Wines to Pick Up For Your Next Train Ride

You've been there before. King's Cross station on a Friday. You've taken the afternoon off to extend the long weekend a little bit - there's a bank holiday on Monday. It's sunny. You've got a Prêt bag full of goodies (my fave is the tuna sandwich). You get in the train, and you secure a square with the other 3 of your weekend party. Long train ride to Edinburgh. Dinner is booked at 8pm, just enough time to check-in, have a quick snooze, get your lashes on and go out for the night. Needless to say, you need a couple bottles to make yourselves merry and ready for the weekend. 

Well, well. What makes wine good for a train ride? It's a journey. Remember, it's a marathon, not a sprint. Let's start with some bubbles. How about this zippy rosé pet' nat' from Veneto, Italy? Bursting with crunchy concentrated red cherries, it's the best way to start. And let's be honest, pink bubbles are just way too fun. 

Let's have an alternative, still on the bubbly train (see what I did there?). If you're after something less fun, but more complex and still kind of pink, well you can't go wrong with this Catalan pet' nat' made from the Monastrell grape. It's 6 years old, can you believe it? Absolute bargain, so really jump on that.

Okay. Bubbles are out of the way. And you're out of London now, so the train is going full speed. Can't be risking our fizz with this fast speed train business. Onto still wines. My next choice would probably be a skinsy, white. Something fresh. You can never go wrong with the Valli Unite wines, and the 2023 Rube Bianco is no different. Easy going with notes of white peaches, stoney minerality and Mediterranean herbs (and such a bargain, again). 

Or why not drink this absolutely stunning salty white from Bruno Duchêne down in Banyuls on the border with Spain? You're lucky -- often you only find Bruno's reds, but we managed to get a hold of some of the white. When I see it, I buy it (I just messaged Andrew to hold onto a bottle for my next train ride). Seaside salinity, ripe peaches and hints of pineapple. Made in small quantities, only 6,000 bottles. And it's a clear bottle, so everyone in the train can be really jealous of what you're getting your hands on. Get on it!

Mhm okay. What's next. You're still kind of thirsty and there's a long way to go. Might be time to move onto a light red, what do you think? Get your hands on this 10.5% Pineau d'Aunis from the Loire valley: a not so well known grape variety which is a huge favourite of all natural wine heads. The signature tasting note of this variety is white pepper. Here because it's so light, it's very fragrant too, so you're also getting violets and red fruits. So so so yummy. Definitely a cool one to try if you've never had this grape variety before. Drink it chilled for maximum enjoyment!

Otherwise, you could go for a wilder, even lighter wine from down in Alicante (I know you know where it is from your latest Benidorm trip). Made by a couple (she's British, he's German) who we've become friends with, this 2024 red and white blend is one of our favourites. Imagine both flowery notes and concentrated fresh cherry fruit. I really love it when wines do multiple things at the same time as it  challenges your preconceived ideas on it. That's what natural wine is so great for.

Alright, you're probably happy and tipsy at this point, and you've still got dinner plans,  so I'll let you go. But have fun this weekend, and remember, train rides are also natural wine bars.

Until next time! x