Past Tastings
Uncovering great wines from consumer, trade and press tastings
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Wines of Greece
In October 2024, I went to a Wines of Greece tasting event in London where there were 127 wines from various regions of Greece. This trade and press event provided an rare opportunity to sample wines predominantly made from grape varietals unfamiliar to me, which added a layer of intrigue to the experience. Here are…
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Simply Italian Great Wines Tasting
In early October 2024, I had the pleasure of attending the Simply Italian Great Wines Trade Tasting, an event with many exciting wines yet to be available in the UK. For importers and retailers alike, this event offered numerous opportunities to discover new offerings that could bring something fresh to the British market. The tasting…
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Tesco Autumn Winter Tasting
In September 2024, I had the opportunity to attend a Tesco Autumn Winter Tasting event, where I got to look at the exciting changes in their wine selection. Tesco has just completed its most significant update to their wine range in 15 years, introducing 130 new products. Notably, there’s been an increase in the number…
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Majestic Autumn Winter Tasting
In September 2024, I attended the Majestic Press Tasting event, which showcased 109 wines from their Autumn/Winter collection. The selection included new arrivals, fine wines and special parcels curated for the upcoming Christmas season. It was a comprehensive display, offering a wide range of styles and price points, as well as Majestic’s recently updated off-the-beaten-track…
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The Grape Unveiling
Hallgarten & Novum Wines is one of the UK’s leading specialist wine merchants, boasting over 90 years of experience in the industry. As a renowned wine wholesaler, supplier and importer, they focus on distributing premium wines to the on-trade (hospitality) and off-trade sectors (supermarkets, independents). In September 2024, I attended The Grape Unveiling in London,…
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Hatch Mansfield Autumn Portfolio Tasting
In September 2024, I attended the Hatch Mansfield Autumn Portfolio Tasting, an event in London showcasing an impressive array of wines from Hatch Mansfield’s portfolio. This agency focuses on wines crafted by independent, family-owned winemakers. Their portfolio includes well-known names such as Taittinger, C.V.N.E, Villa Maria and Errazuriz. Their wines can be found at many…
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Aldi Autumn Winter Wine Tasting
In September 2024, I attended the Aldi Autumn Winter Press Wine Tasting, where 98 wines were showcased. It was a great opportunity to experience the variety and quality of Aldi’s wine offerings as they continue to establish themselves as a major player in the UK market. In fact, Aldi recently became the third-largest wine retailer,…
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Fine Wine Tasting
In September 2024, I attended a Fine Wine Evening at my local Majestic in Woking. It was a consumer tasting event, expertly presented by Andrew from Majestic Woking. Andrew, who is soon to move to Majestic Edinburgh, showcased his knowledge throughout the evening, offering insights into the selection of fine wines. The evening began with…
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Tenuta Di Trinoro Tasting
In early September 2024, I attended a tasting lunch in London hosted by Benjamin Franchetti, the owner of Tenuta di Trinoro, a renowned estate known for its Super-Tuscan wines. The estate was founded by Benjamin’s late father, Andrea Franchetti, who defied expectations by creating a world-class Super-Tuscan from scratch, without any outside help. Although Tenuta…
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WineGB Trade and Press Tasting
The WineGB Trade and Press Tasting, in early September 2024, offered an impressive selection, showcasing over 300 wines from 80 producers. The event featured individual exhibitor stands, regional vineyard association stands and themed tasting tables. English sparkling wine has reached an exceptional level of quality, frequently rivalling and occasionally surpassing some of the finest Champagnes….
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Swig Autumn Portfolio Tasting
Swig is an online retailer founded by Robin Davis, 25 years ago, which has earned a reputation as one of the UK’s best independents. They also supply some of the UK’s top restaurants and independents, and in 2021, Decanter Magazine awarded them Best Midsize Online Retailer. In September 2024, I attended the Swig Autumn Portfolio…
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Italian Wine Tasting
In July and August 2024, when press tastings were sparse, I decided to host a few wine tastings at home. For this third tasting of the Summer, I invited PR agencies, importers and retailers to submit Italian wines. I also included a few wines recommended by participants from previous tastings, as well as a blind…
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California Dreaming Wine Tasting
I attended the “California Dreaming” consumer wine tasting event at Majestic in August 2024, hosted by the knowledgeable Andrew from Majestic Woking. Nine of us sampled a selection of wines that highlighted the diverse range of grape varieties available from California, going beyond the typical expectations. We started with a Champagne welcome drink, as Majestic…
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BBQ Wine Tasting
During July and August, when press tastings are few and far between, I decided to host a few wine tastings at home. For this tasting, I invited PR agencies, importers and retailers to submit wines that would be suitable for a BBQ setting. Ten family members and friends, all sharing my enthusiasm for wine, participated…
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Majestic Italian Wine Tasting
In August 2024, I went to an Italian wine tasting at my local Majestic in Woking, just a few doors down from the infamous Woking Pizza Express. It was an enjoyable evening, sampling a variety of Italian wines, including Franciacorta, Soave, Gavi, Greco Di Tufo, a Rosso Veronese, Chianti and a Brunello. Among these, a…
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Wines of Rueda, Navarra and Toro
In July 2024, I attended a trade/press wine tasting event in London, the first ever bringing together Rueda, Navarra and Toro wines from Northern Spain. Rueda, northwest of Madrid, is the second most popular denomination of origin (DO) in terms of sales in Spain. It is renowned for its mainly white wines, particularly those made…
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Awards Wines Tasting
July and August have very few press tastings, so I decided to host some tastings at home. I invited a few PR agencies, importers and retailers to submit wines for these tastings. This first event featured award-winning wines, tasted by nine family members and friends, all of whom share my enthusiasm for wine. We enjoyed…
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Petersham Cellar, Vini Franchetti
Petersham Cellar is a London-based independent specialist in cult and fine wines. It was founded by Giovanni Mazzei from the Marchesi Mazzei family, owners of the Castello di Fonterutoli in Tuscany since 1435 and Lara Angelica Boglione from Petersham Nurseries in London. Petersham Cellar is associated with Petersham Nurseries and the group of restaurants including…
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Istituto Grandi Marchi
On 25 June 2024, I attended the Istituto Grandi Marchi wine tasting event in London. The Istituto Grandi Marchi, founded in 2004, is a group comprising eighteen top Italian wineries. Their mission is to promote the culture and trade of high-quality Italian wine. As part of their global tour, they brought a selection of exceptional…
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Lidl Summer and French Wine Tours
In June 2024, I went to a Lidl wine tasting in London, which showcased wines planned to be introduced during the Summer (mainly Iberian wine) and French Wine Tours, at the end of June 2024 and July 2024 respectively. Additionally, a selection of wines from Lidl’s core range was also being shown. Wine Tours at…
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