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Wine not? April 2008 28/04/2008
It feels like the long, dark days are finally behind us: the clocks have gone forward, the days are longer and Spring is in the air. OK, you've got £6, you're in a supermarket and you're in a hurry. What wines should you grab that are guaranteed value for money? Read on to find out... And don't miss out on the opportunity to win a bottle of champagne - see below! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Is a bottle of Champagne worth three minutes of your time? Well of course it is! And for those of you have not yet completed my wine-tasting survey, I'd be grateful if you could spare 3 minutes and click here [http://survey.constantcontact.com/survey/a07e294142gfdctzuqd/start?test=t]to take it. Everyone who participates is in with a chance to win a bottle of Champagne - what's not to like? Many thanks to all of you who have already taken the survey - watch this space for wine tastings near you! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Grow your business Guildford Spectrum, Wednesday 30th April If you're in business and in Surrey, then be sure to come along to the Grow your business trade show at the Spectrum on Wednesday 30th April. Red White & Rosé will be there on Stand 13, so be sure to stop by for a glass of something refreshing and a chat! Grow 08 is free to attend and as well as the exhibitors there are also loads of free seminars available throughout the day on subjects like blogging, low cost marketing, PR and search engine optimisation. Check out the website on www.growguildford.co.uk for more details. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ £6, a supermarket and one minute to choose a wine A Wine not? reader submitted this question and I thought it might strike a chord with many of you. So, you're looking for a surefire hit wine from a supermarket and you don't have time to hang about. Here are my hot tips for good value, reliable wines from the aisles. First things first: avoid the big names (you know what I mean: Blossom Hill, Gallo, Hardy's and the like). I know, I know, it's tempting when you're in a hurry to go for the tried and tested, but please don't! All that advertising and promotion doesn't pay for itself you know, so there is just not that much money left to spend on the wine in the bottle at around a fiver a bottle. What's the region that offers the most reliable, good value wines at this price? Top of the list has to be Chile, so head to this section first. Concha y Toro is the largest winemaker in Chile, but they have respect in the wine trade for producing quality wines from the bottom to the top of their range. One of their stars is Casillero del Diablo Cabernet Sauvignon. Currently Sainsbury's stocks it for £5.99 and it's a great price for this delicious, gluggable red. While you're in Sainsbury's, you could also pick up a bottle of Cono Sur's aromatic, spicy (but dry) Gewurztraminer also for £5.99. Over at Tesco's they have a bargain from the other side of the Andes: Argento Malbec is down from £5.99 to just £3.99 until 22nd April. Or you could go for Peter Lehmann Semillon, from Australia's Barossa Valley, £4.15 instead of the normal £6.15 until 22nd April. One of my ultra-reliable wine standbys is Ravenswood's Vintners' Blend Zinfandel from California. Somerfield has an offer on until 8th April where you can buy a bottle for £5.99 instead of the normal £6.99 - snap it up! Waitrose are focussing on French wines for their Spring wine showcase, so why not use this opportunity to try a range of wines from Alsace? Cave de Turckheim's Gewurztraminer, Riesling and Pinot Gris are all down from £7.49 to £5.99 until 27th April. These are white wines with bags of character, great for food, especially anything with a bit of spice. Happy bargain hunting! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Don't forget that if you want to read my Surrey Advertiser articles, they're all available on my wine blog. The latest one is on organic and biodynamic wines, published today. Have you seen the new tasting event ideas on the What kind of event? page? Cheers!
 
 
 
Tailor-made food and wine matching evenings from Red White & Rosé 29-11-07 05/03/2008
Red White & Rosé to offer food and wine evenings For someone looking for a memorable, unique event to mark a special anniversary or birthday, Red White & Rosé has teamed up with Pryford-based What's Cooking to deliver food and wine evenings in your own home. Tracey Wheeldon of What's Cooking will design a tailor-made three-course menu for you and your chosen guests. On the evening you can sit back and relax as Tracey produces the delicious food - while Heather Dougherty of Red White & Rosé serves different wines to taste with each course. You get a private wine-tasting evening and some great tips on food and wine matching - while enjoying terrific food and company. Prices start at £40 per head and anyone interested should contact Heather on 07962 133587 or heather@redwhiteandrose.co.uk
 
 
 
