Your wine for a fine summer

With a frankly embarrassing wealth of knowledge and first-hand experience in hospitality, leading renowned Michelin Star experiences such as The Square in London, our Food and Beverage Manager Andrew Carson is always masterminding new ways to elevate our Club House experience and offerings.

Along with his expertise and experience in food and drink, Andrew brings a deep knowledge of fine wines. Having just curated and launched our new wine list, he talks us through some of his early memories and his enduring love of Soave.

I often look back to the Seventies with a smile. I recall as a child eating my first prawn cocktail at the Open Arms in Dirleton. I also remember in the summer months my mum preparing egg mayonnaise. We would eat it at the beach huts that used to sit across from the Starters Hut. The eggs were spiced up with a dusting of paprika and chopped spring onions. Delicious!

I can also remember seeing Chianti bottles wrapped in wicker and thinking how they looked so sophisticated. They sat on the tables of Al Vagabonda, used as candle holders with small trickles of red wax dripping down their sides.

Somehow Soave also sticks in my mind, though I’m not sure why. I know it was enjoyed by some with a splash of lemonade and ice. I do love Soave, my favourite being Peiropan Soave Classico. It’s a lovely treat and, since being back in North Berwick, I’m delighted to learn it is available at Lockett Bros.

The rules from the village of Soave, in the province of Verona, are simple: 70% of the wine must be the Garganega grape. The other grapes involved can be Trebbiano Toscano or other local white grape varieties, such as Friulano, Cortese, Riesling Italico, Vespaiolo and Serprina.

The Soave we have listed at North Berwick Golf Club is a wonderful blend of the indigenous Garganega (80%) and Trebbiano (20%).

This lovely white is light, fresh and clean on the palate, showing delicate, dry flavours of wildflowers and a crisp finish.

It really is the perfect summer wine and is now available in the club by the glass or bottle. Do pop in and enjoy.

Salute!