Category — Learn about wine

Something to warm the bleak winter days is a Whisky Tasting course in the Cotswolds at Farncombe Estate Centre, near Broadway on 17 January 2009. This all day course run by Barry King of For the Love of Whisky will be

…structured to take in some of the important milestones in the history of whisky. It will go on to explain the bewildering nomenclature shown on the labels on the bottle of whisky, the various types of whisky, the regions and the influences on taste. Barry will explain and demonstrate how to nose and taste whisky in order to identify its various characteristics. Some time will be spent on helping you to develop your sense of smell and taste. The manufacturing process will be described, as will the ingredients of whisky and how they influence smell and taste, together with the effect the cask has on whisky during its maturation. There will be 5 different whiskies which you will be experiencing. You will be encouraged to let your senses explore these in order to identify their various characteristics. Throughout the day, Barry will share with you lots of anecdotes and humorous tales.

Farncombe Estate Centre, near Broadway Worcs WR12 7LJ  T: 01386 854100
Barry King runs a specialist Whisky experience company offering tutored tastings such as this and other events for corporate, charity and other groups - see www.fortheloveofwhisky.co.uk/

An up and coming Scottish indpendent wine merchant has opened a new branch in Edinbugh. Woodwinters was established in Bridge of Allen (just north of Stirling) by husband and wife team Cara Winters and Douglas Wood three years ago and in the 2008 Decanter World Wine Awards were voted as runner-up for the Best Indpendent Wine Shop category and the only Scottish merchant in the running - “WoodWinters came close … it is the kind of local wine merchant everyone should have: a friendly presence, terrific selection of wines, and great personal service, delivered with infectious enthusiasm”

We believe that drinking wine is about pleasure and should be fun whether you’re buying party wine sub £5 or you’re a canny claret collector. Our shop is … small; compact and bijou. This helps us to focus on our main objective to only list the best. There is simply no room for shelf fillers. The main shop floor (arranged by style) covers the price range up to £25 and for those who love it and have a wallet to match their vinous passion, step upstairs into the Aladdin’s cave that is a roll call of many of the best producers from around the world.

We promote wines we love with a passion every day. We have never and will never (strong words we know) sell wines on price promotion. We don’t sell baked beans either

The website at www.woodwinters.com/
reflects that enthusiasm and is well-presented with some good features.
Wine, Whisky and Cuban cigars are featured. The wine list looks exciting with few predictable inclusions, and good info on each wine - e.g. Californian Cline Zinfandel 2006 “Meticulous farming. Mature fruit. Handmade wines. Severe selection. Master blending. From repeated tasting of the fruit in the vineyard to seeing the grapes come through the hopper, we still do it the old-fashioned way. We think it shows in the bottle, the only thing that matters.” Dark berry flavours with just enough spice. Lovely!” (£9.50)
With a regular Friday Tasting Club on the last Friday of every month, the themes in 2008 included “Fizz and Chips” and “Bling Bling” - a chance to taste 8 of the most expensive wines in the shop! The 2009 schedule has wine and food themes such as cheese, Spring Lamb and Seafood. (Bridge of Allen).
Being Scotish, they also major on Malt Whiskies, but not at the expense of a great selection of other spirits including some rare Cognacs and Grappa!

www.woodwinters.com/

16 Henderson Street, Bridge of Allan, FK9 4HP
91 Newington Road, Edinburgh EH9 1QW
T: 01786 834 894 E: feedback@woodwinters.com

If you are struggling to find the perfect present for a wine buff, hows about a Spanish Wine tasting voucher from Evuna in Manchester, the Spanish bar/restaurant/wine merchant. For only £25.00 per person. Spanish wine is often underrated and misunderstood, especially outside Rioja, so a tutored tasting is almost inevitably going to be entertaining and informative.

The receiver of the gift can come along to Evuna for an educational and fun experience in Spanish wine tasting. For £25 per person, they can have their own private wine tasting in Evuna’s bar, complete with Tutor and canapes. All you need to do is purchase the voucher over the phone and your gift is valid for 12 months from date of purchase.

For Further details email j.dowler@evuna.com or Telephone 0161 819 2752

Evuna, 277-279 Deansgate, Manchester M3 4EW

Lastminute.com are offering 10% off the standard ticket charges for a visit to The Vinopolis Experience
in London atmospherically located on the South Bank near the foodie mecca which is Borough Market.
There are a variety of entertaining and informative tours offered as part of the Vinopolis experience - ideal for anyone interested in wine - or as a perfect gift for a wine enthusiast - now with 10% off - plenty of info and advice available from knowledgeable staff.

Set under spectacular Victorian London arches, Vinopolis offers an imaginative, self-guided tour around the world of wine producing. The tour will educate and excite, as well as offering great tastings along the way. You will have the opportunity to learn how to taste and enjoy excellent wines using all of your senses.

The tours range from the “Vinopolis Grapevine” for the enthusiastic beginner which lasts about 90 minutes and includes a “how to taste wine” session, 5 regular wine tastings, a free Bombay Sapphire tasting and a Vinopolis tasting notebook plus the tour of the exhibits and information displays.
At the top of the range is the Vinopolis Celebration which also includes an audio guide by Oz Clarke and the opportunity to taste 3 rums, 2 premium wines and 3 champagnes!

For more info see The Vinopolis experience from £17.50

It is evidently that time of year, with the prospect of nights drawing in, that thoughts turn to those aspirations to learn more about wine - there seems to be an increasing number of offerings around the country for anyone interested in taking wine a bit more seriously - and certainly a little knowledge can greatly enhance the enjoyment of wine, and inform a better choice from the many wines available to us.
Wine Unearthed host One Day Wine Tasting Workshops in Oxford , Bristol, Birmingham and Manchester:

Our Wine Tasting Workshops are structured so as to appeal to everyone from the absolute beginner through to budding wine enthusiast.Each workshop is a full day tasting, learning and talking about wine including a fantastic food & wine matching lunch.

You’ll learn how to taste and analyse wine like a professional. While tasting at least 14 wines you’ll gain an understanding of how region, climate, winemaking techniques and many other factors affect the final wine in the bottle. You’ll learn what makes a better quality wine and the key characteristics of each grape variety as well as the typical wine regions you find them. All this and much more in a fun and informative day of wine tasting. This day is a great introduction for the budding wine enthusiast.

Choosing a course (one day or evening classes) is not always straightforward - you need someone with a thorough knowledge of wines and a passion for the subject - but also the ability to communicate well. These attributes do not always coincide - I have been subjected to some dreadful tutored tastings by knowledgeable wine merchants (not from Wine Unearthed) who simply are no good at teaching or presenting - proving that knowledge alone is not enough if you cannot impart it to others! It will always pay dividends to check out who is going to deliver the course, what relevant experience they have, and preferably get some independent testimonials. The advantage of an independent wine course is of course that they are not trying to flog any particular wine, and in theory their choice is unconstrained by any supplier, and you are not subjected to any sales patter.

Wine Unearthed look a very professional setup from their website, but there is little detail about who presents the workshops - so maybe a few questions before you book  - For more info on dates and prices see www.wineunearthed.co.uk