Wine & Spirits Tastings

As the days get shorter and the weather gets colder, there's nothing better than cosying up to the fire and cracking open a bottle of port. 

We invite you to join us for a very special tasting of port from one of the Douro's greatest port producers, Graham's. We're pleased to welcome Tom Symington to guide guests through a tasting of 4 unique Graham's ports, from Tawny to the estate's single vineyard Malvedos vintage port dating back to 1986. 

Graham`s 20YO Tawny, 75cl

Graham`s Vintage Half 2003, 37.5cl

Graham`s Vintage Half 1991, 37.5cl

Graham`s Malvedos Half 1986, 37.5cl

Please note that this tasting will take place via video link. You will be sent a link 1-2 days before the event. 

Climate is one of the major factors that has a strong impact on the ultimate style of a wine. Typically wines from colder climates have higher acidity and lower alcohol, and can be very food-friendly. 

In this tasting, our resident wine writer Sherry Rose Stolar will guide guests through a tasting of four wines from cool climate regions, including Austria, Germany, Switzerland and even a still wine from England! Wines have been selected to show the diversity of styles that can be produced in cooler climate wine regions. 

In this tasting, guests will taste the following: 

Litmus White Pinot 2016, 75cl

Gobelsburg Gruner Veltliner Lamm Half 2012, 37.5cl

Allendorf Riesling QbA Half 2017, 37.5cl

No 3 Pinot Noir Schlossgut Bachtobel 2017, 75cl

Please note that this tasting will take place via video link. You will be sent a link 1-2 days before the event.

Just as wines from cooler climates tend to share certain characteristics, wines from warmer regions tend to do so, as well. Often times we find that wines from warmer climates tend to richer and riper, with more concentrated fruit and fuller body. 

In this tasting, our resident wine writer Sherry Rose Stolar will guide guests through a tasting of four wines from warm climate regions, including Argentina, Spain, California and Israel. Wines have been selected to show the diversity of styles that can be produced in warmer climate wine regions. 

In this tasting, guests will taste the following: 

Catena White Stones Chardonnay 2017, 75cl

Sierra Cantabria Amancio Rioja Half 2008, 37.5cl

Ridge Monte Bello Cabernet Sauvignon Half 2017, 37.5cl

Margalit Enigma 2016, 75cl

Please note that this tasting will take place via video link. You will be sent a link 1-2 days before the event.
 

This is not your traditional wine and chocolate pairing, but will instead explore the similarities between wine and chocolate, as it refers to terroir, the influence of the craft (winemaking and chocolate making) and how the same starting ingredients (grapes, beans) can result in very different final tastes.

We're thrilled to welcome Spencer Hyman of Cocoa Runners, the craft chocolate subscription service, to co-host this tasting alongside our resident wine writer Sherry Rose Stolar. Together, Spencer and Sherry will guide guests through a comparative tasting of chocolate and wine, which should prove informative, fun and, of course, delicious. 

In this tasting, guests will receive a sample kit of the following chocolates:

Marou - Ba Ria 76%

Marou - Ben Tre 78%

Goodnow - Esmeraldas 70% Ecuador

Pralus - Ecuador

Standout Choc. - Sambirano Valley, Madagascar 70%

Standout - Sambirano Madagascar 60% Milk

Guests will also taste the following wines, all from half bottle: 

Les Barraillots 2015

La Tour Carnet 2016

Crozes Hermitage Thalabert Jaboulet 2017

Torbreck The Struie 2012

Please note that this tasting will take place via video link. You will be sent a link 1-2 days before the event.
 

The name of Hugel & Fils is synonymous with the wines of Alsace. Now approaching 400 years of continual ownership and management by the same family, few can claim to have done more to promote and celebrate the wines of this very special region. From crisp, mineral Grand Cru Rieslings to dense, complex sweet Gewurztraminer and everything in between, the Hugels produce a range of dazzling wines that embody the essence of Alsace's unique terroir.

We are delighted to have Jean Frederic Hugel on hand to present this exploration of his family's wines. Jean is the latest generation to take the reins at the Domaine and will discuss each wine in detail along with giving an overview of the history of the Hugel & Fils winery.

Grossi Laue Pinot Gris Hugel 2011, 37.5cl

Grossi Laue Riesling Hugel 2012, 37.5cl

Grossi Laue Gewurztraminer Hugel 2011, 37.5cl

Grossi Laue Pinot Noir Hugel 2012, 37.5cl

The 1855 Classification of Bordeaux's Medoc is considered perhaps the most significant classification system of any wine region in the world. It has cemented the status of wineries in Bordeaux's left bank almost entirely; in fact, there have only been two changes in its 170-year history! 

This tasting celebrates the chateaux that were classified at the time in the second and third growth categories, today which are often considered to rival the quality of first growth chateaux. Our resident wine writer Sherry Rose Stolar will guide guests through a tasting of the 2017 vintage of this special category of wines from one of the world's most coveted wine regions. 

