Northern (and Central) Italy

Wine is a popular drink in Italy. Grapes are grown in almost every part of the country, with more than 1 million vineyards under cultivation. Each region is proud of its carefully tended, neatly pruned vines. In some places the vines are trained along low supports. In others they climb as slender saplings. The people of each region are also proud of the wine they make from their own grapes. Most winemaking in Italy is done in modern wineries, but villagers, making wine for their own use, sometimes tread the grapes with their bare feet until the juice is squeezed out. They believe this ancient method still makes the best wine.

Tuesday 22nd Apr 08

£30.00

£32.00

Whisky Galore

If you don’t like Whisky – read no further. However, if you do – then this event is for you.
We are holding this superb tutored tasting of a selection of single malts, each drawn from a single cask, each at 56% to 65% ABV (alcohol by volume) at the premises of the the Scotch Malt Whisky Assocation.
The Scotch Malt Whisky Society is the world's leading specialist in single malt, single cask, cask strength whiskies. Established more than 20 years ago by a group of friends who clubbed togther to buy a single cask of fine malt whisky, the Society retains to this day the same air of camaraderie.

Tuesday 29th Apr 08

£37.00

£39.00

Lunch at Philpotts Mezzaluna

David Philpott and business partner Alex Ross studied hotel management and cookery in Blackpool before they opened Philpott's Mezzaluna in 2000.
When the proprietor of Quincy's sold up David & Alex bought the Italian restaurant Mezzaluna across the road renaming it Philpott's Mezzaluna where David created his unique interpretation of gastronomic Italian cuisine.
In the 2006 Good Food Guide it was rated as one of the top 15 Italian Restaurants in the country. Michael Winner writing for the Sunday Times said “I had a grilled dover sole on the bone. This was very succulent, nice and with a lovely texture”

Saturday
3^rd May 08

£40.00

£40.00

Lower Alcohol Wines

Following the excesses of Christmas and New Year, the Organiser felt it might be appropriate to hold an event featuring all lower alcohol wines but unfortunately the event had to be postponed. From feedback received at recent events, many members feel that the current trend for powerful wines which are around 14.5% – 16% is not only getting out of hand but also it is often uncomfortable to drink some of them as they are so powerful and “heady”. Whilst not exactly a “detox”, this event is definitely more kind to our livers and sets out to show that you don’t need to compromise on quality or a good drinkable wine for a lower alcohol content.

Wednesday
7^th May 08

£35.00

£38.00

The Guildhall for Dinner

The word 'guildhall' is said to derive from the Anglo-Saxon 'gild' meaning payment, so it was probably a place where citizens would pay their taxes. The present Guildhall was begun in 1411 and, having survived both the Great Fire of London and the Blitz, it is the only secular stone structure dating from before 1666 still standing in the City.
In view of the grandeur of the surroundings, we believe “Black Tie” is appropriate for this special occasion.

Lesser Known Margaux

The only appellation in Bordeaux to take its name from its finest estate, Margaux is the only commune that isn’t restricted to the area bearing its name. Wines classified as Margaux come from Arsac, Cantenac, Labarde and Soussans! The outstanding characteristics of Margaux wines are finesse, supple tannins and what is often referred to as “perfumed delicacy” which is attributed to the light gravely soil. Many of the wines have more - though softer - tannins because of a higher proportion of Cabernet Sauvignon and are therefore slower to evolve. However, the very best are worth waiting for and will go on for years.

Thursday
5^th June 08

£43.50

Optional supper £16.50

£45.50

Optional supper £16.50

Sweet Success

Sweet wines can be extremely satisfying, luscious, long and complex, developing lovely honeyed barley-sugar flavours with time. They do not have to be very sweet and should never be cloying. The organiser has raided his Eurocave for special wines which should be fully mature, like the 1976 Ausleses. A range of medium or sweet wines in different styles, from different grapes and different countries or regions, will be shown. Because of the rarity of some of these wines, there will only be one bottle of each, so numbers have to be restricted to 18 people.

Tuesday
17^th June 08

Sold Out

Sold Out

White Wine Challenge

Last November Diana Paterson-Fox fought a close contest against Mark Illingworth (Loire) and Angela Dunn Meynell ( Argentina) to win the Challenge with Alsace wines.
She faces tough competition in this new challenge with Andrew Brodie showing California and Keith Ellis showing New Zealand whites.
Come along and play your part in choosing the victor for the evening.
A light supper, with wine, will be served after the tasting.

Wednesday
25^th June 08