If you’re a millennial – or even Gen Z – you probably grew up with a bottle of Blue Nun lurking in the drinks cabinet. You may have even been wheeled out at your parents’ parties to serve it (just me?). Either way, that unmistakable blue bottle made a lasting impression.
Except I obviously didn’t drink it first time around. So now that Blue Nun is making a comeback on UK shelves, I thought it was the perfect opportunity for us to revisit some of my parents’ favourite wines from the 80s to see how they fare today.
And because one nostalgic bottle deserves a proper generational showdown, we added four more wines that might bring back memories for my parents: Liebfraumilch, Moscato, Mateus Rosé and Lambrusco.
The throwback wines being tried:
- Blue Nun, £5.52
- Blaumeister Liebfraumilch, £3.65
- Brown Brothers Moscato, £8
- Mateus Rosé, £6.25
- Tesco Lambrusco, currently out of stock but we recommend this one: M&S Secco Reggiano Lambrusco
Blue Nun
Let’s start with Blue Nun. Founded in Germany in 1921, it became a household name, with more than one billion bottles sold. Wild.
It’s been ‘refreshed’ for the modern market. Priced at just £5.52, with a relatively low 10% ABV, the German wine promises to be ‘fresh and easy-drinking, with flavours and aromas of apple, peach and citrus, plus a touch of sweetness’.
Our verdict
Well, we can certainly agree on that last point. Sweet it is. In theory, that should make it a good match for your Friday-night Thai curry. In reality, it was far from pleasant. How did our parents really drink this stuff?
I think it’s fair to say wine tastes have evolved since the 80s, with many of us now preferring dry, crisp wines with high acidity, such as Vinho Verde or Albariño. With 30g of residual sugar per litre, Blue Nun is a real slap in the face. It also has a very long, very unpleasant finish. I can’t think of an occasion when I’d want to serve this.
Blaumeister Liebfraumilch
A ‘timeless’ German white, Blaumeister Liebfraumilch is described as medium-sweet, with bright stone fruit flavours. An unpretentious dinner-party wine, apparently, it was marketed as something that went with anything. We’ll be the judge of that…!
Our verdict
I’d never heard of this wine and, at just £3.65, I really wasn’t expecting to like it. But ever open-minded, I was pleasantly surprised.
Despite its original claim, I think there are very specific scenarios in which you’d want to drink this: brunch, with something sweet like pancakes or waffles, or alongside a fruity dessert such as pavlova. You may as well go the full nostalgic hog. Unlike our parents, though, I don’t think I’d want more than one or two glasses.
Brown Brothers Moscato
Over to Australia now, to try Brown Brothers’ bestselling Moscato. Apparently, 74% of Moscato buyers are new to wine, making it a gateway wine for a new generation. Plus, this and the rosé are both just 5-6% ABV, tapping into the growing demand for lighter, fruit-forward drinks.
Our verdict
Another pleasant surprise. She’s light, she’s fizzy, she’s not taking herself too seriously – and neither should you. Again, a top breakfast wine. Would I pay £8 for it? Absolutely not.
Mateus Rosé
The curvy bottle, the bright pink hue – let’s be honest, she’s an icon. Mateus Rosé is a slightly spritzy Portuguese wine made from a blend of Baga, Rufete, Tinta Barroca and Touriga Franca grapes.
It contains about 15g of residual sugar per litre – roughly half Blue Nun’s level – which it wears pretty well, thanks to a decent balance of acidity.
Our verdict
This one split opinion. I didn’t think it was the worst wine I’d ever tasted (that accolade can go to Blue Nun), but I wasn’t going back for a second sip. My colleague, on the other hand, was into it. Sadly, both of us can remember drinking this when we probably shouldn’t have been. Make of that what you will.
Mateus clearly isn’t a Provence rosé, but it’s not as offensively sweet as some others. I just wasn’t into the lingering finish. If you’re going to give it a go, I’d recommend serving it well chilled.
Tesco Lambrusco
Lambrusco was hugely popular in the 70s and 80s, and you’d often find it served over ice. Styles range from bone-dry (secco) to sweet (dolce). Unsurprisingly, it was the sweeter styles that were popular back in the day.
Our verdict
Lambrusco is having a bit of a moment and I’m a big fan. I drank a lot of chilled red this summer and this taps into that trend, with the added fun of bubbles.
Drier styles are certainly more popular nowadays. I’d serve this with midweek pizza or pasta, at a barbecue, or with nibbles, charcuterie and a wedge of Parmigiano. The bubbles make it a bit of a talking point, and I think this is a wine that will only grow in popularity. Bring back Lambrusco!
The wine we tried is currently out of stock, but we recommend this drier-style Lambrusco from M&S.
So, while Blue Nun didn’t win us over, we’d happily raid our parents’ stash for the rest. Cheers!
Stacey looks after all food and drink reviews — from coffee pods and veg boxes, to natural wine and tequila. Stacey is also founder of Crummbs, where she’s written nearly 2,000 restaurant and hotel reviews since 2013. Prior to this, Stacey wrote hundreds of in-depth buying guides for the Independent, i newspaper and BBC Good Food, as well as reviewing restaurants and interviewing celebrities in her column at Balance Magazine. Stacey has also appeared in BAFTA-nominated BBC documentary Blood, Sweat & Takeaways, where she investigated South East Asia's food production industry, appearing on both Newsnight and BBC World Service to share her findings. Regularly checking out the latest restaurants, bars and product launches, Stacey also loves experimenting with recipes at home, and is a WSET-certified wine and spirits expert, with over 10 years of experience in the business. You can follow Stacey on Instagram @crummbs_uk