Wine not? November 2007 05/03/2008
I am starting to feel slightly panicked when I think about the number of days left until (say it quietly) Christmas and all the presents I have yet to buy for children, nieces, nephews, Godchildren...I'm getting sweaty palms just writing this! Presents I may be behind on, but knowing which wines I'm going to be stocking up on for the holiday season - well, now I'm feeling smug. In fact I already have some choice bottles stashed away. If I've just added another worry to your growing To Do list for Christmas - fear not, as the angels said. In this issue I'm going to share my top tips for Christmas party wines. The next edition, coming out earlier than usual, will cover Christmas Day itself, and other special wines for special occasion meals. Read on! Party time If you are planning any kind of get together between now and New Year, here are some of my top wine picks for seasonal entertaining. Starting with something fizzy - there's nothing like a glass of something cold and sparkling to create an instant party mood. For a party-sized group you're probably not looking at splashing out on Champagne, but there are plenty of other sparkling options. Réserve de Château de Sours, £10.65 or £7.99 if you buy 2 bottles from Majestic. This Bordeaux Château makes a famous rosé still wine - and now it's making a pink sparkling. Plenty of raspberry fruit with a savoury edge, it's fun and slightly frivolous. Lindauer Special Select NV, £9.99 or £6.66 3 for 2 price at Thresher's/Wine Rack, £9.99 or £7.49 when you buy 2 at Majestic. Ever-reliable sparkler from New Zealand, dry with plenty of Pinot Noir fruit - great with smoked salmon too. White wines to please the masses at a price that won't break the bank. St Hallett Poachers White 2006, £7.99 or £5.33 3 for 2 price at Thresher's/Wine Rack. From the Barossa Valley in Australia, a blend of Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc and Riesling with plenty of lively fruit and character. Domaine de l'Olivette Blanc 2006, £4.99 from Waitrose. Quite remarkable quality and enjoyment for under £5, given that it's made from organically-grown grapes. Hailing from the south of France, it's a blend of Grenache Blanc, Marsanne and Bourboulenc - not everyday grapes and they make for a flavoursome and quite weighty wine with green apple, yellow plum and blossom aromas with some spice thrown in for good measure. Red wines to warm the cockles, not blow the socks off. Señorio de Lampedusa Oak Aged 2004, is £5.99 or £3.99 3 for 2 price at Thresher's/Wine Rack. From Navarra, the region next door to Rioja, this is a mouthful of dense, brambly fruit and spice thanks to a little oak ageing and some time in the bottle. By the way, there is a more expensive (£8.99/£5.99) Crianza version of this same wine - but I think the cheaper one is more fun. Douglas Green Shiraz Mourvedre 2005, £3.99 from Tesco. Lots of interest at the price, from grapes originally from the Rhone Valley in France, but doing well in the warm conditions of the Western Cape in South Africa. If you're interested in more in depth articles on wine don't forget that I write a bi-weekly column in the Surrey Advertiser - the next two columns will be devoted to Christmas wines, starting in next Friday's edition (7 December). If you're trying to remember a nugget of information from a previous newsletter, the place to look for past copies of Wine Not? is the news page on the Red White & Rosé website. Incidentally, I've made some changes on the site, so please have a look if you haven't visited for a while - most notably launching food and wine evenings in your own home. Cheers! Heather Dougherty Red White & Rosé
 
 
 
Red White & Rosé launch food and wine evenings 29-10-07 05/03/2008
Red White & Rosé, in conjunction with local food enthusiast Tracey Wheeldon of What's Cooking are launching food and wine matching evenings in Surrey. If you’d like to learn more about food and wine matching in a fun and relaxed environment then come along to a gourmet evening on Thursday 15 November. Tracey will be preparing a delicious three-course meal and Heather Dougherty of Red White & Rosé will be on hand to serve up two wines to accompany each course. The evening will give you a chance to do some real “hands on” (or “tastebuds on”) food and wine matching with plenty of tips and hints that you can use for your own dinner parties – while enjoying terrific food and delicious wines. Tickets are priced at £40 per head, including the three-course meal and all six wines. Places are limited, so if you would like to come along please contact Tracey on 07836 658867 or whats_cooking@btinternet.com to reserve your space.
 
 
 
Wine not? October 2007 05/03/2008
------------------------------------------------------------------------------ October 2007 Wine not? In This Issue Wines with fireworks What's going on? Keeping staff happy Quick Links Who are we? What do our events cost? Past editions of Wine not? How a wine tasting helps you win more business Click here if you'd like to receive Wine not? every month. Dear Heather, Hallowe'en is just round the corner, and Bonfire Night is hot on its heels. If you're planning to have friends round for a seasonal feast - and maybe the last barbecue of the year if you're feeling brave - then have a look at my wine recommendations below. Are you confident in choosing the right wines to go with your dinner party menus? Do you love experimenting, or just play it safe? If you'd like to get hands-on food and wine matching experience and pick up insider tips to boost your confidence - then read on to find out about my food and wine matching evening. Wines with fireworks To go with the scent of bonfires and fireworks you want something with plenty of spice and warmth. You don't need me to tell you where to find a decent Auzzie Shiraz, there are plenty wherever you look. But if you'd like to try something slightly more unusual, then check these out: Lirac 2005, Château d'Aquéria, £7.99 from Majestic, or £6.99 when you buy 2 bottles. From the Southern Rhône, this is made from the traditional blend of Grenache, Mourvèdre, Cinsault and Carignan grapes. It's warm, fruity, spicy and relaxed, but with the tannic structure to stand up to something meaty. Here are a couple of bankers from Waitrose: Ravenswood Vintner's Blend Zinfandel 2005, Sonoma, California at £7.49. Winemaker Joel Peterson's motto is "No wimpy wines", so expect loads of dense, full-on black fruit and plenty of spice. Not subtle, but ever-reliable if you like your wines chunky. Chester Osborn is another characterful winemaker, this time from the Maclaren Vale in Australia. His d'Arenberg The Footbolt Shiraz 2005 at £8.99 has been a consistently good wine since I first came across it, seven years ago. The blackcurranty fruit has a lovely savoury edge to it - it's not just a blockbuster. What's going on? Red White & Rosé food and wine matching events are here! In conjunction with Tracey Wheeldon of What's Cooking?, I'll be giving you hints and tips to give you confidence when you want to choose the right wines for a special dinner. Our first event is on Thursday 15th November in Pyrford, Surrey. Tracey will be serving a delicious three course meal and I'll match each course with two different wines to see what works and why. The evening will be fun and relaxed - and not at all snobbish! Tickets are £40 per head including the three course meal and the six different wines. Places are limited for this event, so if you would like to book a place, please email Tracey. Can't make that date? We will put on more events once we have gauged the interest - or, if you can get together a minimum of 8 people, Tracey and I will come and run this event in your own home! Please email me if you're interested in a future event, or if you would like us to put on an event tailored to you. If your business is planning an employee meeting or event in the New Year, then don't forget that a wine-tasting event is a great way to provide something fun and memorable for your staff. It could be a fun blind-tasting quiz or a a tasting over dinner - or anything in between. Please get in touch if you'd like to discuss some ideas, I'd love to hear from you. If you're interested in more in depth articles on wine don't forget that I write a bi-weekly column in the Surrey Advertiser - this Friday's edition covers food and wine matching. If you're looking for something that you read in a previous newsletter, the place to look for past copies of Wine Not? is the news page on the Red White & Rosé website. Cheers! Heather Dougherty Red White & Rosé If you know someone else who'd enjoy reading this, please forward using this link. This email was sent to heather.dougherty@virgin.net, by heather@redwhiteandrose.co.uk Instant removal with SafeUnsubscribe™ | Privacy Policy. Email Marketing by Red White & Rosé | Effingham | Surrey | KT24 5JJ | United Kingdom
 
