Latest news with #WhiteLotus-style
Metro
14-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
I tried 100 rosé wines and £6.99 Lidl bottle was the best
Metro journalists select and curate the products that feature on our site. If you make a purchase via links on this page we will earn commission – learn more Today is National Rosé Day, not that it takes a special day to get us to crack open a bottle. I don't know about you though, but I'm all Whispering Angel'd out. It's the Meghan Markle of the wine world – pretty, polished and everywhere. Yes, the tutu-coloured wine has come to be synonymous with summer sipping. It's the that one everyone's heard of and the best example of insanely good marketing since French Connection (who remembers FCUK back in the day?) Let's look at some of its credentials, the hush-toned cherub (my code for Whispering Angel) is the world's best-selling rosé and it's just been announced that it's the official rosé partner of Formula 1 racing. Celebs like Lady Gaga go googoo for the stuff, with Adele admitting to US Vogue magazine that her fist post-lockdown trip to the supermarket was for ketchup and Whispering Angel. Ahh, celebs and their 'essentials'. Sacha Lichine is the man behind the brand. He didn't just bottle a pink wine when he rebooted the rosé category in 2006, by creating his first vintage of Whispering Angel. He bottled a lifestyle, and ever since, his influence on the world of wine has been, well, iconic. There's no other word for it. As Oscar Wilde once said, 'imitation is the sincerest form of flattery', and boy, Whispering Angel should be flattered. It's got more knock-offs than a dodgy market in Marbella. One retailer (Asda), even has their own version of the rosé called 'Screaming Devil'. That said, we're reaching peak Whispering Angel right about now. When you google 'why is Whispering Angel…', the options are 'so expensive', 'overrated', 'so popular', and 'so bad for your voice'. Though the last one may be about the actual act of whispering. So, let's move beyond the pale pink predictability of Whispering Angel, especially at £24 a bottle. Is it worth that much? Heck no. Sure, it's crisp and zesty, but it's also relatively simple, lean and austerely dry. Slice off a tenner and we'd be in the right ballpark. Luckily, there's a sea of pink wines that'll make us want to take a selfie on a White Lotus-style yacht this summer, minus the murder. So let's twist the screwcap on something a little bit more interesting, shall we? I've swirled, sipped and spat out 100 wines at supermarket tastings over the last few months and collated a selection of the most gluggable from Aldi, Lidl, Asda, Sainsbury's, Morrisons, Co-op and M&S. So ice down your wine glasses, here are my top 15 (in order of price): Under £10 Deluxe Argentinian Malbec Rosé Mendoza, Argentina, £6.49, Lidl Subconsciously, we equate darker coloured rosé with sweetness. That's just not the case here, or anywhere other than Californian blush wines, really. This is all dry, nectarine sherbet, violets and spice flavours with a gorgeous whoosh of zest factor. Ignore the cranky Vivino reviews, this bottling is top notch. Wine Atlas Ile de Beaute Rose, Corsica, £6.97, Asda A Corsican rosé is always going to make it onto my list. 'The Island of Beauty' is located just south of Provence, so it's not a stretch to see how they produce great rosé. 50 million bottles of it a year, no less, so they know what they're doing. This is subtle at first, but delivers a jolt of perfumed apricot skin and red berry fruit flavours. Ca Del Lago Rosato Trevenezie, £6.99, Italy, Lidl – Overall Winner First place goes to one I've recommended a few times now. It's part of Lidl's core range and is reminiscent of the iconic Ca dei Frati Rosa dei Frati (£25 a bottle). Lidl's version has everything we need in our rosé-swilling life, from flavours of Red Lady apples to Mirabelle plum skin and cherry blossom. A genuine delight that could (and probably should) be twice the price. Coteaux Varois en Provence Rosé, France, £7.47, Asda I was staggered by the dinky price tag of this rosé, considering its incredible intensity and punnet-loads of cherry flavours. It's also fresh, zesty and minerally. Coteaux de Varois is a key appellation in Provence which sits alongside Côtes de Provence, in the Var region. This bottle is super concentrated and exceptional value for money. Co-op Irresistible Solo Dry Rose, Spain, £8.50, Co-op This wine has barely any colour yet delivers an unexpected burst of wild strawberry flavours. What the David Blaine is going on? It's made from generously fruity, Spanish old vine Garnacha grapes that have had the juice separated from the skins almost immediately. Pale and very interesting. Côte des Roses Rosé, £9.28, Asda This rosé has got what it takes to become a Whispering Angel-like icon. The bottle has a rose embossed on its base, for goodness sake. It's made by French ex-rugby player, Gerard Bertrand, who also makes Jon Bon Jovi's rosé, Hampton Water. Think generous notes of strawberry sherbet and pomegranate jewels in