All posts tagged wine

Oddbins Wine Bloggers Case

by Andrew on July 10, 2012 in On The Web with No comments

oddbins wine bloggers caseWine critics and wine retailers have not always seen eye to eye when it comes to agreeing on what the British consumer should be drinking.

But a partnership between Oddbins and several influential wine bloggers is set to bear fruit after the independent high street wine merchant announced that the nation’s first case of wine, selected exclusively by online scribblers, is now available.

The idea is to give consumers more confidence in choosing different styles of wine to the ones they usually buy.

Emma Nichols, Head of Buying at Oddbins, said:

“Many wine bloggers see themselves as informed consumers, who want to share their expertise with drinkers in an unstuffy way. We loved the idea of a case selected by wine bloggers, this approach fits perfectly with the Oddbins philosophy of making wine as accessible as possible for our customers.”

The bloggers case idea was conceived by David Lowe and Tara Devon O’Leary, who approached Andrew Barrow, Tom Lewis, Belinda Stone and Paola Tich for the project before taking the idea to Oddbins.

David/Tara said:

“Some of us work in the wine trade. Some of us don’t. But what unites us is a love for wine and making it more accessible to consumers. While we have different tastes, our rule for the case was choosing quality, affordable wines that we would all happily drink and recommend to our friends.”

Each blogger chose two wines for under £10 from the shelves at Oddbins. The Oddbins Wine Bloggers mixed case costs £98 (with free delivery) and is available online http://www.oddbins.com/wine/Wine_Bloggers_Case.html

Oddbins is currently searching for the best amateur wine palate in the UK. The winners of the UK search will join the Oddbins tasting panel that will select some of its range to go in-store and on its website.


Oz Clarke Adds Grape Expectations To Vineyard Holidays

by Andrew on February 28, 2012 in Taste with No comments

Dawn on the Celebrity EclipseWorld leading wine connoisseur Oz Clarke is joining forces with cruise line Celebrity Cruises and Vinopolis, the wine destination in the heart of London’s Borough Market, to host travel experiences taking in renowned vineyards throughout France, Spain and Portugal during their grape harvest. The 12-night immersive Celebrity Cruises Vineyard Holidays – designed to wow the palettes of food and wine fans – take advantage of the first-class restaurants and wine programmes onboard Celebrity Cruises’ ship Celebrity Constellation whilst travelling between Europe’s top wine producing regions.

Whilst onboard guests will have the chance to get up close and personal to some of Europe’s best vintages, enjoy exclusive Vinopolis wine masterclasses with Oz Clarke and learn about the range of wine styles and grape varieties in the regions visited.

The new partnership between Celebrity Cruises, Vinopolis and Oz Clarke is part of a new programme of ‘Immersive Europe Wine Cruises’ on offer this autumn. Guests will enjoy onboard activities such as champagne brunches, Bordeaux samplings, lessons in how to pair wine and food, as well as a range of dedicated shore excursions visiting renowned chateaux and vineyards with the opportunity to experience grape harvesting first hand.

Co-hosted by leading wine expert Oz Clarke and Vinopolis’ resident expert Tom Forrest, the Vinopolis Europe Immersive Wine Cruise departs Southampton (UK) on 13 October 2012 and will call at Paris (Le Havre, France), Bordeaux (Le Verdon, France) Bilbao (Spain), Vigo (Spain) and Porto (Portugal) during the 2012 harvest season.

Oz Clarke comments:

“I can’t wait to take my passion for wine to the high seas. Not only am I looking forward to learning more about the impressive wine selections, bars and restaurants from Celebrity Cruises, I’m also keen to talk to fine food and wine fans, share my knowledge and bring to life some of the Vinopolis experience whilst having a great time onboard the ship. The chance to sail between some of Europe’s best known wine regions, relaxing with a glass in hand, is just too good to turn down.”

Bespoke shore excursions include visits to many of Europe’s top wine producing vineyards such as the Rioja Wine Tour and the Margaux Wine Tour, which takes guests to Bordeaux’s prestigious wine-growing region which produces the most delicate of the wines of Bordeaux. The French Wine Overland shore excursion takes guests on a three-day (two-night) journey through some of France’s most renowned wine regions – from Paris for Loire Valley, through to Charente, Bordeax and Le Verdon, the next port of call, where guests will re-join the ship. As well as tours and tastings at various vineyards along the way, the tour also includes lunch at the Eiffel Tower.

Following the exclusive Oz Clarke hosted sailing on 13 October, Celebrity Cruises will continue to offer further immersive wine cruises to popular vineyard destinations. Wine-themed sailings depart from Southampton on 7 and 19 September; 1, 13 and 25 October; and 6 and 18 November 2012.

Dan Hanrahan, president and CEO, Celebrity Cruises, explains:

“The food and wine enjoyed by guests of Celebrity Cruises consistently wins praise and awards, and the new partnership with Vinopolis elevates the expertise on offer. We have recently invested in world-renowned new sommelier training for our onboard restaurant and bar staff and increased the range of wines available. Adding Vinopolis and Oz Clarke to this mix means we have a truly enviable combination that I will certainly be raising a glass to.”

Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Constellation has recently had a modern luxury makeover and hosts a range of new bars including Cellar Masters wine bar, inspired by the vineyards of Napa Valley, California, and a “cool” ice-topped Martini Bar as well as fine dining venues the Tuscan Grille steakhouse; the vibrant creperie, Bistro on Five; and the Café al Bacio and Gelateria. Guests can relax in the onboard spa or solarium or head to the iLounge internet café to use, learn about or buy a range of Apple products.

