Taste Great Wines & Spirits From Around The World

Due to the restrictions in place to control the spread of the Covid 19 virus, we are only able to run on-line tastings at the present time.  You will find details of the tastings we are running between now and the end of March below.

For each tasting, we suggest wines you might like to buy to enjoy whilst taking part.

In order to stay in busness, we are having to make a modest charge for participation – £10.00  – but this is per household and not per person.

We hope you will enjoy joining in from the comfort and safety of your home with a glass or two of good wine to hand.

To Book Places For Your Household

Against the descripton of each tasting in the programme, you will see a little drop down menu.  To book a place for your household at that tasting, select “1” from the drop down menu.  When you have selected all the tastings you wish to book for, enter your personal details in the form at the foot of the page and press “submit”.


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  • Sep 2021

    £10.00Classic Grape – Merlot • Tuesday, 21st September, 19:00-20:30 in London

    Merlot is a grape variety used as both a blending grape and for varietal wines.  The name Merlot is thought to be a diminutive of merle, the French word for Blackbird, probably a reference to the colour of the grape.  Its softness and fleshiness, combined with its earlier ripening, makes Merlot a popular grape for blending with the sterner, later-ripening Cabernet-Sauvignon, which tends to be higher in tannin.

    Presenter:  Vivienne Franks with Malcolm Franks.

    Availability:  Good.

    Wine Suggestions:

    From Waitrose Cellar (www.waitrosecellar.com) – Bordeaux, Montagne St. Emillion, Dourthe Réserve, 2019 (£12.99) and New Zealand (Hawkes Bay) ‘Private Bin’ Merlot, Villa Maria, 2000 (£12.49).

    From The Wine Society – Bordeaux Côtes de Francs, Château Puygueraud, 2016 (£16.00) and South Africa (Constantia), Eagles Nest Merlot, 2016 (£16.50).

    £10.00Classic Grape – Cabernet Franc • Thursday, 30th September, 19:00-20:30 in London

    Cabernet Franc is one of the major black grape varieties in the world.  It’s  principally grown for blending with Cabernet-Sauvignon and Merlot in the Bordeaux style but can also be vinified alone, as in the Loire’s Chinon.

    Cabernet Franc is lighter than Cabernet Sauvignon,  making a bright red wine that contributes finesse and lends a peppery aroma to blends with more robust grapes. Depending on the growing region and style of wine, additional aromas can include tobacco, raspberry, bell pepper, cassis and violets.

    Records of Cabernet Franc in Bordeaux go back to the end of the 18th century, although it was planted in the Loire long before that time.  DNA analysis indicates that Cabernet Franc is one of two parents of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Carmenère.

    Presenter:  Vivienne Franks with Malcolm Franks.

    Availability:  Good.

    Wine Suggestions:

    From Waitrose Cellar (www.waitrosecellar.com) – Saumur Champigny, La Croix des Chaintres, 2016 (£12.99) and Argentina (Mendoza) ‘El Exilio’ Malbec/Cabernet Franc, Susana Balboa, 2018 (£11.99).

    From Sainsbury’s –  Argentina (Mendoza Uco Valley) ‘Taste the Difference’ Cabernet Franc, Morador, 2019 (£9.00).

    From The Wine Society – Chinon, ‘Le Temps des Cerises, Domaine de la Noblaie, 2019 (£11.95) OR St Emillion, Château Grand Corbin Despagne,2015 (£34.00).

    Nov 2021

    £10.00Washington State • Thursday, 4th November, 19:00-20:30 in London

    £10.00Spain – Priorat And Montsant • Tuesday, 16th November, 19:00-20:30 in London

    Priorat is a small wine region in Catalonia, best known for its intensely flavoured red wines.  An area with a long history, Priorat’s difficult mountainside location kept the region fairly obscure until just a few decades ago.  Now, it produces some of the most acclaimed wines of Spain.  It is one of only two wine regions in the country to qualify as DOCq, the highest qualification level for a wine region according to Spanish wine regulations, alongside Rioja.  The region of Montsant, which surrounds Priorat, produces red wines similar in style as well as white wines from local grape varieties.

    Presenter:  Vivienne Franks with Malcolm Franks

    Availability:  Good.