flavour. Rosorange, Aldi, £9.99 You probably already know this wine if you're on social media. It went viral last year for being the only rosé/orange wine hybrid in existence. More crucially though, it's got a cute, insta-friendly bottle with picture of an orange on the label. The wine itself is opulent and generous, with textured flavours of nectarine and tangerine pith. Under £12 Breath of Paradise, Lidl, £10.99, Lidl Lidl recently launched their not-so-subtle version of Whispering Angel, which even has a pair of angel wings on the label just in case you didn't get it. This has bright and zesty flavours of Mirabelle plum and cantaloupe melon one slays at under half the price Extra Special Notre-Dames Des Anges Provence Rosé, £10.47, Asda This rosé is rolling in awards, and it's no wonder as it's delicious. It's got more stewed strawberry flavours than a regular Provence rosé with a soupcon of candyfloss in the blend, not literally though. It's generous with its flavours and worth spanking a few more quid on. Chassaux et Fils Sainte Victoire Provence Rosé, £11.99, Aldi I went a bit loopy for this rosé when I first tasted it back in March at the Aldi wine tasting. I've put the word 'rich' a lot in my notes, which is a good thing. This is better quality than the cherub that speaks quietly, with more texture, nectarine and blood orange fruit character and a mouthwatering whizzy note on the finish. Kylie Minogue Vin de Provence, £11.88, Asda I just can't get you out of my glass, Kylie. Not when you're tasting this good! Not to be confused with the more expensive 'Côtes de Provence' wine, also by Kylie which is more expensive and in a squat bottle. There's also her 'Kylie Rosé' which is cheaper and made from grapes grown across France. Under £15 Screaming Devil Rosé, £12.97, Asda The name usually takes a minute for the penny to drop. Once it has, pop open a bottle and you'll find a generous helping of textured, peachy-tasting rosé. It's a rosé-all-day guzzler, slightly deeper in colour than the wine it's inspired by, but it actually tastes more expensive at half the price. Mirabeau X Côtes de Provence Rosé, £13.25, Sainsbury's Rosés don't come prettier than Mirabeau, fact. At this point though, there's too many Mirabeau labels for me to keep up with, so I tend to gravitate towards the original. Confusing in itself as there's another one actually called 'the original'. Anyway, this one is elegant, juicy and clean with aromatic notes of cherry blossom and white peach. More Trending Roseblood Rosé, £14, Majestic I'd heard about this rosé before actually tasting it, it had a kind of cult-like status. Now I know why, it's co-owned by former French President, Nicolas Sarkozy and his supermodel wife and singer (and former First Lady of France), Carla Bruni. It's made by Chateau d'Estoublon, who have been making revered wines for 500 years. The wine is delicious, pithy with notes of candied rhubarb and wild strawberries. Under £20 La Balconne Organic Provence Rosé, £18, M&S View More » At around a fiver cheaper than the cherubic wine, I'm a big fan of M&S's version. Made by a husband and wife team in the Côtes de Provence, in terms of flavour, it has a uniquely grown-up style. You won't find anything candied or cutesy about it, it's a vibrantly fruity, saline and overtly gastronomic wine. Lobster spaghetti, anyone? If you count yourself a purveyor of the finer things in life, Metro's Drink Up column is where you need to be. Immerse yourself in the world of good drink, fronted by industry expert Rob Buckhaven – a place for readers to whet their whistle with the latest and greatest in the world of drinks. From unpacking the best supermarket wines from Aldi, Tesco and Lidl, to introducing audiences to the wallet-friendly Cremant out-bubbling the fanciest of French Champagnes (or the best wines to drink after sex), and finding out what it's like to go on a bar crawl with Jason Momoa, this is a haven for those who love to celebrate. Stay ahead of the curve as Rob plucks from the vines the wines of the season and the spirits you need to know about; speaking with experts and mixologists while unpacking the latest concoctions, finding the best non-alcoholic options for those looking to moderate, discovering the best food pairings for your drops, and going up against the latest TikTok chatter to demystify the liquid landscape. What are the best drinks to take to a summer picnic? Wine that you should never serve at a wedding And, truly, how should we be storing our wine? Read More. Do you have a story to share? Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@ MORE: Ways to treat your dad for Father's Day 2025 including 'world-class' steak MORE: Lidl just dropped 'spectacular' new bakery item — and it only costs 79p MORE: Urgent recall of Lidl's Harvest Basket hash browns over fears they contain metal Your free newsletter guide to the best London has on offer, from drinks deals to restaurant reviews.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
SNL star breaks silence after mocking The White Lotus actress Aimee Lou Wood with sketch
