Independent Wine Merchant in Teddington

The Decanter World Wine Awards, International Wine Challenge, Sommeliers’ Wine Awards and Independent Wine Merchant Top 100 are each year judged by panels of wine experts, who taste the wines blind. First winners are chosen for particular regions or grape varieties, these then go into competition for country trophies or even higher accolades.

We will taste Gold and Platinum Medal Winners, Best in Show and discover some truly great value wines.

We look forward to seeing you there.

The Decanter World Wine Awards, International Wine Challenge, Sommeliers’ Wine Awards and Independent Wine Merchant Top 100 are each year judged by panels of wine experts, who taste the wines blind. First winners are chosen for particular regions or grape varieties, these then go into competition for country trophies or even higher accolades.

We will taste Gold and Platinum Medal Winners, Best in Show and discover some truly great value wines.

We look forward to seeing you there.

Our very first event takes place on Thursday 1st October at 7.30pm, in the downstairs bar of Glenmore House, The Crescent.  Our subject is “A Whistlestop Tour Round the Wonderful World of Wine”, it will be a great introduction to our programme of events for the rest of the year.

Absolutely no wine expertise is required, and whether you are a complete novice or an experienced taster, there will be plenty to learn and enjoy.  Use the ‘Tickets’ link above to book your ticket, or get in touch by email or phone.

We will commence with a welcome glass of wine, and over the course of the evening we will explore at least eight wines, including contrasting sparkling wines, reds and whites, and  wines from the Old World (ie Europe) and New World. At least one of the wines we taste will retail for more than £50/bottle!

Note this event has been rescheduled – it was due to take place on 16th March, but postponed due to  COVID-19.

Based on the successful re-commencement of Richmond and Teddington Wine Societies, and this will be an enjoyable evening that will be run with careful attention to safety.  Attendance must be booked and we will ensure seating arrangements accommodate appropriate social distancing requirements.

Old world or new world?

It’s an accepted cliché that anywhere outside mainland Europe is part of the “new world”. But as in Argentina and Chile, Vitis Vinifera grapes were planted in South Africa hundreds of years before the modern wine making traditions that we are familiar with started to develop in the 19^th Century. South Africa’s oldest wine estate, Constantia, was established in 1685, and Vin de Constance was being exported to Europe in the late 1700s. This is a country with a rich wine making past, developed by both French Hugenots and Dutch Boers, and now being handed from the KWV behemoth to a new rainbow generation of independent winemakers.

The majority of winemaking is in the rugged Western Cape, whose mountainous ancient soils are never far from the cooling effects of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. We will taste wines from the major coastal regions including Paarl, Stellenbosch, Franschoek, Elgin/Walker Bay and Constantia in the foothills of Table Mountain. Pinotage is South Africa’s signature red grape, and Chenin Blanc has developed a fabulous reputation here, but we will also taste major international varieties such as Chardonnay (still and sparkling), Cabernet Sauvignon, and of course Muscat in sublime Constantia sweet wine.

We look forward to seeing you there.

Old world or new world?

It’s an accepted cliché that anywhere outside mainland Europe is part of the “new world”. But as in Argentina and Chile, Vitis Vinifera grapes were planted in South Africa hundreds of years before the modern wine making traditions that we are familiar with started to develop in the 19^th Century. South Africa’s oldest wine estate, Constantia, was established in 1685, and Vin de Constance was being exported to Europe in the late 1700s. This is a country with a rich wine making past, developed by both French Hugenots and Dutch Boers, and now being handed from the KWV behemoth to a new rainbow generation of independent winemakers.

The majority of winemaking is in the rugged Western Cape, whose mountainous ancient soils are never far from the cooling effects of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. We will taste wines from the major coastal regions including Paarl, Stellenbosch, Franschoek, Elgin/Walker Bay and Constantia in the foothills of Table Mountain. Pinotage is South Africa’s signature red grape, and Chenin Blanc has developed a fabulous reputation here, but we will also taste major international varieties such as Chardonnay (still and sparkling), Cabernet Sauvignon, and of course Muscat in sublime Constantia sweet wine.

We look forward to seeing you there.

Our Christmas tastings are guaranteed to get the festive season off with a bang. We pull out the stops, tasting fabulous fizz, delicious whites and reds, and of course something fortified. All with a suitably festive meal – and definitely No Crackers!

We look forward to seeing you there.

Our Christmas tastings are guaranteed to get the festive season off with a bang. We pull out the stops, tasting fabulous fizz, delicious whites and reds, and of course something fortified. All with a suitably festive meal – and definitely No Crackers!

We look forward to seeing you there.

Our Christmas tastings are guaranteed to get the festive season off with a bang. We pull out the stops, tasting fabulous fizz, delicious whites and reds, and of course something fortified. All with a suitably festive meal – and definitely No Crackers!

We look forward to seeing you there.