Loire presentation@London Wine Fair

 

Yesterday it was a 'master' class presentation on the diversity of Loire wines @the London Wine Fair at Olympia. I'm not sure of the capacity of these seminars but they must be a good 80 plus. It was gratifying that my seminar was completely full – probably the same for all the others..... 

Here is the list of the wines that showed, which elicited some very favourable responses. I want to show not just a diversity of wines but also a diversity of producers – growers, négociants and co-ops.

 

1. Crémant de Loire, Brut Zéro, Château de l’Aulée
2. Jubilation, Le Pallet, Vignerons du Pallet 2014
3. Vouvray sec, Domaine de Tania and Vincent Carême 2015
4. Le Bel Ouvrages, Savennières, Damien Laureau 2012
5. Les Hauts Lieux, Touraine Sauvignon Blanc, Famille Bougrier 2016
6. Goutte de Rosé, Chinon Rosé, Domaine de la Noblaie, Jérôme Billard 2017
7. Saumur Champigny, Château de Villeneuve 2015
8. Clos de l’Echo, Chinon, Couly-Dutheil 2014
9. Quarts de Chaume Grand Cru, Domaine de la Bergerie, Anne and Yves Guegniard 2014

I would have liked to show a Touraine Noble Joué but unfortunately that proved to be impossible to source. 

Today we drove to the Loire. Great to be back in the Cher Valley after an absence of best part of seven moths.  

 

@The London Wine Trade Fair – Monday 18th May 2015

A massage Sir before the start of the Fair? Brett Crittenden relaxes!

The Benevolent Bus

 

The bus and the Benevolent Team headed by David Cox 

José Manuel Ortega tutoring the CWW O Fournier Master Class

Stephen Brook (above) and Steven Spurrier (below)

Ortega's 'godfathers'

Sarah Jayne Evans MW@CWW Master Class 

Colin Hampden-White 

Mathieu Fleuriet, Domaine Bernard Fleuriet, Sancerre

 Chanel and Denise Gitton, Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé

  Chanel Gitton

Pascal Gitton

 

Pascal Guilbaud, Guilbaud Frères (Muscadet)

 Aynard Clermont-Tonnerre, Touraine and Montlouis

Isabelle Clermont-Tonnerre, Touraine and Montlouis

 

On Our Bus – The Benevolent@The London Wine Fair

Details from The Benevolent:

'Originally used as a 29-seat passenger bus in Liverpool in the Swinging Sixties, The Benevolent Bus is now restored and converted to form a highly individual and charismatic meeting or hospitality space, ideal for business meetings, formal tastings or brand presentations. The interior has a meeting table seating 10 to 12 people which makes use of the original bench seating.

The Benevolent, the UK drink’s industry trade charity, will park the bus on Stand U54 at The LWF at Olympia. Visitors and exhibitors are invited to stop and chat about the charity’s ‘Here to Help’ campaign, as well as secure space for private meetings or tastings in return for a donation to the charity.'

It is really important for people in the UK wine trade to support The Benevolent as it can provide invaluable support elderly or ill members of the trade. Witness the very sad sorry of Richard Neill cruelly afflicted with Motor Neurone Disease in the prime of his life where The Benevolent has been able to provide substantial support. Details here.  

••• 

Details of the Benevolent's Pink Flamingo party 20th May 2015 on the Kensington Roof Gardens:

Tickets are priced at £60 per person and include everything guests will need to have a fantastic evening including a sumptuous BBQ, a premium selection of wines, beers and spirits and roving entertainers to delight and amuse. A limited number of VIP tickets will also be available at a cost of £75 per person and these will provide a variety of additional benefits including fast track VIP entry to the Roof Gardens, a glass of Champagne on arrival, a complimentary ticket for the Raffle and fast track queue for the BBQ.

In addition to enjoying delicious food and drink served within the picturesque three themed gardens above the London skyline, guests will also be able to vote for their choice of the ‘Best Dressed Male and Female’. Both winners will receive a special prize for their original and flamboyant interpretation of the ‘Pink Theme’ dress code so all attendees are invited to dress to impress. Guests will then be invited to dance the night away until the early hours accompanied by the Roof Gardens’ highly sought after resident DJ.

Guests are reminded that tickets must be bought in advance and will be unavailable for sale on the door.

All proceeds from the event will go directly towards helping vulnerable members of the trade who are suffering from serious illness, disability, financial hardship or experiencing a personal or family emergency.

Details.