Sponsored Feature with MOËT HENNESSY UK
FOR the latest in our series of wine and food columns with Moët Hennessy UK, SLTN popped into The Gardener on Glasgow’s famous Ashton Lane to talk fresh food and fine French rosé with Scotsman Hospitality’s Roddy Coyle.
The Gardener, located downstairs from sister venue The Grosvenor Café, is different things at different times of day, operating as a popular café during the day with the vibe changing in the evenings to become a laid-back nighttime venue focused on great wine and cocktails. The venue is part of the Scotsman Hospitality group.
What is the offer and vibe at The Gardener?
Roddy Coyle, director of beverage, Scotsman Hospitality: “We’ve got a beautiful setting on Ashton Lane for a daytime café. Great cakes, great coffee, good chat and just a nice warm ambiance to sit in. And we have the flip-side to it where in the nighttime we want it to be all about cocktails, a great wine list, lots of wines by the glass.
“It’s a place to come and chat with your friends and chill out. It’s not a big party scene, but it’s somewhere to feel comfortable, get cosy and hopefully lose yourself in a bottle of wine.”
What do you like about Moët Hennessy’s Rock Angel wine?
Roddy: “We’re seeing a resurgence in rosé, because it’s a bit fruitier, a bit softer, mellow. It’s becoming much more versatile. We’re seeing the younger demographic becoming much more comfortable drinking rosé. They’re looking for something a bit softer on the palate. Much more approachable.
“Whispering Angel just have this amazing range. The Beach is their entry, the Whispering Angel sits in the middle and the Rock Angel just adds depth to our menu that, probably for rosé, is quite new to a lot of people.
“For us, now that people are starting to see rosé up there with whites, reds and oranges, they’re really starting to understand that if a wine can be treated with that respect, that care, there’s real value in it. We see that in the Rock Angel.”
What food will you be pairing with the Rock Angel?
Roddy: “There’s two dishes we’d like to go with, that we’re really proud of.
“For the menu we have coming in one of our key focuses is good flatbread, which I think is a west end culture at this point.
“So for me it would have to be the chicken tzatziki. Just perfectly paired with chicken – that herbal element is going to come off the sauce and really match with those herbal elements, that minerality, of the Rock Angel.
“And our whole thing is that rosé is not just for summer. It’s a year-round wine now. It’s very versatile, especially the more robust style of Rock Angel, so we’re looking at pairing it with roasts, as a ‘roast and rosé’. We’re seeing it as a fantastic option. It’s got that robustness that it can stand up even to a well done beef dish. It’s got great characteristics that stand well with the veg and the herbal elements of the dish, but it’s also fantastic when paired with chicken. And with us going into Christmas, a turkey dinner and a bit of rosé – you can’t go wrong.
“That’s something gonna be a bit of a special and hopefully something we become a bit known for, a bit renowned for.”
Why is Scotsman Hospitality a good fit for Rock Angel?
Gemma Allan, regional sales manager, north England and Scotland, Moët Hennessy UK: “We’re thrilled to partner with Scotsman Hospitality Group and bring Rock Angel to their exceptional outlets across Scotland. We believe that discerning consumers seeking a premium rosé experience will find the perfect setting within the Scotsman’s diverse and stylish venues.”
To find out more about Rock Angel range visit esclans.com or contact Gemma Allan on ggraham@moethennessy.com
