Thank you everyone who has joined us or been involved to make 2024 such a fantastic year of events.
We’re doing it all again in 2025 so please join us!
All the links are in the bio;
🍷Friday 31 January – Lidl Spain & Portugal Wine Tour Preview – BYO
🥂Monday 3 February – Appreciating Rioja Monday Minis
🍷Wednesday 20 February – Australia Off The Beaten Track Wine Workshop
🥂Monday 10 March – Appreciating Alsace Rocks Monday Minis
🍷Saturday 15 March – Matthew Jukes100 Best Australian Wines Festival
🥂Wednesday 20 March – High Altitude Winemaking in Argentina Wine Workshop
🍷Saturday 31 May – Edinburgh Uncorked Wine Fair with Richard Bampfield MW
🥂Saturday 22 November – Fizz Feast – A Celebration of Sparkling Wine & Artisan Food
Hope to see you at one or more of these & wishing you all the very best for a happy & healthy 2025!
Just One Bottle is a fantastic Wines of Ukraine initiative.
Whether you’re a wine lover, wine merchant or restaurant please join in - all you need to do is buy or list Just One Bottle of Ukrainian wine.
At this time of year, while we look forward to the festivities and celebrations, it’s also important to remember those in places around the world where life remains incredibly challenging. As we gather with loved ones, we can extend our thoughts—and actions—toward supporting communities facing adversity.
Supporting Ukraine’s wine producers during such challenging times can make a meaningful difference. “Just One Bottle” is a simple yet impactful way for you to contribute while also celebrating the season.
#justonebottle
#winesofukraine
We’re in for many sparkling treats at #fizzfeast this year. Here’s a sneak preview of one I’ll be showing at my masterclass.
🥂
Chateau Chizay Carpathoan Sekt from Western Ukraine
🇺🇦
Join us at Fizz Feast this Saturday to find out more
🔗 to tickets in bio
Don’t miss Fizz Feast - Scotland’s Sparkling Event OTY.
🥂
We’re forecasting a severe ticket shortage so book soon to avoid disappointment.
🍾
We have an incredible collection of fabulous sparkling wines and awesome artisanal foods & more.
🥂
There’s just a handful of tickets left!
Not long to go until we welcome Wines of Portugal to Edinburgh's Assembly Rooms with the opportunity to taste over 250 wines from 25 producers, exploring some of the 250 indigenous grape varieties and more.
Don't miss this!
Book here for trade bit.ly/WoPTradeFair
or here for the consumer event bit.ly/WESWoPWineFair
The latest Lidl Wine Tour with a French focus is now in store!
Since we’re not doing a Zoom tasting this month here’s a selection I think is worth trying;
Cuvée de Brieu Sauvignon Blanc, IGP Pays d’Oc - 90 points - £6.99
Grassy, vibrant nose leading to ripe soft creamy stone fruit on the palate. Try with some white fish or halloumi salad.
Riesling AOC Alsace - 87 points - £6.99
White flowers, lovely freshness, aromatic with an almost saline finish and crisp acidity. Enjoy with sushi or even Thai green curry.
Mâcon-Lugny AOC, Mâconnais - 87 points - £11.99
Soft and elegant subtle Chardonnay with a good length. A creamy chicken dish would be good or something with chargrilled peppers.
Bonot Pinot Noir, Burgundy - 87 points - £6.99
Lively red cherry fruit and some herbaceous characters so enjoy with a dish with herbs such as lamb with lots of garlic and rosemary.
Morgon AOC, Beaujolais - 90 points - £9.99
Rich, soft ripe black cherries and structured tannins – calling for pasta and a tomato based sauce – ideally spaghetti bolognaise.
Gestos Malbec & Malbec, Argentina - 92 points - £8.99
Try decanting this or give it an extra swirl in the glass to open up the hallmark damson black fruit. Try with steak or some mature cheddar cheese.
Organic Vacqueyras AOC, Rhône - £12.99
Perfumed and elegant with everything in harmony and beautifully balanced. Attractive black fruit, a touch of thyme and a hint of white pepper. Deliciously moreish.
My top 4 are Sauvignon, Mâcon-Lugny, Morgon & Vacqueras
Which are yours?
We’ve been having a busy & fun couple of days in the Drinks Theatre at Foodies & it’s going to be another great one today!
1.30 CVNE
4.30 Ramon Bilbao
5.30 Lidl
See you there!
Great to catch up with Richard Bampfield MW @bampwine at The Royal Highland Show at the weekend ahead of our Lidl Wine Tour Zoom tasting this Friday 28th
A huge congratulations to @lidlgb for winning Best Tradestand at the show – a fantastic achievement all managed by the great Chris Scott.
Join us this Friday for a great start to the weekend. We have 6 super wines to taste from the Iberian Peninsula – including fizz, white, rosé and reds
All the details are on the web page – guess where the 🔗 is!
Next week we’re off to the sun-baked Greek island of Santorini for our June Wine Workshop. And it’s #greekwinemonth
🥂
If you’ve not tasted Santorini wines before these are really special.
🇬🇷
The oldest vineyards on Earth, Extreme winemaking, Ancient volcanic soils, Kouloura baskets, A UNESCO World Heritage Site and Wines with a unique saline character are just a few reasons why Santorini wines are so special.
🌋
Not to mention the wines I’ll be showing next Wednesday range from £30-£65 a bottle!
🇬🇷
🔗 in bio
What a lovely evening pairing a diverse selection of rosés with Molton Brown’s Rhubarb & Rose fragrance.
💐
Throwing out the rule books and introducing perfume during a wine tasting was quite a revelation and interesting to see how the wines each paired perfectly to either the Rhubarb & Rose Eau De Toilette or the Eau De Parfum.
🥂
Here’s what we found worked best;
🌹Perfect Pairing for Rhubarb & Rose Eau De Toilette🌹
✅Villa Maria Private Bin Blush Sauvignon 2022, New Zealand
✅The Drift Year of the Rooster, WO Cape Agulhas 2020, South Africa
🌸Perfect Pairing for Eau De Parfum🌸
✅The Penelope Method Cap Classique, WO Overberg 2017, South Africa
✅Champagne Taittinger Brut Prestige Rosé NV, France
✅Whispering Angel Chateau Desclans, AOC Côtes de Provence 2023, France
Another big revelation for me was eating raw rhubarb sticks dipped in sugar - delicious!
🍾 Lots of corks a-popping today🥂
Thanks Elenora for showing us how it's done 🍾
🍷Edinburgh Uncorked 2024 is officially open🍷
@susyatkins is here for all your questions and happy to give advice on all the wines.
Cheers!