 
 
Wine not? September 2007 05/03/2008
Subject: It's official - summer's over -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- September 2007 Wine not? In This Issue Wines for Autumn What's going on? The C word Quick Links Who are we? What do our events cost? Past editions of Wine not? How a wine tasting helps you win more business Click here if you'd like to receive Wine not? every month. Dear Heather, Well summer has well and truly gone - packed its bags and left no goodbye note. While I'm no lover of the cold, I do relish the Autumn though: cold mornings, leaves turning, lighting a fire in the evenings. Read on to find my top wine recommendations for a dark Autumn evening in front of a crackling fire. Wines for Autumn Autumn is definitely a red wine season - if you're feeling the cold the last thing you want is to grab a class of even colder wine. No, what's needed is wines to warm the cockles and I have some great recommendations. Wines made from the Syrah/Shiraz grape have a lovely spicy warmth to them that makes them perfect Autumn drinking. So give this a try: Skuttlebutt Shiraz Cabernet, Margaret River, Australia - £35.96 for a case of 6 (£5.99 a bottle) from Sainsburys wine online, sadly not available in stores, or £6.95 from The Wine Society. Silly name but a surprisingly good wine for the money - plenty of spicy, plummy fruit, but also the structure to make it good with food too. Not just a fruit bomb. Clos de los Siete, Mendoza, Argentina - £10.99, or £8.79 if you buy two bottles at Majestic Wines (until 29 October). At this price maybe not something to crack open during the week, but a real treat nevertheless. It's mostly Malbec and Merlot with a little Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah just for good measure. Expect a big mouthful of dense, silky fruit with a good "chewiness" to it - a great buy at under £10. Clos de los Siete is a new wine, just into its second year of commercial production and with Michel Rolland (the "baddie" in the film Mondovino) as head winemaker I have a strong feeling that its price will not stay below £10 for long. My tip would be to buy plenty now, as it has the ability to age well - and you can feel so smug in a couple of years when the price has rocketed. Warning: wine prices can go down as well as up - please don't sue me! Events and happenings If you are based in Surrey and would like to meet local business people - and then enjoy a taste of some special wines - then come along to the Woking Means Business exhibition on Wednesday 17th October at the HG Wells Conference & Events Centre. Red White & Rosé will be exhibiting for the first time, so I'd love the chance to chat with some of you over a glass of something refreshing. Entry to the exhibition is FREE and you'll find Red White & Rosé in the Griffin Room (where the bar is!) on stand G11. More details can be found on:www.wokingmeansbusiness.com and I hope to see some of you there. Red White & Rosé will also be launching food and wine matching evenings in the run up to Christmas. Formats will range from informal, walk-round events to fantastic three-course meals with wines to match each course. I'll be announcing dates and locations soon, but if you'd like to register your interest in advance (as places will be limited) then please email me now and I'll make sure you're at the top of the queue! If you are looking for an original way to entertain clients in the run up to Christmas (and sorry to have mentioned the C word so early on), have a look at the Red White & Rosé website for corporate entertainment that pays for itself. If you're looking for something that you read in a previous newsletter, the place to look for past copies of Wine Not? is the news page on the Red White & Rosé website. Cheers! Heather Dougherty Red White & Rosé
 
 
 