Saturday Night Live star Sarah Sherman has shared her regret after 'upsetting' Aimee Lou Wood with a controversial sketch about her teeth. Sherman, 32, wore exaggerated fake teeth while parodying Wood, 31, last month in a skit about the Trump family and several political figures staying at a White Lotus-style resort. In the sketch, Walton Goggins' character Rick was recast as Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who launched into a bizarre monologue about removing 'all the fluoride out of the water'. The camera then cut to Sherman as Wood's character Chelsea, saying in a British accent: 'Fluoride? What's that?' Wood, 31, criticised SNL for appearing to mock her appearance, calling the joke 'cheap' and 'mean' in a lengthy statement on Instagram. Sherman has now broken her silence on the controversy, revealing she sent Wood flowers and 'feels terrible' for offending the Mancunian actress. "I was excited to play her because she's so iconic, her character is so iconic, and I f***ing obviously never meant to hurt anyone's feelings," she told Vanity Fair. "Never in a million years did I get into comedy to make anyone upset. I feel terrible that anyone would feel bad.' She added that she 'totally' has to think about the possibility of offending people while doing sketches. "The show is in constant dialogue with culture as it's happening, and it happens really fast. You have to be vigilant, you know what I mean?" the comedian said. Sex Education star Wood called out SNL on Instagram, writing: 'Such a shame cuz I had such a great time watching it a couple weeks ago. Yes, take the p**s for sure – that's what the show is about – but there must be a cleverer, more nuanced, less cheap way? 'I am not thin-skinned. I actually love being taken the p**s out of when it's clever and in good spirits. But the joke was about fluoride. I have big gap teeth, not bad teeth. 'I don't mind caricature – I understand that's what SNL is. But the rest of the skit was punching up and I/Chelsea was the only one punched down on… Okay, end of.' She later revealed SNL had issued an apology to her. Wood also spoke about the sketch at the Met Gala earlier this month, telling Entertainment Tonight: 'It all got very out of control. 'My whole thinking was I could either say something because I saw it and people were angry about it… and have it be said, and I won't spiral inwardly, and feel terrible about myself.'
Times
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Times
Another Simple Favor review — Blake Lively at her best in silly sequel
The fun-filled summer vacays have arrived early with this gloriously silly sequel about murder, wealth porn and the inviolable, effervescent chemistry of Blake Lively and Anna Kendrick. The pair are back from the original 2018 hit, reprising their roles as the devious suburban femme-fatale Emily Nelson (Lively) and the 'author, private detective and mommy influencer' Stephanie Smothers (Kendrick). This time round Emily has been sprung from prison by her Italian Mob boss fiancé, Dante (Michele Morrone), and has browbeaten the resentful Stephanie into attending her lavish, White Lotus-style nuptials in Capri. Once on the island the bodies start to pile up and the outré screenplay from Laeta Kalogridis (Terminator Genisys) and Jessica Sharzer (Nerve) throws everything but the luxe porcelain
Scottish Sun
30-04-2025
- Scottish Sun
Top holiday destination introduces mandatory new requirement for all foreign visitors from tomorrow
In a curious twist, the move is rumoured to have been inspired by a Hollywood production GOING DIGITAL Top holiday destination introduces mandatory new requirement for all foreign visitors from tomorrow Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) HOLIDAYMAKERS heading to the white beaches and exotic luscious greenery of a popular British tourist destination will face a new entry requirement from tomorrow. In an attempt to digitise the immigration process, streamline arrivals and enhance security measures, excited tourists now have to fill out a digital form before travelling. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 4 Picture Perfect views - Thailand, Krabi province, Railay beach, Hat Tham Phra Nang beach Credit: Getty 4 Tourists and locals afloat on the lake of dam Khao Sok National park Following a tourism boost after one of the most hotly discussed TV shows used its scenery as a set, the country has decided to replace its old-fashioned paper system with a slick new digital travel card. Thailand's iconic beaches have received an influx of White Lotus fans recent months. But travellers should know they need to fill out the online form 72 hours before you jet off for a spontaneous trip- so get on it! Avoid a characteristic White Lotus-style mishap and fill out the form well in advance to avoid delays. The move replaces the conventional paper-based TM6 arrival card with an online form called the TDAC which can be found on the Thai immigration bureau's official website. It records basic personal information, passport details, travel itinerary, Thai lodging address and a basic health declaration. This will then be connected to Thailand's biometric database to improve security screening for tourists whether tourists are travelling by land, air or sea. Thai bureaucrats hope the move will allow them to crack down on human and narcotics trafficking and gather public health information. After seasons one and two of the critically acclaimed show, locations Hawaii and Siciliy saw a 300% year-on-year surge in tourism, nicknamed the 'White Lotus Effect.' The third season of the Emmy Award-winning HBO show shows off the landscapes of Koh Sumai, as well as better-known destinations such as Bangkok and Phuket. 