CORK & CURD Il Meridione Nero d’Avola
Wine: Il Meridione Nero d’Avola
Region: Sicily, Italy
Price: £11
A wonderfully expressive Sicilian red, brimming with ripe black cherry, plum and juicy bramble fruit. Subtle hints of spice, dark chocolate and smokiness add complexity, while soft, supple tannins bring balance.
Paired with Darling Howe, the wine’s vibrant fruit and freshness lift the cheese’s buttery richness, while its gentle savoury notes complement the delicate, nutty character of the bloomy rind.
HERO CHEESE Darling Howe
A Different Kind of Game
Not many cheesemakers can claim to have played rugby in front of 80,000 people, competed in two Commonwealth Games and a World Cup, served in the British Army and qualified as a solicitor. But Mark Lee is no ordinary cheesemaker.
Signing his first professional contract with Edinburgh Reavers at just 19, Mark represented Scotland Under-21s before travelling the world playing Rugby Sevens. A career in the Army followed, along with three years practising law.