September Newsletter

As always, we at Vegan Tipples have the perfect wines, beers and spirits for you to navigate the arrival of autumn and to mark the end of those long, summer days!  

We focus in on Riesling wines, which we think are a great option for sipping in September!

We look at the rather lovely rum and gin from Barra, which will help you toast the nights as they begin to draw in a little earlier.  

And we spotlight some sensational wines we think are perfect or the start of those autumn days, from Lo & Behold.

Oh, and not to forget, we take a look at a bottle with an exceptionally pretty label! Sometimes it's nice to appreciate a bottle which can be enjoyed from the outside as well! 

May the seasonal winds of change blow in all good things for you this September, and may those first days of autumn include lots of opportunities for "Happy Drinking!"

Summer Box

Of course our winter boxes will soon launch, but for now, make the most of the taste of summer. We still have a few Summer Boxes remaining, so take advantage of these great value seasonal bundles!

Of course our winter boxes will soon launch, but for now, make the most of the taste of summer. We still have a few Summer Boxes remaining, so take advantage of these great value seasonal bundles!
Of course our winter boxes will soon launch, but for now, make the most of the taste of summer.  We still have a few Summer Boxes remaining, so take advantage of these great value seasonal bundles! 

Our seasonal boxes are always lovingly curated by Vegan Tipples Founder and Director, Susan Hunt, with a vision in mind of supplying exceptional vegan wine at great value! And this season's offering delivers just that.  All our mixed boxes come with detailed tasting notes, helping you to get the very best from your wines.  

Here’s what you’ll receive:
☀️Perelada Cava Brut 11%
Its generous stream of fine bubbles forms a perfect crown. On the nose it is clean, with fruity notes and marked ageing notes. Dry, smooth and complex in the mouth, it has superb balance.
 
☀️Deer Point Chardonnay 12%
Chardonnay grapes are processed under anaerobic conditions and the juice is fermented in cool conditions in stainless steel to preserve the fresh, vibrant fruit character.
 
☀️Gatito Loco Blanco Organic
Clean and crisp, intense yet fresh, the stone fruit, peachy notes are supported by tropical passion fruit and mango with citrus undertones.
 
☀️Bella Modella Pinot Grigio Rose 11%
This delicate rosé has deliciously strawberry laced aromas followed by a seductive palate of crisp, juicy, creamy fruit. Ideal sipped chilled on a summer’s day or coupled with lightly spicy foods.
 
☀️Alasia Barbera 13%
  A fresh, juicy red with aromas of raspberries, plums and cherries. These characters follow through to the palate, along with soft tannins and a savoury spiciness. Refreshing acidity on the finish.
 
☀️Stones Throw Malbec 14%
A dark, aromatic Malbec with succulent and spicy characters. Darkly appealing, chocolatey with an abundance of crisp, minerally fruit and Morello cherry compote.
 
As with all of our Vegan Tipples’ seasonal boxes, this represents great value at just £55!

Rise of the Riesling

Riesling is a white grape variety that originated in the Rhine region. It is an aromatic grape variety displaying flowery, almost perfumed, aromas as well as high acidity.  It is used to make dry, semi-sweet, sweet and sparkling white wines. Riesling is a variety that is highly 'terroir-expressive', meaning that the character of Riesling wines is greatly influenced by the wine's place of origin.

We have Rieslings from a wide range of different countries.  We also have an amazing non-alcohol offering from Dr Loosen too!   Let's introduce you to some of our absolute favourites:
Funkstille Riesling, Niederösterreich, Austria, 2023

Now more than ever we need a little ‘Funkstille’ or radio silence in our lives, so it was only natural that as interest and desire for Austrian wines grew, so would our range.
 
It all started with Grüner, then Zweigelt and now Funkstille is a quintet including Riesling, a Skin Contact wine and now Blaufränkisch … capturing Austria’s most famous varieties and archetypal styles under some eye-popping packaging.  This is a versatile and immensely appealing Riesling, which pairs well with pasta or fresh asparagus:  "Abundant white peach, apricot compôte and white floral notes leap from the glass, with juicy ripe fruit on the palate and beautifully clean, precise acidity through to the finish."  £12.75
 
Essence Riesling Feinherb 2023

S.A Prüm is a family-owned wine estate nestled on the banks of Germany’s serene Mosel River, at the heart of the country’s celebrated Mosel growing region. Here, the Prüm family has cultivated vines for over 200 years. The estate was in the hands of Raimund Prüm, owner and winemaker, since 1971 until 2017 when he passed the estate to his daughter Saskia. Under his leadership, the property has become one of the region’s most successful wineries, boasting an international reputation for the production of exquisite Rieslings.
 
