ago because I knew what the fit was like but when St. Bernard (Dunne's) came to our local town (the Irish equivalent of M&S) meant good quality but lower costs, I gave M&S the swerve.

In Cyprus when M&S arrived and were using the UK £ price tickets and charging Cy£ equivalent (pre the arrival of the Euro in 2008) was enough to send me running for the door.

I may go and have a peek in the food store next time I'm passing it by in Cleveleys just out of curiosity to check out the wine choices and prices. I will report back when I've been but it's at the opposite end to where we usually go so it may be a few weeks time.