17 Nov 2023
This week I spent time perusing a sea of glitter down at Smallford Farm Shop, where Lucy and the team had quickly moved from a Halloween inspired theme into the festive season, ready for Christmas.
If you are looking for a place to buy fresh, local and quality products for your festive feast, look no further than Smallford Farm Shop in St Albans. This family-owned farm shop offers home-grown produce, such as tomatoes, cucumbers, aubergines and peppers, as well as a curated selection of products from small artisan producers.
One of the highlights of Smallford Farm Shop is fish counter Fishbones, where you can find a variety of fresh and smoked fish, such as salmon, cod, haddock, trout, mackerel and more.
You can also order seafood platters, fish pies, fish cakes and other ready-made dishes for your convenience.
Fishbones is taking orders for Christmas until 20th December, so don’t miss this opportunity to get some of the best fish in town.
Another attraction is its Marrow Bone Butcher, where you can get premium cuts of meat, such as beef, lamb, pork, chicken and turkey.
You can also order sausages, burgers, pies, bacon and other deli items. Bone Marrow is committed to sourcing meat from local farms that follow high standards of animal welfare and quality.
Bone Marrow is taking orders for Christmas until 10th December, so make sure you reserve your meat for the big day.
Last but not least, Smallford Farm Shop has a cheese counter that serves a range of British cheeses, such as cheddar, stilton, brie, camembert and more.
You can also find cheese boards, crackers, chutneys and other accompaniments to make your experience complete.
The counter is taking orders for Christmas until 5th December, so don’t forget to treat yourself and your guests to some of the finest cheeses around.
Having spent time talking to Lucy about wine, Lynne about cheese (and her love of Cloudy Bay) and Holly filling me in on all the fun she’s having on the fish counter and her upcoming trip to Billingsgate fish market, it was time to settle on this week’s wine recommendations and food pairings!
Sangiovese Biologico Romagna DOC 2020
This wine comes from Italy, specifically from the Romagna region, which is in the north-east of the country. The wine is made from Sangiovese, the most widely planted grape variety in Italy and the main grape of many famous wines such as Chianti and Brunello di Montalcino.
Sangiovese is known for its versatility and adaptability to different soils and climates, as well as for its distinctive aromas and flavours of red fruits, flowers, herbs and spices. This wine is produced by Poderi dal Nespoli, a family-owned winery that has been making wine since 1929. The winery follows organic farming practices and respects the environment and the biodiversity of the vineyards.
The wine has a bright red colour with violet highlights. It has a rich bouquet with aromas of red fruits such as cherry and raspberry, which are typical of the Sangiovese from this area, as well as violet and rose notes. The wine is genuine and easy to drink, with a fresh, fruity and medium-bodied taste. It has a harmonious acidity and delicate tannins that give it a smooth and elegant finish. This wine is ideal for everyday occasions and can pair well with pasta dishes, pizza, cheese and salami.
Baglio Gibellina U Passimiento 2021
This wine comes from Sicily, the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea and one of the oldest wine regions in the world.
The wine is made from a blend of Nero d’Avola and Frappato, two indigenous grape varieties that thrive in the warm and sunny climate of Sicily. Nero d’Avola is the most important red grape of the island, producing full-bodied and robust wines with aromas and flavours of dark fruits, spices and chocolate. Frappato is a lighter and more aromatic grape, producing wines with aromas and flavours of red fruits, flowers and epper. This wine is produced by Baglio Gibellina, a winery that is situated in the hills of Salemi and Santa Ninfa, surrounded by vineyards, olive groves, citrus trees and fichi d’India trees.
The wine is made from partially dried grapes, which gives it concentration and sun-soaked ripeness, which is perfectly balanced by the freshness of the Frappato grapes. The wine has a deep ruby red colour with purple reflections.
It has a bright intense red fruit aroma, displaying lots of red berries, such as raspberry, strawberry and cranberry, as well as hints of vanilla and cinnamon.
The wine is warm and full-bodied, with sweet fruit and harmonious acidity on the palate.
It has smooth and elegant tannins that give it a long and satisfying finish.
This wine is perfect for cheese boards, pairs very well with rich foods like roast beef, duck leg, fish pies or chocolate desserts.
So, a perfect wine to go with any rich meats from The Marrow Bone Butcher.
Charcoal log cheese: a unique and delicious product from Carron Lodge
If you are looking for a cheese that is different from the rest, and pairs brilliantly with the Sangiovese Biologico wine, then you might want to try the Charcoal log cheese from Carron Lodge Ltd, a family-owned farm and cheese producer in Inglewhite, Preston.
This cheese is made from fresh goat’s milk and has a distinctive black colour and a smooth texture. It is coated with edible charcoal powder, which gives it a mild and slightly smoky flavour. The charcoal also helps to preserve the cheese and enhance its shelf life.
The Charcoal log cheese is one of the many varieties of cheese that Carron Lodge produces on its Park Head Farm, where it has been farming and making cheese for over 30 years. Carron Lodge uses traditional recipes from the early 1900s and makes cheese by hand, using milk from its own herd of cows and buffaloes, as well as from local goat and sheep farmers. Carron Lodge has won several awards for its cheese, including a Super Gold at the World Cheese Awards for its Inglewhite Buffalo cheese.
The Charcoal log cheese is a perfect example of Carron Lodge’s passion for cheese making and innovation. It is a cheese that stands out for its appearance, taste and quality.
So, with Christmas orders now open, why not do your one stop shop for all your festive meats, fish, cheeses, wines and festive gifts at Smallford Farm Shop.
If you’re enjoying my recommendations, then please follow me on Instagram @dmc_uncorked. And if you are a wine retailer or an events company who would like me to feature your range of wines, then please contact me via mccabetwe@gmail.com
