As usual it’s been a hectic time since returning from holiday at the end of August. Two busy Trade tastings (Chile & Argentina), have kept me occupied, and I’m now starting to look at January 2010 with New Zealand & Australia Trade events. Before that all gets going, I want to tell you about a super tasting I conducted in Burton on Trent on September 11th. It’s the second time I have presented to The Burton on Trent Wine Society, and it’s always good fun.
We tasted a good cross-section of wines, and the stars on the night were: From Washington State; Steak House (Cabernet Sauvignon), in the Co-op, and from Chile, LFE Paradiso Shiraz stocked in Marks & Spencer.
Great tasting, excellent people, who make their own wines, but like to try commercial products. My thanks to the Organiser Terry Marsden, and I hope that I will be able to present to him and his club again next year.
On Saturday 26th & Sunday 27th September I was up in London for the Tesco Wine Fair, showing some of our fantastic La Gioiosa products.
Met some really interesting people, and had my usual fun showing people the versatility of making Prosecco cocktails. The Prosecco Raboso with chilled vodka went down very well!
Our stand looked great, and we had plenty of complimentary remarks about it.
The wine stars on the stand were: La Gioiosa Prosecco Brut which I featured in my last blog, and the Prosecco Raboso, which is new product in approximately 200 stores. They were so good I had to organise to buy more stock after the show finished, and even the stores I visited were low on stock. The weather was a helpful factor with lovely blue skies and that Indian Summer feeling!
After two days off to recover, I’m going back to the office tomorrow, and the next event looming is the Laithwaites 40th Anniversary bash at the Royal Horticultural Halls on October 16th & 17th.
I’m certainly there on the 16th, but then I’m going away for a well deserved rest for a week or so in Hong Kong. Meeting up with family from Australia, doing a bit of quick shopping, and having a break from wine!
The next big show (which I will miss) is on Thursday-Sunday (22nd – 25th October) in Islington at the Business Design Centre: The Wine Show.
Some of our wines (Bodegas Muriel) will be on the Wines From Spain stand, and this show grows in stature each year. Muriel Gran Reserva is a big hit, and I think it’s the 2001 vintage showing which is excellent! Great show to go and taste a massive cross-section of wines, and also meet people with same interests. You can also purchase on the day, and if you buy plenty of bottles, you can also get them delivered. This show is growing all the time, and does get busy at the weekend, so, if you want to go and not be in a rugby scrum try Thursday evening, or Sunday morning before the mobs arrive.
My next wine event will be on Saturday 7th November at Vinopolis with The Wine Gang. More on this show as we get a bit closer.
There’s lots of wines coming on offer over the next few months, so, I will endeavour to tell you about them. In the meantime…enjoy in moderation!




