F&M! WoW for the year

Photos courtesy Sophie Kidman

Minus the surly waitress, F&M's 1707 Wine Bar is a top spot. It may be better suited for a date or a smaller party as they didn't seem to handle our larger group.... at least when we were standing up at the bar. We had to be seated at all times. Perhaps it was for the wine flights, which I thought were brilliant - tasty, great way to sample, not too big, well-priced... give them a try - the Spanish, Italian and Bordeaux flights were most popular last week with us.

They cut Spanish Jamon off the bone for those of us who were hungry. The late menu actually has a number of tasty treats (e.g., wasabi salmon). Cheese too.

Thanks to all those who came last week. Special mention must go to the boys from LBS for joining us. AJW and Anthony Davis, thanks for getting along. Hope to see you back again soon.

Season's Greetings all. A big thank you to everyone for your wonderful support of Wine on Wednesday in 2009. I trust it's been fun. Look forward to being back next year, bringing more with it. In the meantime, happy holidays and enjoy your wines.

Anto

Festive Fortnum Flights

Just a reminder that this week's Wine on Wednesday (16 Dec 09) is at Fortnum & Mason's 1707 Wine Bar. It's on Picadilly (no. 181), between Green Park and Picadilly Circus tube stations.

If you enter F&M through the doors from Picadilly, straight ahead (you may not be able to see it for all the Christmas shoppers, but I assure it's there) is a spiral staircase which will take you down to the lower ground floor where 1707 is nestled.

They offer wine flights (3 smaller glasses of wine) so you can choose an assortment of wines to sample for between £10 and £20, which I think will be a fun way to explore some grape varieties, wine regions and styles.

Besides F&M alone being worth the visit, there's every reason to come this week as it's the Christmas and last official WoW for 2009. As well, Anthony Watson will be making a guest appearance - all the way from Ireland. So, do come along from 7pm (until 10:30pm when they close). I look forward to seeing you.

Compliments of the season

Anto

Perry Bros. at Berry Bros.

Just headed in to Berry Bros. & Rudd on St James Street near Pall Mall with my brother Charlie to stock up on wine supplies for Christmas. These guys are old school - they were established in XVII Century, so it's more than reasonable that they call themselves Fine Wine & Spirit Merchants. They know their stuff, and the range is fun to navigate. Can recommend a visit to this English institution who supplies the Royal Family.

http://www.bbr.com/GB/about/who-we-are

Seasons greetings

A Wine at the Barrel with Maddog

Grapeshots is a great little establishment. The laneways and passageways around it add to its charm. I wouldn't go overboard about the wine list. Nice enough. I learnt that it's one of Davy's numerous winebars. Davy's are "purveyors of fine wine" founded in 1870 by Francis Edwin Davy. So, there's a bit of history there, but it seems more commercial, the wine feels more mass produced, nowadays.

The wine on Wednesday was Spain - Tempranillo and Rioja - Davy's label. Red. Nice enough.

Enjoyable Wine on Wednesday. Cheers to Kel.

No Cigar... change to this week's venue

Enoteca Da Luca is not ready for us this week. I saw the owner today, happily hanging some legs of prosciutto in the bar (like I said putting the finishing touches on the fit-out), but unfortunately he won't have it ready until Friday evening at the earliest when he is now hoping to open the doors properly..... one for the new year.

So, for tomorrow night (9 Dec 09), WoW will instead be at the nearby Grapeshots. This quaint old English wine bar is tucked away in Artillery Passage, near Liverpool Street tube station. Postcode is E1 7LJ. If you find it a little tricky to locate, please call, it's worth the adventure through the little laneways to the wine barrel in the bar where we'll meet and enjoy some December wines as the year comes to a close. Yes, it's the penultimate WoW for the year. With the busy-ness of silly season in swing and people going away on holidays, make sure you come along tomorrow night or on 16 December for a last WoW of 2009.

A space is reserved from 7:15pm. Look forward to it.

