Stunning Asparagus Salad And White Bordeaux

A passionate cook and wine lover, Margaret Rens shares tried and tested recipes that her friends and family have appreciated over the years, along with tips on the perfect wines to pair. Here’s a perfect summer recipe

When summer comes around I love long, al fresco lunches in the garden. Simple fresh food, some dear friends and a nice bottle of wine are the main ingredients for a pleasant afternoon. I will set the table in a simple manner with a large bunch of roses I have picked from the garden as decoration. Roses bloom abundantly in the Bordeaux region because they require the same type of soil and sun as grapevines.

In all Bordeaux vineyards you will see a rose bush at the end of each row of vines. In the old days rose hedges were planted as an early warning system to protect the health of the grapevines. Early detection of disease or stress on the roses alerted winemakers to take the necessary precautions to protect vines from damage. Nowadays farmers have more advanced methods of detecting diseases in the vineyard. Still the roses have stayed because they make a pretty splash of colour against the green rows of vines.