We’ll be at three food and drink exhibitions this winter offering expert wine advice, hosting celebrity book signings and selling wine tour tickets in the run up to Christmas. If you’re at one of the shows below, do pop in and say hello…
Wine Show
Dates: 25 – 28 October 2007
Location: Business Design Centre, Islington, London
Vinopolis stand: B110 (downstairs at the rear of the building). The Wine Theatre is located on the top floor on the right hand-side of the building.
About the show: The Wine Show gives you the opportunity to taste lots of exciting wines. We’ll be hosting the wine theatre with a range of wine experts on hand sharing tips including TV’s Oz Clarke. This year we’re are also offering fantastic gift ideas - tour tickets, box set gifts and a range of wine books with regular book signings. For more information and to book click here.
BBC Good Food Show London
Dates: 16 – 18 November 2007
Location: Olympia, London
Vinopolis stand: C140
About the show: If you’re a real food lover and enjoy a glass of wine then this is the show for you. On site will be a range of local producers and an area exclusively dedicated to wine, beers and spirits. We’ll have a stand dedicated to wine books and gifts and this year we’ll be hosting regular wine walks around the show to help you discover some great wines.
About the Wine walks: Learn about and sample up to 5 wines from your choice of winery on this 40 minute guided wine walk at the show. The maximum size of each group is 10 so you’ll plenty of opportunities to have all your questions answered and time to purchase all your favourite selections! Walks are priced at £7.00 – to book contact Junior Alabi on 0208 267 8311 or by emailing: junior.alabi@haymarket.com
BBC Good Food Show Birmingham
Dates: 28 November – 2 December 2007
Location: NEC, Birmingham
Vinopolis stand: V266
About the show: This is the largest of the BBC Good Food Show exhibitions and we’ll be hosting the wine theatre - giving you invaluable advice as well as showing you how to spot different grape varieties. On the Vinopolis stand we’ll have a range of Christmas gifts including wine books, tour tickets and celebrity book signings throughout the show.
You can save up to £3.50 when you book your BBC Good Food Show tickets in advance. To take advantage of this offer call the ticket hotline on 0870 040 0393 or visit bbcgoodfoodshow.com and quote reference GFO.
Friday, 5 October 2007
Monday, 20 August 2007
Plastic bottles, Yeah or Nay?
Supermarkets have recently introduced plastic wine bottles...
See our poll on the right >>
See our poll on the right >>
Friday, 10 August 2007
WSET Awards night
Wednesday 8th August saw the celebration of this years Level 2 Intermediate Certificate in Wines and Spirits awards.
The Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) is the internationally recognised body who, amongst other things, offer a suite of wines and spirits related qualifications. Vinopolis is an approved programme provider for WSET and regularly runs two of the most popular and sought after WSET courses taught by Vinopolis' in-house wine expert Tom Forrest.
This years class saw an unprecedented 100% pass rate with the top score of 98% going to Amanda Geller. Wednesday's celebrations included more wine tasting and a certificate presentation by Vinopolis Chief Executive Malcolm Ball.
New dates have now been announced for both Level 2 and Level 3 Certificates, for more information and to book a course visit us at the Vinopolis website
Thursday, 2 August 2007
Interview with the Vinopolis Wine Expert Tom Forrest
Q. How did you start working in the wine industry ?
A. I joined the Wine industry late on in life. After teaching hospitality and catering (including wines and spirits studies) in a college of Further Education I came south and began to work at the International WINE Challenge. This is the biggest blind wine tasting competition in the world with over 7000 entries back then. After working there for a couple of years I came to Vinopolis six months before it opened and have been here ever since. I still judge wines at the IWC.
Q. What 's your favorite wine and why?
A. My favourite wine? Probably my first wine. A delicious Nuits St-Georges from Burgundy. This Pinot noir wine was the tipple that convinced me that there was something special about wine. Apart from that I really like Italian Amarone Valpolicella, this wine is made from semi dried grapes which gives a wonderful concentration and depth to the flavours.
Q. For someone who doesn’t know anything about wine, but would like to start somewhere, what’s your advice?
A. Grab a glass! Chat with friends, chat with your wine merchant. If you want to buy a book I can recommend books from authors such as Oz Clarke, Matt Skinner or Robert Joseph. They all make the world of wine fun and easy to understand.
Q. In your opinion, how can someone tell a “good wine” without being an expert?
A. Yes, of course. Everyone can notice differences in taste in wines. As for what is a 'good' wine, I think that that is in the hands of the taster.
One of the fascinating things about wine is how people feel about the same wines. Friends can disagree about the qualities of a wine, and these discussions can help you work out what you like or dislike about the flavours. Basically taste is a subjective matter
Q. Lots of people think a good wine has to be expensive. Is this true, or is it a false myth?
A. It all depends on what you call expensive. But the main thing is better wines will cost more. This is because more intense flavours come from smaller grapes. Smaller grapes mean less wine so it stands to reason that with less wine the cost of production is more per bottle and so the wine is more expensive. The difference in price between a £3.99 and £6.99 bottle of wine is concentration of flavour and cost of production. There is little difference in tax and just a bit more profit for everyone. The main difference is in the cost of the grapes.