Slight Gamble

There's a new wine bar opening up just near Liverpool Street Station. It's called Enoteca Da Luca. It's in Devonshire Square. The final touches are being put on the fit out. Looks a cracker. I saw the owner the other day and he said the bar will be ready next week. It's not possible to make a booking yet though, so we'll be taking a slight punt. However, if we turn up and hit any worries (i.e., find that there's been a delay in opening), we'll head to one of two other wine bars I know near there. Give me or Charlie Perry a call in this case. Will be fun. Come along from 7-7:30pm.

Look forward to it.

Benissimo

Excellently, famously, fine, finely, very well. That is Negozio Classica. This unassuming wine bar was a great stumble across. Lovely and cosy on Wednesday night. Italian... including Ricardo, our waiter and wine aid, from La Spezia (near the Cinque Terre for those who've been there). The wine we drank was benissimo. I can't recall whether it was a Barolo or Barbera, but it was a smooth red, from near the town of Alba in Piedmont. Nebbiolo and Barbaresco are two other very renowned varietals from that region... for next time though. The rest on Wednesday night - the Parmigiano Reggiano, the chocolate fondant we had late - benissimo. Grazie.

See you soon.

Negozio Classica

This is a wine bar "bringing the best of Montepulciano to Notting Hill - great wines and Italian foods." It's concept - to source products of an extremely high standard from Europe, Italy in particular. I like what it's about, so I've made a booking for 7:30pm for vinos this Wednesday, 25 November.

http://www.negozioclassica.co.uk/eng-bar-1.htm

It's on the corner of Portobello Road and Westbourne Grove (W11 2QA). Closest tube is Notting Hill Gate.

Look forward to a cosy winter red.

Anto

Standby

We can't do WoW at 1707 Wine Bar on 25 November unfortunately due to a special event they have on that night. So, we'll do that on 16 December instead for the Christmas WoW. For next week, please watch this space.

1707

Is the year Fortnum & Mason was established by William Fortnum and Hugh Mason. Yes, the famous London department store supplying high quality goods to Britain and the Royal family. Nestled in the building's basement is 1707 Wine Bar which is where we're going to head to for the next Wine on Wednesday on 25 November 2009. They offer reasonably priced wine flights which will be a good way to sample some of their wines.

http://www.fortnumandmason.com/1707-wine-bar.aspx

It's at 181 Piccadilly (so closest tube - Piccadilly Circus). 7pm to 10pm.

See you there.

Cheers

Anto

Autumn Vin

Le Beaujolais was cosy, French and fantastic if you're after a bustling bar for a wine. We went with the namesake and drank the Beaujolais-Villages on offer, which was lovely, as always. It is the lightest, fruitiest style of Beaujolais (and red wine?). If Rosé was WoW's wine of the Summer, I think Beaujolais is the flavour of Autumn. I've been beating the Beaujolais drum a bit, so Is it time a move on with winter fast approaching.... not yet, you see, I learnt about "Beaujolais Nouveau Day". It's the third Thursday of November. The grapes (any Beaujolais or Beaujolais-Villages AOC vineyard can produce Beaujolais Nouveau) are harvested between late August and early September. It's fermented for just a few days (the wine is meant to be drunk as young as possible, when they are at their freshest and fruitiest), then released to the public on the third Thursday of November - a celebration of another successful harvest.

So, come 19 November 2009, cheers to Beaujolais... once again.

Great to see the newly weds Pete and Allana last Wednesday night - congratualtions on the occasion - and of course, to the other WoW regulars, great to share some vinos.

See you next time.

Anto

Flavour of the Month

East Room isn't happening this week. Wine on Wednesday, however, still is. As we couldn't get in to the New World Wine Room, we're going instead to head to a wine bar in Covent Garden. It's Le Beaujolais, 25 Litchfield Street, WC2H 9NJ. It's in between Leicester Square, Covent Garden and Tottenham Court Road tube stations.

See you there.

Coles?

Going to head to the New World Wine Room at a place called The East Room in Shoreditch this Wednesday, 4 November. It's just off City Road, between Old Street and Moorgate tubes (Liverpool St is also nearby).

http://www.thstrm.com/home/index.html

From 7-7:30pm. Hope to see you there.

