Wine Tasting Evenings

English sparkling wines have started to beat grande marque Champagnes to the medals in international competitions. Top producers Ridgeview, Nyetimber and Camel Valley are extending their vineyards and a new, venture capital funded company has planted 150 ha of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier in Hampshire. The Champenois, who have never taken kindly to challenges to their franchise, are rumoured to have their land agents tramping over the South Downs looking for suitable sites to buy. It’s all happening here! So, come and celebrate Saint George’s Day with a tasting of fine vintage and non-vintage bottlings.

Tutor Vivienne Franks with Malcolm Franks.

While in the Northern Rhône, they can only ripen Syrah, down south, Grenache is king with Syrah, Mourvèdre and Cinsault in supporting roles as well as ever improving white blends featuring Viognier, Marsanne and Rousanne. In short, there’s something for everyone in this dynamic region. Our selection includes two whites and six reds, including two of our favourite Châteauneufs:-

Côtes du Rhône Blanc (Viognier with a soupçon of Roussanne) – Saint-Amant;
Lirac Blanc ‘La Fermade’ – Maby;
Côtes du Rhône Villages Cairanne – Romain Roche;
Lirac Rouge ‘La Dame Rousse’ – Mordorée;
Rasteau ‘Les Argilles Bleus’ – Beaurenard;
Vacqueras – La Bouïssière;
Châteauneuf – Le Vieux Lazaret;
Châteauneuf – Les Olivets.

Tutor: Pippa Hayward with Sandy Leckie.

Once close to extinction, this exotically aromatic white variety, is now very much back in fashion.  Examples from Australia, California, Chile, New Zealand, South Africa, Southern France and, its home base, Condrieu!

Tutor: Pippa Hayward with Sandy Leckie.

Eight classic Italian wines served with a selection of Italian cheeses.

Tutor: Pippa Hayward with Sandy Leckie.

A selection of mature red wines from some of our favourite Bordeaux properties:-

Ch. Fombrauge, ’90;
Ch. Cissac, ’93;
Ch. Potensac,’95;
Ch. Caronne Ste Gemme, ’97;
Ch. Chasse Spleen, ’00;
Ch. Labegorce Zédé, ’03;
Ch. Gruaud Larose, ’04;
Ch. La Grande Clotte, ’06.

Tutor: Vivienne Franks with Malcolm Franks.

In Romania, as in other countries of south-eastern Europe, the return of vineyard land to the private sector has stimulated the modernisation of the wine industry.  A new wave of talented young winemakers is now producing wines that are finding favour with consumers in northern Europe.  The line-up will include local specialities Tamaioasca Romaneasca and Novac from top producer Prince Stirby, as well as wines made from international grape varieties including Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon.

Tutor Vivienne Franks with Malcolm Franks.

A selection of wines recommended by WES team members Carol Brown, John Ducker, Pippa Hayward, Sandy Leckie and Vivienne Franks in ‘100 Awesome Wines 2018’, a guide recently published by the Association of Wine Educators.  We will taste four wines in the Guide’s up to £10 category and four in the up to £25 category.

Tutor: Vivienne Franks with Malcolm Franks

A special tasting of wines from Burgundy’s Côte d’Or including examples from Chassagne-Montrachet, Puligny-Montrachet, Meursault and Corton.

Tutor: Pippa Hayward with Sandy Leckie.

For red wine makers around the world, creating the perfect Pinot Noir is the ultimate challenge.  We will taste fine examples from Australia, California, Chile, Italy, New Zealand, Oregon, South Africa and, of course, Burgundy.

Tutor: Pippa Hayward with Sandy Leckie.

The vineyards along the banks of the of great Duero river in central Spain are exposed to extreme temperatures in summer and winter yet produce some of Spain’s finest wines.  We will taste a varied selection from bodegas such as Arzuaga, Bohorques, Pago de Carraovejas, Pesquera and Perez Pascuas.

Tutor: Pippa Hayward with Sandy Leckie.

Having established a reputation for quality and value for money at the lower end of the market, the Chileans are now tempting us to spend a bit more by introducing ‘reserve’ wines and other ‘special’ cuvées. We take a look at some of these.

Tutor: Vivienne Franks with Malcolm Franks

A tasting of white and red wines from Alpine vineyards in France,  Switzerland, Austria and Italy.

Tutor; Vivienne Franks with  Malcolm Franks.

Wines made by a new generation of Bulgarian wine makers from indigenous as well as international grape varieties.

Tutor; Vivienne Franks with  Malcolm Franks.

In this tasting, we focus on the wines which many people think are the greatest of the  region – complex, dry whites from Savennières, fruity reds from Chinon and Bourgueil and crisply sweet whites from the Coteaux du Layon.

Tutor:  Pippa Hayward with Sandy Leckie.

It was the ancient Greeks who first realised that Sicily’s warm, dry climate, sunny hillsides and rocky soils made it an ideal place to grow grapes and make wine.  The wines were rich and sweet, which meant they travelled well and were soon exported to the peninsula of Italy and further afield.  Although sweet styles still account for over 80% of the island’s production, there is much more to Sicilian wine than Marsala.  Over the last 30 years, family owned estates such as Donnafugata, Planeta, Spadafora, Abazia Santa Anastasia and Fazio have invested heavily in their vineyards and wineries and are now producing fresh fragrant whites from Catarratto, Inzoli, and Grillo and warm, rich and spicy reds from Nero d’Avolo, Pericone, Nerello Mascalese and Frappato.  Some have also planted international varieties, of which Chardonnay and Syrah seem to give the best results.

Tutor: Pippa Hayward with Sandy Leckie

In this tasting, we focus on the wines which many people think are the greatest of the  region – complex, dry whites from Savennières, fruity reds from Chinon and Bourgueil and crisply sweet whites from the Coteaux du Layon.

Tutor:  Pippa Hayward with Sandy Leckie.