Wine not? August 2007 05/03/2008
August 2007 Wine not? In This Issue Crystal Ball Gazing Readers' wines Pinot Noir tasting Quick Links Who are we? What do our events cost? Past editions of Wine not? How a wine tasting helps you win more business Click here if you'd like to receive Wine not? every month. Dear Heather, It's a slow time of year in many ways, August. so I've let my mind wander and pondered what the future might bring for wines in this country. I'm prepared to put my neck on the line and have given you a few of my predictions. You may not know, but I go to many wine tastings to keep my wine knowledge current and to make sure I choose the best wines for my events. Most of the tastings I attend are open to people in the wine trade only - but I have found one coming up that is open to all - please see below for details. I hope the summer has been an opportunity to relax, take stock and get ready for new ventures in September. Crystal Ball Gazing Not just ski-ing and chalets New, at least new to most UK wine drinkers, will be Grüner Veltliner, from Austria. Now Austrian wines have had a hard time in the UK since a little incident involving anti-freeze in the 1980s - but really, it's time we tried again. We also tend to lump Austrian wines in with German wines - they use the same tall flute bottles and make lots of wine from Riesling. But Austrian wines are different - they tend to be dry and higher in alcohol than German wines, making them much more aligned to UK palates. Grüner Veltliner makes dry wines with crisp acidity, a bit of spice and sometimes a hint of green pepper and grapefruit zest. Beyond Chile and Argentina South America has more to offer than Chilean Cabernet and Argentinian Malbec. Uruguay has a long tradition of making deep-flavoured, savoury wines from the Tannat grape. Could this be the wine we take to dinner parties in five years' time? More than Port Britons have enjoyed fortified wines from the Douro Valley in the form of Port, for over 200 years. Until recently though, Portugal's table wines haven't enjoyed as much favour. Things are changing and Portugal is set to become a provider of good quality and good value red wines from the Douro Valley. Also look for interesting white wines made in the Alentejo region from some of Portugal's many native varieties. Look to the East China is becoming a world power is many ways, so it should come as no surprise to hear that they are poised to become a major force in the world of wine too. In fact they are already the seventh largest wine-producing nation in the world. Wine consumption in China has driven the growth and doubled between 1999 and 2004. Over 90% of the wine the Chinese drink is produced domestically, so we can be forgiven for not noticing the enormous growth in grape production. However, given China's drive to export just about everything it produces, I think it can't be too long before we see Chinese Cabernet Sauvignon on our supermarket shelves. Readers' wines Things that you've always wanted to know, something you've just noticed....send your questions to me and I'll do my best to answer them! "Who can you trust in the wine trade?" The problem here is evident in the question: "wine trade": yes, most people involved with wine are trying to flog you something and there's no getting away from that. So who can you trust? Well, impartial people like me of course! Aside from that, the good news is that the wine trade tends to attract many people who just love wine, are passionate about it and any money-making concerns take a back seat. Your best bet is probably to befriend someone who works at a wine merchant like Oddbins (sadly a dying breed). My experience, having worked there a few years ago, is of knowledgeable, interested people who are paid a pittance but just love being around wine. Once you get to know them, they'll be sure to pass on all their best inside information and will steer you clear of any dud wines. Majestic Wines' staff also strike me as being pretty well-informed and interested - and if you have a local independent merchant then they are definitely worth getting to know better! For grand merchants specialising in grand wines - beware: they need to shift plenty of dodgy vintages so their advice is not always impartial. As far as supermarkets and other High Street merchants go, they're a bit like estate agents: good ones exist, but finding them is like looking for the proverbial needle in the haystack. If Pinot Noir is your thing, then you should go along to the Winemakers of Central Otago tasting in London on Monday 17th September from 6-9pm, to see how good New Zealand Pinot Noir can be. It's being held at The Worx, 10 Heathmans Road, Parsons Green. I don't have details of the price, but if you're interested in going along contact Lucy Thompson for more details. Don't forget that Red White & Rosé wine tastings are the perfect way to entertain clients, reward and motivate your staff, launch a new product or services or to "christen" a new office. Find out how we can provide corporate entertainment that pays for itself. If you're trying to find something from a previous newsletter, the place to look for past copies of Wine Not? is the news page. Cheers! Heather Dougherty Red White & Rosé
 
 
 
Wine not? July 2007 05/03/2008
July 2007 Wine not? In This Issue Proud to be pink Readers' wines Quick Links Who are we? What do our events cost? Past editions of Wine not? How a wine tasting helps you win more business Click here if you'd like to receive Wine not? every month. Dear Heather, I thought that I'd written my "what an awful summer we're having" newsletter last month! Whatever the weather, it seems nothing can dampen our appetite for rosé wines and read on for my picks of the pink wines this summer. I also address the difficult issue of knowing when you should drink a wine? Chilled, after 6pm I hear you cry..... Enjoy the summer and don't forget to send in your wine queries if you'd like me to feature them in a future edition. Proud to be pink In my latest Surrey Advertiser column I wrote about the wine phenomenon that is rosé. While white and red wine consumption in the UK have both fallen, our thirst for rosé is seemingly unquenchable. We're drinking a mind-boggling 70% more of the stuff now than we did in 2004. Here are a few of my favourites that I'm happy to pass on to you. Starting with the cheap and cheerful: from the fresh and fruity school I'd go for Los Nucos Rosé, made in Chile for M&S and retailing normally at £4.99. However, searching on www.quaffersoffers.co.uk I see that it's reduced to just £2.99 until the 29th July, so move fast to get some at the bargain price. This style is probably best on its own or with some nibbles. Casillero del Diablo Shiraz Rosé 2006. Also from Chile, this is dry with plenty of fruit, but with a savoury edge to it, so that you can serve it with food if you like. It's available from Sainsbury's and Majestic at £5.99, although Majestic currently reduces the price to £4.79 if you buy two bottles. Château de Caraguilhes Rosé 2006. Made from organically-grown Syrah and Grenache grapes in the Corbières region of South Western France, this is a complex and satisfying rosé with layers of fruity flavours but with a peppery, savoury finish. It's available at £7.99 from Waitrose and is definitely a rosé to be taken seriously. One final shopping tip - rosé is, almost without exception, best young. Make sure you're buying 2006 vintages and nothing older. Readers' wines Things that you've always wanted to know, something you've just noticed....send your questions to me and I'll do my best to answer them! "How do you tell if a wine has passed its optimal drinking date?" This is a bit of a "how long is a piece of string" question, and could involve very technical detail about how wines age, but I'll do my best to address it briefly. Most wine in the UK is bought and consumed on the same day, so it is not designed to be kept for any length of time at all. In general, most "everyday" wines (say, under £10) and the vast majority of dry white wine should probably be drunk within 12 months or so. Now that's not to say that cheaper wines will taste awful after two years, it's just that the intention of the winemaker was probably not to produce a wine that would need some time maturing in order to be enjoyed at its best. So, as a very general guide, everyday wines are most likely to be past their best if kept for more than a year or two. What do I mean by past their best? It's a bit subjective, but generally the appealing fruit characters that were vibrant in youth fall away. White wines may taste rather fat and "flabby", and red wines less fruity and drier on the finish. More expensive wines, especially those from the Old World, are generally expected to improve in bottle. Some fine clarets, for example, probably need around ten years to become enjoyable! To get to the point of the question, how do you know if a wine is past it, ultimately it comes down to personal taste. If you enjoyed it more when you first bought it and less now then - for your taste - the wine is past its best. Cold comfort I know if you've got another ten bottles stashed away! However, with really pricy wines, they can often go through "awkward" stages in their development - last time you tried a bottle, you might have thought the wine was over the hill, but leave it another year and the next bottle could be delicious. Never give up hope and just keep trying! If all else fails you can always put them in the cooking! Red White & Rosé tastings are perfect for client entertainment, staff team-building and rewards, launches for new products or services or to "christen" a new office. Find out how we can provide corporate entertainment that pays for itself. If you're trying to find something from a previous newsletter, the place to look for past copies of Wine Not? is the news page. Cheers! Heather Dougherty Red White & Rosé
 
