Category — Wine Club

A range of wines designed for and marketed to women? This is the claim of French company Sublim-elle who assert:

Because scientific research suggests that women have naturally a more refined sense of smell and taste than do men…
Because many wine experts recognize a major difference in the way women and men appreciate wines…
Because there is no reason for women to resign to purchase wines marketed for male preferences…
Because woman is Sublime and play a fundamental role in society’s evolution to a more balanced, peaceful and humanist…
Because of all these reasons, a range of French wines, dedicated to woman, was conceived.
This range is a selection of silky and harmonious wines combining delicacy and a lot of nuances of aromas and flavours; wines that tend to reflect the image of the women and their contribution towards a more peaceful, balanced, elaborated and tolerant society.

I’m not sure if this is a truth, or it is clever marketing, or just a tad patronising. In 15 years of selling wines direct to the public, I am not convinced that there is a clear distinction between the tastes or preferences of men and women. People’s tastes range so widely in any case, and the variation tends to be more associated with customer’s experience of wine. I (and my wife) certainly started out enjoying cheap sweet Barsac and light fruity German wines, and even now when I greatly enjoy complex heavy reds. there are ocassions when a simple clean Chenin Blanc is what I prefer. I know women who much prefer big beefy reds to their partner’s choice of floral soft whites.

The range of wines on offer (from Chateau Select) include Rhoine, Loire, Burgundy, Alsace and Vins de Pays d’Oc

Chateau Select is an online wine club (free membership) set up by Bill Warry who specialises in France and Australia wines

My love of wine, the regions in which it is made and the often extraordinary but wonderful characters who make it, led to my starting the business more as a hobby than a career. People often say to me that they are not wine connoisseurs and don’t know about wines. I tell them that it is their enjoyment of wines that is important…..

What experience has brought me is, I believe, an appreciation of what makes for quality and value in a wine. Year after year I’d been saying to myself, “I really must try importing some wine from France, then one year I took the plunge. After tasting nearly twenty different wines one afternoon in the village of St Chinian (near Beziers), I tentatively brought home a pallet load of wines on the premise that if I could not persuade potential clients to trust my judgement then “at least I could enjoy drinking the wine with my friends !”

Chateau Select Wine Club, Stafford House. 42 Mill Green Road. Mitcham. Surrey CR4 4HY
Tel:020 8995 7567 Fax:020 8994 9144 e-mail: info@chateauselect.com

These wines will be on taste at the Taste of London event in Regents Park 19-22 June 2008

Chateau Select will be at the

The venue is the Virgins and Castle pub in Kenilworth, Warwickshire an ancient hostelry reputedly getting its name from the amalgamation of two separate establishments - the Virgins Inn and the Castle Tavern.
The wine merchant is Dorjes, a rather idiosyncratic outfit run by the charismatic and enthusiastic Alastair and Jayne MacBrayne. They have a fascinating list of wines from many parts of the world, and whilst there is no discernible “theme” other than “The most beautiful wines in the world”(!) their selection is always interesting and of high quality - I have never been disappointed with any of their wines, and have enjoyed their open tastings immensely.
The date is Wednesday 23 April 2008.

Come along and experience our new exciting portfolio of New Estate Wines from Spain, Italy, France, Australia, Chile, Argentina and New Zealand. Choose from over seventy wines and meet vineyard representatives.

The cost for the Wine Tasting is only £10.00 per head. The Virgins and Castle are also holding an optional Pig Roast at an extra cost of £15.00 per head which will be payable direct to the Virgins and Castle on the night.

Now that should be fun! Booking required - Dorjes
Unit 4, Rigby Close, Heathcote Industrial Estate, Warwick CV34 6TH
T: 01926 430550; F:01926 850941

Join Frontline’s head chef, John Taylor and wine author, Malcolm Gluck Frontline’s exclusive private dining room for an evening of fine food and wine.

The Frontline restaurant is a welcome haven from the bustling streets of London’s Paddington. The restaurant is part of the Frontline media club that uniquely combines eating, drinking and thinking. Profits from the restaurant support the charitable work of the Frontline Forum with its weekly programme of cutting edge documentaries and discussions that ensure the world’s causes and crises that fade from the headlines are kept in sharp focus.

John Taylor sources his produce from local, independent producers; most recently adding Vaughan Smith’s Norfolk farm to his highly selective list of suppliers. The freshest ingredients help John to create perfect seasonal dishes, packed with delicate flavours that highlight the best traditions of British cuisine. On hand throughout the evening, John will present his specially crafted Spring tasting menu, full of gastronomic delights.

Malcolm Gluck, wine author and creator of Superplonk.com, scoured the earth to create our widely admired Frontline wine list. Hand picking some of the finest offerings and carefully matching them to each course throughout the tasting, Malcolm will lead the table through the individual stories behind his finds and the flavours they hold. New, unusual and out of the way wines are being added to our repertoire all the time at non- rip-off prices. Come and learn how Malcolm tracks such a range of delights down.

£78 for four courses with wine (cost includes VAT and service charge, plus a signed copy of Malcolm Gluck’s Superplonk book and DVD)

To book call 020 7479 8960 (credit card details are needed for booking)

Sat 26th April, 6.30pm Price: £78.00

See the Frontline Club
13 Norfolk Place, London. W2 1QJ

Hello Andrew,

I do hope everything is good with you?

Thank you for your positive comments on the wines you’ve tried from us thus far, it are much appreciated.

I just thought I’d let you know about a special offer we have running at the moment which ends on 29 February 2008.

We have put together a case of mixed wines, 6 red, 6 white, and have knocked 25% off! I hope perhaps your readers may be interested in this.

Please click the link for further information:

http://www.coodencellars.co.uk/news/view.asp?itemid=77

Larger picture here:

http://www.coodencellars.co.uk/producers/detail.asp?producer=Special%20Offer%20Case

If you have any queries regarding this or anything else then please feel free to ask. Thanks.

info@coodencellars.co.uk

We don’t get up to London half as much as we would like - not only having to skip the many trade tastings but also for the retailers public tastings; such as this one from Planet Grape

We have a couple of splendid tastings up and coming at the New Oxford Street cellar. On Thurday the 24th January it’s, ‘The Classic Grapes’ a taste through and explanation of, 8 classic grape varieties and on Thursday 14th Febuary it’s, ‘Food and Wine matching’ a look at which combinations work well and why. (Also a winnner for the romantics amongst you!)

For those of you who haven’t been before, these tasting involve 8 glasses of wine accompanied by a top quality selection of cheese and meats and a tutor. Places are limited to 20, the tastings start at 7-7.30pm and generally last around 2 hours. For further details and pictures of the cellar, have a look at our website www.planetofthegrapes.co.uk bookings can be made through the shop or bar.