4 Drone shot of Railway Beach on a summer sunny day in Krabi, Thailand Credit: Getty 4 The iconic Wat Arun temple in Bangkok at sunset Credit: Getty Koh Samui Island has, since the third series aired in January, already seen a 44% rise in hotel reservations and an 88% increase in searches according to the Bangkok Post. Searches linked to Thailand travel significantly increased in the US, UK, Germany, France and Israel with searches for Koh Samui accommodations up 65% since January 2025. The country's tourism authority is hoping that the 'White Lotus Effect' will bump its tourism revenue back to pre-pandemic levels from 1.8trn baht ($53.5bn) to 3trn ($82.3bn) baht of revenue. After predictable initial teething problems, as many travellers may not realise the system has changed, the hope is that the new digital rollout will become a 'fast pass to paradise,' making the journey almost hassle-free.
The Irish Sun
30-04-2025
- The Irish Sun
Top holiday destination introduces mandatory new requirement for all foreign visitors from tomorrow
HOLIDAYMAKERS heading to the white beaches and exotic luscious greenery of a popular British tourist destination will face a new entry requirement from tomorrow. In an attempt to digitise the immigration process, streamline arrivals and enhance security measures, excited tourists now have to fill out a digital form before travelling. 4 Picture Perfect views - Thailand, Krabi province, Railay beach, Hat Tham Phra Nang beach Credit: Getty 4 Tourists and locals afloat on the lake of dam Khao Sok National park Following a tourism boost after one of the most hotly discussed TV shows used its scenery as a set, the country has decided to replace its old-fashioned paper system with a slick new digital travel card. But travellers should know they need to fill out the online form 72 hours before you jet off for a spontaneous trip- so get on it! Avoid a characteristic White Lotus-style mishap and fill out the form well in advance to avoid delays. Read More The move replaces the conventional paper-based TM6 arrival card with an online form called the TDAC which can be found on the Thai immigration bureau's official website. It records basic personal information, This will then be connected to Thailand's biometric database to improve security screening for tourists whether tourists are travelling by land, air or sea. Thai bureaucrats hope the move will allow them to crack down on human and narcotics trafficking and gather Most read in News Travel After seasons one and two of the critically acclaimed show, locations Hawaii and Siciliy saw a The third season of the Emmy Award-winning HBO show shows off the landscapes of Koh Sumai, as well as better-known destinations such as Bangkok and Phuket. 4 Drone shot of Railway Beach on a summer sunny day in Krabi, Thailand Credit: Getty 4 The iconic Wat Arun temple in Bangkok at sunset Credit: Getty Koh Samui Island has, since the third series aired in January, already seen a 44% rise in hotel reservations and an 88% increase in searches according to the Bangkok Post. Searches linked to Thailand travel significantly increased in the US, The country's tourism authority is hoping that the 'White Lotus Effect' will bump its tourism revenue back to pre-pandemic levels from 1.8trn baht ($53.5bn) to 3trn ($82.3bn) baht of revenue. After predictable initial teething problems, as many travellers may not realise the system has changed, the hope is that the new digital rollout will become a 'fast pass to paradise,' making the journey almost hassle-free. The highlights of Phuket The Sun's Assistant Travel Editor Sophie Swietochowski also visited Phuket in 2023, exploring different parts of the island. Sophie Swietochowski says: "With white sand beaches, swaying palm trees and everything you need at the click of a finger, staying here feels as if you've stepped straight on to a movie set, even more so, now that TV hit The White Lotus is heading to Thailand for its third series. "Of course when you venture to this exotic area of the world, some exploring is a must, and at the Wang Kiang Ku river, you can book in for a bamboo rafting experience that will get you up close with nature. "Each raft, cleverly crafted by locals, will transport you through winding waters where wildlife flourishes — we spotted snakes hiding in trees and a baby turtle perched on a rock." Read more about Sophie's trip to Phuket,
