| With such a rich and lengthy association with the | | | | 11.30am. This was attended by the more serious |
| wine trade, the city of Bristol has been no | | | | of our customers, and much note taking and |
| stranger to major wine tastings over the years. | | | | reflection was to be found. The evening session |
| Averys own biannual tasting, held in our historic | | | | started at 5pm and had an all together different |
| cellars has been growing in popularity over the last | | | | atmosphere. |
| few years, so much so that we had to triplicate | | | | One of the most popular features of the tasting |
| our Christmas tasting last year to accommodate | | | | was the bank of Champagnes that greeted eager |
| demand. So we thought it was about time, as the | | | | tasters as they entered the hall. After tasting |
| oldest established wine merchant in Bristol, that | | | | through 10 champagnes including different styles |
| we organised our own wine festival. | | | | of Bauchet, Gosset, Pol Roger, Roederer and |
| As an established and growing wine merchant, | | | | Bollinger, with some vodka and brandy sprinkled in, |
| Averys has the whole range of wine styles and | | | | enthusiasm for tackling all the rest of the tables |
| price range to offer our customers - from the old | | | | laden with wines was heightened. |
| guard who know what they like and demand | | | | Other highlights included: three master classes |
| recognised styles, to the new wine converts who | | | | where some fantastic wines were shown; a blind |
| are happy to taste all styles of wine. Because of | | | | tasting competition of New Zealand wines; and |
| this diversity there is nobody in Bristol better | | | | demonstrations of the different nuances that |
| placed to hold a wine festival in which people are | | | | Reidel glasses can make to a wine. I would like to |
| able to taste almost every style conceivable from | | | | give my special thanks to the food producers |
| the humble Italian Pinot Grigio to the finest Grand | | | | who came along. They added the perfect |
| Cru Burgundy. | | | | accompaniment to our wines and gave some |
| Our festival, christened the "Celebration of Wine" | | | | extra interest and colour to the festival. These |
| was held on Saturday 10th November in the | | | | were Romy Cuisines for their pâtés |
| spectacular Great Hall at Bristol Grammar School. | | | | and chutneys, Fresh and Wild for their cheeses, |
| A date that I learned soon after planning coincided | | | | The Real Olive Company, and Choucochoute for |
| with the Bristol leg of Tesco's newly launched | | | | their lovely matching of truffles with Banyuls. |
| wine tasting road show. On the Saturday there | | | | With over 500 satisfied customers to testify, our |
| were two two-and-a-half hour sessions held with | | | | festival was a resounding success. The ice test |
| close to 200 wines to taste in each, a challenge | | | | for me was a comment by one hardcore wine |
| which perhaps was taken literally by a happy band | | | | fan who had attended the Tesco fair and then |
| of hard core tasters. Each of the many stalls was | | | | had jumped in a taxi to come straight to ours. |
| manned by a wine maker or vineyard owner who | | | | When asked by me which of the events he had |
| did their best to answer the myriad of questions | | | | preferred, he laughed and said "it wasn't in the |
| fired at them. | | | | same league as yours." The only down side of |
| The first session (an unfortunate or appropriate | | | | this success is that it seems I will have to do it all |
| term for a daytime drinking function) started at | | | | again next year. I better start planning now! |