Tasting events & News

Forthcoming Tasting Eventsback to top

The scheduled dates for August - September are as follows:

Sunday 22nd August – Sherry and Tapas at the North Pole, Greenwich - £25.00 – 6pm – 9pm

We will be taking over the elegant dining room of the North Pole in Greenwich for this fabulous celebration of Sherry and tapas in conjunction with the Sherry Institute of Jerez and William and Humberts Sherry. Imagine Spanish guitar music to set the mood, a procession of flavoursome mouthfuls like chorizo al vino and Manchego with quince, and a peacock’s tail of Sherry styles from delicate dry Fino and Manzanilla to rich and nutty Olrosos, and of course unctuous Pedro Ximenez. With tickets that have been subsidised by the Sherry promotional body we think this unbeatable value and unbeatable fun.

Thursday 26th August – Rosy Glow: The Last Pinks of Summer - £17.50

‘This has been the year of the rosé thanks to the glorious weather and it seems that this quintessentially summery style of wine has found favour with an ever larger audience. Often produced in such small quantities that they are rarely available year round, this tasting allows us to savour the last drops of wines now at their peak. We think the rosé selection this year has been one of our best, and you will be delighted to hear that they are all dry and expressive of their origins. Whether it is the unique Pinot Gris rosé of Reuilly, or the powerful blush of the Rhône, mineral Côtes de Provence or scented Moroccan gris de gris, this tasting will keep summer fresh for a little longer.

Thursday 2nd September – Culture Clash: Italy vs. France - £28.00

Two great nations separated by the Alps that have individual cuisines, languages, traditions, and of course, wines, is the inspiration for this tasting. How do the rich Sangioveses of Tuscany stand up to the structured Cabernets of Bordeaux? How does the ethereal perfume of Piedmont’s Nebbiolo compare to the fickle Pinot Noir of Burgundy, or the wild aromatics of northern Rhone Syrah? Which is richer, Chateauneuf-du-Pape or Puglian Primitivo? Working southwards from zesty whites in the north to the balsamic hit of the Mediterranean reds, this will provide compelling food for thought which ever country you prefer to holiday in. Vive la difference!

Thursday 9th September – Fleurie Mon Amour: The Greatest Beaujolais Vintage of a Lifetime - £20.00

Perfectly ripened and in immaculate health, the 2009 Gamay grapes on the granite soils of southern Burgundy have given the best Beaujolais vintage in living memory. The tasting showcases a number of the celebrated crus such as Fleurie, Chiroubles and Morgon and compares the best of Beaujolias with Gamays grown in other regions of France. Forget the memories of bubblegum and banana scented Nouveau, these wines are seriously winey, and offer that rare combination of flavour, depth and freshness. Not only are these fine wines that will age, they also offer the best ratio of price to quality of any French red wine region today. Get on board the Beaujolais wagon!

Monday 13th September - Sarah Fagan of De Bortoli Winemaker Masterclass - £10.00

Sarah was named ‘Young Winemaker of the Year’ at the Gourmet Traveller Wine Magazine
Awards 2009 and specialises in Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay from vineyards in the cool Yarra Valley. This fabulous tasting includes all the premium De Bortoli estate wines including Viognier 2008, Chardonnay 2007 and Shiraz Viognier 2006, as well as two new single vineyard Pinot Noirs, the Riorret The Abbey 2008 (Mornington Peninsula) and Riorret The Merrick 2008 (Yarra Valley). Kicking off with two fantastic sparkling wines, Rococo blanc de blancs and rosé, this promises to be a very special audience with one of the wine world’s rising stars. Please note: 7pm kick off.

Thursday 16th September – Matching Fine Wines and British Cheeses - £30.00

We are fortunate in London to have access to many of the best foods in the world, but in the case of cheese there is no need to run up food miles in the pursuit of quality. Neal’s Yard has been offering the finest artisan British cheeses for decades now, and here we have the chance to match them with wines from around the world.

Wednesday 22nd September – Understanding Wine: A 6 Week Course - £180 for six weeks or £35 per individual session.

The autumn Wine Course kicks off tonight and runs for 6 consecutive Wednesday evenings from 7.30pm to 9.30pm until 27th October. The course is a great opportunity to further your knowledge and understanding of wine in a more structured format than our regular Thursday tastings. Session 1 kicks off with an overview of how wine is made, why it tastes the way it does, and how to taste wines to get the most out of them. Fully illustrated by tasting examples, maps and handouts, the course aims to give you the knowledge and confidence to explore the world of wine more deeply. For more information about the six week course or to book please contact jon@theatreofwine.com .

Thursday 23rd September – White Heat: Great 2008 White Burgundy - £35.00

The monks of the Abbey of Cluny obviously knew what they were doing when they planted the vineyard of Le Montrachet right in the middle of a slope that would come to represent the most valuable stretch of Chardonnay vineyards in the world. The three adjacent villages of Puligny, Meursault and Chassagne bring this grape to its apotheosis thanks to their amazing Jurassic soils and south-eastern exposure, and a thousand years of knowhow, of course. At this tasting we sample the newly arrived 2008 vintage which has given us wines of sparkling clarity, precision and energy. Great producers and outstanding wines.

Wednesday 29th September – Wine Course 2: France - £35 Single Session (£30 as part of the course).

Pinot Noir in Burgundy, Syrah in the Rhone, and Cabernet in Bordeaux: this tasting looks at the diversity of French vineyards and explores the background to the selection of particular varieties for specific soils, as well as the traditions that inform the winemaking styles of France’s varied vineyard..

Thursday 30th September – Matt Black: Meet Mr. Malbec - £25.00

We are in love with Malbec! This grape has captured the imagination of winemakers and winelovers everywhere but its main areas of production couldn’t be more different. While you will find pockets of Malbec growing in Bordeaux, the Loire and New World, it is most at home in south-west France and the Argentinean Andes. As you might expect the results are quite different, and this a chance to get to know this deeply coloured, fruit driven red grape more intimately both on its own and as part of a blend from Cahors, Mendoza and beyond.

Wednesday 6th October – Wine Course 3: Italy and Iberia - £35 Single Session (£30 as part of the course).

A whirlwind tour of the key wine producing regions of Spain and Italy exploring what gives them their regional identity. From mellow, aged Rioja, to the great Nebbiolo grape of Piedmont, with a bit of zippy white Rueda to get the palate racing, this covers all the bases.

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