Latest news with #SpeciallySelected
The Irish Sun
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
7 fab Aldi & Lidl wines from just €9.99 to try over August bank holiday weekend, including Rosé ‘with little bite'
CYNICISM, I have always believed, is a healthy trait in a good journalist. Whether writing about politics, sport, or wine, they need it at times to cut through the BS served up to them by officialdom, or marketing personnel. Advertisement 10 A selection of great bargain wines are reviewed below Credit: Getty 10 Matt was intrigued to read Sunny Hodge's The Cynic's Guide to Wine So, as a 'practising' cynic for over half a century, I was intrigued to read Sunny Hodge's The Cynic's Guide to Wine. His approach to wine education is coloured by science rather than the storytelling BS normally served up by many in and around the business. Hodge is certainly not afraid to go against what he refers to as 'well-established myths,' including those surrounding terroir, and our perception of flavour. And he crucially claims that the language used by many wine writers misleadingly gives their subject an air of mystery. Advertisement Read more on Wine Throughout the book the science of wine, from the vineyard to the cellar, is stripped back to help unravel the truth. He takes in elements of horticulture, soil science, botany and sensory science as well as oenology, in bite-sized, very readable chunks, to back his case over seven revealing chapters. A straightforward and eye-opening book for anybody who wants to question the stories told around wine but was afraid to ask. It has certainly changed my perception of many facets of winemaking and the business of it. Thoroughly recommended. Advertisement Most read in The Irish Sun The Cynic's Guide To Wine, from Academie Du Vin Library, is priced at €36.25 from all good bookshops. I POPPED into my local Aldi and Lidl stores and chose some wines that I suggest you should stock up for the August bank holiday weekend – and then pray for good barbecue weather. Five Lidl rosés you need this summer, according to a wine expert - a £6.99 buy is as light & crispy as £22 Whispering Angel Specially Selected DOC Delle Venezie Pinot Grigio 2024 (ABV 12.5%) 10 €9.99 @ Aldi Stores Advertisement Grape: Pinot Grigio UNFUSSY, straightforward, easy drinking Italian sipper, with a pale straw colour and nice aromas of lemon, pear and white flowers when poured. The palate is quite rounded, light, dry and refreshing, with notes of citrus fruits and green apple, along with a hint of grapefruit zest and a nice mineral backbone. Enjoy with: Fettuccini Alfredo Advertisement Irish Sun star rating: *** White Island Spanish Rosé 2024 (ABV 12.5%) 10 €9.99 @ Aldi Stores Grape: Garnacha, Bobal, Pinot Noir Advertisement At last… a Rosé with a little bite! A medium salmon colour when poured, the nose is all soft red summer fruit, dominated by strawberries, with a note of spice. The palate has good structure and is silky smooth, with vibrant notes of red berries, a hint of watermelon and nicely balanced acidity. Lingering finish. Enjoy with: Grilled shrimp and summer salad. Irish Sun star rating: *** * Advertisement Valpolicella Ripasso Superiore 2022 (ABV 13.5%) 10 €10.99 @ Lidl Stores Grape: Corvina THE refermenting of a 'standard' Valpolicella with used Amarone skins gives this wine a little more complexity, and texture. Advertisement A deep cherry red colour, it has enticing aromas of dried black and red fruits, leading to a smooth palate, layered with dark sweet fruits, a lick of vanilla, and toasted oak. The tannins are well integrated while the finish is long and silky. Enjoy with: Pan-fried duck breast. Irish Sun star rating: *** Advertisement Albariño D.O. Rías Baixas 2023 (ABV 12.5%) 10 €11.49 from July 24 @ Lidl stores Grape: Albariño AFFORDABLE Albariño that is a wonderful introduction to this exceptional white grape. It is a pale straw colour, with notable floral, citrus, and stone fruit aromas. Advertisement The palate is bone dry and super fresh, with great acidity and notes of citrus, peach, pear and green apple. Good length and finish. Enjoy with: Grilled black sole. Irish Sun star rating: *** Specially Selected Baron Amarillo Godello 2024 (ABV 13.5%) 10 Advertisement €11.99 @ Aldi Outlets Grape: Godello I ALWAYS see Godello as Albariño's 'big brother', generally more rounded on the palate and usually that bit more textured. This is certainly rounded, a deep straw colour, and with earthy and Granny Smith apple notes on the nose. Advertisement It has lovely acidity and intensity on a creamy palate, with peach, apple and citrus notes. Nice touch of minerality on a very satisfying finish. Enjoy with : Pasta with clams. Irish Sun star rating: **** Cepa Lebrel Rioja, Gran Reserva 2015 (ABV 13.5%) 10 Advertisement €11.99 from July 24 @ Lidl stores Grape: Tempranillo INCREDIBLE price for a 10-year-old Gran Reserva Rioja - and €2 less if you use the Lidl Plus facility. It has a wonderful brick red colour in the glass and a nose bursting with dried soft red fruit notes. Advertisement The medium bodied palate is complex and velvety, with melting tannins and still discernible ripe soft summer fruit flavours, complimented by a twist of oak. Enjoy with: Roast leg of lamb. Irish Sun star rating: **** Portuguese Sparkling Vinho Verde (ABV 11%) 10 Advertisement €12.99 @ Aldi outlets Grapes: Loureiro, Arinto, Arzal & Trajadura THIS is a pleasant surprise. Vinho Verde usually has a little spritzy effect, but this is a real sparkler. It's a combination of four white grape varieties that deliver a wine with a pale gold colour and aromas of tropical and citrus fruits. Advertisement The palate is light, fresh and quite zippy with good acidity and a nice citrus and melon note. Enjoy with: Light nibbles. Irish Sun star rating: *** 10 The book is priced at €36.25 Advertisement
