Chestnut Soup - Flagship Wines

Ingredients

• 400g chestnuts peeled & par-boiled
• 70g unsalted butter
• 2 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
• 1 medium shallot, thinly sliced
• 1 leek, thinly sliced
• 1 celery stalk, thinly sliced
• 1 bay leaf
• 2 sprigs of thyme for the soup and a handful to garnish
• 250ml white wine
• 300ml Fino or Manzanilla Sherry
• 2 ltrs chicken stock or vegetable stock if vegetarian
• 1tsp salt
• black pepper to taste
• Optional extra - 200g diced bacon or crisp discs of chorizo to garnish