Grapes are hand harvested in mid-October and undergo a gentle crush. The juice is fermented with cultured yeasts for several weeks in stainless steel tanks.

This Riesling is a wonderful light appetizers and pairs well with Asian cuisine and all styles of spicy food: "Pale gold colour. Aromatic, with scents of apricot, green apple and white peach. Fresh fruit flavours perfectly balanced by a racy acidity and a lot of mineral character."  £14.99
 

Dr Loosen Riesling Alcohol-Free

Just because you are drinking something alcohol-free doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice taste or quality. That is basically what DR. LO Riesling is about, to show that an alcohol-free wine can also be amazing and versatile and uncompromising in quality. There are lots of reasons to choose to drink alcohol free, but none of them should include drinking something sub-standard to what you normally drink when you do have a glass of wine.

Careful thought was given to crafting one of the finest alcohol-free Riesling wines you can find from the beginning. Before the process of removing the alcohol began, they started with a vintage Mosel Riesling that was already low in alcohol, and had only the natural sweetness of the grape without any added sugar and had crisp acidity to give it balance. This wine pairs well with spicy dishes: "DR. LO Riesling has just the right amount of fruitiness to balance the crisp acidity. On the palate it is clearly Riesling, but it walks the line between a fruity and drier style. The characteristic acidity of Mosel Riesling helps it finish fresh and clean. If shown blind it may not be recognised as alcohol-free." £10.99
 

Paparuda Par Excellence!

The first confirmation of the Recas domains was in 1447. Over the years the Recas grape vines have been passed between the Austrians, the Hungarians and many others.

Today, the Recas winery manage the ancient vineyard. The company is owned by Romanian and British partners and they manage a vineyard of approximately 1100ha. With such an amazing history, the Recas Winery strives to retain the special quality of the wines whilst respectfully using new and innovative technology.  In less than 25 years, the Recas winery has grown from a very traditional winery to one of the most advanced wineries in the country. These wines received recognition from none other than Oz Clarke when he visited our Vegan Tipples' stand at Edinburgh Uncorked last year!
 Let's find out why...
 

Paparuda Pinot Noir
The perfect autumnal red as it pairs so well with hearty vegan stews and roasts: "Fruity, rich and potent, with layers of ripe black cherry, raspberry and cinnamon. Deep, with pretty fruitcake and spicy aromatics. Lingering aftertaste."
 

Paparuda Pinot Grigio 2024
This white is a versatile wine that goes particularly well with pastas, salads and creamy vegan dishes: "This over delivers! It is textured with delicious honey, citrus fruits and ripe pears on the palate as well as the nose. The finish is clean and refreshing and deliciously Pinot Grigio."
Both bottles are fantastic value and punch far above their weight at just £10.49 each!

Sourced from undulating vineyards in the Swartland region of the Western Cape. Vines are rooted in sandstone soils and take in the Mediterranean style climate with its dry hot summer days, cool nights and mild, wet winters. Lo & behold, the perfect conditions for grapes to ripen slowly and develop complex and vibrant flavours.
 

Lo & Behold, Chenin Blanc-Viognier, Piekenierskloof, South Africa, 202  This fragrant wine works well with salads, Thai Green Curry and spicy dishes: "A vibrant, fresh white wine with beautiful ripe fruit at its core. Citrus, pear, peach and ripe tropical fruit characteristics envelop the palate through to the finish."  £11.99

Lo & Behold, Shiraz-Mourvèdre-Carignan, Piekenierskloof, South Africa, 2023  This fantastic wine works beautifully with pizza, Mediterranean pastas and vegetable stew: "Fresh, ripe fruit and white pepper on the nose. Mourvèdre brings a dark, rich fruit core to the classic Shiraz characteristics, with fragrance from the Carignan and the red fruit vibrancy of the Cinsault.  £11.99

 
The Isle of Barra Distillers Ltd story begins only as far back as 2016. Born from a desire to move home to the Outer Hebrides in the far North West of Scotland, and build something that will evoke the community spirit, founders Katie and Michael Morrison started developing the plans for a Distillery.

