Category — News Elsewhere

Alastair and Jayne MacBrayne. at Dorjé’s Wine Company present a Fish Banquet with Ronell Wiid, the award winning winemaker of Hazendal Estate, Stellenbosch, in South Africa, who is making a special visit to the Virgins and Castle in Kenilworth,Warwickshire. Tuesday, October 7th, 2008.

We will be showing three white wines, three red wines and the award winning Straw Dessert Wine as a special treat with the dessert.

For more info contact Dorjé’s Wine, Unit 4, Rigby Close, Heathcote Industrial Estate, Warwick, CV34 6TH, or email: info@dorjes.co.uk

Tel: 01926 430550

Another new online merchant (well new to me) is Novum Wines.
However, the pedigree looks good as their wine buyer spent 17 years as head buyer for Oddbins (when Oddbins were at their best!). Previously supplying some of the best restaurants in the South of England (and beyond) they are now offer a selection of our wines to the general public through a new website.

Fanatical about searching out new and interesting wines, producers and regions, whilst offering customer service which is second to none. We are a specialist importer of wines from new exciting producers from all around the globe.

Suppliers include Linda Domas in Australia, Perez Cruz in Chile and Tramin in Northern Italy; Greece is also strongly featured considered to be a rising star - New World and Languedoc are also included in what looks like an interesting and exciting list.

Novum Wines 166 Sail Street Vauxhall, Lonon SE11 6NQ
Tel: 020 7820 6720
Email: info@novumwines.com

One of my frequent complaints about wine coverage in the national press, is that the wines most often featured are from the supermarkets and larger wine merchant chains. Inevitably given the wide readership of the newspapers, there is a tendency to concentrate on more obviously popular and readily available wines, keeping both the majority of readers and advertisers happy.

This tends to bypass some of the more interesting offerings, and often will concentrate on the positive, and avoid anything negative by omission. So the arrival of the Wine Gang should be welcomed:-

The Wine Gang has been formed by five of the UK’s most respected wine critics. From left to right: Olly Smith of BBC1’s Saturday Kitchen, Tom Cannavan of wine-pages.com, Anthony Rose of the Independent, Joanna Simon of the Sunday Times and Tim Atkin MW of the Observer.

Our idea is simple: every week we attend a host of tastings restricted to the press and wine trade. But we’re frustrated. Why? Because with the limited coverage wine receives in the media, so much valuable information never reaches the consumer. Now, our independent assessment of at least 200 wines per month empowers you to buy smarter and drink better.

There is one drawback to this plan, which is that wine critics have to be selective about which tastings they attend, and which ones are on offer. A scan of the weekly wine articles often reveals that the same topic is covered in different publications - because the previous week they all attended the same tastings, albeit drawing independent conclusions.
The other drawback is that there is a cost = £19.99 a year. But for anyone who buys wine regularly this is a small investment to make a better informed choice of wine.

For more info see www.thewinegang.com

There are other sources of (free) wine advice - www.spittoon.biz by wine writer Andrew Barrow offers some interesting reviews and tasting notes and particularly looks at the issues of wine and food matching, something which can enhance the enjoyment of both elements.

Neil Beckett’s book 1001 Wines You Must Taste Before You Die is published on 9 September 2008 and offers a mouthwatering prospect of some of the world’s best wines, although not exclusively from the rarified ranks of “fine” wine and big ticket prices. It is a hefty tome at 960 pages, and the joy of it is that reading through the details of the wines, and the tasting notes from leading wine critics, can be very enjoyable - even if the prospect of consuming all of the 1000 wines is a touch daunting for you, your wallet and your liver.
Inevitably it ends up as a personal selection which will omit some serious contenders and include some whose reputation may exceed the quality of the wine. But its breadth is comprehensive, including Old and New World wines.
I suspect we all envy the author the practical research that must have been required!!

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

Somehow even the name sounds tempting and indulgent: “Café Strudel“. Perhaps too quickly associated with cakes, cream and calories, there is a rare opportunity to try out Viennese food and Austrian wines Café Strudel in Richmond (SW London) is hosting with Ultimate Wines and Nick Dobson Wines on 11 September 2008.

