Tippings Tipples: Wine of the week – The perfect companion to fish & chips

Casal de Ventozela Vinho Verde 2014

It is all right dining out at Michelin starred restaurants and slurping Champers, I imagine, but sometimes the simple things in life are the most memorable.

I was in Porto, Portugal, a few years back. It’s a fascinating city and a convenient base from which to explore the wine regions of Vinho Verde and, the famous for Port, Douro Valley.

I was with a small group and we needed lunch, so we walked until we found the ocean and a little back street restaurant serving sardines.

I suppose it would be the Portuguese equivalent of a fish and chip shop.

The sardines were excellent, Porto is renowned for them, and so was the wine, a two Euro bottle of Vinho Verde. It was crisp, refreshing, fruity and a perfect match for the oily fish.

I am confident that you will never find sardines so tasty over here.

However I can recommend a bottle of Vinho Verde but not for two Euros I am afraid. Match it with one of each from your favourite chip shop.

Casal de Ventozela Vinho Verde 2014 is made with an indigenous grape, Arinto.

Dry and with a slight spritz and a racy acidity (which will help it cut through all that batter), it suggests lemon and granny smith apple, seasoned with white pepper and some salty mineral notes.