The result was a competition to find the crème de la crème of talent to design a celebratory, commemorative poster – and who better to ask than students from the Royal College of Art’s Communication Art and Design department

The winning entry would hang in Bibendum restaurant, which sits in the building, alongside its noted collection of famous original Michelin tyre advertising posters.

The three man judging panel – who had to make the tough decision – consisted of leading figures from the design world including Michael Wolff, Stephen Bayley and of course the master of Michelin, Terence himself.

The winner was 24-year-old first year student Marta Dlugolecka who wowed the judges with a celebratory “Bowler Hat” image.

Her poster will now go on permanent display in Bibendum restaurant and be available for sale from January in The Conran Shop, also located within the iconic Michelin Building.

It was clearly Terence’s favourite….

I loved Marta’s poster and it will sit perfectly alongside the other stunning Michelin posters we have in Bibendum. She has managed to capture the charm, fun and wit that to me is everything Michelin and our beautiful building stand for. It is simple and gets straight to the point, which is not as easy as it looks.

The quality of the posters submitted was outstanding, and it was very interesting talking to the students about the inspiration behind their posters. The talent on display demonstrates precisely why we should be nurturing and promoting our young talent, not stifling it. The creativity and innovation of our young designers and artists makes a huge and important contribution to the economy – and future – of this country.

Marta said : “I am just so happy they noticed my poster because the standard of the other entries was really high. Before I began designing the poster I went to look at the building which is so beautiful and not like other buildings you see. I wanted to capture the quirkiness of it in my poster whilst at the same time giving it a real feeling of energy and celebration.”

Runners up were Rachel Lillie and Patric Sandri.

Why does Terence love Michelin so much?

More about Michelin House….

From January 10^th 2011 a week of celebrations commemorating Michelin House’s 100^th birthday will begin.

What fab tapas! I hadn’t visited the Kings Cross outpost of this restaurant, so went with Qype to check out the new Camino Canary Wharf.
Head chef Nacho brought his knowledge of regional Spanish food from Bibendum restaurant in Chelsea to open this bar and restaurant in September. I really liked the vibe here – although not easy to find at first, the location right on the canary wharf pier will be great in summer to make use of the terrace. Inside the restaurant is divided from the bar with open screens and I liked the touch of Fooz-ball tables and display cases of food packaging.
We were treated to potato tortilla, tasters of rib-eye steak, Iberico salami and jamon, mixed fritters of spinach and jamon, succulent grilled garlic prawns and baby squid calamari. A standout was the tapas of rice dyed with squid ink topped with alioli and octopus – such a huge shot of flavour for such a small dish. The tapas dishes are varied with loads of vegetarian options as well as meaty and shellfish etc and start as low at £2.75 – £10.00. While we ate, we tried excellent cocktails like the jamaican mule, big chill punch and sangria. Not bad prices either as these usually range range from £6-£8 and all I tried were delicious.
Lastly, a trip into the kitchens with Nacho to discuss where he sources his ingredients and how he changes the seasonal menus was great to learn a bit more about the food style.
Although it’s not in my neck of the woods, I think this will be a great place to meet people after work for summer socialising or to grab a ferry ride for lunch.

Check out my review of Camino – Canary Wharf – I am kristianak – on Qype

In the red corner:

Poppin’ Fresh (a.k.a. The Pillsbury Doughboy)

Softness: 7
Chewiness: 6
Cuteness: 10
Dexterity: 8
Weakness: One shot to the stomach, and he’s down for the count.

In the yellow corner:

Bibendum (a.k.a. The Michelin Man)

Softness: 2
Chewiness: 10
Cuteness: 8
Dexterity: 5
Weakness: Possible gender identity issues resulting in the wearing of completely unnecessary scarves and ribbons.

In the blue corner:

The Stay Puft Marshmallow Man (a.k.a. Bob)

Softness: 10
Chewiness: 8
Cuteness: 8
Dexterity: 2
Weakness: Particle beams.

In the plaid corner:

Matt Foley

Softness: 4
Chewiness: 7
Cuteness: 1
Dexterity: 10
Weakness: Lacks obstacle-avoidance skills.

They’re all white guys with slow metabolisms. With the exception of Matt Foley, they’re all rich white guys with slow metabolisms. Mr. Stay Puft may have a slight size advantage over the others, but he also faces the highest tendency of melting under precipitation. Plus, his barbaric roar is clearly inferior to Poppin’ Fresh’s crippling laugh or Matt Foley’s didactic prowess.