    Wine Suggestions:

    From Waitrose Cellar (www.waitrosecellar.com) – Montsant, Lasendal Seleccion, Celler de Capcanes 2019 (£10.99) and Priorat, La Petite Agnes, 2017 (£14.99)

    From The Wine Society:  Monsant, Blau, 2019 (£9.95) and Lectores Vini Classic Priorat, 2010 (£23.00)














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Sep 2021

  • Classic Grape – Merlot in London

    Tuesday, 21st September

    £10.00

    Merlot is a grape variety used as both a blending grape and for varietal wines.  The name Merlot is thought to be a diminutive of merle, the French word for Blackbird, probably a reference to the colour of the grape.  Its softness and fleshiness, combined with its earlier ripening, makes Merlot a popular grape for blending with the sterner, later-ripening Cabernet-Sauvignon, which tends to be higher in tannin.

    Presenter:  Vivienne Franks with Malcolm Franks.

    Availability:  Good.

    Wine Suggestions:

    From Waitrose Cellar (www.waitrosecellar.com) – Bordeaux, Montagne St. Emillion, Dourthe Réserve, 2019 (£12.99) and New Zealand (Hawkes Bay) ‘Private Bin’ Merlot, Villa Maria, 2000 (£12.49).

    From The Wine Society – Bordeaux Côtes de Francs, Château Puygueraud, 2016 (£16.00) and South Africa (Constantia), Eagles Nest Merlot, 2016 (£16.50).

    Full details and booking >

  • Classic Grape – Cabernet Franc in London

    Thursday, 30th September

    £10.00

    Cabernet Franc is one of the major black grape varieties in the world.  It’s  principally grown for blending with Cabernet-Sauvignon and Merlot in the Bordeaux style but can also be vinified alone, as in the Loire’s Chinon.

    Cabernet Franc is lighter than Cabernet Sauvignon,  making a bright red wine that contributes finesse and lends a peppery aroma to blends with more robust grapes. Depending on the growing region and style of wine, additional aromas can include tobacco, raspberry, bell pepper, cassis and violets.

    Records of Cabernet Franc in Bordeaux go back to the end of the 18th century, although it was planted in the Loire long before that time.  DNA analysis indicates that Cabernet Franc is one of two parents of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Carmenère.

    Presenter:  Vivienne Franks with Malcolm Franks.

    Availability:  Good.

    Wine Suggestions:

    From Waitrose Cellar (www.waitrosecellar.com) – Saumur Champigny, La Croix des Chaintres, 2016 (£12.99) and Argentina (Mendoza) ‘El Exilio’ Malbec/Cabernet Franc, Susana Balboa, 2018 (£11.99).

    From Sainsbury’s –  Argentina (Mendoza Uco Valley) ‘Taste the Difference’ Cabernet Franc, Morador, 2019 (£9.00).

    From The Wine Society – Chinon, ‘Le Temps des Cerises, Domaine de la Noblaie, 2019 (£11.95) OR St Emillion, Château Grand Corbin Despagne,2015 (£34.00).

    Full details and booking >

Nov 2021

  • Washington State in London

    Thursday, 4th November

    £10.00

    Full details and booking >

  • Spain – Priorat And Montsant in London

    Tuesday, 16th November

    £10.00

    Priorat is a small wine region in Catalonia, best known for its intensely flavoured red wines.  An area with a long history, Priorat’s difficult mountainside location kept the region fairly obscure until just a few decades ago.  Now, it produces some of the most acclaimed wines of Spain.  It is one of only two wine regions in the country to qualify as DOCq, the highest qualification level for a wine region according to Spanish wine regulations, alongside Rioja.  The region of Montsant, which surrounds Priorat, produces red wines similar in style as well as white wines from local grape varieties.

    Presenter:  Vivienne Franks with Malcolm Franks

    Availability:  Good.

    Wine Suggestions:

    From Waitrose Cellar (www.waitrosecellar.com) – Montsant, Lasendal Seleccion, Celler de Capcanes 2019 (£10.99) and Priorat, La Petite Agnes, 2017 (£14.99)

    From The Wine Society:  Monsant, Blau, 2019 (£9.95) and Lectores Vini Classic Priorat, 2010 (£23.00)

    Full details and booking >