Londoners who are still wondering which way to vote in the mayoral elections next week can at least enjoy an insightful tipple while they ponder their decision.
Oddbins, the independent high street wine merchant, has suggested seven wines that sum up each of the candidates.
For Boris Johnson, Oddbins has picked out a bottle of Diane de Belgrave Haut-Medoc Bordeaux. Just like the current Mayor, the wine has been around since 2008, is classic old-school with a posh upbringing, a fruity side and a suggestion of leather cigar boxes.
Ken Livingston is paired off with a Cape Chamonix Pinotage. The perfect wine for Ken must go with newts, carry real weight and also have legs – as it doesn’t look like he is ever going to retire.
Livingstone is known for his love of wine, particularly, as Johnson does not hesitate to say, Châteauneuf-du-Pape. So Ken would likely enjoy the Cape Chamonix Pinotage.
Siobhan Benita, the independent candidate, suits a Henriot Rose Champagne - “perfect for the honest, relevant and focused campaign that has fizzed unexpectedly into this election”.
Jenny Jones, the Green candidate, matched with a Falanghina Biblos. The wine is described by Oddbins as “green, clean and fresh, but holds no punches”. As a former archaeologist, Jenny will love the fact the producers of this organic wine are trying to save ancient grape varieties that teeter on the brink of extinction.
The perfect wine for Brian Paddick is a Berton Paddock Shiraz, not just because the wine almost has the same name, but because it does not mess around on the palette. Although the wine is known for its liberal fruit characteristics, Oddbins describes it as a fun bottle that you might find at “a party with John Barrowman or in the jungle with Ant and Dec”.
The ideal wine for Carlos Cortiglia is the Zohar Tannant. It is one of the most prominent grape varieties in Carlos’ native Uruguay. With its punchy tannins and deep colour, this wine, like a well-known yeast extract spread, is not for everyone. Kind of like the BNP then.
For Lawrence Webb, it has to be something with a silky edge. So Oddbins have gone for the Nuiton-Beaunoy Bourgogne Rouge, light, not too foreign and very, very silky.
Ayo Akintola, Managing Director of Oddbins, said: “Oddbins doesn’t do politics. If we did we’d move our Greek wine into the German section and we would shift the French back towards the centre before it falls off the shelf and makes a mess.
“So we are not actually advocating that Londoners vote for a candidate based on their favorite wine from our list, but it is probably a more fun method than reading endless manifesto leaflets.”