Anto

Plot of Land

Terroirs, by it's literal translation means "soils" or "plot of land", which I came to learn from a Hungarian wine buff at a Vinopolis wine tasting session. From Wikipedia - it is a French term in wine, coffee, and tea used to denote the special characteristics that geography bestowed upon particular varieties. Better yet - at its core is the assumption that the land from which the grapes are grown imparts a unique quality that is specific to that region.

And so we went. The wine bar's concept "derives from the Parisian natural wine bars with their emphasis on superb, rarely-seen wines, informal yet informed service, and excellent, hearty food." It certainly was, including a little French arrogance thrown in for good measure. They say the intention of their wine list is "to introduce customers to natural, hand made wines that they feel like drinking." The wines were lovely. Jim embraced the old world, including some Merlot and Beaujolais... at least for a night.

Tasty snacks too, particularly if you like anchovies. We finished these promptly... we had to be out by 9pm. Keeping the WoW dream alive we headed down the road to Gordon's Wine Bar for a few (bottles) more.

The prize on the night seemed to be our old friend Rioja - we finished strongly with some Viña Pomal Rioja Reserva 2003. Relating this particular wine back to the facts on Rioja - it is 100% Tempranillo [one of the grape varieties produced in the region]. Viña Pomal [the estate] is produced by the historic Bodegas Bilbaínas, the largest vineyard in Rioja Alta [one of the three principal regions within Rioja]. And as a Reserva - it's been aged for 3 years (in French oak for 1 year and in the bottle for 2 years). Rich and smooth. Lovely. Needless to say, there were some sore heads today.


Cheers

Slow Wine?

It would seem like the next place we're going to for wines is very much keen on a topic dear to me - Slow Food. Their philosophy is:

"Great food and great wine sourced with an eager eye for provenance.

It is about the purity of the product, either raised, or grown, with sensitivity and compassion. It is about food and wine which is natural and free of additives and about artisan products that taste simply of their origin. It is about serving food and wine in a fun, friendly and stimulating environment and it is about the people who return to Terroirs and bring with them that sense of enjoyment and pleasure."

The place is Terroirs. It's on William IV Street in between Trafalgar Square and Charing Cross tube station, near Covent Garden. Next Wednesday, 21 October. I've booked a table at 7pm. Jimmy McDonald and his lovely wife Emma are coming along after their adventures around Europe, so please join us.

Ant

Rioja - that Spanish wine

It seemed the wine of choice last week at Pix. It so often is. I thought I'd look in to further, so here's some background:

Rioja is a wine named after La Rioja in Spain - in the north, south-west of Bilbao, San Sebastian, Pamplona. Rioja is made from grapes grown mainly in the Autonomous Community of La Rioja. The grapes produced are Tempranillo, Granacha (or Grenache), Granciano and Mazuelo (or Garignan).

The three principal regions of La Rioja are Rioja Alavesa, Rioja Alta and Rioja Baja with each area producing its own unique expression of Rioja wine.

A distinct characteristic of Rioja wine is the effect of oak aging. It’s also something that affects it’s classification. Rioja red wines are classified into four categories.

1. Simply labeled "Rioja," is the youngest, spending less than a year in an oak aging barrel.
2. A "crianza" is wine aged for at least two years, at least one of which was in oak.
3. "Rioja Reserva" is aged for at least three years, of which at least one year is in oak.
4. "Rioja Gran Reserva" wines have been aged at least two years in oak and three years in bottle.

Is it the quintessential Spainish wine?

Pix

Pintxo

Spain is the name of the game next week. We're heading to a brand new pintxo bar on Westbourne Grove for Wine on Wednesday, 7 October 2009. So if you're keen for el vino and some Spanish tapas toothpick included, come along.

If you need more of a reason, I believe it'll be Liz Moynihan's final WoW in London before she jets off home soon. Also, show and tell on the evening will be provided by Vincent van Chaz. In keeping with the theme he is going to present biographical stories and 29+ sketches from his recent weeks travelling through Spain. Though this may only be partly true, Charles (the name he also goes by) will be there as he fleets through London, like Liz, homeward bound.

The bar is called Pix and is at 175 Westbourne Grove, W11 2SB. Closest tube is Notting Hill Gate on the Central Line.

I've booked a space for 7:30pm.

See you then.

