Asda, Wine Atlas Frapatto 2014, Sicily, Italy
Are our major supermarkets becoming more adventurous in their wine portfolios? Well, despite of - or perhaps because of - their market share being nibbled away by the discounters like Aldi and Lidl, the big boys have been reducing the wines in their ranges, but they have been introducing more diversity with wines from Croatia, Turkey, Macedonia and all sorts of less familiar wine places appearing on the shelves. This wine is a good example of the more adventurous side being displayed by Asda in this case: a wine made from the unfamiliar Frapatto grape on the island of Sicily. Part of Asda's new range called 'Wine Atlas' that focuses on regional grape varieties from around the world, this inexpensive red is a lighter-bodied, juicy wine, with buoyant fruit and aromatics in a similar mould to Beaujolais. Though Frapatto can be very perfumed, this is not the most fragrant example I've come across, but it is charming and soft, modest in alcohol, and as both an introduction to the grape and a low-priced summer barbecue and picnic all-rounder, it's worth a fiver of your money. Watch the video for my full review of this wine and for food-matching suggestions. £4.97, Asda and Asda Online.
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