Bristol Wine / Food Fair 10th - 12th July
Bristol Wine & Food Fair - 10-12th July.
The South Wests premier wine and food show is back for its second year, celebrating the best in good food, fine wine and culinary talent.
Tasting Room will be offering a wide range of our wines to taste and buy over the three day event. Situated in the specialist wine marquee, Stand A4 ,which will be packed with tasting sessions, wine tutorials,as well as masterclasses from some of the wine industries writing elite.
The first Bristol Wine and Food Fair 2008 was a huge success with over 11,000 people enjoying quality wine, dining and good food over the event's three days.
The dates for this years event are 10-12 July 2009 and the fair will contain many new features: Expanded 10 Minute Free Wine Tutorials, Business Hospitality Day, The Wine Tasting Forum, Kids Cookery Classes, Childrens activity area during the day, Food & Wine Matching at our on-site restaurant, Additional Wine Marquee, New Covered Seating/Bar/Restaurant Areas.
Tickets are available through www.bristolfoodandwinefair.com
Ticket price £8 in advance to include free Bristol Wine Fair ISO Tasting Glass and free programme, Weekend Ticket (£15).
Located at the Lloyds Amphitheatre, The Harbourside, Bristol - overlooking the picturesque and historic waterways of Bristol, ideally situated for access and diversity.
Languedoc Weekend - Hotel du Vin Bristol.
St Georges d'Ibry at the Hotel du Vin.
A mini wine fair featuring the produce of the Languedoc is being held on the 5th and 6th of June at the Bristol Hotel du Vin. Featuring amongst the wine producers will be the Cotes du Thongue producer Saint Georges d'Ibry.
Their wines have proved immensly popular with our customers and we are delighted for them to be showing a wide range of wines alongside a samle of delicious meats and cheeses of the region.
The event is free but the hotel will welcome a donation to Hospitality Action - tasting sessions on Friday 15.00 - 18.00 and Saturday 12.00 - 17.00.
More information on Hotel du Vin 0117 925 5577
Winery of the Month - May
The winery featured for May is Domaine Gry -Sablon, Beaujolais, France. –
OFFER-
Beaujolais is a much maligned wine producing region. Officially part of Burgundy, it is a most attractive area with steep hills and deep valleys bedecked with vineyards, small scattered villages and a quiet rural lifestyle – an ideal destination for a foray for wine.
The Beaujolais region runs from the Mâconnais, to the south of Lyon and on to the Rhône valley beyond. This beautiful area is perfectly suited to wine growing with wines broadly classified into three groups: Beaujolais, Beaujolais Villages and Beaujolais Crus. The latter area is made up of a 15 mile strip of acidic granite soil which brings out the best in the fruity Gamay grape with some wonderful reds and small amounts of rosé. Perfumed and smooth Fleurie sums up all that is good about Beaujolais, but don't miss the fuller bodied Morgon and the spicy Juliénas.
Beaujolais is made from a single grape variety, Gamay, which stamps its unique characteristics on these wines - offering low acidity with soft and supple flavours of summer fruit. However, the village ‘Cru’ wines offer a plethora of styles from the light Julienas to the more muscular style of Morgon.
Dominique Morel, so hidden away as to be virtually unfindable, is fastidious in the selection of his grapes, all hand-harvested and cold soaked to aid extraction, colour and tannin levels. The village Crus are partially aged in old vats (purchased from Domaine de la Romannée Conti) giving a luxurious and generous mouth feel.
His range starts off with Beaujolais Villages (£7.95) which is a light soft fruity flavour, fragrant bouquet - the perfect summer drinking wine with strawberry and loganberry flavours and a typical bubblegum aroma from the Gamay grape. Fantastic served chilled during the hot (?!) summer. Six bottles for £42.00
Julienas 2007 (£9.50) is light, subtle with a fresh taste of raspberry jam and violets. A perfect introduction to the Gamay grape and the more serious Beaujolais Village Crus.. Six bottles for £50.10
Their most popular wine is the red Fleurie 2007 (£10.95), Velvety rich floral aromas with blackberry and cassis on the nose and palate. Rounded on the ripe-fruited finish, typical of this ever popular Beaujolais Cru Village and the Gamay grape variety. Six bottles for £57.60
New Whiskies in stock - Whisky Tastings 2009
Whisky Tastings 2009
Join us throughout the year to savour the delights of Scottish Single Malt whiskies. We offer the chance to taste through a range of different styles and areas.
An alternative tasting event focusing on the wide variety provided by the different producing areas throughout Scotland - our speaker will guide you through the mysteries of Single Malt Whisky from Cask Strength to Un-chill filtered styles and the varying cask types
Whisky Tasting One - £25 a head - minimum number 5 people.
Five single malt whiskies - one whisky each from the Lowlands, Islay, Speyside, Highlands and Islands. Served with a selection of cheese and biscuits and oatcakes.
