Tutored Tasting

What better place to start for the first WoW of 2010 than a Beginner's Guide to Wine. I got a tip off that Wholefoods run wine nights every other Wednesday evening. So, on 20 January I thought WoW could head to Wholefoods on High Street Kensington for a wine or two and learn a thing or two at the same time. It's only £10 and will take us on a tour comparing 5 wines. The night is taking a special look at a particular brand of glassware. I would guess it's the most widely used and well-regarded wine glassware and one that I'm sure you would have previously seen/heard of - the Austrian company, Reidel. It's always struck me as impressive... and reading in to it, given it's been 11 generations under the ownership of the same family, it's no wonder "Reidel Glass has stood for the high art of glassmaking".

So, if you're keen, please let me know as at this stage, I've only reserved 6 places and I'd hate for anyone to miss out.

Summertown - Winter Wines in Oxford

Happy new year to all. I wish everyone the best in 2010 and hope it includes some tasty wines at some point. I hope everyone had a lovely and restful Christmas break. It seemed much needed after 2009... at least I thought so.

I was fortunate enough to spend a few relaxing days in Oxford just after Christmas, which included a visit to the Summertown Wine Cafe. This place in the North Oxford suburb is brilliant. Resident Oxfordian ‘Dr Burns’ first introduced me to it earlier in the year, but cheers to Nick and Georgie for taking Rach and I back there for wine tasting.

For a modest £8 you can sample 12 wines. The staff are excellent and spent an hour at least running us through 6 whites and 6 reds from around the world, including a Spanish Cava to start and a LBV (Late Bottled Vintage) Port to end. Some v tasty and interesting wines indeed and at very good prices too. It’s certainly worth a stop if you find yourself up that way.

http://www.summertownwinecafe.co.uk/

Please note the first WoW is now on 20 January 2010. Keep an eye on the other dates for your diary. Look forward to seeing you this year. More on what's in store for WoW in 2010 soon, so until then, cheers.

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.