Fresh Legs

It was a famous five both in person and wine. Refreshing as always to have a newcomer to WoW this was probably one that featured more chat about the wine itself than most. Honey, fruitcake and port were all mentioned on first sip of the Austrian wine Burgenlander Pittnauer Zweigelt. You would have thought we were drinking a dessert wine but it opened up as we drank it, the sweetness countered by tannin and taughtness without loosing that togetherness that was the sign of some clever oenology. I know nothing about Austrian wine but given the prowess surrounding such a country it is no surprise that the arbitrary things we know as borders don't define the limits of those who are extremely capable in the art of winemaking. With the other wines we travelled the world including Italy, Mendoza and France. Accompanied by some great laughs and several decisions to stay for "one more" it was a thoroughly enjoyable evening.

28-50 Wine Workshop and Kitchen

Looking for a hat-trick of rainy Wine on Wednesdays we’re heading for 28-50 Wine Workshop and Kitchen. It’s a new restaurant/bar with a motive firmly embedded in the enjoyment of good wine. Join us for a couple from 7pm this Wednesday at 140 Fetter Lane EC4A 1BT (nearest tube Chancery Lane or Temple).

Why to 28 to 50? Let that be your homework for Wednesday.

http://www.2850.co.uk/

One glass at a time

My chirp-up of the summer sunshine peaking around the crevasses of St Pauls Cathedral was left a little sodden after a couple of tropical style downpours. A few stalwarts braved the London lubrication and we sipped a cheeky red before disappearing home to dry off.

September takes us back to one of the first venues of Wine on Wed. Kensington Wine Rooms is one of a few venues that allows you to purchase tasting size portions of a selection of wines (as per the web address). You can go on an adventure around the wine world in one night or test your palate by trying to identify the subtle differences between the aromatic whites. At 127 - 129 Kensington Church Street W8 7LP it is just around the corner from Notting Hill Gate on the Central line and I’ve let them know we’ll be congregating from 7pm. Look forward to seeing you there.

If you can’t make it next Wednesday this venue is definitely worth a look when you get a chance: http://www.greatwinesbytheglass.com/

St Pauls Summer Sunset

Some semblance of organisation threatens to overthrow the haphazard world of Wine on Wednesday post pesto. For the remainder of 2010 WoW will be on the last Wednesday of the month. I will throw in a few in between (with venues a little bit out of the way or lacking the universal appeal) and let you know as these come up. The purpose remains threefold; a regular catch up, an exploration of London’s best bars and a chance to learn more about wine. I will keep you in the loop with these emails and this blog.

Our next adventure falls on the 25th of August at Dion St Pauls, a place renowned for its Krug room. Be not afraid, one will not be expected to max the credit card on a Nebuchadnezzar of vintage bubbles but do join us for one glass or many of whichever wine you desire. Will kick off about 7pm to catch the last of the summer sunshine in the surrounds of London’s famous dome (Dion St Pauls, Paternoster House, 65 St Pauls Churchyard, London EC4M 8AB).

Wine from the Middle East . . . seriously?

I was lucky enough to try some Lebanese wine recently (even luckier that I was doing so in Lebanon). The results were not of note with one exception, the Ksara Reserve du Covent. A deep red blend of Cabernet-Sauvignon, Syrah and Carignan that was reminiscent of a warming Cotes du Rhone. Not really suited for drinking in the steamy Mediterranean sun but nonetheless a wine I will keep my eye out for. To qualify this I should say that I did not manage to sample any Chateau Musar wines. Musar is the flagship of the Lebanese wine industry (outside of Lebanon at least) and another to put on the list.

The Find

Bafana Bafana will be a distant memory so the merlots and marsannes can return to centre stage for the next Wine on Wednesday 14 July. If you're a chance make your way to La Trouvaille in Soho (12a Newburgh, Soho, London, W1F 7RR) from 7pm. It is just east of Carnaby Street for the shoppers amongst us. If the weather is fair we will probably congregate in the laneway outside otherwise will probably try to nab the church pew downstairs. Hopefully it will be a good little find . . .

ps: Despite strict drink driving laws and a general disdain of public transport Wine on Wed has made a successful debut in Brisbane . . . www.wineonwednesdaybrisbane.blogspot.com

Never Say Never

It's true, this Wine on Wednesday is less about wine and more about a good Margeret River chardy or a ballsy Barossa red (or the football team where they're from). Most people have written Australia off but I am unwilling. As such I've booked the top bar at the Harcourt Arms in Marylebone. It is not a glamour pub but should be a great spot to catch Australia v Serbia amongst friends. On a day when London is likely to stop (for the England match at 3pm) don the Green and Gold and join us to see the Socceroos have a crack.

The top bar at the Harcourt Arms (32 Harcourt Street, London W1H 4HX - walkable from Baker St, Marylebone and Edgeware Road tube stations) from 7pm Wednesday 23 June.

Charlie