The menu will be:
Aperitif – Stift Klosterneuberg 2006 Mathäi Brut Sekt
Starter – Seared King Scallops with Coral Sauce served with a glass of Josef Hirsch 2005 Grüner Veltliner Heiligenstein
Entrée – Saddle of Rabbit with Butternut Squash Dumpling and Stuffed Cabbage served with a glass of Jamek 2005 Zweigelt Jochinger Rosé
Main – Rostbraten Rump Steak with Mushrooms, Mustard Marmalade and Tender Swiss Chard Ribs served with a glass of Netzl 2005 Rubin Carnuntum Zweigelt Selection
Pudding – Cherry Strudel with Kirsch Ice Cream served with a glass of Spaetrot-Gebeshuber 2006 Zierfandler/Rotgipfler

The cost of the dinner is £35/person exclusive of service and anything not included above (e.g. - coffee, water, etc). Prepaid bookings are required. Call 020-8487-9800 (Café Strudel) directly for reservations.

Café Strudel, 429 Upper Richmond Road West, London, SW14 7PJ
Tel: 020 8487 9800

Personally I get a little cynical about these awards - e.g. the Decanter World Wine Awards and the International Wine Challenge Awards - they are just so big that I am not sure what they really mean for an individual wine. In the days of Allez Vins! we were mightily pleased when one of our wines won a Gold or even a Wine of the Year award (it happened to be a Madiran AC, Domaine Berthoumieu, Cuvee Charles de Batz which did so well. However, tastes in wine are very individual - and without being churlish, the same wine was merely commended in the following year’s results - so where is the consistency in that! Besides, what you consider to be absolutely stunning, I may find to be abyssmal - it is all a matter of taste, mood, environment etc.

However, my antennae did perk up to find that one independent wine merchant managed to scoop 4 awards in the International Wine Challenge 2008 - so they must be doing something right.

So congratulations to Flying Corkscrewfor winning:-

• Small Independent Wine Merchant 2008 (whole of UK)
• Australian Specialist,
• Argentinean Specialist
• South African Specialist

Based in Hertfordshire and with an online shop www.flyingcorkscrew.co.uk

We love wine. In fact, we only sell wines that we drink ourselves. Our time is spent travelling the world and meeting the people who grow it. And we love talking about it: the grapes, the weather, the soil, the growing methods and, most of all, the taste. As well as wines from around the globe, we’ve also got a huge list of international beers and spirits for you to try.

www.flyingcorkscrew.co.uk
The Flying Corkscrew, Leighton Buzzard Road, Water End, Hertfordshire HP1 3BD

Starting 6 September 2008, the Guardian (Mon-Sat) and Observer (Sun) are launching a FREE 14-part Guide to Wine. The first part is a general introduction to wine, tasting and a run down of red wine grapes. See www.guardian.co.uk

Majestic Wine is offering 25% off 2 or more bottles of Spanish Wine this month including Rioja from Marques de Caceres amongst others and a goodly range of Spanish regional wines.

PLUS

25% off ARGENTINA e.g.Benmarco Malbec 2006 Dominio del Plata, Mendoza “A deep, rich red, this wine has a palate of black cherry, currants and blackberries with notes of vanilla and coffee. Great body and roundness with a long and delightful finish.”

usually £11.99 - buy 2 for £8.99 each

20% off PORTUGAL and SOUTH AFRICA - and up to 50% off selected CHAMPAGNE.

For more info see Majestic Wine

The Ultimate Wine Company based in Marlow, Bucks, is holding two Italian tastings in London and Marlow in September:-

In September we’ll be tasting new Italian wines that I’ve discovered. As usual there will be some unique and unusual wines to try as well as some familiar varieties from new suppliers. And, of course, there will be a selection of meats, cheeses and dips to accompany the wines.

Its a little difficult to pin a label on Paula’s idiosyncratic wines selections - but she always offers something interesting and surprising!

September tasting details -
22 Sept (Monday) South Kensington
27 Sept (Saturday) Marlow
Read more about Ultimate Wines on www.ukwinesonline.co.uk
For more info T: 01628-472214
Email: paula@ultimatewines.co.uk
Website: www.ultimatewines.co.uk

Earn youself a pint of Adnams beer and contribute to the improvement of the environment by joining in Adnam’s Coastal Clean-up in Southwold, Suffolk on Saturday 20 September 2008.

