SITT

New to Peter Osborne Fines Wines & the UK – Domaine Castan Coteaux de Languedoc

admin — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 08:45:21 +0000

Coming from generations of wine makers, Domaine Castan offers fabulously hand crafted and authentic Languedoc wines combining tradition and modernity.

Talented winegrower Andre Castan runs the family estate. He has a passion for making delicious wines with great style, strong identities and authenticity. Expect fresh aromatic, crisp and fruity whites, succulent rosés, moreish, rich and full bodied reds, all offering great balance and finesse.

“Valerie Castan, Andre’s daughter has recently moved back to the Languedoc to work at the estate after a decade spent in Manchester, her spiritual home. However she will be flying specially to the UK to be with us at the SITT tastings and to introduce the full range. Her wines offer both on and off trade value and great pleasure, ensuring high repeat purchases.”

Peter Osborne Fine Wines are pleased to be associated with Domaine Castan, authentic and unique wines not seen in this country before. Yet another UK exclusive for them!

PC Wines and Croatian Wines

admin — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 08:42:01 +0000

Giorgio Clai

There has been a flurry of interest in wines from Eastern Europe in recent months, not least Croatia. Although Croatia is the westernmost Eastern European country and is due to join the EU next year, it is still rightly or wrongly lumped in on the ‘rest of Europe’ shelf in most wine merchants, if indeed it is even represented.

That is, until now. A few independent wine merchants have taken a chance on Croatian wine in the past year and are not looking back. Specialist merchants such as The Vineyard, Ramsbottom and Butler’s Wine Cellar, Brighton have been offering Croatian wine for almost a year via Pacta Connect UK Ltd (shortened nowadays to the catchier “PC Wines”). 2 Pound Street Wendover and Green & Blue of East Dulwich are amongst those that have organised wine tastings with the pair, Judith Burns & Trevor Long, who seem to roam the country up and down the motorways organising dinners, tasting events and masterclasses.

PC Wines are the last independent supplier to sign up for the SITT Tastings in February, specialising in Croatia and more specifically the Adriatic region of Istria, although their portfolio is to increase yet again in the next few months to incorporate some superb Slavonian and Dalmatian winemakers.

Moreno Coronica

The key to their portfolio is the personalities behind each bottle. “Interesting people tend to make interesting wine,” says Trevor, “and our winemakers all have huge personalities, fascinating lives and tell great stories. They are entertainers and to us wine should be about entertainment. My background is the music industry, and the similarities are huge. The public have to deconstruct the mass of information they’re provided to find out the answer to a simple bottom line question: Will I buy this wine or not? Our winemakers have great life stories and the consumer engages with these stories and then the wine; it encourages loyalty and sales.”

PC Wines’ determination to make Croatian grape varieties household names is apparent in their passion for their specialist subject.

Motovun

Enomatic machines up for grabs at SITT 2012

admin — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 21:18:56 +0000

Two lucky visitors to SITT will be in with the chance of winning an enomatic machine on a trial basis for a term of 12 weeks.

Enomatic UK will arrange installation and training and two bottles of gas to cover the trial period. They will also cover all maintenance of the units and their support team will be on hand to help with any queries.

Should the lucky winners wish to purchase an enomatic after the trial has finished they will receive a 25% discount of the list price of any system they choose.

All you have to do is pre-register online for either show and turn up on the day. Your name will then be automatically entered into the prize draw.

If you win we’ll be in touch the week after the show to tell you the good news!

Win a Rhône Gastronomic Experience with Charles Taylor Wines & Vignerons de Caractère

admin — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 11:43:58 +0000

Charles Taylor Wines will be showcasing our range of wines from the Vignerons de Caractère at SITT in 2012.

Southern Rhône

This grouping of 80 growers based in the heart of Vacqueyras produces exceptional wines from appellations across the Southern Rhône including the Gigondas which received the highest mark in Jancis Robinson’s review of 2010 Southern Rhône reds.

We will be offering any customer who buys Vignerons de Caractère wines as a result of SITT the opportunity to win a gastronomic experience for them, their staff and clients.

Prepared by award winning chef Denis Moreau from the L’Eloge restaurant in Vacqueyras and hosted in London with a specially created menu complemented by wines from the Vignerons de Caractère range featuring traditional pairings and some fabulous re-interpretations of classic dishes.

This is a wonderful opportunity for you to entertain valued customers, incentivise staff and learn more about Charles Taylor Wines Southern Rhône producers.

Fine Wines of Long Island

admin — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 13:20:16 +0000

Charles Metcalfe

Charles Metcalfe, Co-Chairman of the prestigious and authoritative wine competition, the International Wine Challenge, is taking time out of his busy schedule to present fine wines from five wineries in Long Island, New York State. This is an exciting wine region, brand new to the UK, even though some of these wineries have been producing wine for thirty years. Previously these sought-after wines have only been enjoyed in the restaurants of Manhattan, and by the glitterati visiting their exclusive and phenomenally expensive summer residences in the Hamptons.