Cheers

Anto

Cheese Cracker

Not too long after I arrived in London I noticed a little unassuming place on Moxon Street called La Fromagerie. It looked marvellous - a cheese room, walls of wine, artisan breads, fresh produce, leaf teas, a lovely sit down area..... I wondered how best does one do this place? Breakfast hopefully (I tried to once or twice), Sunday lunch (maybe), dinner..... well tonight I finally worked it out. Cheese and wine tasting. I've just come from there where it was an evening on Piedmont. Conveniently, the region where I was last weekend for the Slow Food Cheese Festival, so a wonderful follow up, and in it's own right exquisite. Patricia Michelson who opened the first shop in Highbury in the early 90's took us through a wonderful array of wine, cheese and food from the region in Northern Italy. It began with Prosecco and Grana Padana crisps, and ended with pears and quince poached with vanilla mascarpone, and in between included risotto, Ubriaco, Branzi, Taleggio, truffle cheeses, Barbera and Nebbiolo wines. No doubt you've heard of all of them. I certainly hadn't, many of them aren't publicly available apparently. It was a cracker.

http://www.lafromagerie.co.uk/

Thanks Tess.

See you for Wine on Wednesday next week.

Antonioni

An Italian, a Frenchman and a Kiwi?

I went to the town of Bra in Italy last weekend for the Slow Food Cheese Festival. This event was brilliant. In any case, the reason I bring it up is because Bra is based in Piedmont in the North Western corner of Italy (just south of Turin) and is home to some of Italy’s best wines including Barolo and Barbaresco. Still buoyed by the trip on Wednesday night, I thought it’d be good to start with one of these wines...... alas, the Pavillion’s wine list wasn’t to be obliging. Not to worry, we stuck with Italy and tried a bottle from the Puglia region (the heel to Italy’s boot). Lovely, smooth and a little spicy – a bold-ish start. We also had our theme for the night… where have you been and what’s the wine like.

Next, Marty, who’d recently ventured to France for some canal boating along with a few wines, tempered things a little with a Beaujolais. The name derives from this historical province and wine-producing region in France located north of Lyon. It is a red wine made of the purple-coloured Gamay grape. The one we drank on the night was from producer Dominique Morel (Domaine de Gry-Sablon) from Fleurie. (There are ten specific Beujolais ‘Crus’, and Fleurie is one of them. My reading tells me that “Cru is a term which in Beaujolais can be loosely translated as ‘not crap’!”). Chilled slightly, light, nicely bodied, fresh, fruity and delightful – great choice.

To finish, Karl, one of our resident Kiwis on the night, took us to the New World. As we’re on the reds, it wasn’t going to be one of New Zealand’s cliché albeit outstanding Marlborough Sauv Blancs. Instead, it was a lovely Pinot Noir from that area by Kim Crawford. Beautiful. A good note to end the evening on.

As for it being the last of summer on Wednesday night, it certainly was the first day of autumn. A lovely night beside the bowling green nonetheless.

See you in a couple of weeks.

Autumnal Equinox

I'm trying to squeeze the most out of this summer. For the next Wine on Wednesday I've chosen a delightful little venue situated by a bowling green, yet right in the middle of town. I'm hoping it'll be a lovely summer's afternoon for us to enjoy a few quiet wines after work. I say summer, but in actual fact it will be the first day of Autumn, you see this year the Autumnal Equinox falls on the night before - Tuesday evening, 22 Sept. This is when night and day are nearly the same length as the Sun crosses the celestial equator.

So, on Wednesday, 23 September 2009, whether technically it's the last day of summer or the first day of autumn, come and join me for a relaxed wine or two at Finsbury Circus around 7/7:30pm. The place is called The Pavillion. Here's the website:

http://www.pavilionlondon.co.uk/

It's right in between Moorgate and Liverpool Street tubes.

Ant

One to Remember...

There were plenty of Kodak moments to be had in the fun of last Wednesday night, downstairs at Fino’s wine cellar in Mayfair. It’s etched in everyone’s memory… I’m sure… I hope…

… see I’d like to share the wonderful photos I/we took, but the camera they were taken on is missing in action. The pictures telling 1000 words may well turn up, but for now, I give you my version:

From an early stage, the girls were sipping Proseco (Italy’s version of sparkling wine which is from Veneto in the North near the border with Slovenia). This I’m sure was meant as an aperitif, but, if I recall correctly, proved a stayer and carried on as their drink of choice through most of the night. In any case, it ensured proceedings kicked off well and laid a solid foundation for the rest of the evening.