Barra Island Dark Rum  Island Dark Rum delivers the elicit connection of the land and sea. An unbreakable bond and exhibit of Barra.  Carrying the essence of  maritime nature, bringing Barra to the fore, home and away.  Infused in their Outer Hebridean Island with carrageen seaweed, coconut, cardamom and orange, among a host of other botanicals.  Indulge in a Barra Island Dark Rum neat over ice: "A presence of coconut and clove to start, shortly followed by a crisp maritime freshness. A depth of coconut and brown sugar enhancement, with a clean and dry presence. A complex warmth of cardamom to conclude."  £37.50
 

Barra Atlantic Gin  The signature botanical, the carrageen seaweed, is what makes this gin special. Also known by its scientific name chondrus crispus, carrageen seaweed is a red algae native to the cool Atlantic waters skirting europe’s rocky coastlines, including the beautiful Isle of Barra.  Like many of the other seaweed varieties found on the Scottish coast, carrageen is harvested after the spring tides, when the water is furthest from the shore. Once harvested, each piece of carrageen seaweed is washed through with fresh water and left outdoors for 5-6 weeks for the wind and sun to dry or ‘bleach’ as it is known on Barra. Once the carrageen has dried and has changed colour to a light white/purple it is then ready to be used to create this award-winning spirit, the Barra Atlantic Gin.

"Each botanical plays an important part in our gin, which creates a unique and distinctive flavour that embodies the fearless Island spirit. Foraged from the shores of our remote Isle of Barra, Carrageen seaweed provides a bold, maritime flavour, with a mentholic lean and a pinch of salty air."  £37
 

And the award for prettiest bottle goes to...
Maison Antech, Blanquette de Limoux Brut Nature, Cuvée Françoise, Languedoc, France

For over five centuries, Maison Antech has tamed the magical terroir of Limoux to make fine sparkling wines.  The secret of their character lies in the combination of Limoux's three terroirs, which form the backbone of the cuvées: freshness from the Pyrenees, vinousness from the ocean, and roundness from the Mediterranean. From these terroirs, Mauzac and other grapes are cultivated, each bringing their own complexity and purity to the wines.

This Cuvee, named after Francoise, daughter of the family and a member of the sixth generation, celebrates her strong character and the part she plays in guarding her heritage and shaping their future.

This is perfect to enjoy as an aperitif or alongside mushroom dishes: "This crisp and refreshing Brut Nature Blanquette de Limoux is made from 100% Mauzac, the famous grape native to the area. It displays beautiful intensity on the nose, with abundant citrus fruit, fresh apple, and a hint of toast. Bright, pure and harmonious with a mouth-watering mineral finish."  £15.99

Wine days worth celebrating...
Any excuse to celebrate our fine Vegan Tipples' wines!  On 10 September it's time to pass the port to the left for 'National Port Wine Day.   On 20 September it's 'International Grenache Day'.  Here's what we recommend..

National Port Wine Day - 10 September
 

His Eminence's Choice, 10 Year Old Tawny Port, Delaforce Port, Real Companhia Velha
Great to enjoy with vegan cheeses, nuts and chocolate desserts: "This sumptuous and richly flavoured tawny port is matured for ten years in seasoned oak casks. It combines ripe jammy fruit aromas with the rich mellow flavours of wood ageing and displays the characteristic elegance, balance and harmony of the Delaforce house style. Rich and round on the palate."  £28.99

Our International Grenache Day recommendation, for 20 September, is...
 
Thistledown, Gorgeous Grenache, South Australia, 2021

An award winning Grenache, to pair with vegan pizzas and pasta dishes: "Aromatic and lifted on the nose with a beautifully layered, textural palate with wild strawberry and spice, succulent, juicy and Pinot-like in its profile while the finish is savoury and moreish."  £13.50
 

We'd love you to join us at one of our Vegan Tipples' Wine Tasting events!  These fun and informative events start at 7pm and are taking place on 19 September, 3 October, 7 November and the festive specials will take place on 5 and 6 December.  Each Wine Tasting Evening will take place at our premises in the heart of historic Edinburgh.  Tickets are just £15 (ticket prices are increased in December, to be confirmed nearer the time).

We recommend you book very soon to reserve your place, as these popular events usually sell out in advance. 

If you can't make these dates, why not organise a private tasting for you and your friends / family / colleagues?  We can host up to 12 people at our Forth Street premises in the heart of Edinburgh.  Just drop us an e-mail using the link below to discuss a bespoke event tailored to your personal requirements!

What's more, we're now able to offer daytime Wine Tastings on Saturday and Sunday too!  So what are you waiting for?  Plan an incredible and unique event for you and your favourites.  We'd love to welcome you and share our passion for all things vegan wine!