 
 
Heather Dougherty becomes wine columnist for the Surrey Advertiser 01-07-07 05/03/2008
Heather Dougherty, of Red White & Rosé has become the regular wine columnist for the Surrey Advertiser newspaper. The column appears in the What's On section of the Surrey Advertiser, which is also syndicated to other regional papers such as Aldershot News & Mail, Esher News & Mail etc. Heather writes a topical wine feature every two weeks, as part of the Food and Drink portion of the What's On section.
 
 
 
Wine Not? June 2007 05/03/2008
Subject: Do you have plans for Midsummer's day? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- You are receiving this email from Red White & Rosé either because you've attended one of our events, subscribed to the mailing list or signed up on our website. If you want to avoid these newsletters being classed as SPAM, please add me to your address book. You may unsubscribe if you no longer wish to receive our emails. May 2007 Champagne and canapés on Midsummer evening? Wine not? In This Issue Invitation to Champagne and canapés "Would you like to try the wine?" Readers' wines Quick Links Who are we? What do our events cost? Past editions of Wine not? How a wine tasting helps you win more business Click here if you'd like to receive Wine not? every month. Dear Heather, Well in April it was like Summer was already here, but May is back to the norm. Let us cheer you up with an exclusive invitation to a free Champagne tasting in June. Following on from last month's feature "Would you like to see the wine list?", this time we move onto the dread words: "Would you like to try the wine?". Read on to find out what you're meant to do. And finally...answering your queries. Read the Champagne prize-winning question from a reader - was it you? Champagne and canapés on Midsummer evening Picure the scene: the evening of the longest day of the year. In the beautiful Surrey Hills there are delicious Champagnes from Bollinger, Moët & Chandon and more to sample, accompanied with delicious canapés. It could be you! A very special invitation to all readers of Wine not? You are invited to come along to Just Champagne's Midsummer tasting event: Thursday 21st June 2007, from 5 - 8pm at Just Champagne, Champagne House, Dunley Hill Court, Ranmore Common, nr Dorking, Surrey RH5 6SX. I will be there (of course) doing a tasting of Just Champagne's delicious house Champagnes, so I look forward to meeting some of you. Places are FREE, but strictly limited. If you would like to come along, or would like more details, please reply to Lauren at Just Champagne. See you there! "Would you like to try the wine?" Essential info for wine lovers Following on from last month's feature "would you like to see the wine list?" we're now moving on to the next phase. The waiter brings the bottle you've ordered and asks (cue creepy organ music) if you'd like to try it. Do you: a) Say "I'm sure it's fine, just pour it." b) Say "Yes", but with no real idea of what to do then. c) Say "No, my wife/husband/friend/partner/anyone but me will taste it" What should you really do? What is the waiter expecting of you? Read on... Usually the waiter shows you the bottle (unopened) for you to confirm that they've brought the one you ordered. Do check that it is (if you can remember) as, once it's opened it's too late. By the way, if they have brought the wrong wine and it's been opened, then you can and should send it back. They will pour a small amount of wine into your glass. Your job is to assess that the wine is not faulty - you're not really being asked whether you like it or not. First off, swirl the glass a little and take a sniff. Does it smell pleasant? If not, then there may be something wrong. Musty, damp cardboard or mouldy aromas may mean the wine is corked. Taste the wine and see if it tastes OK. If you still think there's something wrong, tell the waiter you're not sure about it. Don't be afraid - they want you to enjoy the meal and any bottles of faulty wine will be sent back to their supplier - it won't cost them anything. If the wine smells and tastes fine, your work is done. Now you can relax and enjoy the meal! Top tip: little bits of cork floating in a wine do not mean it's corked - there are just...little bits of cork floating in it. Readers' wines Thanks to all of you who sent in a wine query for me to feature. The winning question was submitted by David Aldrich of The Bank of New York - so a bottle of fizz will be winging its way to David. "What region or country produces the best value wines for everyday drinking?" I'm going to give two answers: 1) The safe option: Chile I go to lots of wine trade tastings and wade my way through many wines (all for your benefit you understand) that might feature in a Red White & Rosé tasting. Experience has taught me that Chile is very much a safe pair of hands - they just don't make bad wines. Great natual advantages, skilled winemakers and good understanding of marketing - it all works towards reliability at a good price. 2) The adventurous option: Roussillon in Southern France Some of the most interesting and delicious wines in the world are made here and many are very reasonably priced. The area seems to attract mavericks and original thinkers who want to make their mark with hand-crafted, quirky wines. The adventurous side of things is that quality is not consistently high across this huge region - you might end up kissing a few frogs before you finally find your prince! If you'd like to know more about Red White & Rosé wine tastings and how we can help you create a fun and memorable client entertainment event, please go to our website. If you're trying to find something from a previous newsletter, the place to look for past copies of Wine Not? is the news page. Cheers! PS Don't forget to send an email to Just Champagne if you would like to come along to their free Champagne and canapés evening on 21 June. Heather Dougherty Red White & Rosé If you know someone else who'd enjoy reading this, please forward using this link. This email was sent to heather.dougherty@virgin.net, by heather@redwhiteandrose.co.uk Instant removal with SafeUnsubscribe™ | Privacy Policy. Email Marketing by Red White & Rosé | Effingham | Surrey | KT24 5JJ | United Kingdom
 