The boys on the other hand relied on Italy later in the night, finishing with a wine from Vicchiomaggio – well rounded and tasty – Ripa Delle Mandorle , from 2005, which may explain the tastiness and smoothness. See it turns out Vicchiomaggio was Italian Winemaker of the Year that year. Let me digress further, Vicchiomaggio is located in the heart of the Chianti Classico area. This is the biggest of seven sub-areas in the Chianti region in Tuscany. Interestingly, for a wine to retain the name of Chianti, it must be produced with at least 80% Sangiovese grapes. However, the one we drank on Wednesday night only had 75%, the remaining 25% being Cabernet Sauvignon. Delightful, Toscana delightful, albeit not a Classico.

Back to where I was, the boys chose a Spanish flavour in the beginning, a lovely 2004 Rioja. Before I try and pretend to know too much about it and impart as much on you I’ll have to study up on it… so, for another day.

As for Fino’s (which lays claim to being the original London wine bar), it’s certainly a cosy bar with a friendly atmosphere, if last Wednesday night it was devoid of patrons outside of the WoW crowd. It was fun to explore “the warren of passageways leading to secret alcoves and private dining rooms”. The old school barmen in their uniforms were a pleasure - polite, hospitable and attentive – I thought. Great snacks too.

Wato, great to have you over from Aus. Likewise, Burnsy in from Oxford for the night, and Prue, your regular presence noted, glad you made the effort after hockey training.

As ever, thanks to everyone for making it a particularly memorable Wine on Wednesday, especially those whose first WoW it was.

Cheers

Anto

Come for a Red

Venue for next Wednesday is Fino’s Wine Cellar in Mayfair.

http://www.finos.co.uk/finos_winecellar/index.htm

123 Mount Street, W1K 3NP, is in between Bond Street (Central line) and Green Park (Jubilee line) tube stations.

Please come for a vino. The order of the night is red, but if it happens to be sunny, we can enjoy a white or even a (summer?) Rosé in the lovely little laneway out the front.

Look forward to seeing to you there around 7:30pm/8pm.

Cheers

Anto

Good Hair Vibe 9/9/9

Hi all, this is a bit of a save the date - next Wine on Wednesday is going to be on the 9th of the 9th '09 (not this week, but Wednesday the week after). It's going to be good. I'd really like to get a number of people along to this one, so please spread the word. I am already expecting some fresh faces on the night and have a special guest in one C P Watson also due to attend. For the auspicious occasion, keep an eye on the blog - I will post the details of the venue soon.

Enjoy your weekend.

Anto

Kensal Rising

I recommend having a wine with Miro on Chamberlayne. Not only has Chamberlayne just been dubbed the hippest street in Europe, but Miro's is a great little spot for a wine, a snack and a chat. Sitting outside alfresco style in London given the gorgeous evening it was on Wednesday just gone, we enjoyed an obligatory Rose... or at least I did, as ever. However, it was red which carried us through the evening. In particular, we drank a Tempranillo to accompany our food - "Around the World" tapas (a new offering at this bar which has traditionally just served wine). I'm pretty certain we sampled at least one of every dish (lamb, salmon, prawns, white bait, chick peas and the rest) which were all very tasty and fresh, making it difficult to pick a clear stand-out. Back on the wine, there was a clear stand-out... we finished with a cracking bottle of red - a 2007 Domaine Combier Crozes-Hermitage. An extremely smooth Syrah/Shiraz from the Rhone region in France. Solid pick Dave.

Thanks boys (and Rach) for a great wine night.

See you all soon.

Ant

Open House, All Rise

We're heading North West for Wine on Wednesday next week (19 August) for two reasons:

1. There's a great wine bar on Chamberlayne Road in Kensal Rise NW10 3ND - Miro's Bar & Kitchen.

http://www.samsonmiro.com/

2. Scott Mac and I are opening up our place on Purves Road, Kensal Green for a warm-up WoW wine. We've put the final touches on the house and we'd love you to come and have a sticky beak.