This will be a unique opportunity to taste some of the finest examples from five of the region’s wineries,

Paumanok, The Lenz Winery, Channing Daughters, Wölffer Estate and McCall Wines. These are all imported by Long Island & New York State specialist Wine Equals Friends Ltd.

Wine Equals Friends

Find out what the wines of Long Island have to offer, and learn about the terroir from which these fine wines are born, cradled between Long Island Sound and the beautiful beaches of the Atlantic. Discover the stories of the very varied individuals who are producing world class wines, both experimental and traditional, on the edge of one of the world’s great oceans.

Share the fruits of their passion, and convince your clients of wines they haven’t tried before, wines that provide stunning complexity for impressive value compared to some other North American regions.

Be prepared for the surprise of the show. Learn about an established fine wine region whose wines you have never tasted before.

London

Running time: 3:30 -4:30pm

Places at the masterclass are limited. Please email Julie@sittastings.com to confirm your attendance.

PC Wines

PC Wines — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 12:58:49 +0000

New to the British market, an exclusive portfolio of 60+ exceptional Croatian wines, created not manufactured, predominantly organic / natural, chosen for their quality not quantity, with a range of price points to suit both independent sector and sommelier alike.

Contact Information

Judith Burns & Trevor Long
Brighton
East Sussex
United Kingdom

Tel: 01273 607711
Mobile: 07902 875455
Email: info@pactaconnect.co.uk
Website: www.pactaconnect.co.uk

Exclusive SITT Visitor Offers

admin — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 14:44:41 +0000

The Wine Treasury are offering the 12th bottle gratis in every case sold at SITT 2012.

The first 10 customers to open an account with Hatch Mansfield will receive 12 bottles for the price of 11 on each wine purchased. This is to provide a free tasting sample to help customers establish the wine in their outlet.

Moreno Wines

admin — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 14:41:51 +0000

With over 35 years of Spanish wine innovation, a multi-award winning wine range and nationwide coverage, Moreno Wines is a constant and consistent friend of the Independents. Recent additions from Chile, Italy, France and Portugal have added further lustre and interest. We have unparalleled experience in sourcing wines, and trade savvy.

Contact

Abbi Moreno
26 Macroom Road
London
W9 3HY

Tel: 0208 960 7161
Email: info@morenowines.co.uk
Web: www.morenowinesuk.co.uk

Sommelier Spotlight with Thierry Tomasin

admin — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 10:56:12 +0000

Sommelier Spotlight with Thierry Tomasin Owner and head sommelier, Angelus, London.

Surprisingly, despite the economic doom and gloom, Champagne was one of the biggest sellers here throughout Christmas and the new year. Perhaps not the big brand names, but our house Champagne was flying out fast. I think people were trying to rid themselves of the flavour of recession, by saying “let’s chill out and relax”. A lot of people were also buying sparkling wine.

The amount people drink hasn’t gone down, instead their drinking habits have moved towards better and wiser choices. People are asking far more for recommendations, which is really refreshing for us, especially from the younger generation in the 25 to 45 age group. They listen to what you’re saying and want to know more.

People are also beginning to realise that sommeliers are not just there to take your money. It’s a good feeling to realise they appreciate what you do and are happy to ask for recommendations, it makes our job far more interesting and fun.

There are a lot of good-value wines coming from the south of France at the moment and people are noticing it is far better value than Bordeaux. We have some Languedoc-Roussillon 2001 to 2005 vintages that are maturing very nicely and are on at a reasonable price around the £30-£50 mark.

We’ve had a lot more take-out requests, too. I think the 2012 trends will move toward wines with a more delicate structure and away from heavy tannins. People want something to lift them and make them smile at the table, rather than the reverse.

Seasons are becoming much more important in the industry and consumers are also beginning to understand the benefits of working with seasonal produce and drinking seasonal wines. A lot of that is to do with television programmes and newspaper articles. If you are honest in what you give your customers, recession isn’t an issue to them and they will continue to come and support you. What’s important to them is honesty, combined with quality food, freshness and good service.

Armit

admin — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 16:50:18 +0000

armit is one of the leading contemporary fine wine merchants in the UK. Established over 20 years ago, we pride ourselves on our exquisite wine selection and being the expert link between carefully selected wine growers and discerning, successful customers.

Contact Information

5 Royalty Studios
105 Lancaster Road
W11 1QF

Tel: 0207 908 0626
Email: rrosser@armit.co.uk
Web: www.armit.co.uk