Winemaker Tasting: Valtellina and Soave - £15.00
Tufnell Park - Tuesday 22 May
This is the week of the London International Wine Fair, and a chance to get up close and personal with some of our favourite winemakers. This year we are very lucky to have not just one but two great characters from the north of Italy. The estate of Sandro Fay is at the forefront of elegant, cool-climate Nebbiolo from Valtellina, which impresses with its captivating aromas and silky structure, while the Fillipi estate in Soave makes winning white wines that give enormous pleasure, and are frankly unrecognisable from the £2.99 wine that has traduced the reputation of this great Italian DOC. Join us as we get under the skin of two much-neglected Italian regions, with appropriate food (of course).
Three Great Greeks: Winemaker Tasting - £15.00
Greenwich - Wednesday 23 May
Here's a great chance to get up close and personal with some of our favourite winemakers. This year we are very lucky to have not just one but three great characters from the burgeoning Greek wine scene: Haridimos Hatzidakis of Santorini fame, Apostoles Thymiopoulos, the inspiration behind exquisite Naoussan Xynomavro, and Manolis Moraitis, the pioneer of the island of Paros. Along with a super line up of wines there will be plenty of Greek-inspired nibbles from an exciting new Greek artisan food importer who recently made a splash at über-trendy Maltby Street market.
Amarone Mi Amore: Venice and the Adriatic Coast - £30.00
Tufnell Park - Wednesday 23 MayGreenwich - Thursday 24 May
Venice sits like a watery jewel in one of the most captivating wine landscapes in the world. Travel east and you meet the rolling hills of Collio and the perfectionist wines of Borgo del Tiglio. To the north of romantic Verona, the castle of Soave straddles the volcanic hillside, forming a doorway to the wines of Valpolicella and Amarone which extend all the way to Lake Garda. Crossing the Venetian lagoon we encounter the extremely rare wines of Carso and the unique Vitovska that goes so well with local sea urchin. Enormously diverse, there are both international varieties and obscure native Italian grapes to be found in a region that merits re-discovery for its wonderful, food-friendly wines.
Light Reds for Summer Drinking - £20.00
Tufnell Park - Wednesday 30 MayGreenwich - Thursday 31 May
While some might think that nothing beats a glass of blockbusting Barossa Shiraz on a hot day, we reckon there's more fun to be had with many of the delicious lighter styles of red from Cabernet Franc, Pinot Noir, Gamay, Kekfrankos and many more. Quite aside from the fact that light reds are generally lower in alcohol, eminently drinkable and loads of fun, they're also great with summer food that's quick to prepare and full of vibrant, fresh flavours.
Rare Wines of the Italian North - £28.00
Tufnell Park - Wednesday 6 JuneGreenwich - Thursday 7 June
The second in our series of three Italian-themed tastings is a rare exploration of vineyards tucked into the Alps, including Trentino, Alto Adige, north Piedmont, and Lombardy. We have been captivated by the individuality of producers like the eleven I Dolomitici who have banded together in a mission to rescue the reputation of grapes like Nosiola, Marzemino and Teroldego. Stars like Elisabetta Foradori, Eugenio Rosi and Giuseppe Fanti are really making ground-breaking wines. The Alpine hills stretching up to the Swiss border are the home of delicious, elegant Nebbiolo, so distinctive from the powerful Alba styles further south. At the northernmost point, the Alto Adige offers wines with such sense of place that they should be wearing a cow bell. Whether you know these wines already, or are just discovering them, this is not to be missed.
Clash of the Titans: Piedmont vs. Tuscany - £35.00
Tufnell Park - Wednesday 13 JuneGreenwich - Thursday 14 June
The Burgundy and Bordeaux of Italy clash in this epic tasting. Piedmont keeps its best sites for Nebbiolo, which is every bit as fickle and tricky as Pinot Noir. The complex of vineyards, sites and soils provide suitable spots for easy-going Dolcetto, bumptious Barbera, and frivolous Moscato, leaving the belly of the slopes for grandiose Barbaresco and Barolo. Tuscany, on the other hand, wheels and deals between the native Sangiovese and French interlopers such as Cabernet (from Bordeaux) and Syrah (from the Rhône) to produce structured, classical wines that have glamour, polish and often hefty price tags. We'll be tasting them side by side to see who triumphs, but either way we'll be laying on the sensational Italian meats and cheeses that have made both regions so famous.
The Rivals: Germany and Austria - £27.00
Tufnell Park - Wednesday 20 JuneGreenwich - Thursday 21 June
Once more expensive than Latour, the fortunes of German wine have waned in recent decades. Commentators have been saying for years that these are the greatest bargains of the wine world, and these fine wines are developing a growing audience once again. Austria, on the other hand, is in overdrive thanks to trendy Gruner Veltliner, dry Rieslings and a battalion of sommeliers passionate about their food friendly versatility. Both countries produce superb mineral-driven wines from challenging terroirs, whether its the steep slate terraces of the Mosel or the schists of the Wachau. We'll be tasting wines from both countries to see how they compare, and lining up some of the top producers, such as Donnhoff, Leitz, Moric, Umathum and Hirtzberger.
Flame Grilled: Ultimate Barbeque Wines - £22.50
Tufnell Park - Wednesday 27 JuneGreenwich - Thursday 28 June
We may not have the most predictable weather, but there is no doubt we have got the bug when it comes to summer barbeques. We have moved on from the days of undercooked sausages to use the grill for everything from fish to roast veg, and kebabs to slow cooked lamb. For this we want punchy, bold flavours and Argentina has taken no time to claim the crown for the ultimate wine to go with beef. Malbec is the darling of every carnivore, and those deep smooth plummy flavours are at their best with flavours of char grilled, smoky protein straight off the barbie. For the fish, Rhône whites come into their own, and for those roast aubergines something from the Italian south is supple and herby. This is a tasting of flavour-full, hearty, convivial wines that are easy to love.
Mostly Champagne: Matching Food and Fizz - £40.00
Tufnell Park - Wednesday 4 JulyGreenwich - Thursday 5 July
Simultaneously the most well-known wine region in the world and the most over-looked, Champagne has become obligatory for celebrations but often gets left in the shade when it comes to the serious business of matching with food. Yet the best Champagnes and sparkling wines are both food friendly and distinctive; from the fresh, precise styles of blanc de blancs from the Côte des Blancs to the rich Pinot dominated wines of Ambonnay, these are splendid with cheeses, smoked fish, and silky charcuterie. Champagne is put alongside the best from further afield in an indulgent celebration of fizz in all its forms.
