I was fortunate enough to win a Twitter competition with Levanter Fine Foods a few weeks ago to attend the Three Wine Men event at the Museum of Science and Industry. I never win anything and happily re-tweet anything that catches my eye so was amazed to see lots of tweets congratulating me on my win, for one of the things I fancied the most! Three Wine Men is an event that runs up and down the country with wine coinosseurs Oz Clarke, Olly Smith and Tim Atkin of TV fame. That said you probably won’t recognise Olly as he has lost 3 and a half stone! Chatting to him he said this has been achieved by hammering a cross trainer and eating smaller portions. I love a simple weight loss story 😉 I also loved that this was how accessible these wine gurus are. They mingle and try the wine with you sharing their stories and listening to your thoughts on the wines being exhibited. There is also the opportunity for an autograph and photo as well as getting their fabulous books.
As I said in my last post about the 7 word wine review, I am not really a wine drinker but there is no need to be nervous here, you are given a fabulous Riedel glass on entrance, a guide and sent on your way! Wine makers and distributors greet you at tables displaying their wares with a smile and an explanation of their offerings. Even if you have never tasted wine in your life you really are in for a treat. There is also beer and food exhibitors to visit, for something different.
Here are my favourites from the day:
Being the amazing people who gave me the tickets it was a must to stop by the family-run business who stock the most amazing Serrano and Manchego cheese in the UK. I know Spanish food… being brought up on holidays in Tenerife 5-6 times a year in the late 80s-early 90s when it was still very much a Canarian culture I get the good Serrano, Manchego and Chorizo out there. And this is good, we saw many a happy punter walking round with a plate full of the stuff and we had to wait a fair while!
Cremant de Bourgogne Rose NV Sparkling (£12.99) – you will see from most of my tastings of the day that I like a sparkling wine, in fact that is an understatement. There were far too many on offer to say no! This was sweet for a rose but with a dry finish. Like candy floss.
Wines of Brasil
Aurora reserve rose Moscatel NV (£9.99) – The best rose of the day for me. Very sweet with a floral nose. See? I am even learning the lingo 😉
Morton Mimi Sparkling (£10.99) – a fabulous price for a fabulously presented bottle of sparkling wine. Just look at the cartoon on the bottle! This was beautifully sweet too and a very drinkable wine. Perfect to welcome guests or to toast in the new year at a very affordable price.
Avery’s Project Winemaker Riesling, Clare Valley 2010 (£9.99) – with a newly found love of Riesling (see my last favourite of the day) I searched this one out and was not disappointed. This is drier than the other wine I tried but still with a lovely apple and pear taste.
Inniskillin Cabernet Franc Icewine 2006 (£75) – this wins the award for most inventive of the day. This is made with frozen grapes in Canada giving the wine an extremely sweet but slightly spicy taste. Very different but something I would never have got to experience anywhere else.
Cordon Oro (£9.49) – I’m a Freixenet Cordon Negro fan usually but hadn’t seen this one before. It is similar but sweeter and the same price. Something I will be searching out soon at the co op!
I know you are going to be surprised by this but my favourite exhibitor of the day was Morrison’s Cellar. On arrival you are given a scratch card and asked simple taste related questions to give your palate a ‘score’. Based on this the fabulous staff recommended wines suitable for you. Apparently I am a supertaster (I have laughed this term off in the past when a friend used to say she couldn’t eat certain things due to being a supertaster) and like sweeter things. The latter being very true. They recommended the Spy Valley Envoy Riesling 2011 (£14.99) to me and wow, were they right. This is one special wine. It’s sweet, as already suggested, but with a fabulous zesty punch of lime and a floral after taste. Absolutely beautiful and possibly one of the nicest wines I have ever had. Quite a statement 😉 You can do the Morrisons test online so be sure to give them a go.
We were so impressed that we have already bought our tickets for next year, can’t wait to see what else we find!
No Comments