Whisky Tasting Two- £35 a head - minimum number 5 people
Six single malt whiskies - including a whisky from Edradour - Scotlands smallest distillery Served with a accompanying salmon dishes and biscuits, oatcakesand cheese.
All enquiries email info@tastingroom .co.uk or telephone 01225 463 392 - to book your personal group tasting either afternoon or evening.
Bath Christmas Market 2008
Amazingly, it is that time of year again.
The Bath Christmas Market will start on Thursday 27th November and finish on Sunday 7th December.
We'll be there as usual and in our usual position. That's to say, just in front of the Tourist Office.
We'll be tempting you with little samplers of delicious drinks, such as Port, Armagnac, Malt Whisky and Somerset Apple Brandy. Perfect presents, guaranteed to bring a happy smile to the lucky recipient!
Come and say hello. Here's hoping for a dry and not too freezing event. See you there.
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Goodbye to the Pigs
It seems it is time to say good bye to the pigs. You know those decorated pigs loafing about on Bath’s street corners. You can see the whole drove (?) of them in all their glory in Victoria Park this weekend (18th and 19th October) from10.00 to 5pm.
I believe there is a small charge of £2 per adult and 50p for children to get in amongst them.
More details about these beautiful porcine beasts and their auction preview can be found by clicking here.
We are also there (how fitting) and we’ll be thrilled to see you
at our stall of alcoholic and soft drinks on either day.
Hot Somerset cider, locally brewed (Box) Tunnel Vision beer
and many others await.
Allium Rhone Wine Dinner and Tasting
Rhone Valley Wine Tasting - followed by three course dinner with wines - .....
Wednesday 1st October join James and Erica Graham at Allium Restaurant ,- Good Food Guide Restaurant of the Year South West 2008 - wine tasting hosted by Will Baber will feature wines of the Rhone Valley taken from the Tasting Rooms portfolio. Followed by a three course dinner featuring some of these wines to show how food oriented these classic French regional wines can be.
Tickets and further information available through Allium Restaurant on telephone 01285 712200. Allium Restaurant, 1 London Street, Market Place,Fairford, Gloucestershire,GL7 4AH
Blog Site - tasting news and images
Visit our blog site for news and recent tastings. This is a forum, not just for our ramblings but for your comments as well.
Please visit http://tastingroom.blogspot.com/
Homewood Park Dinner
An evening of excellent food to accompany wines chosen and presented by Will Baber of the Tasting Room.
Thursday 18th September, commencing at 7.30pm. The cost is £49.00 per person to include, canapes, a glass of Champagne on arrival, gourmet four course meal prepared by Head Chef Daniel Moon, recently voted Von Essen Chef of the Year and all tasting wines.
As an exclusive offer to Tasting Room customers, call to make your reservation and quote WB1809 to receive a 10%discount on the advertised price for this event.
Reservations for the evening are through Homewood Park Hotel - telephone 01225 723731 - a special rate for accommodation is available for those who wish to relax throughout the evening without the worry of transport home.
New Wines and Cognacs
August holidays and trips abroad have come to an end - the resulting new wines and producer will shortly be welcome additions to our list...
New Cuvees of Champagne from our already excellent Champagne producer -Cyril Jeaunaux of Jeaunaux-Robin will soon extend our range - the same applies to the Bergerac wines from Chateau La Rayre, including an outstanding premier example of sweet Monbazillac.
We are also looking at a range of Cognacs from Michel Forgeron to supplement our offerings of Chateau de Millet Armagnac. Look out for these wonderful Cognacs to reach us in September /October.
Bath Boules 2008
A little part of France comes to Bath.
Every year a full week-end is given to that most French dangerous sport: Boules. Queen Square is jam-packed with teams throwing their balls about. Sunday is reserved for the catering establishments of the area (being too busy to compete on the Saturday) and as there are numerous French teams, emotions and rivalry are intense. We at the Tasting Room competed with flair, style and, dare I say it, some skill.
There is a video you can watch of the event over on BathTV's site and clicking on the Bath Boules Tournament 2008 (Sunday) link on the right.
Decanter Saint- Emilion 2005 Tasting
Decanter panel tasting (Mar 08): Saint-Emilion 2005 Heralded as the best vintage in years, 2005 has produced an abundance of magnificently rich and concentrated wines. The 'Garagiste' wine, Clos Dubreuil, from which Benoit Trocard only produces 600 cases a year was well received - Benoit will once again host a wine dinner with us later in the year -look out for a date in November.
Clos Dubreuil, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 2005
Lithe, ripe fruit notes with hints of spice. Light on its feet, balanced, expressive and with caressing tannins. Charming. Drink 2010-18. (16.38 points)
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White is the new Armagnac
White is the new Armagnac Daily Mail -29th February 2008
Château de Millet Blanche £24.50,
Extremely robust, Millet tastes and smells like a Black Forest gâteau – the real thing, that is, not those frozen blocks you were fed as a child. Luxuriant notes of plum and black cherry make it ideal with caviar, charcuterie and foie gras – pretty much the staple diet of the whole of the Gascony region. Verdict Sour cherry notes. Serve frappé, in place of vodka, with dishes of smoked fish or caviar.