Metro
6 days ago
- Health
- Metro
One killed in Listeria outbreak sparking urgent recall on supermarket ready meal
An 'extensive outbreak' of a deadly bacteria has killed one person in Ireland. There are nine confirmed cases of listeria as of yesterday, linked to a food recall affecting over 141 ready-to-heat meals. The 'voluntary precautionary recall' linked to the outbreak comes from one food manufacturer, Ballymaguire Foods,who provide for Tesco, Aldi, and others across Ireland. A range of chicken curries, lasagnes, bolognaises, pasta bakes, cottage pies, and chow mein dishes are all affected by the recall. The full list of recalled products can be viewed here. Consumers have been warned the ready meals may be contaminated with the bacterium listeria monocytogenes. Listeriosis is an infection caused by the listeria monocytogenes, usually from eating contaminated food. Listeria monocytogenes infection, or listeriosis, can present as mild flu-like symptoms or gastrointestinal symptoms. These include vomiting, nausea and diarrhoea. Severe infections can cause serious complications in rare cases. Pregnant women, babies, the elderly and people with weakened immune symptoms are more vulnerable to infections. It takes on average three weeks for symptoms to appear, but that can range from three to 70 days. The country's Food Safety Authority is investigating the outbreak. The Health Service Executive's Health Protection Surveillance Centre is also looking into the listeriosis death and is not releasing any more details about the patient. Ballymaguire Foods said in a statement they are recalling all the products produced at one of their facilities 'following the identification of listeria bacteria as part of a quality control check'. The company 'sincerely apologised' to customers and said they have suspended operations at the affected facility. They added: 'Incidents of this nature are extremely rare for us. We are treating it with the utmost seriousness and are working closely with all parties to manage the situation swiftly and responsibly.' Ready-meals which could be at risk include Tesco's Meals Made Easy, Irish Classics and Finest products. Tesco confirmed that the recall also impacts a small number of dishes in Northern Ireland. More Trending They added: 'We're sorry for any inconvenience caused and will issue a full refund to customers who have purchased these products when they return them to their local store.' Aldi's Specially Selected and Inspired Cuisine ranges are also being recalled, alongside a host of other products associated with Irish supermarket brands. Retailers have been instructed to take these implicated ready meals off the shelf, and display recall notices at the point of sale. The Food Safety Authority has also advised caterers not to use these products. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Man, in 50s, found dead in London street sparks police raid MORE: 'Caring' mother, 78, killed when Jaguar ploughed into her Coventry home MORE: 'A bus driver killed my daughter but I still blame myself because of one decision'
Western Telegraph
6 days ago
- Lifestyle
- Western Telegraph
Aldi launches new red wines made to be served ice-cold
Landing in stores on Sunday July 27 for £6.99 it's 32% cheaper than Ocado's comparable offering. Marketed for barbecues, picnics, or garden soirées, Chill Bill is part of a range of other chillable reds, sold for summer sipping, including: Specially Selected Chilean Pinot Noir (£6.99) Chassaux et Fils Côtes du Rhône 2023 (£5.29 Specially Selected German Pinot Noir 2023 (£7.99) According to Aldi wine expert Sam Caporn, 'Cooling certain red wine tones down the alcohol, sharpens acidity and enhances freshness, which is exactly what people are looking for in a summery sip. (Image: Aldi) 'The trick is to pick reds that are low in tannins but high in flavour - like Pinot Noir, Gamay, Cinsault or Grenache - so the fruit still shines through when served chilled. "These softer styles work brilliantly with alfresco food and can be chilled in the fridge or an ice bucket. Just take it out 20 minutes before serving so it's not too cold.' Sam says of Chill Bill: "This lightly sparkling red is fruity and expressive - just pop it in the fridge. Grab it just in time for August soirees because, like with all Specialbuys, once it's gone, it's gone." Recommended reading: What is the perfect temperature to serve wine at? That can really vary according to the type of wine. Chilling lighter reds can be beneficial, while medium and full-bodied offerings are often better a little warmer. Experts usually recommend heavier red wines like Shiraz, Bordeaux and Malbec are served between 15 and 18 degrees. This keeps the tannins and acidity balanced. Lighter red wines like Beaujolais, Pinot Noir and Grenache are better served at around 12 degrees. This keeps the juicier fruit flavours nice and smooth.
