Sharing wine knowledge and fun - join the group

I recently posted some thoughts on wine fairs - and opportunities for consumers to taste a whole range of wines - on my Wine Conversation blog.

I am involved in advising the organisers of the Fine Wine Fair (I worked with the Wine Gang event last year) on social media aspects, and know it is tough to make this effective in the first year when they have yet to make friends, or build up many followers on facebook and so on, as they have nothing to share until the event happens. So, I thought I would help to create a whole bunch of interesting content this year to help with future events.

I'm often asked for wine recommendations, so as I am planning on being there on Friday evening (15 October), I thought I might put together a group to walk around the show together. An 'unofficial' guided walk - as there will be official ones too. 

I'm sure none of my wine trade friends need advice from me, but maybe I can give some pointers to those getting into wine, looking for some new things to try.

If you think you can come along from around 5pm onwards on Friday, and want to join our 'posse', please get in touch via the comments or on twitter (@thirstforwine)

Tickets are £24.50 on Friday, £20 for the rest of the weekend (which is not bad for all that wine), but I think I can get a special half-price offer for the group.

I already have @warriorgrrl's excellent photo and video skills involved and I'd love to hear how you'd be able to share some thoughts or experiences from the event too.

I can guarantee that there will be some great wines there, and plenty of affordable ideas for Christmas party wines!

Get in touch!

The Fine Wine Fair:
15-17 October, 2010
Chelsea Old Town Hall, London

edited: 12/10/2010 09:42

I think Nerello has become one of my favourite grapes. Check this out

The Nerello grapes, Nerello Mascalese and Cappuccio, are astonishing me each time I try them.

Grown on the sides of Mount Etna (only, as far as I know) give a deliciously ripe, dark fruit wine but with an unusual spicy, mineral, peppery style. Not overripe, but nicely concentrated.

This pair of Etna wines are definitely worth seeking out (the White is very good too) from The Wine Society (www.thewinesociety.com), both at £10.95

Photo

Sent from my iPhone whilst mobile

Tasting: Barbazul 2008

I bought this wine as part of a mixed case from Flagship Wines. I asked them to send me "something different" and this was one of their interesting choices - right on the money.

It cost just over £10, so a fair amount for proper experimentation, and its main grape is Tintilla de Rota which I gather is a local variant of Rioja's Graciano grape, so again a little unusual but relevant to me in particular.

Do check this wine out!

Barbazul 2008
produced by Huerta de Albalá in Cadiz, Spain
Note: Dark fruit (is it cassis?) but also a hint of something vegetal & animal on the nose, and a noticeable spirity quality - it shows its alcohol! The wine is bright and medium bodied, combining that blackcurrant with some sharper red currant and later opened up to show some rose petal/flowery notes, but again the alcohol seems to show up like a noisy guest in an otherwise very civilized party.

It's a party that finishes with a pleasant, warm glow but also slightly haunting memories of those vegetal notes and even a hint of menthol.

A good wine, something different to explore, but probably needs to age a bit and be drunk in the right circumstances, slightly cooler than I had it.
(Tasted on September 6, 2010)