The last time we looked, Armagnac was brown and served with a cardigan. How things have changed. The traditional way to enjoy Armagnac is to swirl it endlessly in a balloon glass until everyone in the restaurant has left, the staff have all gone home and the manager is in tears. But the classic old buffer's drink is about to be reborn. Formerly known as an eau de vie, white Armagnac has been awarded an Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée and is now called Blanche. The new breed of white Armagnacs are only aged for a year or two – which is why they're clear," explains Ben Brown (above), cocktail barman at London club Paper. "If you aged them in oak barrels, they would eventually turn brown, just like brandy.
Single Malt Whisky Tasting
SINGLE MALT WHISKY tasting
Friday 29th February at 7.30pm
at the Tasting Room
£22 per head
There will be a range of single malt whiskies
showing the variation of types, regions, strengths and barrel finishes
Call asap and book your places (we will require full payment on booking)
as numbers are limited.
Cheers
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O Leary Walker Wine Tasting
We are very happy to welcome David OLeary......
David OLeary from the renowned Australian wine producer OLeary Walker will be here at the Tasting Room.
Based at Leasingham in the Clare Valley - this is a wonderful opportunity to meet one of the most progressive winemakers to appear out of Oz.
We currently list a number of wines from their portfolio but will be showing a more extensive range to taste on the evening of Friday 8th, commencing at 5pm until 7.30pm. This tasting is free for members (£10 non-members). So if you are interested in meeting the winemaker and tasting his excellent range then please contact us to book a place
Our New Gift Brochure
The Tasting Room Gift Brochure is out now
Our Gift Brochure has arrived from the printers and is available in hard copy if you come into the shop or as a downloadable PDF from our website. It contains some excellent ideas for presents, whether they might be for work colleagues, favourite customers, Auntie Maggie, mad cousin Keith or in fact anybody who might enjoy some alcohol.
We can send the goods out packed in wooden boxes or cardboard packages direct to the recipient or to any address on the UK mainland or indeed they can be collected from the shop.
You can download the Brochure and its all-important accompanying Order Form, which includes the prices, from the website by clicking here. They're both in PDF
Blog Site News & Images
Read more about our news and recent tastings on our blog site...
http://tastingroom.blogspot.com
VINEXPO - Will's trip - June 2007
Will has just got back from his trip to France. He spent 2 days at VINEXPO, the major annual wine trade fair in Bordeaux. This was a convenient opportunity to meet up with some of our existing winemakers:
Gilles Ferran from
Domaine des Escaravailles in the Rhone, Pierre Jacolin from his domaine near
Menetou-Salon and also Jean-Louis Trocard from
Bordeaux to name a few. Jean-Louis put on a fantastic boat trip with dinner on board for fifty guests. A three hour trip which coincided with an electrical storm over the city. Jean-Louis had just lost about 30% of his vine crop in one of his vineyards from a storm a few days before, so while Will was enjoying the hospitality, J-L was looking a bit anxious. He did tell us that the reason why his son, Benoit, was looking rather pleased, however, was that his (Benoit's) property,
Clos Dubreuil, had just been named in the top 3 domains in a St. Emilion tasting at VINEXPO.
Hen Party Culture
A couple of years ago, if anybody had thought of mentioning that we, as a wine importing business, would be soon thriving on the hen party circuit, we would have laughed and perhaps shuddered a little.
Hen parties don’t do wine tasting, do they? Hen parties drink, yes, get rowdy and all the rest of it, surely. A ‘veiled’ excuse, if you excuse the pun, for a binge session and woe betide your soft furnishings and ornaments in your establishment.
Well, that is what we thought then. Read more...
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Ifor and Cash in the Attic
I mentioned a few weeks back that Ifor had been filmed during a tasting for the popular Cash in the Attic programme.
Local Free Delivery
Free Local Delivery
For all orders and deliveries in the BA1 and BA2 postcodes Tasting Room is now operating a free delivery service - once the order has been processed we will be in contact to arrange delivery at a convenient time.
Feedback from some of our clients
When collating the information for this site we received two comments from existing clients that we want to share with you:
"Will Baber carefully sources wines from individual estates of character and interest – and we have been delighted to list a number of these wines at Monachyle Mhor."
Tom Lewis – Monachyle Mhor Hotel, Balquidder, Stirling - Chef/ Proprietor
(BBC Great British Menus – Cooking for the Queen’S 80th birthday.)
"The great selection from Will Baber has complimented our food and service and the personal advice and attention to detail has evolved into a true friendship – he also has the same trials and tribulations throughout the football season as I. "
Marcus Ashenford – Five North Street. Winchcombe – Michelin 1* Chef/ Proprietor.
