Getting the ball rolling for 2011!

Well, after a brief hiatus and change of control, Wine on Wednesday is back!

Following the busy festive break and hand-over, I have been given the privilege of continuing this fine tradition, so I'll endeavour to bring the same 'Veuve' to the WoW craze and keep the blog up-to-date and topical. Unfortunately we've missed some prime wine-drinking months so some effort will be required to catch up.

As most of you know, Charlie and Prue have headed off to explore the world prior to ending their London (and Indonesian) stint, I'm sure they're having a great time and I wish them all the best. I'll do my best to organise an evening (have to check with them if they're around for any more Wednesdays) to coincide with the next time they're in London.

For the next event, however, I have had a look at a number of options and have chosen the next venue to be Bedales in Borough Markets. I'm not sure if it's been done on WoW before but their philosophy sounds interesting:
"I aim to promote delicious, tasty, unmediated wines; diversity of style and indigenous grape varieties; the endeavours of small independent growers; and the importance of sustainable, organic viticulture ... reacquainting ourselves with 'real wines', seeking out and preserving the unusual, the distinctive and the avowedly individual..."

I hope as many of you as possible can make it as it's sure to be a great night.
30th March from 7PM
Bedales Borough Market
5 Bedales Street
SE1 9AL

Change of Venue - Wed 24 Nov

To avoid a set menu and a minimum spend I’ve switched this week’s WoW to Vats Wine Bar and Restaurant at 51 Lambs Conduit Street, London WC1N 3NB (nearest tubes are Russell Square and Holborn).

For those who know Greeny, he may make an appearance at what will be his last WoW before returning to Oz . . . so it could be a good warm up to the festive season.

Look forward to seeing you there from 7pm (let me know if you think you can make it, I’ll try to give them an indication of numbers on Tue night).

Charlie

November . . . really?

The challenge is to believe it is November and by the 24th Christmas will be a sneaky month away. Cold, wet and rainy weather to boot means there is no better cure than a warming glass of vin rouge. Join us for a glass or more at Vivat Bacchus on 47 Farringdon St EC4A 4LL (nearest tube Chancery Lane or Farringdon) from 7pm on Wednesday 24 November.

www.vivatbacchus.co.uk

Look forward to seeing you there.

Charlie

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).