Liguria in wine – a short introduction.

Take a look at James’s latest article on the MacNay Travel & Wine website. It’s a very brief look at the coastal region of Liguria, the Riviera. MTW will travel there in 2025 – enquire today.

From Cuculo you can buy Ligurian wines made by the Terre Bianche winery, which is above the picturesque, medieval town of Dolceacqua. Buy the white Pigato here and the red Rossese here. There are case discounts for both labels.

A brief introduction to Sardinia.

Cinzia is with a group of customers in Sardinia at the moment, so James wrote a brief introduction to the history of grapes and winemaking on the island. You can link to the article on the MacNay Travel & Wine website here.

Two central Italian rosés, under £16.

Cantele Rosato bottle image

Negroamaro Rosato Salento IGT 2023 by Cantele (Puglia)

Cantele’s rosé is a long-standing and hugely popular presence on the Cuculo shelves. This wine is from Puglia, one of Italy’s wine heartlands, where Negroamaro rules. The deeply coloured black grape makes soft, rich, savoury reds (and while you’re about it, you should try the Cantele Salice Salentino Riserva £16.95 to take out) but, when left with the skins for just a short period, makes a lovely wine with the same pink/salmon the hue of red onion skin.

This wine shows a great red fruit (strawberry, redcurrant) flavours and has a delightful freshness and medium body. At £15.95 (take out price) it is great summer drinking and excellent value.

• Bottle: £15.95 (take out)
• Case of 6: £90
• Case of 12: £170

You can order the wine here.

Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo DOC 2021 by Tiberio (Abruzzo)

Let’s head to Abruzzo, now, on the Adriatic coast.

Our winemaker is Tiberio, a second generation family estate who have been garnering plaudits in the international press for several years.

Being one of the few Italian appellations specifically designated as rosé, Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo is quite niche. This wine is made with a minimum 85% Montepulciano, and is darker in colour compared to many other rosés.

It is fuller-bodied than, say, the Tiberio, with a higher alcohol (14%). Nevertheless it is juicy and fruity (cherry, woodland fruits, strawberry).

• Bottle: £15.45 (take out)
• Case of 6: £85
• Case of 12: £165

You can order the wine here.

Tracklements tasting in-store!

Next Saturday – 20 July 2024 – join us for a tasting of award winning Tracklement condiments at Cuculo 11.30 – 13.00. Delicious cheeses from our counter paired with chutneys, jams, marmalades and fruit cheese

To whet your appetite, here are some great recommendations from Tracklements for ideal cheese and condiment pairings this month.

Stop in at Cuculo for a special tasting of ‘Tracklements’ premium quality chutneys and pickles.

Accighue Al Verde

Cinzia has just written a nice piece about acciughe al verde, the traditional Piemontese dish, over on the MacNay Travel & Wine website.

Her wine pairing suggestions include the Marco Porello Roero Arneis DOCG ‘Camestrì’, which you can find available to purchase here.

What a great combination!

From Pastor to pasture

Delving into the life of a cheese making family – The Traditional Cheese Dairy, East Sussex.

The Delves family took over the business in 2019 when it was based in Stonegate, and then in 2021 they moved The Traditional Cheese Dairy to Horam. Where it is now housed in its new home – a purpose built cheese dairy, adjacent to their herd of cross-bred Jersey and Friesian cows on the Delves’ dairy farm.


Outside farming, Andy also has a strong spiritual calling, he has been Pastor at the King’s Church, Heathfield and is a lay-reader at All Saints in Waldron. He had been taking a bit of time out for himself when his son Joe came up with the idea of merging their successful dairy business with the art of cheesemaking. As a result, he was enticed out of retirement to rise to the challenge of becoming a cheesemaker, and over a short intense period of time, he shadowed the previous owners to learn all he could about cheese making. Andy quickly adapted and assumed the new role of cheesemaker, perfecting the crafting of the five established cheeses.

“Our washed-rind, raw cows’ milk cheese is the most popular and the most tricky to make. We mature it for a minimum of eight weeks and during that time the rind is washed three times a week by the ‘Chief Washer’, my wife Lizzie. It’s always difficult to know how it will turn out and I wouldn’t be exaggerating if I said it has a tendency to ‘lark about’. At its best it’s a superb cheese with a creamy texture which cuts beautifully, aromatic on the nose with a floral taste.”

Andy Delves explains the making of their most popular cheese, Burwash Rose.

Here are the Traditional Cheese Dairy’s other cheeses, available from Cuculo Cheese & Wine:

It’s a truly family affair from cheese maker Andy and his wife, through to their son Joe who manages the farms, with their son-in-law Ben who looks after the herds, and supported by their daughter.

“Taking on the dairy has given us the opportunity, as an extended family, to find local employment for all of those who wanted to continue working on the farm.

“We like to make really good cheese, it’s a dedication not a passion and we plan to keep on doing it. There is talk of developing a more mature cheddar style cheese. But right now, we struggle to keep up with demand. There is a renaissance in artisan cheese and it seems that artisan British cheese has never been so popular.”

Cuculo usually stock the full range from The Traditional Cheese Dairy, subject to availability. We are delighted to offer Burwash Rose as our Cheese of the Month for March.

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