We'll be at the house from 6:30pm for about 2 hours, then will head up the road to Miro's for a fine wine or two more, so please come up to NW10 and see it all for yourself.

Look forward to it.

Ant

All Things Wine - Late Mail

Hi all, next "official" Wine on Wednesday is 19 August - it's looking like we'll go North West for it. More to come on that, but in the meantime, if you're looking for a wine this Wednesday, there's a wine tasting @ Clifton Nurseries in W9 being hosted by The Winery, a veteran Maida Vale wine merchant. Both are quality places, so I'm sure it'll be good. £25.

http://www.thewineryuk.com/

Ant

Great Wines by the Glass

Kensington Wine Rooms is just that. It's equipped with those specialised Enomatic wine dispensing machines which means we were able to try all manner of old and new world wines - white, red and rose - last Wednesday night. It's possible to have a taste, a small glass or a large glass depending on your thirst, curiousity and budget. We did. It's a corker. Go.

Ol, Mil, Chris, thanks for venturing up from south of the river. Great to have you along with everyone else who made it for another relaxed Wine on Wednesday.

Anto

Go West

For the next Wine on Wednesday, which is on 5 August 2009, we're going to try out The Kensington Wine Rooms on Kensington Church Road (number 127-129, postcode W8 7LP). It's just around the corner from Notting Hill Gate tube. We'll get there for 8pm.

http://www.greatwinesbytheglass.com/

Hope to see you there.

Vin de pays

Wright Brothers is a cracker. Thanks to all those who came down to Borough for Wine on Wednesday just gone. It was a lovely mild London summer night, hence Rosé was what I defaulted to as a starting point. We shortly moved on to red, going for some carafes of the house wine on their list - French country wine which turned out to be from out of a box, yes, that's right - we enjoyed cask wine. It tasted lovely and was very fitting on such a pleasant relaxed evening with friends.

We also sampled some of the oysters Wrigtht Brothers have on offer at their Porter House. Out of the English, Irish and French oysters we tried, the slightly smoother saltier tasting Irish ones seemed the best (at least in my opinion). Delightful.

All in all, Wright Brothers is a fantastic little spot.

Be on the look out for the next venue which I'll post in the next couple of days.

Ant

P.S. Jono Perry, glad to hear you were enjoying some Chianti Classico on Wednesday back home. Cheers.

Wine Borough

Wine on Wednesday next week, 22 July 2009, will be at Wright Brothers Oyster & Porter House at Borough Market. I understand it's a little gem, so am looking forward to a glass or two at this bar located in one of my favourite parts of town.

Come around 7:30pm - it's on Stoney Street. Closest tubes are London Bridge and Borough.

Particularly with my co-hosts away (brother Charlie in Indonesia and Rach will be in Turkey), I would love to see any and all there next Wednesday.

Cheers

Anto

Summer Rosé

I really enjoyed Vinoteca.

Having already had some white at lunch, Greeny selected a French red to sip on for the evening - a Fleurie Domaine de Gry Sablon - while Rach, Sammy, Slaughter and I opted to get in to the Rosé - one from Portugal (Quinta de Giesta), very strong in colour (a rich ruby red resembling red cordial), and very refreshing. Not too heavy, not too light, just right, which matched the mood of the evening. Rosé for the summer I say.

Here's the website for Vinoteca.

http://www.vinoteca.co.uk/

It's definitely worth a visit for a vino if you haven't already.

Next Wine on Wednesday is 22 July - details'll be up on the blog soon.

Cheers

Vinoteca

Is the bar where we’re heading next Wednesday evening (8 July 2009) for a wine… it’s in Clerkenwell on St John Street between Farringdon and Barbican tube stations. Come one come all from about 7pm onwards.

Hope to see you there.

P.S. I’m already getting the taste for a delightfully chilled Rosé.