In this tasting, guests will taste the following, all from half bottle: 

Château Palmer 2017, 37.5cl

Château Rauzan Segla 2017, 37.5cl

Château Calon Segur 2017, 37.5cl

Château Léoville-Barton 2017, 37.5cl

Château Léoville-Las-Cases 2017, 37.5cl

Please note that this tasting will take place via video link. You will be sent a link 1-2 days before the event.

This is the second in our tasting series of the classified chateaux of Bordeaux, this time featuring wines from all five of the First Growth chateaux as classified in 1855. 

This is a special and rare opportunity to taste wines from Bordeaux's most coveted chateaux in a single tasting. Alongside our resident wine writer Sherry Rose Stolar, guests will enjoy a virtual tour of the top of the top of Bordeaux's left bank, indulging in what are considered the finest examples of wine in the region, perhaps in the world. 

In this tasting, guests will taste the following:

Château Mouton-Rothschild 2017, 75cl

Le Clarence de Haut Brion 2017, 37.5cl

Les Forts de Latour Half 2013, 37.5cl

Château Lafite-Rothschild 2016, 37.5cl

Château Margaux 2017, 37.5cl

Please note that this tasting will take place via video link. You will be sent a link 1-2 days before the event.

We are delighted to have Alex Mermillod to host this fascinating tasting exploring one of France's greatest producers of fine Calvados, Christian Drouin. Alex will guide guests through a tasting of half a dozen bottlings of aged apple brandy, including vintage bottlings from 1970 and 1980 and the experimental "Hampden Angel", aged in ex-rum casks and also explore the long history of one of France's greatest gastronomic exports. 

Guests will enjoy six Calvados, each provided in 100ml sample bottles.

Drouin XO

Drouin Hors d'Age

Vintage 2000

Vintage 1980

Vintage 1970

Hampden Angel

As the weather turns a little cooler, thoughts don't necessarily turn to enjoying a glass of fine Japanese sake - but they should! This tasting will introduce guests to the joys of warm sake and also look at which styles are suited to warming and which are best served chilled. House of Sake's Honami Matsumoto will host this event, showcasing and discussing three different sakes, two of which will be tasted warm.

If you would like to indulge in a spot of food and sake matching, recommended snacks to enjoy with the sakes would be salmon sashimi or smoked Scottish salmon, prosciutto di Parmi or Ibérico ham, green olives, smoked mackerel and green olives.

To enjoy this tasting, you will need a method of warming the sake - a sake flask is ideal, but a small decanter or jug that can be submerged in water will work well also. You will need to have some 80°C water on hand to warm your rice wine.

Keigetsu Sake Nature

Genroku No Sake

Keigetsu Aikawahomare Tokubetsu Junmai

Please note that this tasting will take place via video link. You will be sent a link 1-2 days before the event. 

One of the qualities that separates new world wine regions from those of the old world is the desire to continuously innovate. From discovering new territories to experimenting with unusual grape varieties, the new world offers much opportunity to discover novel tastes. 

We invite you to join our resident wine writer Sherry Rose Stolar in tasting a selection of fun and unique wines from new world regions including Chile, Argentina and California. This tasting will prove to be a great exploration into up-and-coming styles and grape varieties across the Americas. 

In this tasting, guests will taste the following, all from 75cl: 

J Bouchon Pais Salvaje White 2018

Ver Sacrum La Dama del Abrigo Rojo Nebbiolo 2017

Garage Wine Co Pirque Vineyard Lot #80 Cabernet Franc 2016

Wilson Foreigner Rancho Chimiles Valdiguie 2015

Please note that this tasting will take place via video link. You will be sent a link 1-2 days before the event.

For as much innovation as there is in the new world, some of the best producers are those that make wines of classic sophistication. These are the wines that, if you close your eyes, could potentially transport you back to the spiritual home of these grape varieties in the old world. 

Our resident wine writer Sherry Rose Stolar will take guests on a journey to the Americas in this tasting, enjoying four wines of old world elegance, as adapted for the terroirs of California, Chile and Argentina. This is a special opportunity to taste some of the new world's top producers in a single tasting. 

In this tasting, guests will taste the following: 

Aubert Russian River Chardonnay 2018, 75cl

Cheval des Andes 2016, 75cl

Almaviva Half 2017, 37.5cl

Sena Half 2015, 37.5cl

Please note that this tasting will take place via video link. You will be sent a link 1-2 days before the event.

The Mascot is a wine made by renowned Napa Valley vintner Will Harlan, of Harlan Estate, BOND and Promontory. It represents a blend of younger vines from these three world class estates. 

Please join Anthony Mendelson for this exclusive tasting. Guests will have the opportunity to taste three vintages of The Mascot, gaining insight into how The Mascot develops in the bottle, as well as providing a glimpse at the pedigree of the three parent estates.

In this tasting, guests will taste the following three vintages of The Mascot, all from half bottle: 

The Mascot 2011

The Mascot 2013

The Mascot 2014

Please note that this tasting will take place via video link. You will be sent a link 1-2 days before the event.