New Discoveries From Asda - Wine Atlas Range

by Angela Mount

However great the wine inside the bottle, there are far too many wines on the supermarket shelves which look mundane, anonymous, and quite frankly, boring. I’ve seen too many people gaze, with glazed eyes at the multitude of wines on display, looking for clues and not getting many, from the wall of bland, ‘samey’ labels that stare back at them. It’s almost better to have the most ghastly, garish label on your wine, because at least it will stand out from the crowd!

I’m not advocating that in the least, but I was positively delighted to discover the new ‘Wine Atlas’ range at Asda last week. Hats off to the wine team there for bringing a bit of innovation and fun to wine packaging. The new range is focused on introducing customers to wines from lesser-known areas and countries, and from lesser-known grape varieties. It’s all about a voyage of discovery, of finding new wines, or of rediscovering wines that we may have tried on holiday.

The best thing is that this range is fun; it’s not pompous, it’s not too serious. Firstly, the labels are brilliant, and drew my attention immediately. It’s hard to miss them – each is based on old 1920s and 1930s postcards, very art deco, retro and colourful, the type of images that you see framed on stylish walls – reminiscent of the days of Coco Chanel on the Riviera. Secondly, the wines not only look good, but they taste good too, with a few real standouts. Thirdly, the price – all between £4 and £7, they offer astonishingly good value for money.

I really hope this new range works – it deserves to, and well done Asda for bringing a sense of colour, fun and discovery to the shelves.

Wine Atlas Marsanne 2014 - Now £5.47

Angela's Rating: 15/20

I’ve long been a fan of Asda’s own label Marsanne, which regularly wins awards. This one is from the same producer, but a notch up in quality. Marsanne is the white grape variety used as part of a blend in Rhone whites; here it stars on its own, with its creamy, peachy, rounded characteristics. Fragrant and enticing on the nose, with aromas of ripe nectarines, it’s squeaky clean, with a zesty freshness, yet soft and smooth, with fleshy, white peach flavours. Try this with pork chops with apple sauce, poached salmon and creamy chicken dishes.

Wine Atlas Grillo 2014 - Now £4.97 (currently unavailable)

Angela's Rating: 16/20

A lively little white from one of my favourite wine regions, Sicily. Grillo is the grape variety, and the wine is made right at the southern end of this sunshine island. It’s full of energy and brightness, with a crisp citrus tang, and scents of ripe Sicilian lemons, and wild herbs. Fresh as a daisy, with a gentle creamy edge, it’s a deliciously good value white, which is also pretty versatile. Great on its own, ideal with all manner of salads, and spot on with either simply grilled fish, or a bowl of pasta tossed with olive oil, chillies and the freshest of seafood – just as it would be drunk in Sicily!

Wine Atlas Fetasca Regala 2014 - Now £5.97

Angela's Rating: 14/20

Congrats to Asda for showcasing unknown grape varieties from the re-emerging wine regions of Eastern Europe. This one is from Romania, a country which produces some delightful, albeit relatively little known reds and whites. Feteasca Regala is a Romanian white grape, and here it’s produced a soft, floral-scented, creamy dry white, with bold, ripe melon and apricot fruit. A great, everyday white, which would work with Chinese stir fries, smoked mackerel, and creamy fish pie.

Wine Atlas Furmint Tokaji 2014 - Now £6.97

Angela's Rating: 16/20

Another new arrival from Eastern Europe, this time from north eastern Hungary. The Furmint grape is responsible for some of the most revered sweet wines in the world, Tokaji Aszu, but also produces delightfully dry, aromatic whites. Crisp, and bone dry, the Asda version is bracing and breezy, with lovely honeysuckle, peach and ginger notes, mingled with a zesty, refreshing, citrus tang. Pretty stylish and a good partner for chargrilled prawns with a hint of chilli, ceviche, smoked salmon and lemon-basted chicken.

Wine Atlas Saint Chinian 2013 - Now £5.97

Angela's Rating: 16/20

One of the lesser known appellations in the Southern French, Languedoc- Roussillon area – it’s big, bold, and very authentic, with an appealing rusticity, and bright, spicy fruit, made from the southern French classic blend of bold, gutsy Carignan, fruity Grenache, and spicy Syrah. There’s no oak in this wine, so the ripe, blackberry and dried fig flavours come to the fore, enhanced by hints of wild herbs, spices and a hint of licorice. Rich stews, sausage and mash, and herb –dusted barbecued lamb come to mind as ideal matches.

Wine Atlas Corbieres Chateau de Fornas 2013 - Now £5.97

Angela's Rating: 15/20

Another Southern French offering, this time from the better known region of Corbieres. This is smart Corbieres at a very keen price, stuffed with attractive, sweetly-scented ripe plum, black cherry and blackberry fruit, a dusting of white pepper and a sprinkle of thyme and aniseed. Juicy and succulent, with enticing aromas, try this with a platter of charcuterie; barbecued steak, venison casserole or herb-crusted roast lamb.

Wine Atlas Marzemino 2013 - Now £5.97

Angela's Rating: 15/20

If you like your reds light, fresh and fruity, this one’s for you. It’s made from a delightfully named grape, grown in north eastern Italy, lightish in colour, and with absolutely no oak. Bright and breezy, it smells and tastes of ripe cherries and freshly picked raspberries, with a soft, juicy, vibrancy, and fruity freshness. Pretty spot on with pizza and tomato-based pasta dishes, it will also work well with chicken and even richer fish dishes. Try it chilled down for summer drinking.

Wine Atlas Frappato 2014 - Now £4.97

Angela's Rating: 15/20

The Wine Atlas journey heads off to Sicily for this juicy, fruity, bright red, full of ruby-hued, red berry scented fruit. It’s simply delightful, in its cheerful, lively vibrancy, bursting with verve and freshness. The Frappato is a red grape, very rarely seen outside Sicily, but unlike many of the richer, full-bodied reds, it produces a deliciously fragrant and gentle red, unoaked, at a refreshingly low 12.5% alcohol. Crammed with ripe raspberry, cherry and strawberry fruit, and with scents of sweet herbs and southern sunshine, it’s a delightful Summer red, which can even be chilled, and is an ideal match to spaghetti pomodoro with fresh basil, a plate of prosciutto and roasted vegetables and Mediterranean chicken stew. A steal.

Wine Atlas Fetasca Neagra 2014 - Now £5.97

Angela's Rating: 15/20

Another friendly new discovery from Romania, this time a red one. Feteasca Neagra is Romania’s main indigenous red grape, although I reckon most people reading this will never have heard of it. It produces bright, fruity reds, somewhat akin to Grenache, or Pinot Noir style. At under £6, it’s not a complicated or complex wine, but it delivers lovely soft, cranberry and raspberry fruit flavours, with a subtle touch of cedarwood underpinning it. Gentle, smooth and ripe, with hints of herbs, it’s a great weekday red, which would work well with simple lamb chops, sausages, burgers or chorizo and chicken stew.

*This article is showing the prices and stock available on 21/05/2015.