 
 
Wine not? April 2007 05/03/2008
Subject: Wine Not? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- April 2007 Wine not? In This Issue Say it with Champagne "Would you like to see the wine list?" Get involved Rosé's the way to go Quick Links Who are we? What do our events cost? Newsletter Archive How can a wine tasting help your business? If someone has forwa ded this newsle ter to you, click here if you'd like to receive it every month. Dear Heather, This is set to be the warmest April since records began (and when did they start recording?) and it feels like summer already. This month I've got a suggestion for how to say thank you to your clients, friends, whatever - and, surprise, surprise, it involves wine. Also, given how much the UK population eats out nowadays I thought some timely advice on what to do when faced with a restaurant wine list would be in order. If there is a wine issue or conundrum that has been bothering you, read on to find out how it could win you a bottle of Champagne. Enjoy the summer weather! Say it with Champagne If you're a business, your clients are important to you - how do you let them know that you value their business? Everyone likes to receive an unexpected gift - so why not send them a bottle of Champagne? Just Champagne, based near Dorking in Surrey, specialize in sending Champagne gifts around the country. Mike Watkins and his team can send single bottles for Birthdays, Congratulations and Thank Yous through to large volume orders for Christmas gifts, company anniversaries, incentive programmes, seminars and company events. Have a look at the Just Champagne website to find out more. Look out in the next issue for information about a very special event involving Champagne tasting on Midsummer's Day at Just Champagne. "Would you like to see the wine list?" Essential info for wine lovers You've arrived at the restaurant, pleasantly peckish and looking forward to poring over the menu. The food sounds good, you're feeling relaxed - then you realise you're going to have to choose something from the wine list. Do you: a) Order a bottle of Pinot Grigio (they always have some and it's a safe choice) b) Order the second least expensive wine on the list so as not to look too cheap? c) In a panic order something way too expensive because you think that's what's expected? There are other options! First of all - take your time, don't panic, even if faced with a phone directory of a wine list. Take as much time over the wine choice as over the food if you want to - if the restaurant has taken the time to amass a huge list then they expect you to spend a while looking through it. If there is a wine waiter/sommelier they should be happy to make a recommendation - but if you feel they're pushing you towards a wine that's too pricy, just let them know and ask them if there's a less expensive option. They are there to make the food and wine look good, not make the diners feel uncomfortable. In many restaurants there is no sommelier and your waiter/waitress may have little or no wine knowledge - here you're on your own. Here are some pointers to help you out. In general, if the food is from a particular country or region, then choose wines from the same place - Spanish with tapas, Italian with pasta. If the restaurant is at all decent then their house wines should be good - these are the wines they've chosen as the best all rounders to go with their menus. Don't feel you have to depart from your normal tastes in wine - if you like wines from Chile, don't feel you "should" be having something you've never heard of from Burgundy instead. Going out for a meal is supposed to be fun and the wine should be no different. If you're still really stuck - many places will do wines by the glass, which could provide an easy (and cheap!) way out. Next time: "Would you like to try the wine?" Get involved and win a bottle of Champagne It would be nice to hear back from my readers what you would like to see featured in the next edition of Wine not? Is there something to do with wine that has puzzled you for a while, a wine you'd like to know more about - anything to do with wine? Well send it in and I will feature it in a future Wine not? To encourage you to get in touch, the best question or query will win a bottle of Just Champagne's lovely house fizz. To participate send me an email with your question or suggestion - and look out next month to see if you've come up with the winner. A final tip for the warm weather. If you're eating a salad or anything with a vinaigrette dressing, it's best to serve a rosé wine. Rosés can stand up to the sharp and sweet combination of dressings better than most whites - and red wines are a no no. If you'd like to know more about Red White & Rosé wine tastings and how we can help you create a fun and memorable client entertainment event, please go to our website. If you're trying to find something from a previous newsletter, the place to look for past copies of Wine Not? is the news page. Cheers! Heather Dougherty Red White & Rosé If you know someone else who'd enjoy reading this, please forward using this link. This email was sent to heather.dougherty@virgin.net, by heather@redwhiteandrose.co.uk Instant removal with SafeUnsubscribe™ | Privacy Policy. Email Marketing by Red White & Rosé | Effingham | Surrey | KT24 5JJ | United Kingdom
 
 
 