Moet & Chandon presented their champagne Brut Imperial en Jeroboam. And Bibendum presented the wines with dinner…

The Chilingirian Quartet with Bernard Gregor-Smith (cello) performed the final movement of Schubert’s famous String Quintet in C Major D 956.

Scotch Egg… Dominic Chapman. 

Warm salad of Somerset smoked eel with frisee and bacon… Dominic Chapman. WINE: Rully “Clos des Mollepierres”, Domaine Saint-Abel 2007

Sir Andrew Milne-Watson Bt, a close family friend, delivered a witty and idiosyncratic perspective on the Chapman Family.

Slow roast duck with sage and onion faggot, sweet red cabbage and Devon potatoes… Richard Guest. WINE: De Trafford Cabernet Sauvignon, Stellenbosch, SA 2005.

Apple mousse, Honey caramelised apple and Apple sorbet… Gary Rhodes OBE.

The Very Rev’d Jonathan Meyrick, Dean of Exeter, accompanied by Andrew Millington, Director of Music at Exeter Cathedral performed a brilliant and quite hilarious cabaret.

Classic British Puddings (Rice/Sticky Toffee/Bread ‘n Butter)… Gary Rhodes OBE. WINE: Vinsanto, Santorini Winery, Santorini, Greece 2005.

Coffee with chocolates (Rhodes), passion fruit jelly (Chapman), hazelnut chocolate (Guest).

Speeches: The Dean of Exeter (Sante des Chefs), Mr Nicholas Chapman on behalf of The Family, The Rt Hon Michael Portillo on behalf of the guests.

Kit Chapman, proprietor of The Castle at Taunton & author of My Archipelago

But these two events are only part of our autumn agenda. Of equal importance are the appointment of The Castle’s new head chef and our plans for the upcoming financial year which starts in October.

Two shortlisted candidates are limbering up for the chef’s post. Both are young. And both are hungry to make their reputations in the style of their illustrious predecessors at The Castle , among them Gary Rhodes, my chef in the 1980s. In a fortnight’s time, these two hopefuls will be travelling to Taunton to cook a six-course menu for a judging panel of seven critical palates: Dominic, our son, who this year won a Michelin Star for The Royal Oak in Paley Street, Sir Michael Parkinson’s Berkshire pub; my General Manager, Kevin McCarthy; and myself plus four of our best restaurant clients.

With round one on October 1st and round two three days later, this is going to be a hard-fought contest. Both these young men possess gilded pedigrees having served long apprenticeships at the stoves of multi-laurelled chefs like Raymond Blanc, Heston Blumenthal and Michael Caines. One took a year out to work at Thomas Keller’s French Laundry in the Napa Valley, ranked high among the best 50 restaurants in the world. So, watch this space!

But, as we face this new age of economic austerity, there are harder business decisions for the Family to consider. On Monday, the Board will be debating the budget and business plan for the 2010/11 financial year. As always, choices will have to be made and priorities set for the list of  projects tabled for discussion. This year, I suspect, these decisions will be tougher than usual.

Among this list of pet special projects is the creation of a billiard or snooker room. Part of the thinking here is to offer our corporate guests a good reason to stay in rather than go out to eat elsewhere in Taunton. BRAZZ, our popular brasserie, is situated next door – a perfect location to draw players in for a quick home-made burger, a steak or a plate of fish & chips between games.

For me, however, most of my time at the moment is consumed with the publication of My Archipelago and the detailed planning for the Family’s 60th Anniversary celebrations. In addition to my schedule of signings and talks posted on last week’s blog, there are press interviews to be done and all the rest of the hoopla that goes with a book launch.

And as for the great Diamond Jubilee in October, the broader plan is now being shaped and finessed. Success comes in the detail. In ten days, Gary Rhodes will be returning to the Castle to sit down with Dominic, Richard Guest and my team to thrash out the menu and service details. Bragard, the top chefs’ outfitters, are presenting our Trio of Anniversary Cooks with specially embroidered jackets for the occasion. Moet & Chandon are providing Jereboams of champagne. Bibendum are presenting the wines with dinner. And Villeroy & Boch are minting a limited edition off 200 porcelain show plates bearing a reproduction of an original painting of The Castle by the distinguished artist, David Gentleman.