The Celebrity Cruises and Vinopolis partnership will see a food and wine themed event held at Vinopolis in London in spring 2012 to provide a taster of the exclusive partnership. Vinopolis is a unique venue dedicated to fine food and fine wine set amongst the backdrop of soaring railway arches, making it the ideal setting for exploring the intricacies of food and wine in an exceptional environment. For further information visit www.vinopolis.com

Celebrity Cruises Vineyard Holidays cruise on 13 October 2012 will be available to book from 1 March 2012. To book or for more information call Celebrity Cruises on 0844 481 7682.

Vinopolis Halloween Ball

by Andrew on October 25, 2011 in Tasting Events/Shows with No comments

halloween at_vinopolisIf you’re after a ghostly encounter with spirits guaranteed, head to leading attraction Vinopolis this spine-tingling Halloween weekend.

With a Halloween themed Bombay Sapphire cocktail with a twist, and two Absinthe tastings on the menu, the annual Grand Ball spook-fest will warm your insides before chilling you to the bone!

Come dressed to kill in your scariest attire and soak up the atmosphere in one of the capital’s most eerie yet stunning locations – deep beneath a Victorian viaduct at the illustrious London Bridge.

Included in the terrifying night is the opportunity to be photographed on the ‘black’ carpet, or dare to be snapped in the haunted black cab booth complete with ghostly chauffeur.

For an extra shot of Dutch courage, party-goers can enjoy four regular wine tastings and two beer tastings, along with a special serving of hearty Toad in the ‘Ole. Scary surprises, eerie acts and devilish DJing guaranteed to have you cutting some shadowy shapes on the dance floor help to round off the evening.

The Vinopolis Halloween Ball takes place on Friday October 28th 2011, from 5pm until midnight.

Every Wine Tells A Story

by Andrew on March 28, 2011 in Books For Cooks with No comments

A dip into the lives, the wine loves with an associated anecdote from a host of internet wine names. That I think just about sums up Every Wine Tells A Story, a copy of which the author, Tara Devon O’Leary, posted over to me last week. Subtitled “A collection of the most memorable bottles of 2010 as told by 29 international wine experts” it is less about the most expensive bottle opened, the most famous “bound to impress” show-off label and more, as Simon Woods in his section mentions, more “right-place-right-time” wine.

In addition to Simon, (with a €3 wine) you will discover old Sleuthy, (with a wine picked before her recent Bordeaux epiphany), alongside Phil Spillman, the winemaker at Deakin Estate in Australia, Tim Pearson, owner of the South African Seven Springs Vineyard (who has picked a glorious South African wine) and Richard Siddle, Editor of Harpers Wine and Spirit magazine. Twenty-nine individuals in total; certainly an eclectic and engaging group. Plus you will find me in there too; just to make up the numbers.

But there is more to Every Wine Tells A Story than simple words for Tara has created a Facebook page when you are encouraged to record your own ‘best wine of 2010′ story. You can also appear in the next edition by submitting your details!

Thanks for your interest in Every Wine Tells A Story: a Collection of the Most Memorable Bottles of 2010 to Warm the Wine Lover’s Soul, as told by 29 International Wine Experts.

I’d like to share with you my motivation for this book. To me, expanding one’s experience of wine by tasting, drinking and appreciating different bottles is the best, easiest and most fun way to learn about wine.

So I hope that the stories of the wines in these pages will inspire and encourage you to choose wines that you haven’t had before and are interesting, unusual, and even perhaps a bit risky!

The second reason is because I believe wine is an experience. Wine amplifies an evening with friends, accentuates a great meal and wine evokes emotion, exuberance and passion. These stories do the same – they tell a personal tale of a time when the wine in the glass made that day with those people in that place even more special.

So please join me and my 28 fellow wine experts and enthusiasts as we share with you our personal experiences of one wine from 2010 that captured our imagination!”
– Tara Devon O’Leary

Every Wine Tells a Story a Collection of the Most Memorable Bottles of 2010 to Warm the Wine Lover’s Soul, as Told by 29 International Wine Experts is available from Amazon.co.uk

Cono Sur Signs Up Top Chefs For Sustainable Cooking Competition

by Andrew on November 9, 2010 in On The Web with No comments

Cono Sur is highlighting its status as one of the world’s most sustainable wineries this autumn with the launch of the Cono Sur Green Cooks Search, an online competition to find the UK’s most environmentally-friendly home cook.

The competition aims to highlight the affinity between Cono Sur and sustainable cooking by rewarding “green cooks”, a term coined by Cono Sur to describe those who produce food that not only matches Cono Sur wines in terms of taste, but also its sustainability ethos, by using home-grown, organic or ethically sourced ingredients.

The Chilean company has signed up top chefs known for their eco-cooking credentials to be on the Green Cooks Search judging panel, including Michelin-starred chef Paul Merrett of The Victoria in West London, Jamie Grainger-Smith, co-founder of London’s first eco-restaurant Acorn House and current director of restaurant consultancy Think, Eat, Drink, and the Soil Association’s Organic Food Awards chairman Barny Houghton, who is also an award-winning chef and founder of the Bordeaux Quay restaurant and cookery school in Bristol.

The competition, which should go live today at www.conosurgreencooks.com, will run for six weeks, with entrants invited to upload recipes, photos and videos of their green cooking exploits. Each of the chef partners will be providing their own sustainable recipes, which will be posted on the website from 8th November, with a step-by-step photo guide for those wanting to try out the chefs’ exclusive recipes at home. The recipes will be matched to wines from the Carbon Neutral® Cono Sur range.

A case of Cono Sur wine and a grow-your-own vegetables kit from the Seed Pantry will be given to the best entry of the week and at the end of the competition, an overall winner will be chosen by the judging panel, winning a weekend break for two at The Victoria, including a delicious, seasonal meal cooked by Paul Merrett and paired with Cono Sur wines. The grand prize winner will be announced on the website on 22nd December 2010.

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