Travelling around the world of marvellous wines in just one day. That was how I felt at my first experience at The Wine Gang Winter Festival in the Canalside, The Cube. This exciting event showcased over 200 different types of fine and award-winning wines from different parts of the world. The event is organised by four renowned wine critics of Wine Gang: Joanna Simon, Anthony Rose, Jane Parkinson and David Williams.
The concept of the festival is quite interesting: grab your book guide with all information about the exhibitors and glass to get ready for an afternoon of splendid wine tasting presented by respected wine dealers and organisations. That is where the magic starts! I have learnt more about wine that afternoon than in my entire life.
Learning from organisations such as The Wine Society; a unique cooperative founded in 1874 and based in Stevenage that delivers fine wine across the whole UK. The Wine Society has an active membership of 140.000 people and 70% of its products are purchased online.
Connolly’s is a local Independent Wine Merchants that brought a range of wines to the festival that are unique and curious such as the Tatli Sert Narince (2001) produced by Kavaklidere; the oldest winery in Turkey. It was great to be educated about this Turkish wine. And I am so glad that it is available in Birmingham. It tastes great!
Finding great wine for 50 pounds is quite easy, but finding good ones for 20 or 10 pounds is significantly hard. We like the fun stuff and the new things from tiny productions like these Turkish ones. Edward Orchard, Connolly’s.
Another good surprise at the Wine Gang Birmingham was finding out more about Argentinean wine with Gourvid, a trader based in London that was quite popular at the festival.
Their range of Malbec is impressive. As famous as Leonel Messi, we all know that Malbec is synonymous with a great product made in Argentina. I couldn’t resist bringing home their exclusive Sparkling Rose Malbec produced by Vicentin. Intriguing!
Another highlight at the Gourvid stand was the Blanc de Malbecs, Vicentin. A white Malbec that is certainly one of its kind.
The British Nyetimber brought it’s over 25 years of expertise in producing the finest English Sparkling wine to Birmingham as well. And it’s not every day that you have the opportunity of tasting the lovely and elegant Classic Cuvée. So, cheers to that!
There were also a series of masterclasses during the day, from Sparkling wine from Nyetimber to Wakefield of Australia. Sold out events that proof the popularity and great appealing fine wine have across the country. We are lucky to have events like this in Birmingham and we crave for more next year!
Next Wine Gang Winter Festivals dates:
London | 4 November
Leeds | 18 November
Edinburgh | 14 April 2018
London | 30 June 2018
Get your ticket here
NB: I was kindly invited by the Wine Gang to join the event in Birmingham and received two complimentary tickets to the festival.