Of course, that’s not all. Menus have to be designed and printed, dietary requirements listed, table plans assembled, bedrooms allocated, instructions issued, inspections made, staff briefed… and much, much else.

As I say, a busy and eventful autumn. But, oh what fun!

Kit Chapman, author of My Archipelago and proprietor of The Castle at Taunton

If you happen to wander down any side street from the main thoroughfares of the city, you’d be surprised not only by the relative calm and quiet, but also by the interesting architecture that you’d find. I had some time while I was in London last winter and decided to walk back to my hotel rather than catch the tube. It was a fair distance but very much worth it.

The rows of red brick houses in a residential area just behind the main shopping areas of Knightsbridge were a sight to behold – what a lovely place to live! Row after row of multiple storied terraces snake around the back streets, perfect examples of Victorian architecture.

They remind me of typical Amsterdam canal houses!

Just look at this doorway too:

Not far on my walk, the shape and look of the buildings changed. The ornate design of these streets gave way to the more subtle charm of beautifully presented Georgian period homes, of which this was a lovely example:

It’s hard to believe that such homes lie only a stones throw away from the hustle and bustle of the city!

On my travels I was also excited to happen across the Bibendum restaurant, of Terence Conran fame. See the wonderful stained glass windows featuring ‘Bibendum’ himself, otherwise known as the ‘Michelin Man’. I love that he is holding a cigar, just like Mr Conran is wont to do:

I would have liked to have had the opportunity to have stopped for a bite to eat or at least to have viewed the interior, but I was in a bit of a rush by that point, what with all my walking and pausing to behold the interesting sights. Oh well, there is always next time…

]]> http://mrsdiplomat.wordpress.com/2010/09/06/210/ Mon, 06 Sep 2010 07:33:38 +0000 mrs. diplomat http://mrsdiplomat.wordpress.com/2010/09/06/210/ http://canonburyantiques.wordpress.com/2010/08/26/bronze-michelin-man-pair-bibendum-figurines/ Thu, 26 Aug 2010 18:18:33 +0000 canonburyantiques http://canonburyantiques.wordpress.com/2010/08/26/bronze-michelin-man-pair-bibendum-figurines/

To view more bronze Michelin men like this on Canonbury Antiques please click here

- Stunning pair of leaping French Michellin men in silver bronze
- Funky piece for your home offered in great shape
- Bought from a dealer at Les Puces flea market in Paris
- Come view yourself in our Hertfordshire showroom

One of my dearest friends G was in town last week, stopping by for a few days on her way back to Singapore after six months travelling around the globe. I heard about the quaint picturesque villages she fell in love with in Italy while we shoe-shopped at Selfridges, and the arduous (but ultimately rewarding) hike through Manchu Picchu as we nosed around Alfies Antiques Market. But it was over our long drawn out wine-fuelled meals that we did the most catching up – a home-cooked paella dinner (not so strange if you factor in the fact that she bypassed Spain on her world tour) at ours, laid-back lunches at Bibendum and Harwood Arms, and posher evenings out at Launceston Place and Bob Bob Ricard.

It was grey and wet when we arrived at Bibendum Oyster Bar so we grabbed one of the warmer inside tables, ordered a bottle of Sancerre and a Plateau de Fruits de Mer to share (in my opinion there really is no point coming here to have anything else). We chatted away over our glasses of wine and before long a majestic platter loaded with oysters, langoustines , prawns, crevettes grises, whelks, winkles and crab was set in front of us.

Everything was spanking fresh – the oysters were plump and creamy, and the sweet langoustines, prawns and crab were succulent and perfectly cooked. I even enjoyed the bouncy whelks and winkles (I’m not usually a huge fan), dunked in the rich homemade mayonnaise. Not ideal for a quick lunch – the shellfish takes time to work through, but a stellar way to wile away a lazy afternoon with an old friend.

Bibendum Oyster Bar
Michelin House
81 Fulham Road
London SW3 6RD

t. 020 7589 1480

Anthony Rose, the Independent, 22 May 2010

“lipsmacker is scented with floral and citrus notes”

Read Review:

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/food-and-drink/features/lotta-bottle-the-best-summer-wines-1977328.html

Over the years though, I have grown increasingly enthused and adventurous in the things I will eat department.  There is not much that I will not try, and not much that I do not like.  When I say ‘not much that I do not like,’ I am only referring to real food, rather than processed mush which passes for food.  I do not really think of potato waffles as ‘food’, if you see what I mean.  Off the real food list are things like offal.  I do try, but I cannot really like it.  I also vomit if fed rice pudding or any sago/tapioca variant thereof.  Other than that, bring it on.

