Bottle Opener: The best wines for this week’s Rugby World Cup matches
The 2019 Rugby World Cup is upon us.
Despite my status as a proud Welshman, even I cannot bring myself to recommend Welsh wines as an accompaniment to savouring an international rugby match (to all those Welsh wine producers out there, I look forward to being proven wrong).
Indeed, many British rugby fans would regard the consumption of anything other than beer in one form or another whilst watching rugby to be a form of sin.
My view is that when physically at the game itself that is probably the case. But when watched from afar wine is a more than acceptable alternative.
Of course, many of the finest rugby playing nations are also producers of wine. I shall immediately also exempt Ireland and Scotland from such a discussion.
Though having said that, many years ago a Scottish pal did once produce a bottle of Scottish white – “from the sun-drenched, south-facing slopes of the highlands” he said. I still shudder at the recollection.
To my mind, wine to accompany rugby has to be red (a contact sport after all), pacey (but not overly so) and relatively light. Save the clarets for the post-World Cup win victory dinner.
A Pinot Noir or similar then surely. As an avowed fan of French wine I struggle to go much beyond its borders – but I shall try (geddit?).
Whether one’s tastes are towards the northern or southern hemisphere both for rugby and wine there is a plethora of choice. My suggestion is that one’s allegiance in terms of rugby should not necessarily be echoed in terms of wine. There is no ambiguity between supporting England and drinking French wine, for example.
So what to go for? The Wine Society’s Red Burgundy at £9.95 sets a high standard. Reliable, fairly fruity but not over the top – think Serge Betsen.
Moving up the price scale I’m a big fan of Waitrose’ Jackson Estate Homestead Pinot Noir from New Zealand at £13.99. This one’s a bit richer with a fuller flavour – perhaps Richie McCaw. Whilst at the very pricey end I must say that the editor and I have enjoyed some sensational Nuits-St-Georges, Bertrand Ambroise 2009 of late. It’s got the lot. In rugby player terms reminiscent of Jean-Pierre Rives in everything but the colour of his flamboyant hair.
Of course, should God intervene and have his favourite nation lift the Webb Ellis cup, I will toast Wales’s success with nothing less than my favourite champagne; 2002 vintage Pol Roger. Surely the essence of Gareth Edwards in a glass.