Q. What then in your opinion is a reasonable price for a “good” wine?
A. I think that you will get a pretty fair drop of table wine for around £7 to £10 a bottle. Don't be taken in by these supermarket 'special offer' wines. There is a temporary glut of wine in Australia and a £3.99 wine will always be a £3.99 wine even if it says that the original price is something more expensive.
Q. Can you tell us about some of the new 'trends' or developments in the wine industry?
A. New trends, well, after screw caps we are now seeing wines coming in plastic bottles and other alternative packages. Some cheap plonks have come in plastic bottles for a while but now some better quality wines are appearing in them. These bottles differ from the cheap plonks because they look like a traditional wine bottle. The cheap ones looked like water bottles. They are lighter to carry and easier to recycle than glass. One supermarket has put a couple of their own label wines in these bottles and a couple of Australian producers and at least one French producer have used them as well. In addition you can now find wines in 'tetra bricks' and bags (similar to the insides of the bag in box wines of old). With producers becoming more aware of their carbon footprint look out for more innovative packaging.
A. I joined the Wine industry late on in life. After teaching hospitality and catering (including wines and spirits studies) in a college of Further Education I came south and began to work at the International WINE Challenge. This is the biggest blind wine tasting competition in the world with over 7000 entries back then. After working there for a couple of years I came to Vinopolis six months before it opened and have been here ever since. I still judge wines at the IWC.
Q. What 's your favorite wine and why?
A. My favourite wine? Probably my first wine. A delicious Nuits St-Georges from Burgundy. This Pinot noir wine was the tipple that convinced me that there was something special about wine. Apart from that I really like Italian Amarone Valpolicella, this wine is made from semi dried grapes which gives a wonderful concentration and depth to the flavours.
Q. For someone who doesn’t know anything about wine, but would like to start somewhere, what’s your advice?
A. Grab a glass! Chat with friends, chat with your wine merchant. If you want to buy a book I can recommend books from authors such as Oz Clarke, Matt Skinner or Robert Joseph. They all make the world of wine fun and easy to understand.
Q. In your opinion, how can someone tell a “good wine” without being an expert?
A. Yes, of course. Everyone can notice differences in taste in wines. As for what is a 'good' wine, I think that that is in the hands of the taster.
One of the fascinating things about wine is how people feel about the same wines. Friends can disagree about the qualities of a wine, and these discussions can help you work out what you like or dislike about the flavours. Basically taste is a subjective matter
Q. Lots of people think a good wine has to be expensive. Is this true, or is it a false myth?
A. It all depends on what you call expensive. But the main thing is better wines will cost more. This is because more intense flavours come from smaller grapes. Smaller grapes mean less wine so it stands to reason that with less wine the cost of production is more per bottle and so the wine is more expensive. The difference in price between a £3.99 and £6.99 bottle of wine is concentration of flavour and cost of production. There is little difference in tax and just a bit more profit for everyone. The main difference is in the cost of the grapes.
Q. What then in your opinion is a reasonable price for a “good” wine?
A. I think that you will get a pretty fair drop of table wine for around £7 to £10 a bottle. Don't be taken in by these supermarket 'special offer' wines. There is a temporary glut of wine in Australia and a £3.99 wine will always be a £3.99 wine even if it says that the original price is something more expensive.
Q. Can you tell us about some of the new 'trends' or developments in the wine industry?
A. New trends, well, after screw caps we are now seeing wines coming in plastic bottles and other alternative packages. Some cheap plonks have come in plastic bottles for a while but now some better quality wines are appearing in them. These bottles differ from the cheap plonks because they look like a traditional wine bottle. The cheap ones looked like water bottles. They are lighter to carry and easier to recycle than glass. One supermarket has put a couple of their own label wines in these bottles and a couple of Australian producers and at least one French producer have used them as well. In addition you can now find wines in 'tetra bricks' and bags (similar to the insides of the bag in box wines of old). With producers becoming more aware of their carbon footprint look out for more innovative packaging.
Friday, 27 July 2007
Champagne Ambassadors Award Finalist
Wednesday, 25 July 2007
WSET Wine Courses at Vinopolis
Vinopolis is an approved programme provider for WSET and regularly runs two of the most popular and sought after WSET courses.
If you have a desire to enhance your knowledge of the ever-increasing variety of wines and spirits being produced in the world today then come and join us on a course.
Autumn courses start in September, find out more here
Tuesday, 24 July 2007
Champagne Ambassadors Award Finalist
Vinopolis' very own wine expert Tom Forrest is one of only three finalists to make it to the national final of the CIVC's Champagne Ambassadors Award.
This is a unique competition in the wine world as it is only open to teachers and trainers with a training activity involving Champagne, either within a public or private catering school, within a training centre or within a wine appreciation club.
Tom is our resident WSET teacher and Wine Tour Development Manager and has worked for many years in wine education.
The final will be held at the Dorchester Hotel on 17th September. For more information on Tom's wine courses visit our wine school.
This is a unique competition in the wine world as it is only open to teachers and trainers with a training activity involving Champagne, either within a public or private catering school, within a training centre or within a wine appreciation club.
Tom is our resident WSET teacher and Wine Tour Development Manager and has worked for many years in wine education.
The final will be held at the Dorchester Hotel on 17th September. For more information on Tom's wine courses visit our wine school.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