Leicestershire is somewhat of a disappointment if you are a foodie.  It is improving.  There are places that I really like to go and eat, and there are more of them every year.  In general though, the standard of food on offer is fairly low, and people’s expectations often seem lower.  Take for example, the sign I saw outside a pub we passed on our way to the council offices for Tilly’s appeal.  It read: ‘Two steaks and a Vienetta for £10!’

Don’t get me wrong.  I have nothing against Viennettas in principle.  As a child I absolutely loved them and would consider it a Red Letter Day should we be allowed to shove one in with the weekly shop.  For the uninitiated, a Viennetta is an ice cream dessert cake thing.  It looks like this:

The ice cream tastes sort of like Mr. Whippy/Dairy Queen but sweeter.  The chocolate is also odd. It has a kind of waxy consistency. It is probably made of old candles melted together with carob and Dairy Milk wrappers.  It is an oddly enduring dessert which enjoyed wide popularity in the early Eighties and had a resurgence in recent years when KFC started offering them as part of their meal deal buckets.

The fact that a pub has seen fit to spend money on a gigantic sign offering this, along with two steaks as a desirable dinner for a night out, made me laugh and weep in equal measure.

I do not even want to think about what the steak will taste like.

On a cheerier note.  If you are willing, as I am, to travel further afield for a good meal, Bibendum in the Michelin Building on the Fulham Road in London is doing a cracking lunch deal at the moment.  £30 for a three course meal in a truly delightful restaurant is an absolute bargain, and I urge you to visit, should you be in the area.

Firstly, it is in a glorious building.  Click on the link here to find out about the architectural and historical side of things.  If you can’t be bothered I will briefly recap.  It was commissioned in 1909 by the Michelin Company as their headquarters.  It is a delicious example of Art Deco wonderfulness and it has the most amazing tiles and stained glass, and heaps and heaps of original features.

Secondly, the food is always top notch.  I once went there for dinner, about twelve years ago, and it was delicious then.  It is just as delicious now.  The portions are also generous, which is not something you always get in this type of restaurant.

Thirdly, the staff are neverendingly helpful and do not make you feel stupid if you ask a question.  They know their stuff, waiters and sommeliers, and they are very patient.  My friend and I had a three and a half hour lunch.  The staff were cleaning up around us, and yet they never made us feel rushed, or asked us to go.  They waited until we were ready to leave and seemed genuinely happy to have been of service.

Fourthly, when you have finished your meal you can pop downstairs to the Conran shop and drool over their overpriced furniture, which is still beautiful and needful.

As you go in you will find yourself surrounded by the trappings of the Oyster Bar on one side and the flower stall on the other.  In order to  get to the restaurant proper (although I have always wanted to eat at the oyster bar because it looks amazing), you have to go into the main part of the oyster bar and through the doors at the side.  Walk up two floors and you will find yourself in the main restaurant.

It is a delight. When I went there a couple of weeks ago, we had a bowl of mixed olives with a selection from the fresh bread basket.  Then I had rabbit rillette on toasted brioche, while my friend had black bream with leeks in a white wine reduction.  We both had roasted quail with foie gras and buttery mash with green beans drizzled in olive oil for main course.  For dessert I had chocolate mousse with creme fraiche on gingerbread and my friend had the cheese board, which was very generous.  We had coffee and petit fours, two large bottles of sparkling mineral water and a bottle of Italian red wine.  The price, including tip, came to £105, and we were absolutely stuffed to the gills.

Much more fun than leathery steak and a Viennetta between two, I’m sure you will agree.

and then there’s the place where they’re too busy playing Rock Scissors Paper to pay me any mind:

They are playing Rock Scissors Paper, aren’t they?

In the previous round we had culled out the riff raff (including USA unfortunately!) and were left with four countries: Italy, France, South Africa and Australia. Now it was the chance for these heavyweights to put on their best show and fight for a coveted spot in the finals.

The Semis brought the battle home by keeping the Old and New Worlds separated this time, Italy squared up against France, as did Australia against South Africa. After a bit of trash talking and brazen banter from the Aussie contingent, the scrimmage kicked off.

