Fellow Wine Lovers,
Black armbands, flags at half mast, doff your hat. Cancer took two of our finest this week, David Bowie and Alan Rickman, and whilst we are far from being accomplished enough wordsmiths to add to the many eulogies written, or about to be written, suffice to say Park Vintners has been a pretty sombre place of late. But we have listened to an awful lot of good music…
Elsewhere the FIFA farce rolls on. Jerome Valcke gets sacked for the second time – surely if you sack someone once for having lied constantly during negotiations you don’t then rehire them 8 months later do you? Unless you’re FIFA and you’re corrupt. Harold Mayne-Nicholls is banned for seeking favours for family members from various football federations. His recent significant role was to assess the bid countries for the 2018 and 2022 World Cup. His assessments flagged both Qatar and Russia as being unsuitable as venues. Clearly no corruption went on there then! It’s a mess, it’s a car crash, it’s totally addictive viewing!
And then we come to the one bit of news that this week has really got the booze trade hopping up and down and believing itself to be more important than it actually is– the change in healthy drinking guidelines. ‘Why weren’t we consulted?’ they cried. ‘20 years after the original guidelines were issued, and following a two year wait, we are surprised that the guidelines are expected to take effect immediately’ Miles Beale, chief executive of the Wine and Spirit Association, was quoted as saying. Well Miles, there’s no point in revising guidelines and then sitting on them for six months now is there? Plus, why would you be consulted? You have a vested interest and you’re not a doctor.
Anyway, suffice to say the storm is very much in a teacup, it’s still less dangerous than driving a car or riding a bike and they are still just guidelines.
Spain’s guidelines: 35 units a week.
If you want to learn more about sensible consumption of alcohol
Look no further, we have plenty of opportunities coming up.
In just over 10 days time, our much publicised Wine School starts a new term. A six-week course covering the spectrum of all things vinous and all for just £150 per person. Even if you don’t listen to a word we say, the opportunity to taste around 60 wines over the duration of the course makes that glass of wine in the Pig & Whistle look a bit pricey. Full details attached and we really will try to remember to attach them this week!
We have also put some dates in the diary for one-off tastings over the coming months, see below and if you fancy coming just let us know, places are limited:
Thursday 11th February WINE AND CHEESE £20 per person
We select four cheeses, some wines and then proceed to discuss the merits of our choices! Same routine every time but different cheeses and wines we promise.
Thursday 25th February I CAN’T BELIEVE IT’S NOT CLARET £25 per person
Compare and contrast wines from Bordeaux with its imitators from around the world!
Thursday 10th March WINE AND CHEESE £20 per person
Thursday 14th April PINOT AROUND THE WORLD AND I CAN’T FIND MY FAVOURITE
£25 per person
Pinot Noir – is Burgundy best, or do we prefer what they’re doing in California, New Zealand and the rest – help us make up our minds
Thursday 21st April WINE AND CHEESE £20 per person
Thursday 26th May WINE AND CHEESE £20 per person
And finally…
To celebrate the upcoming nuptials of Mr Rupert Murdoch and Miss Jerry Hall it would seem appropriate to taste some wines of significance this weekend: from Australia we will open the aptly named Accomplice Semillon Sauvignon 2014 – £8.99 a crisp, fresh and grassy number with a hint of tropical fruit – absolutely spot on. For the red, for reasons we can’t quite fathom, the Californian Burlesque Zinfandel 2013 – £9.39 sprung into view – perhaps it was the rich spiciness that appealed!
Wines will be open this evening and tomorrow – there are many reasons to raise a glass this week, so don’t be shy…
Why don’t I like you?
Because you think I’m an asshole, and I’m not really, I’m just British and, well, you’re not.
Alan Rickman – Bottle Shock (2008)
I’m always amazed that people take what I say seriously. I don’t even take what I am seriously.
David Bowie
Black armbands, flags at half mast, doff your hat.