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.