RTÉ News
7 days ago
- Health
- RTÉ News
Adult dies with listeriosis as FSAI investigate extensive outbreak
An adult has died with a confirmed case of the bacterial infection listeriosis, the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) has confirmed. The FSAI said a National Outbreak Control Team is investigating an extensive outbreak of listeriosis linked to a precautionary food recall of ready-to-heat meals. It said nine confirmed cases of listeriosis had been identified as of yesterday. The HSE's Health Protection Surveillance Centre is investigating the death and to ensure medical confidentiality no further information on the person who died can be disclosed. This follows a food safety recall of ready meals by the FSAI due to fears of the harmful bacteria Listeria monocytogenes. Products from Tesco Finest, The Happy Pear, SuperValu Signature Taste, and Centra Freshly Prepared are among a range of ready meals included in the recall. The various branded prepared meals and side dishes are produced by Ballymaguire Foods and are sold in most major supermarkets - including Aldi, Centra, SuperValu, and Tesco - and are branded under the names of its customers. The affected products include pre-made meals such as cottage pie, chicken curry, lasagna, as well as various vegetarian dishes. While the side dishes covered by the recall include mashed potato, potato gratin, green cabbage, and mashed turnip. Aldi's Specially Selected range is also among the affected products. Consumers are advised not to eat any of the more than 140 affected products. Consumers are also advised to check their freezers for the implicated products and dispose of them. In a statement to RTÉ News, Ballymaguire Foods said it initiated a "full precautionary recall of all products produced at one of our facilities following the identification of listeria bacteria as part of a quality control check". The company apologised to customers and said that "incidents of this nature are extremely rare for us" and that it is "treating it with the utmost seriousness and are working closely with all parties to manage the situation swiftly and responsibly". It said: "Immediately upon identifying the issue, we informed our retail and food-service customers and engaged with all relevant authorities, including the Food Safety Authority of Ireland, the Health Service Executive, and our regional Environmental Health Officer. "Through our retail partners, all products are being withdrawn from the shelves, and a full consumer communication process is under way." As a precautionary measure Ballymaguire Foods said that on Saturday it made the decision to temporarily suspend all production at the affected facility, and that a comprehensive assessment and immediate corrective actions were carried out, including a full pharmaceutical-grade clean down of the facility. It said production will resume at the facility once it is confirmed safe to do so. Symptoms of Listeria monocytogenes infection can include mild flu-like symptoms, or gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea. In rare cases, the infection can be more severe, causing serious complications. Some people are more vulnerable to Listeria monocytogenes infections, including pregnant women, babies, and people with weakened immune systems, including the elderly. The incubation period (time between initial infection and first symptoms appearing) is on average three weeks but can range between three to 70 days.
Glasgow Times
7 days ago
- Lifestyle
- Glasgow Times
Aldi launches new red wines made to be served ice-cold
Landing in stores on Sunday July 27 for £6.99 it's 32% cheaper than Ocado's comparable offering. Marketed for barbecues, picnics, or garden soirées, Chill Bill is part of a range of other chillable reds, sold for summer sipping, including: Specially Selected Chilean Pinot Noir (£6.99) Chassaux et Fils Côtes du Rhône 2023 (£5.29 Specially Selected German Pinot Noir 2023 (£7.99) According to Aldi wine expert Sam Caporn, 'Cooling certain red wine tones down the alcohol, sharpens acidity and enhances freshness, which is exactly what people are looking for in a summery sip. (Image: Aldi) 'The trick is to pick reds that are low in tannins but high in flavour - like Pinot Noir, Gamay, Cinsault or Grenache - so the fruit still shines through when served chilled. "These softer styles work brilliantly with alfresco food and can be chilled in the fridge or an ice bucket. Just take it out 20 minutes before serving so it's not too cold.' Sam says of Chill Bill: "This lightly sparkling red is fruity and expressive - just pop it in the fridge. Grab it just in time for August soirees because, like with all Specialbuys, once it's gone, it's gone." Recommended reading: What is the perfect temperature to serve wine at? That can really vary according to the type of wine. Chilling lighter reds can be beneficial, while medium and full-bodied offerings are often better a little warmer. Experts usually recommend heavier red wines like Shiraz, Bordeaux and Malbec are served between 15 and 18 degrees. This keeps the tannins and acidity balanced. Lighter red wines like Beaujolais, Pinot Noir and Grenache are better served at around 12 degrees. This keeps the juicier fruit flavours nice and smooth.
