Vintners Hall venue for Premier Vintners Tasting

by former winemerchant August 18, 2008

A tasting in the grand surroundings of the Vintners Hall in the City of London has to be quite special. As one of the City Guilds the Vintners Company has a long history, which reminds us that wine has long been an important business in the UK:-

The origins of the Vintners’ Company, like most Livery Companies, are rather obscure. Before the Norman Conquest, neighbourhood groups would meet in their local church - in the case of the Vintners, St. Martin in the Vintry. In medieval London, persons of similar trade lived in the same area and so these local groups soon took on an economic element - the word ‘guild’ comes from the Anglo-Saxon gildan meaning ‘to pay’. There are twelfth century references to ‘lawful merchants of London’ fixing the price of wine - one of the earliest indications of an official group governing trade.

The Vintners’ first charter (15th July, 1363) was in fact a grant of monopoly for trade with Gascony. It gave far-reaching powers, including duties of search throughout England and the right to buy herrings and cloths to sell to the Gascons.

For more on the Vintners Hall and the Vintners Company see www.vintnershall.co.uk

For more recent times Premier Vintners will hold their 2008 Porftolio Tasting there - up to 20 Producers and Winemakers in Attendance
Thursday 9th October @ Vintners’ Hall Time 6.00pm - 9.00pm
Venue; Vintners Hall, 68 Upper Thames Street, London EC4V 3BG

Tickets Single £20.00
Existing clients £15.00
Group (6 tickets for the price of 5) £100.00