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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  • Aug 2021

    £10.00Chenin Blanc – South Africa v The Loire Valley • Tuesday, 3rd August, 19:00-20:30 in London

    Chenin Blanc, the grape from which the great dry and sweet wines of the Anjou-Saumur region of the Loire Valley are made, was first planted in South Africa to produce wines for distillation.  These days, some of the top winemakers in the Cape are using Chenin Blanc to produce distinctive, dry wines that rival those of the Loire.

    Presenter:  Vivienne Franks with Malcolm Franks.

    Availability:  Good.

    Wine Suggestions:

    From Waitrose Cellar (www.waitrosecellar.com) – South Africa, Organic Chenin Blanc, Reyneke, 2020 (£8.99), Vouvray, Spring Sec, Domaine Careme, 2019 (£14.99).

    From Majestic (Mix Six prices) – Vouvray, Cuvée des Perruches, Domaine des Aubuissières, Bernard Fouquet, 2019 (£10.99), South Africa, Vinehugger Organic Chenin Blanc, Reyneke 2019 (£10.99).

    £10.00Pinot Gris • Thursday, 12th August, 19:00-20:30 in London

    In the right hands, Pinot Gris produces wines with more weight and complexity than many white varieties.  In this webinar, we will look at four regions of the world which produce some of the best examples – Alsace, Germany, New Zealand and Italy’s Alto Adige.

    Presenter:  Pippa Hayward with Sandy Leckie.

    Availability:  Good.

    Wine Suggestions:

    From Waitrose Cellar (www.waitrosecellar.com) – Italy (Alto Adige), Pinot Grigio, St Michael Eppan, 2009 (£11.99) and New Zealand (Martinborough), ‘Lismore’ Pinot Gris, Ata Rangi, 2018 (£25.99).

    From Majestic – Italy (Alto Adige), Stella Alpina Pinot Grigio, Nals Margreid, 2019 (£10.99) and Pinot Gris, Grand Cru Spiegel, Domaines Schlumberger, 2018 (£15.49).

    £10.00Viognier • Tuesday, 17th August, 19:00-20:30 in London

    Fifty years ago, there were only 40 ha of  Viognier left in France.  It was difficult to grow and difficult to vinify satisfactorily.  Then someone remembered that if care was taken, the result was  Condrieu.and today the grape is grown in many countries of the world.

    Presenter:  Vivienne Franks with Malcolm Franks.

    Availability:  Good.

    Wine Suggestions:

    From Waitrose Cellar (www.waitrosecellar.com) – Pays d’Oc, ‘Nocturnes’ Viognier, Laurent Miquel, 2020 (£9.39), Chile (Limari Valley), Encantado Reserva Viognier, Tabali, 2020 (£9.39).

    From The Wine Society – Coteaux de l’Ardeche, Grès du Trias Viognier, Vignerons Ardéchois, 2019 (£11.95), California, Viognier, McManis, 2018 (£11.95),














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Aug 2021

  • Chenin Blanc – South Africa v The Loire Valley in London

    Tuesday, 3rd August

    £10.00

    Chenin Blanc, the grape from which the great dry and sweet wines of the Anjou-Saumur region of the Loire Valley are made, was first planted in South Africa to produce wines for distillation.  These days, some of the top winemakers in the Cape are using Chenin Blanc to produce distinctive, dry wines that rival those of the Loire.

    Presenter:  Vivienne Franks with Malcolm Franks.

    Availability:  Good.

    Wine Suggestions:

    From Waitrose Cellar (www.waitrosecellar.com) – South Africa, Organic Chenin Blanc, Reyneke, 2020 (£8.99), Vouvray, Spring Sec, Domaine Careme, 2019 (£14.99).

    From Majestic (Mix Six prices) – Vouvray, Cuvée des Perruches, Domaine des Aubuissières, Bernard Fouquet, 2019 (£10.99), South Africa, Vinehugger Organic Chenin Blanc, Reyneke 2019 (£10.99).

    Full details and booking >

  • Pinot Gris in London

    Thursday, 12th August

    £10.00

    In the right hands, Pinot Gris produces wines with more weight and complexity than many white varieties.  In this webinar, we will look at four regions of the world which produce some of the best examples – Alsace, Germany, New Zealand and Italy’s Alto Adige.

    Presenter:  Pippa Hayward with Sandy Leckie.

    Availability:  Good.

    Wine Suggestions:

    From Waitrose Cellar (www.waitrosecellar.com) – Italy (Alto Adige), Pinot Grigio, St Michael Eppan, 2009 (£11.99) and New Zealand (Martinborough), ‘Lismore’ Pinot Gris, Ata Rangi, 2018 (£25.99).

    From Majestic – Italy (Alto Adige), Stella Alpina Pinot Grigio, Nals Margreid, 2019 (£10.99) and Pinot Gris, Grand Cru Spiegel, Domaines Schlumberger, 2018 (£15.49).

    Full details and booking >

  • Viognier in London

    Tuesday, 17th August

    £10.00

    Fifty years ago, there were only 40 ha of  Viognier left in France.  It was difficult to grow and difficult to vinify satisfactorily.  Then someone remembered that if care was taken, the result was  Condrieu.and today the grape is grown in many countries of the world.

    Presenter:  Vivienne Franks with Malcolm Franks.

    Availability:  Good.

    Wine Suggestions:

    From Waitrose Cellar (www.waitrosecellar.com) – Pays d’Oc, ‘Nocturnes’ Viognier, Laurent Miquel, 2020 (£9.39), Chile (Limari Valley), Encantado Reserva Viognier, Tabali, 2020 (£9.39).

    From The Wine Society – Coteaux de l’Ardeche, Grès du Trias Viognier, Vignerons Ardéchois, 2019 (£11.95), California, Viognier, McManis, 2018 (£11.95),

    Full details and booking >