Tom Parker Bowles & Olly Smith: a classic country pub lunch and rocking rosé

Tom enjoys a classic country pub lunch served up with lashings of traditional British weather

Oh to be in England, now that spring is here. Well, sort of. Despite sitting in the most idyllic of Oxfordshire pub gardens, all crowing cockerels, luxuriantly green grass and lusciously blooming orchards, there’s always the small matter of the weather. Dull at first, with sulky clouds, then a brief spell of brilliant sunshine, followed by an Old Testament- style deluge…

Drinks: Olly’s rocking rosé

I’m blown away by the quality of southern French rosé from 2020. Wine was made under the trickiest circumstances and yet flavours are joyful. Provence is the hub of pink wine and the quality speaks for itself. For the best bottles buy from independent retailers, but I’ve found a great bottle under a tenner in Morrisons. Across the French Mediterranean, careful blending of the vintage has delivered rosé that rocks.

GAYDA LA MINUETTE ROSÉ IGP PAYS D’OC 2020 (12%), £11.55, hhandc.co.uk. Gorgeous floral scent, strawberry and zingy splendour unite in pitch perfection.

ARTICLE – YOU.CO.UK