Tag Archives: wine tasting

Gaucho presents… Seven days of Malbec

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Gaucho_David-Griffen-Photography-3215bwThe iconic restaurant Gaucho, famed for capturing the essence of Argentinian food, wine and passion are about to embark on a very special week of events celebrating the very wine that put Argentina on the map, The Malbec. Gaucho popularly known throughout the Capital as being known for their delicious steaks and decadent decor are also UK home and champion of the Argentine grown grape, making it all the more apt that a number of the restaurants across London and the North will be home to Gaucho’s wine tasting events coinciding with Malbec World day on April 17th.

Frost were fortunate enough to get a little taster of the weeks events hosted by Gaucho’s Director of Wine, Phil Crozier, aka, Mr Malbec. Not only were we lucky enough to have him talk us through a number of the fine and exclusive Malbec’s but they were served to us in a bespoke new wine glass designed for optimum drinking by Mr Malbec himself.

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Seven days of Malbec is due to commence on Monday the 13th April with a whole host of Malbec tasting sessions appealing to any wine taster from novice to connoisseur. As I soon realised as we began the wine tasting, my wine knowledge was almost non existent compared to the others in the room not to mention the passionate musings of Phil who went into a lengthy and extremely informative lecture about the legacy and intricacies of the history of Malbec and current Malbec production just one of the things, aside from the wine, expected from one of the value for money tastings. There really is something for everyone here as I was keen to know top tips and boy did we get more than a few as well as dispelling a few myths that a lot of wine drinkers would be shocked to hear themselves. For example, the fact that red wine should be served at no higher than 16c in fact Phil suggested, popping the wine in the fridge for an hour beforehand. Or the fact that Malbecs are best enjoyed young going against the old adage that the older the wine the more refined.

With Malbec quickly becoming one of the most important and popular wines in British Culture, Seven days of Malbec cover the following;

The Pioneers – Monday 13th April at Gaucho Piccadilly; covering the range of Malbecs from the pioneers that bought Malbec to the international market.

The New Generation– Tuesday 14th April at Gaucho Richmond; giving you a chance to try the new, super cool wine makers that are causing a stir in Argentina.

Old Vine Malbec – Wednesday 15th April at Gaucho Smithfield; for those of you wanting to try some Malbecs from the oldest vineyards in Mendoza.

Malbec Blends – Thursday 16th April – Gaucho Leeds; A chance to taste the blends which add a new dimension.

Extreme Malbecs – Friday 17th April – Gaucho Chancery Lane; A chance to look at Malbecs from the extreme high altitude regions in the north of Argentina on Malbec World day itself.

Super Malbec – Saturday 18th April – Gaucho Charlotte St; The creme de la creme of Malbecs straight from the ‘uber’ special, single vineyard Malbecs.

Vina Patricia – Sunday 19th April – Gaucho Hampstead; A chance to taste Gaucho’s very own Malbec grown in Lunlunta, Mendoza.

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In addition to the exclusive tasting events, guests of Gaucho will be given a chance to try two Malbecs with their steak choice throughout the week.

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Seven Days of Malbec begins on Monday 13th of April with all tastings priced at £20 per person, bookable through the Gaucho website;

http://www.gauchorestaurants.co.uk/events/

Bibendum Bordeaux Tasting

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Bibendum Bordeaux Tasting

 

London Film Museum, Covent Garden – 12 November, 6PM – 8.30PM

 

 

Bibendum, 2012’s European Wine Merchant of the Year, is hosting its Bordeaux 2010 Tasting at the London Film Museum on Monday 12 November. The annual event, which has become the biggest date in the calendar for Britain’s wine enthusiasts, offers an exclusive opportunity to taste the finest wines from the world’s most celebrated vineyards – for just £40.

 

Guests at the event, jointly staged by Bibendum and Union des Grand Crus de Bordeaux, will be given the chance to sample more than 150 wines of the 2010 Bordeaux vintage, which is currently dominating the fine wine and investment markets. The event is the UK’s biggest celebration of Bordeaux and is an unmissable opportunity for anyone with an interest in wine – not just the experts – to experience a masterclass in “the king of reds”.

 

The Union des Grand Crus de Bordeaux is the association that represents the majority of top Bordeaux chateaux. Participants at the Bibendum Bordeaux Tasting will include famousnames such as Leoville Barton, Pichon-Baron, Lynch-Bages, Haut-Bailly, Grand Puy Lacoste, and La Conseillante.

 

The chateaux owners and their winemakers will be available at the event to discuss the wines with guests and explain exactly what makes Bordeaux the most famous wine region in the world. Many of the wines will be available to purchase on the night.

 

Tickets cost £40 and are available from Bibendum Wine Ltd: www.bibendumfinewine.com / 0207 449 4120 / sales@bibendum-wine.co.uk.

Oddbins is back on a High Street near you…

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Oddbins is back on a High Street near you…

– Unique initiative allows Oddbins’ customers to choose the price of wine –

Oddbins is relaunching in the UK this week with a revolutionary approach that will see customers decide the price of some of its wine range.

From 20-23 October, consumers will be able to blind-taste wines in-store and then provide a price that they would be happy to pay for that bottle.

The wines will then go on shelves at the Customer Recommended Price (CRP).

Ayo Akintola, Managing Director of Oddbins says: “We’re taking the old cliché of ‘the customer is always right’ and actually demonstrating our belief that this is the case. The new Oddbins will put the consumer at the heart of everything we do, so it makes sense that we have a conversation about our pricing with our customers to explain our value based pricing model, while at the same time taking their opinions on board.

“For a long time the noise around wine has been about discounting and price cuts. It is time we have a mature conversation about price and what constitutes value.

“Oddbins has a proud history of innovating in the market place and this is just another example of that. No matter what the occasion, Oddbins is here to provide our customers with the perfect choice of great value wine.”

The unique initiative celebrates Oddbins’ relaunch on the 19th October, which will see 37 stores across the UK reinvigorated with a new look and feel.

The new stores will build on Oddbins’ heritage as an innovative and adventurous selector of wines, and see the retailer continue to offer a carefully considered and great value range.

Staffed by an enthusiastic team of wine buffs – ready to share as much (or as little) advice as customers want – Oddbins aims to bring the pleasure back to wine buying with a personal touch that cruising the supermarket aisle just fails to deliver.