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