Wine not? March 2007 05/03/2008
Subject: Wine Not? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- You are receiving this email from Red White & Rosé either because you've attended one of our events, subscribed to the mailing list or signed up on our website. To no longer receive our emails, click to unsubscribe. March 2007 Wine not? I'm feeling generous In This Issue Red Nose Day Never buy a bad wine again Win a bottle of bubbly Quick Links Who are we? What do our events cost? Newsletter Archive Wine Personal Shopper If someone has forwa ded this newsle ter to you, click here if you'd like to receive it every month. Dear Heather, The clocks have gone forward, we've had the first couple of warm days, now it's raining again - yes, Spring has arrived. In the February edition of Wine Not? charity fundraising was top of my mind and you can find out below just how much money was raised for Comic Relief at my Red Nose Day tasting. The charity vibe has obviously left me feeling generous - this month there's a free wine buying report - and you can be in with a chance to win a bottle of bubbly, just by forwarding this newsletter on to a friend or colleague. Read on! Red Nose Day wine tasting On the evening of Friday 16th March sixteen of us cosied up in my kitchen to try some delicious wines and tasty food - and to raise as much money as possible for Comic Relief while we were at it. Guests had 8 different wines to try, all chosen from the Comic Relief range, whereby 10% of the price was donated to Comic Relief by the retailer. Then they had to gather their critical faculties to complete a wine quiz, including 2 mystery wines served blind - wines that had already been served that evening, but which ones were they? Cate Knight came top of the class and went home with her prize of a bottle of Champagne. The finale was an auction of 2 special bottles from the Dougherty "cellar": a 1996 Lynch-Bages classed growth claret fetched £50, while fierce bidding meant that the Graham's 1983 Vintage Port was finally knocked down at £65. Overall the evening raised over £475 for Comic Relief - a wonderful result. Thank you to all who were able to come along and made it such a success. Never buy a bad wine again Essential info for wine lovers Do you know how much of the price you pay for a bottle of wine is actually spent on the wine itself? Have you ever tried a wonderful wine in a restaurant and wondered where on earth you could buy some for yourself? Do you want to know which wine regions offer the best value for money and the most interesting wines? If you've answered yes to any of those questions then my FREE wine buyers' report is a must-read. I've compiled a comprehensive wine report giving you invaluable information that will help you buy better wines. If you'd like a copy, please email me and I'll send you a copy by return. Please let me know if you'd like the Microsoft Word version or a hardcopy. Life's too short to drink bad wines! Forward this email and win a bottle of bubbly Thanks to all of you who forwarded Wine not? to a friend last month. And congratulations go to Sharon Leslie at Lime Creative, who'll be finding a bottle of Champagne winging its way to her asap. What a nice way to celebrate the arrival of Spring. If you'd like a chance to win this month's prize bottle of fizz, then just send Wine Not? to a friend using the Forward button at the bottom of the message. I won't know who you've forwarded Wine Not? to, until and unless they go on to subscribe to the newsletter themselves - you are not passing on any personal data. If you'd like to know more about Red White & Rosé wine tastings and how we can help you create a fun and memorable client entertainment event, please go to our website. That's also where you can find past copies of Wine Not? on the news pages. Cheers! Heather Dougherty Red White & Rosé If you know someone else who'd enjoy reading this, please forward using this link. This email was sent to heather.dougherty@virgin.net, by heather@redwhiteandrose.co.uk Update Profile/Email Address | Instant removal with SafeUnsubscribe™ | Privacy Policy. Powered by Red White & Rosé | Chestnuts | Lower Farm Road | Effingham | KT24 5JJ | United Kingdom
 
 
 
Wine tasting to raise funds for Comic Relief 22-02-07 05/03/2008
On the evening of Friday 16th March, 2007 Heather Dougherty of Red White & Rosé will be running a fundraising wine tasting event in aid of Comic Relief at her house in Effingham, Surrey. Heather is planning to raise funds in 2 ways at this special tasting: the wines tasted are all part of the Wine Relief scheme, whereby 10% of the retail value of each bottle purchased goes directly to Comic Relief people attending the tasting will raise additional funds through the ticket price of £25 per head People coming along will get the chance to taste Heather's favourites from the Comic Relief wines, accompanied by delicious buffet food. They will also participate in a fun blind tasting with the chance to win a bottle of Champagne, as well as a wine-based quiz. To round the evening off, Heather will be unearthing a couple of treasures from the cellar to be auctioned off to the highest bidder. It promises to be a fun evening and all profits from the event will be donated to Comic Relief. Space is limited, so to book your place please contact Heather on 07962 133487 or heather@redwhiteandrose.co.uk. And do remember to bring your cash or chequebooks along on the evening.
 
 
 