As part of our commitment to our community and the environment in 2003 we adopted a 1km stretch of Southwold’s beach between Gun Hill and the Harbour under the Marine Conservation Society’s Adopt-a-Beach scheme. This means that we clean it at least four times a year and afterwards we like to reward ourselves with fish & chips and a well-earned pint of Adnams.
Adnams offers a small ‘thank-you’ to all Suffolk Coast and Heath Beachwatch volunteers by offering them a voucher for a free pint in one of the 13 Adnams stockists that participate in the scheme.

Adnams is not just a well-respected East Anglian brewer, but also an accomplished hotelier and renowned wine merchant. So make a weekend of it with a bit of “do-gooding”, and enjoy the local countryside and indulge in good wine, food and hospitality!

For more info see www.adnams.co.uk

Phil Hargreaves of the Hengate Wine School in East Yorkshire has just published a book on the vineyards of Bergerac in South West France (Aquitaine) - and a very thorough and informative work it is - invaluable for any lover of these wines, and/or for visitors to the region to the east of Bordeaux on the Dordogne river - excellent dry and sweeter whites from Sauvignon Blanc and Semilllon - and some extraordinarily good reds mainly from Merlot and Cabernets.

Official launch of new guide “The Wines of Bergerac” will take place on Friday 26 September at 6 p.m. at Beverley Arms Hotel, Beverley, East Yorkshire. Book signing and free Bergerac tasting.

For more info on Phil, the book and the tasting see www.hengatewineschool.co.uk

For more on the wines of Bergerac see www.frenchduck.com

The Wine Show returns to London from 23-26 October 2008 at the Business Design Centre in Islington, N1.

* SAMPLE wines from every corner of the globe.
* DISCOVER some of the finest wines on the market in The Coutts Private Cellar
* SHARE the passion of our celebrity experts - Oz Clarke, Matt Skinner, Tim Atkin MW and Susy Atkins among others - as they guide you around the show floor on a Wine Walk, or take part in our Tasting Theatre brought to you by Miele - the experts in wine storage.
* CELEBRATE the show’s opening night with a glittering Preview Evening of fine wine & live music as broadcaster and author Oz Clarke opens the show.
* LEARN to choose confidently from any wine menu.
* MATCH food & wine for home entartaining
* STOCK up on wines at affordable prices - and take advantage of home delivery!

There is an impressive list of exhibitors, from small individual vineyards to multi-nationals, national and regional wine bodies, accessories etc.
If you book online, you can get a second ticket at half-price - see www.wineshow.co.uk

Georgia is much in the news these days, but sadly not for its impressive wine heritage. Georgia is widely credited as one of the first places to produce wine. Jancis Robinson in her The Oxford Companion to Winedescribes it as “one of the world’s great and historic centres of both wild and cultivated vines”.

The grape varietals used include some little known types such as Mtsvane,Ojaleshi and Tsitska, although there is some more familiar Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay.

The problem in the UK is finding Georgian wines, and A quick search only yielded two suppliers:-

• Waitrose Wine-online with the Orovela Saperavi 2004 A delicious rich red from Georgia. Saperavi is an old grape variety indigenous to Georgia. In this wine it produces a rich red in a modern, fruit forward style. The palate shows intense flavours of blackberry and cherry and with a long smoky finish. Very limited availability.
• Fareham Wine Cellars who offer 6 wines from the Old Tblisi and Tamada ranges - e.g. the Tamada Mukuzani Dry Red Wine 2001“The wine is deep red incolour with brick red notes around the rim of the glass. The nose is full of berry fruit tones backed by a soft, smokey undertone. On the palate the wine is full-bodied and dry, there are soft tannins and mainly blackcurrant flavours. There are also vanilla / oak flavours derived from the time the wine spends in oak.”

Maybe we should all show a little support for the people of Georgia by drinking their wines - a modest gesture I know!

See also Turton Wines who offer a selection of 12 wines from Georgia

I like the idea of a wine and bread tasting, especially centred on bread and wines from Italy - they complement each other in both taste and texture, and if you can also enjoy the smell of baking bread at the same time that could be sublime.

The Northern Wine Academy is holding a Saturday workshop in Harrogate, North Yorkshire on 11 October 2008.

Join us for a ‘hands on’ morning of baking and breadmaking with chef Hilary McQuarrie followed by a virtual tour of Italy tasting as we go after lunch.

Our tasting tour starts in Piemonte and finishes in Sicily by which time your bread will be baked, wrapped and ready to take home.

See www.northernwineacademy.co.uk