Welcome to the hometipple blog – An array of topics centring around drink

Welcome to the hometipple blog. Keep checking in as we will be posting regularly on an array of topics centring around drink. We will be kicking off with wine and over time moving into spirits, beer, cider, low & no alcohol and beyond. The aim is to improve your drinking experiences by sharing our own, imparting knowledge and not making you yawn. 

We launched our website just this year after getting our nearest and dearest to test out the beta-version. We all gathered around as closely as we could on a Zoom to listen to our friend’s and family’s constructive criticism. We were very grateful for the suggestions that flooded in and to divert the flow we used some wine. Calm was restored when two of our producers took to the screen to tell us more about their wines. 

It was time to sit back, drink and listen in.

White wine was up first with Quinta da Pedra Alta Pedra a Pedra Branco 2018 artfully made in the Douro Valley, Portugal. The estate has existed since 1761 and was taken on in 2018 by a group of close friends from Essex. Under winemakers Matt Gant and João Pires, Quinta da Pedra Alta produces red, white and fortified wines. Uniquely their whole range is fresher and more elegant than is usual for the region. They have a modern and innovative sensibility but also firm respect for their roots. This really shows in their branding and inside their white & 10-year-old Tawny port.

The Pedra a Pedra Branco is in keeping with the house style and simply over-delivers in its class. Shoutouts from the crowd included white peach, dragon fruit, nettles, and fresh herbs. For us, the balance between fruit, fresh acidity, body and texture is incredible for a wine at this price. It’s a very firm favourite at hometipple and is a great way to venture into Portugal’s epic wine scene. Drink this one by itself, alongside herby chicken or with pretty much anything that comes from the sea.

Next up we moved onto red wine with Villa Fresco Sangiovese 2019 from the King Valley, Victoria. There are plenty of Italian varieties to be found in Australia and exceptional wines are made from them. This is thanks to immigration after World War 2 that brought wine knowledge and vines with it. Amongst those immigrants was Alfredo & Katrina Pizzini. Working on farms and in wineries allowed them to plant their own vineyards in 1978. Growing and selling their grapes fostered the production of their own Pizzini & Villa Fresco wines in 1994. Their four children now continue that family business.

The Villa Fresco Sangiovese 2019 is silky smooth, bursting with crunchy red fruit, and has a little smokiness too. It’s a really versatile red wine that can be slightly chilled in the heat of the summer, had with game and autumn vegetables, or all year round with charcuterie. Hometipple’s Mikey professed Sangiovese to be his favourite grape on the night. The crowd were very happy and hopefully we have put Sangiovese on their map forevermore.

We would love to hear from you so please leave us a comment below or say hello on instagram and facebook.  Whilst you are here get yourself a free hometipple account. Earn points to get a greater discount, enjoy free shipping on 6 bottles plus and much more.

Check out the producer’s websites here:

Quinta de Pedra Alta 

Pizzini Wines