Wine of the Week - Domaine St Andre ‘Folie d’Ines’ Blanc

Opulent, rich white wines start to come into their own this time of year. One of our favourites is the ‘Folie d’Ines’ from Domaine St Andre, a wine estate deep in the Languedoc-Roussillon region in the South of France on the banks of the Étang de Thau.

A blend of the region’s signature white varieties, the ‘Folie d’Ines’ features 40% Chardonnay, 40% Viognier and 20% Roussanne and is named after Inès Hébert the charismatic former owner of the Domaine. Aromas of citrus fruit from the Roussanne, ripe stone fruit from the Viognier and delicate toasted vanilla notes from the oak, combined with a palate as powerful as it is elegant, makes for a superb wine.

As well as being our go-to recommendation for pairing with roast chicken, the Folie d’Ines is a great match for wholesome seasonal grub, like Henry’s take on Pan Haggerty, a potato and onion gratin that originates from the North East. The creaminess of the gratin and the strong nutty flavours from the Hafod Welsh Cheddar -also available on our website- pair superbly with the full bodied richness of the wine. Appropriately, given the time of year; ‘Hafod’ is the Welsh word that refers to the traditional changing of pastures for livestock, from summer to winter.