FRANCE vs ITALY

France got off to a strong start with the Chablis 1er Cru, Cote de Lechet, Domaine Jean Defaix 2008, lovely crispness with a delightful structured palate of apples with a touch of spice, but Italy came crashing on to the pitch with the Soave Classico Monte Carbonare Suavia 2008 which showed off a nose of apricot and flowers followed by excellent texture and layers of flavour leaving a lasting finish.

France was feeling the pressure and pulled out the Viognier de l’Hospitalet Gerard Bertrand, Vin de Pays d’Oc 2009 to get back on track. It clearly worked too, the light and easy-drinking style paired with white fruit on the nose and a palate of ripe stone fruit was impressive and France assumed the lead, forcing the Italians to try a different tack with the Alois Lageder Gewurztraminer 2008 from the Alto Adige. This was not my personal favourite, as I felt it lacked the appealing lychee, floral aspects of Gewurz from Alsace, and going into half-time, the French had a commanding lead.

Obviously the chatter in the Italian locker room during the break was inspirational as they came out fighting with the Col di Sasso Banfi Cabernet Sauvignon / Sangiovese 2007  from Tuscany. What a wine! Loaded with cherries, this was big, powerful and serious, but even with the strong shouldered tannins, the fruit was not overpowered and the finish was delightful. France gave an excellent effort with the Ventoux Rouge, Terre de Truffes, TerraVentoux 2007 from Ventoux, Rhone which was a 50/50 blend of Syrah and Grenache. A spicy, juicy mouthful with loads of layers of complexity, lush dark fruit with a touch of truffle.

It all came down to the final minutes of the match and France looked to their secret weapon, Bordeaux, and the Chateau Lalande Borie 2006, St Julien. A lovely liquorice nose was promising, but sadly the palate fell apart with a lack of fruit and a green stalkiness that disappointed on the finish. The Italians saw victory in their sights and came out blazing with the Valpolicalla Classico Superiore ‘Ripasso’ Seccal, Nicolis 2005 from Veneto. This was the wine of the night for me.  Wow! Rich plums and raisins on the nose leading to a palate that was both elegant AND robust! A melange of dark fruit, bittersweet chocolate, coffee and raisins was a tempting treat and stole the show for Italy.

With a score of 183.5 to 165.5, Italy goes through to the Finals!!

AUSTRALIA vs SOUTH AFRICA

Remembering how well South Africa had done in the Quarter Finals, I was very much looking forward to an interesting match-up against the impressive, fun and popular Australians – I wasn’t disappointed!

The game got underway with the Deakin Estate Artisan’s Blend Chardonnay / Pinot Grigio 2009 from Victoria, which had a powerful fruity nose and a mouth-filling palate of layered green and citrus fruits and a decent finish and then South Africa made their first move with the Graham Beck ‘The Game Reserve’ Chenin Blanc 2009 from Robertson. It may be called ‘the game reserve’ but in this instance it was a game changer! Enticing aromas of vanilla and apples spilled out of the glass and the lush, rich stone fruit was perfectly balanced with freshness, leaving a long, juicy finish. South Africa was on the board!

Next, both teams pulled out their Chardonnay cards – the Australians chose Stonier Chardonnay 2007 from the Mornington Peninsula which showed subtle oak on the nose with a palate of vanilla, nuts and apples and a crunchy, clean finish. The South African’s brought out the big guns in the form of the Springfield Estate Wild Yeast Chardonnay from Robertson. A beautiful texture of spicy oak, intense tropical fruit and a long, persistent finish made for a tough call and, on my scorecard at least, ended in a tie.

It was up to the red wines to determine the outcome of this most anticipated battle. Both countries started off with Pinot Noir. From Australia we had Marchard & Burch Mount Barrow Pinot Noir 2008 from Western Australia, a biodynamic contender! At first whiff it was reminiscent of a Burgundy with soft cherry notes and a light earthiness, but the palate was bursting with fresh fruit, lively acidity, but lacking the darker, more brooding aspects of the grape. The Newton Johnson Pinot Noir 2009 from South Africa’s Walker Bay was a striker – complex with layers of mushrooms and juicy red fruit, earthy black truffles and lingering finish that won me over!

As we headed into the final stretch, the Australian’s came out swinging with the d’Arenberg Stump Jump Grenache/Shiraz/Mourvedre 2008 from South Australia – an excellent candidate for a BBQ wine as it was juicy and fruity without a huge amount of complexity or backbone, but an affable, loveable character nonetheless.  The South African’s finished off the match with the Saam Heldersig Shiraz/Viognier 2006 from Paarl which showed supple tannins on a powerful palate of complex fruit surrounded by vanilla and perfume.

