Suggestions of what to drink with sausages

11:15am Saturday 3rd May 2008

Comments (0)   Have your say »

ONE HAD an audience with a prominent member of the royal family a few weeks ago. I had my other journalistic hat on for the occasion, in my role as a snapper on this journal.

The royal in question was Prince Charles who was visiting a farm in North Yorkshire. I'd lined up a picture which included a plate of locally produced sausages in the foreground, and was more than surprised to be asked a question by HRH when he moved into shot. "So do you eat these sausages?" asked the Prince.

It's fairly unusual for Royal visitors to talk to journalists and I was a little stunned at first. But then from somewhere I found the words to string a coherent sentence together. "Actually I don't, my wife's from Lincolnshire and she insists we get our sausages there," I said, adding diplomatically: "I'd like to try these ones though."

HRH was lucky that he didn't continue the conversation because I would have undoubtedly moved on to the subject of wine. A bottle of red can transform bangers and mash into a gourmet dinner, assuming that you make the right choice of sausage and wine.

Look for a red with complementary spicy notes and plenty of natural acidity to cut through the fattiness of the sausage meat and the thick gravy.

A decent northern Rhône syrah is always a safe bet with sausage. Chapoutier La Petite Ruche 2005, Crozes-Hermitage, is an excellent example at its price. Medium bodied and super smooth, it tickles the taste buds with raspberry, blackberry and cherry fruit, coupled with black pepper notes and fine tannins.

La Famiglia Nero d'Avola 2006 from Sicily, would be just as suitable. This is a spicy, savoury wine from the foothills of Mount Etna, made from nero d'avola, the Sicilian red grape, by legendary winemaker Peter Vinding-Diers. Brimming with cherry, cassis, clove and mineral notes it is concentrated stuff with a good, long finish.

Or head to South Africa for a wine that is new and exclusive to Oddbins. Forrester's Back Shiraz Grenache 2004, from the Western Cape, is dry and powerful. Packing a spicy, peppery punch with cherry and under-ripe strawberry fruit, it has vanilla and coffee notes from contact with oak and velvety tannins too.

• Chapoutier La Petite Ruche 2005, Crozes-Hermitage, £7.98 at Asda 18/20
• La Famiglia Nero d'Avola 2006, £10.95 from www.fromvineyardsdirect.com (minimum order of two cases) 18/20
• Forrester's Back Shiraz Grenache 2004, £8.99 from Oddbins 17/20