Fine Refinery and Panari

Wine on Wedenesday helped celebrate Kel Murdoch’s birthday last week. Importantly, wines were drunk. Get to The Refinery if you haven’t yet – it’s a top new-ish bar, great for a feed and drink. Not to mislead the enthusiasts, it isn’t a dedicated wine bar, though it does have a generous wine list with an impressive variety actually.

http://www.therefinerybar.co.uk/

Meanwhile, I found myself “in transit” in Nairobi last Wednesday night where my cousin Ed and I enjoyed an easy drinking everyday Chilean Sauvingnon Blanc at the lovely Panari Hotel bar. A much needed settler at the time in the crazy Kenyan city.

Am back in London now and looking forward to wines next week. I’ll post the details of where shortly.

Ant

Hakuna Noma

This Wednesday, 24 June, for a cheeky wine head towards the Southwark area and look out for some familiar faces @ The Refinery (just behind the Tate Modern) from 7:30pm. The closest tube is Southwark (with London Bridge also quite close).

Cheers

Anto

P.S. I am away, so although I won't make it there myself in person on Wednesday night, I'll be upholding the tradition with my cousin in Zanzibar. Enjoy the wine.

Planet of the Grapes

Lame name, but lovely little wine bar – tucked away on Bull’s Head Passage just down from the entrance to Leadenhall Market – this is where we found ourselves on Wednesday. The bar’s got a certain charm despite the name, with a cosy wine library/wardrobe sporting a solid selection from which to choose and some great wine glasses out of which to enjoy the chosen vin.

It was definitely a French flavoured night, starting with the French waitress, followed by the wines which on the white was Pouilly Fume - 2006 Chateau de Tracy – a lovely crisp Sauvignon Blanc from the Loire Valley. On the red, it was a delightful Burgandy – some Pinot Noir from 2005 by Jean-Luc & Paul Aegerter.

All in all we had a wonderful little get together – some old and new faces to catch up with.

I’ll be in touch soon with details of the next venue.

Cheers all, see you soon

Next Stop

We’re going to head to the Wine and Tapas Bar at Leadenhall Market in the City next Wednesday, 10 June 2009. Please come for a few vinos and solve the problems of the world (or enjoy some similar idle chit chat) with us.

Remember, as we make this a regular thing each couple of weeks there are no obligations or expectations as to how often or for how long you attend, it’s just a chance to explore another of London’s wine bars and provides an excuse to touch base more frequently.

We’ll be there from 7:30pm on the night. The closest tube is Bank, with Monument station not far also.

Anto

WoW, it's started

Had some great wine and chat in the courtyard at Gordon's last week. Thank you to those who came along to get the ball rolling for Wine on Wednesday. It was an enjoyable evening with the easy drinking Italian Pinot Grigio on the wine list the choice for white on the night, while on the reds, the Malbec Trivento from Mendoza got the nod more than once. Of course, the accompaniment of mature cheeses and crusty bread also ensured a tasty night for all.

Here's the link to Gordon's Wine Bar for anyone interested.

http://www.gordonswinebar.com/

It really is a charming little setting and a fun spot for wine - I'd certainly like to return again at some stage (even if it was just to try a Madeira from the wood).

Hope to see you next week - keep an eye out for the venue.

Cheers

Glass of wine?

I've decided I'd like to check out more of the wine bars around London on a consistent basis. So, starting next Wednesday, 27 May 2009, and continuing each other Wednesday thereafter, I'm going to head along to a different wine-serving establishment to enjoy a wine with anyone else who'd like to join me. So far, I have enlisted my girlfriend and my brother... to make at least three of us appreciating fine wine on these nights. Please come along as often as you like if you care for a vino. It will be very casual and may involve one glass or several bottles, entirely dependent on the mood and your agenda on the night. And, as a regular calendar fixture it will, if nothing else, provide an excuse to catch-up.

I'll keep you updated with details of the venues we'll head to each time through posts on this blog and include the occasional photo as we go along.

To kick it off, where better to start with a wine in London than Gordon's Wine Bar, the oldest wine bar in town. It's on Villiers Street between Charing Cross and Embankment tube stations. We'll be there from 7:30pm next Wednesday, 27 May 2009. (There may be a shade of birthday cheer to the night as Charlie Perry celebrates his the following day.)

Hope to see you there for the first of these nights.

Welcome to Wine on Wednesday.

Anto