New 2008 Wine Tastings!

                        - FRANCE vs AUSTRALIA I - 

DATE: THURS  4 SEPT 2008    PRICE: £20.00   TIME: 7.00PM

Join us this evening as we taste several pairs of wines made from the same grape variety, but from different countries. Do you think you can tell the difference between Syrah from the south of France and Shiraz from the Barossa Valley ? – by the end of the evening you will be able to ! We will compare Shiraz, Grenache, and Riesling from the best locations and producers from these 2 countries. It is only when you taste these wines together that the differences really stand out, and the comparisons can bring some amazing insights into wine styles. Also each evening a guest will bring a mystery wine for me (and you!) to try and identify – I will help you learn how to identify different grapes and climates as we guess together! We will taste wines from Alsace, Southern Australia, Rhone Valley. 2 late cancellations available. BOOK IT!    

      - WORLD OF WINE - WINES OF SOUTHERN FRANCE - 

DATE: TUES  9 SEPT 2008    PRICE: £20.00   TIME: 7.00PM

France's answer to the New World - superb quality red, rose, and dessert wines from the warmest climates in France. Following the Mediterranean coast in a huge arc towards the Spanish border the vineyards of Languedoc and Roussillon now produce wines with enough fruit and ripeness to rival anything from the new world, and with an additional complexity from something the French call "terroir". Most of the wines will be blends of Shiraz/Syrah, Grenache, and Mourvedre, with stunning dessert wines from Grenache Blanc and Muscat. Rhone Valley is the true home of Syrah (aka Shiraz) and Grenache. Taste the wonderful 100% Syrahs of the Northern Rhone and contrast them with the soft, warm, and spicy blends from the southern Rhone where the river spills out into the warm Mediterranean. We will taste wines such as St Joseph, Crozes-Hermitage, Chateauneuf-du-Pape, single-village Cotes-du Rhone, & Vacqueryas. Tasting Full    

                        - FRANCE vs AUSTRALIA II - 

DATE: THURS 11 SEPT 2008    PRICE: £20.00   TIME: 7.00PM

Join us this evening as we taste several pairs of wines made from the same grape variety, but from different countries. This time we will be tasting the classic grapes from the Bordeaux region and comparing them to their counterparts in the best regions of Australia. Finely tuned Hunter Valley Semillon, delicious unoaked Semillon / Sauvignon from Margaret River (crafted by David Hohnen - the founder of Cloudy Bay in NZ). We will compare these (in a blind tasting - dont worry Ill be giving you loads of help & clues!) OZ wines with classic blends from leading young winemakers in Bordeaux. We will also taste elegant Cabernet/Merlot blends from Western Australia - see if you prefer the French or OZ version of this classic blend. Also each evening a guest will bring a mystery wine for me (and you!) to try and identify – I will help you learn how to identify different grapes and climates as we guess together - the best way to learn about wine! BOOK IT!    

      - WORLD OF WINE - EXPLORE CHILE & ARGENTINA - 

DATE: TUES 16 SEPT 2008    PRICE: £20.00   TIME: 7.00PM

Chile is one of the newest wine countries to export to this country and is improving in leaps and bounds in wine quality. It has a wide variety of climates from the cool, maritime Casablanca Valley perfect for making delicious, crisp, Sauvignon Blancs to the warmer interior for ripe reds from Cabernet and Merlot. It also has its own grape variety, originating in Bordeaux called Carmenere. Argentina, on the other side of the Andes mountain range, has an entirely different climate, much hotter and arid & also has its own grape varieties in the shape of Malbec & the wonderful aromatic Torrontes. All are incredibly consistent and excellent value for money. We will taste a complete range of these great wines. BOOK IT!    

     - EXCLUSIVE ITALIAN WINE & OLIVE OIL TASTING ! - 

DATE: WED 15 OCT 2008    PRICE: £25.00   TIME: 7.00PM

Tonight for this exclusive Italian wine tasting we welcome Andrea & Francesca d’Ercole - two experts on Italian wines, and Henry Butler owner of Tavasso an Italian delicatessen in Jesmond also with an expert knowledge of Italian wines. Andrea is studying for his Master of Wine exams so knows a thing or two about wine ! They will be guiding us through the wines they have personally selected from Dal Cero. and will answer any questions you may have about Italian wine. Dal Cero is a family-run winery with vineyards in Veneto and Tuscany. In Veneto, with vineyards surrounding the town of Soave, they grow Pinot Grigio & Garganega. In Tuscany, in vineyards surrounding the town of Cortona, they grow Sangiovese, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah. We will also taste some superb Italian Olive oils that compliment the wines beautifully.

v      Spumante - a delicate and light Spumante, from Pinot Bianco and Chardonnay grapes using the Charmat method, packed with delicious, soft, floral flavours and a fine perlage that lingers seductively in the mouth.

v      Soave - from hand picked Garganega grapes - aromas of white fruits with the characteristic final hints of almonds.

v      Chardonnay - a refreshing and crisp Chardonnay from Tuscany

v      Pinot Grigio delle Venezie - from hand picked grapes from vineyards located around the town of Verona.

v      Preziosaterra - from a blend of Sangiovese, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon grapes from vineyards located around the town of Cortona, aged for 4 months in new and used oak barrels.

v      Selverello - from Sangiovese grapes this fantastic value wine can be served a couple of degree cooler, inviting fruity nose with scents of cherry and spices.

v      Passito del Casale – produced by the passito method leaving the grapes to dry, aged for 12 months in small oak barrels. A delicious dessert wine, with an intense gold colour and a rich nose of mature fruit and honey and underlying hints of vanilla.

Places are limited to 24 guests so book early to make sure of your place! BOOK IT!