Wines of the week

Since the birth of our baby girl in December, my wife has become fond of the odd tipple. Not that she has a problem, but a glass of wine does help you get over the rigours of looking after a screaming infant. Traditionally, a British mother turned to gin at such times, but my wife prefers something gentler when on duty. Wines are so much stronger than they used to be, so it’s not easy to find a weaker wine. But here are a few that won’t leave you with too sore a head…

Dr L Riesling, Loosen Bros, 2011 (Sainsbury’s, £5.79)

Germany is the ultimate hunting ground for the lowalcohol wine lover. This is from the Mosel and only 8.5%. It’s aromatic, pure with a touch of sweetness and a slight fizz. Great with Vietnamese food.

Kellermeister Selection Riesling, Von Buhl 2010 (Laithwaite’s, £10.99)

From a hotter region of Germany, the Pfalz. This is 10.5%, bone dry, spicy with an electric shock of citric acidity running through it. Initially a little austere, this really comes to life after being open for an hour or two, with a honeyed quality appearing.

Extra Special Falanghina 2010 (Asda, £6.48)

On a holiday to the south of Italy a while back, I was knocked out by the unusually delicious white wines. They’ve now started to appear in supermarkets and this is a fine example. It’s crisp and peachy with something herbal coming through at the end.

Gamay, Côte Roannaise, Domaine Robert Sérol 2011 (The Wine Society, £7.95)

Most modern reds have too much of everything – too much alcohol, fruit, oak. Everything, that is, except drinkability. I could drink a lot of this juicy Beaujolaisstyle red, especially served cold with cured meats.