In the end the Australian’s just couldn’t hold on and the South African’s walked away winners by a mile – up by 20 points at 185.5 to 165.5.

So, the Final has been determined, the contenders are Italy vs South Africa! It will no doubt be a battle royale between the fashionable Italians and the resilient South Africans…who is your guess to win the Bibendum World Cup of Wine? We’ll find out together in July!

If you missed the Quarter Finals, take a look back at where we started and be sure to stay tuned for the highly anticipated showdown of Old vs New World in the finals!

There’s always time for wine!

Tara – Wine Passionista

Every girl needs her escapist fix and ever since the TV series finished after six all too short seasons, it’s been a struggle trying to find something to fill the void – though Desperate Housewives does run close!…

Initial thoughts on how we’ll make it a day to remember have centred around a day trip to London featuring a champagne breakfast, a spot of shopping at Harvey Nix, followed by lunch at Bibendum, best seats in the cinema and then on to a suitably chic venue for cocktails (Cosmopolitans of course!?!) before calling it a night.

What will our heroine and girlfriends get up to in this latest instalment? Only time will tell!…

Roll on Opening Night and rest assured that this presenter & her girlie posse will be primed and rarin’ to go!

Here is an example of the worlds big brands at its best, brought to life in this epic animated short film. This is commercialism in all its glory. In my opinion this is probably the greatest piece of motion eye candy of all time. I have already watched this 3 times today. Time to share.

Logorama features an all-star cast with everyones favourite logo character Bibendum (the Michelin man) in a well-deserved starring role. It was quite comical to see any PC-based brand come crashing down (literally). I particularly love the BIC™ Boy repping and it was also nice to see Qantas’ Flying Kangaroo make a small appearance too. The usage of the Evian™, MGM Studios, The North Face™, Mastercard™ and MilkyWay™ logos are my picks for the logo-geek highlights.

Now that this amazing piece is being broadcasted on Vimeo and Youtube, Logorama will surely go global viral any second now.

Kate Spicer, Sunday Times, 11 April 2010

“mother’s milky oakiness that wraps itself round your tongue, as a Montrachet might”

Read Reviewhttp://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/food_and_drink/wine/article7081179.ece

So, I wanted to start this off with one of my favourites; Laurenz V. “Friendly” Gruner Veltliner for two reasons.  Firstly because it’s really bloody good, and secondly because it allows me to expand on a theory I’ve been knocking about for a while.

This is how it goes.  Sommeliers’  love Gruner Veltliner.  You’ll find it on most of the wine lists of the young and trendy, and it’s hugely deserved.  GruV (as people will insist upon calling it) is a really versatile food match; a bit of citrus, some peachy notes, slate and mineral and a wee bit of white pepper on the end.  Pretty light, but not so delicate that you’ll lose it – great with seafood with a bit of spice, or as I had it, chicken strippers and a large veg-a-roma from Dominos.

Hey, I never said I was classy…

But here’s the other thing.  People in the drinks trade tend to have quite a lot in common with record shop staff.  On the whole, they’re earnest young men in their mid-to-late twenties.  They have active social lives.  They’re probably in a band.  And as much as music is prone to the whims of fashion, so is wine.  For example:

• Big in the eighties, a lot of it a bit sickly but some real moments of greatness, currently enjoying a bit of a revival – that would be synth-pop and Reisling.
• Phenomenally successful in the nineties, spawned a whole industry, universally reviled at the moment but will probably be rediscovered with a hint of irony by the next generation?  That would be the old oaked Chardonnay.  Or the Spice Girls.
• 00′s – a bit bland and omnipresent?  Pinot Grigio/Coldplay.
• Fizzy, frivolous and girly, probably in danger of overexposure?  Lady GaGa/Prosecco.

So where does this leave the old GruV, eh?

Let’s see; Germanic, pretty accessible but harder to find, often crops up in unexpected places and beloved by obscurists?  That would be CAN.  Which gives me the perfect excuse to link to this:

Altogether now; “Where is my spoon, spooninty spoon..”

Jonathan Ray, Telegraph, 19 February 2010

“a heady scent and buckets of sweet juicy fruit. It’s an utter delight,”

Read Review

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/foodanddrink/wine/7189928/Three-fizzy-pink-wines-for-Valentines.html