Events

Beer Tasting Panel / Kissingate Brewery Beer Festival

I had the pleasure of sitting on a CAMRA Beer Tasting Panel held at the Kissingate Brewery Beer Festival. The brewery has collected multiple awards including, on this occasion, “Beer of the Festival” for the South Downs Beer Festival. They laid on a very wide selection of beers, covering all styles; however the dark beers…

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October 2024 – Wines of Central and Eastern Europe

1. Bohemia Sekt ‘Prestige’ Brut NVRegion/country: Moravia, Czech RepublicGrapes: Riesling, Pinot Blanc, WelschrieslingABV: 13%Bohemia Sekt Prestige Brut is a premium traditional-method sparkling wine, aged for 15–18 months on its lees. The cuvée is a unique combination of quality varietal wines from selected vineyards in southern Moravia. Rheinriesling (aka Riesling) gives the wine a rich aroma…

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Wines for Summer Tasting – July 2024

1. Hidalgo ‘La Gitana’ ManzanillaRegion: Sanlúcar de Barrameda, Spain; Grape: 100% Palomino Fino; ABV: 15%The Palomino grapes for this wine are harvested in the Bodega’s own vineyard in the areas of Balbaina y Miraflores, two of the most respected zones around Sanlúcar. A lively, crisp, young Manzanilla with yellow apple aromas, lemon and floral notes…

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April 2024 – the Wines of Greece

It was great to have a full house at this popular tasting. The wines sampled were as follows: Mylonas PetNat Savatiano – Mylonas Winery, Keratea, AtticaMylonas Winery was started in 1917 in Keratea, eastern Attica, by Grandfather Antonis, whose main occupation was the vine and winemaking. As stainless-steel tanks were relatively unknown at the time,…

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Italy North v South Tasting

Thanks to everybody who came along to the February tasting. The group’s favourite white was the Vernaccia di San Gimignano (south / central) and the preferred red was the Barbaresco (north). The wines tasted were as follows: 1. Ferghettina, Franciacorta Brut NV Region: Lombardy, ItalyGrapes: 85% Chardonnay, 15% Pinot NoirABV: 12.5%‘Lively exotic fruit and biscuity…

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Wines of the Islands – January 2024

For this event we selected wines from eight different islands, accompanied by various snacks including cheeses, crackers, olives and assorted nuts. Customers voted as their wine of the evening the Finca Biniagual ‘Negre’, Binissalem DO, 2018 from Mallorca. 1. Mystery rosé! Adgestone Vineyards Blush, England 2022Island: Isle of Wight, EnglandGrapes: 80% Pinot Noir, 20% SchönburgerABV:…

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Winter Warmer Wines – December 2023

For this tasting we selected wines appropriate to Christmas and/or Winter drinking.  Details of the wines we presented are as follows: 1. Nyetimber Brut Classic Cuvée NVRegion: West Sussex, EnglandGrapes: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot MeunierABV: 12%The Wine Society £30.81Nyetimber’s multi-vintage wine is a full-flavoured, savoury standard-bearer. Predominantly chardonnay alongside Pinots Noir and Meunier, the blend…

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Rugby World Cup Tasting – October 2023

For this tasting we presented two wines from each of the countries that had reached the semi-finals of the Rugby World Cup. The wines tasted were: A lower alcohol sparkling wine made by classic bottle fermentation. This is a light joyous drink with a hint of strawberries and raspberries, delicate and tangy with a soft…

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Wines of Greece – September 2023

Recently I have become something of a fan of Greek wines, particularly the whites. The flagship Santorini Assyrtiko is generally excellent; however its reputation has meant that prices are now getting rather high for regular drinking. It is worth trying some of the many lesser known grape varieties as there are a few gems that…

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