Wine not? February 2007 05/03/2008
Subject: Wine Not? Give to charity by raising a glass of wine - find out how -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- You are receiving this email from Red White & Rosé either because you've attended one of our events, subscribed to the mailing list or signed up on our website. To no longer receive our emails, click to unsubscribe. February 2007 Wine not? How to drink wine and make life better for others In This Issue Wine Relief Doing it for charity Win a bottle of bubbly Do you want to raise money for charity? Quick Links Who are we? What do our events cost? Newsletter Archive Wine Personal Shopper If someone has forwa ded this newsle ter to you, click here if you'd like to receive it every month. Dear Heather, Welcome to the new look Red White & Rosé newsletter. It's the charity issue this month - read on to find out how you can raise money for Comic Relief by raising a glass. Wine Relief inspired me to put on a charity wine tasting - maybe you have a favourite charity that you'd like to raise money for? Keep reading to find out how I can help you. Wine Relief In the run up to Comic Relief's Red Nose Day on 16th March, Wine Relief gives us wine drinkers the chance to do good while trying some delicious wines. All the major High Street chains (except Oddbins and Asda - name and shame I say) are participating in this simple scheme. Look for wines with the clearly marked Comic Relief logo on the shelf - when you buy them, 10% of the retail price will go directly to Wine Relief. Wine Relief has raised over £2 million in this way so far - here's our chance to add to the total. Now, all wine retailers are not the same and some of them are asking the wine suppliers themselves to fund half or all of the 10% donation, rather than putting their hands in their own pockets. This is not quite cricket, so I'd recommend you head to Sainsbury's, Waitrose, M&S or Threshers for your Comic Relief wines to reward those retailers who are actually funding all of the 10%. The scheme runs until Friday 16th March. Doing it for charity Red Nose Day wine tasting Inspired by Wine Relief, I decided to combine my passion for organizing wine tastings with a charity fund-raising event. On Red Nose Day itself, Friday 16th March, I'm organizing a Wine Relief tasting at my house. My pick of the best Wine Relief wines will be on offer to taste and there will be lots of Red Nose related fun, as well as a blind tasting competition and a wine quizz - all designed to get people to part with their money. All local readers of this newsletter are invited to come along and details are on the News page of on the Red White & Rosé website. For those of you who are further afield perhaps I can inspire you to do similar events where you are? Forward this email and win a bottle of bubbly Thanks to all of you who forwarded Wine not? to a friend last month. And congratulations to Vicki Willets whose name was pulled out of the hat - she'll be receiving a bottle of Champagne in the post. If you'd like a chance to win this month's prize bottle of fizz, then just send Wine Not? to a friend using the Forward button at the bottom of the message. In case you're worried about passing on data, please be reassured that I cannot see who you've forwarded the message to - unless they then decide to sign up for the newsletter themselves. If you have a favourite charity and would like to find out how I could help you raise funds by organizing a wine tasting event, please go to the Charity Fundraising page on the Red White & Rosé website. At a single event you can raise money in several different ways: charge people to come along, get them to pay to enter a blind tasting competition, auction off donated bottles of wine to the highest bidder - and everyone will have fun at the same time. Wishing you all the best, Cheers! Heather Dougherty Red White & Rosé FREE wine personal shopping Red White & Rosé now offer a wine personal shopper service. You can read more about what it involves and how it works on the Personal Shopper page of our website. The first 5 customers will receive a personal wine shopping package absolutely FREE. To take up the offer email heather@redwhiteandrose.co.uk. Offer Expires: 31 March 2007 If you know someone else who'd enjoy reading this, please forward using this link. This email was sent to heather.dougherty@virgin.net, by heather@redwhiteandrose.co.uk Update Profile/Email Address | Instant removal with SafeUnsubscribe™ | Privacy Policy. Powered by Red White & Rosé | Chestnuts | Lower Farm Road | Effingham | KT24 5JJ | United Kingdom
 
 
 
Wine not? January 2007 05/03/2008
Wine-not? January 2007 In this issue Insider Info for bargain hunters Wine Connections - fizz for less Need to Know - fancy a wee dram? Don't Forget Dear Heather, I can't believe it's still January - only 31 days but definitely the longest month of the year. To cheer you through the cold, dark days I have some great bargain fizz to recommend in Wine Connections this month. And Insider Info has two great free offers from Red White & Rosé - read on! Heather Dougherty Insider Info for bargain hunters I'm feeling rather generous and have not one, but two (count 'em) special offers for you. Free offer 1: If you know someone who would enjoy reading this newsletter, please forward it on using the link at the bottom of the message. Please don't use your email Forward button, as I won't be able to track it. Everyone who forwards Wine Not? this month will go into a prize draw with the chance to win a bottle of Champagne. What better way to celebrate the end of January? Free Offer 2: Do you need to choose wines for a special event - birthday party, wedding, wedding anniversary, party or dinner party? Would you like some free, impartial advice on how to choose the wines and where to get them? I am going to be launching a new wine personal shopping service to help people like you. To spread the word I am offering the first five people to contact me a FREE wine personal shopping consultation. All you need to do is email me - but better be quick about it! Find out more about the Red White & Rosé wine personal shopper service Wine Connections - fizz for less Some of us will have given up wine during January and probably most of us will have eased up a little on our consumption - not least because money is a little tight in January. However, the longest month of the year is all but over and your thoughts may be turning to, well, not Spring exactly, but brighter (and warmer) times ahead. What better wine to lift the spirits than something bubbly? And even better, a bottle that gives some of the pleasure of Champagne, but not at Champagne prices. So yes, this month it's If you like Champagne, why not try?... For an elegant, slightly more weighty and rounded version of Champagne, look no further than Crémant de Bourgogne. These wines are made in the same way as Champagne and the Burgundy vineyards they come from are pretty close to Champagne too. I like Majestic's Perle de Vigne, Crémant de Bourgogne NV by Louis Bouillot - £8.65 a bottle or just £6.49 when you buy 2. New World sparklers tend to have their own style and don't necessarily ape Champagne. Lindauer Special Select (nasty name) is fairly widely available. Majestic again are hard to beat on sparkling wine deals and you can buy it for £6.75 a bottle if you buy 2. If you like a sparkle, but want a different style altogether then why not try Prosecco. This is an Italian original, made in the Veneto region from the Prosecco grape. The style is light, fruity and crisp - it's not a wine that takes itself too seriously and is a great aperitif. Waitrose do a nice example at a nice price: Prosecco la Marca £5.99. Finally, France's other large-scale sparkling wine producing region is the Loire. Here, instead of the traditional mix of Champagne grapes (Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier) Chenin Blanc produces lively wines with plenty of juicy fruit in a very crisp style. Yet again Majestic come up with the goods with Bouvet Saumur NV at £8.99 or £6.75 if you buy 2. If you're a Wine Society member, also consider their The Society's Brut Saumur NV at £6.75 a bottle. Need to Know - fancy a wee dram? This is the place for passing on information from the wine world that I think you should know. If Burns Night has given you a taste for whisky, perhaps you'd like to try out a whisky tasting? I like to be flexible, but I have to admit that I would be loath to take on a tutored whisky tasting myself - but I know a man who can. Bill Hutcheson has in-depth knowledge and great enthusiasm for whisky and he'd love to organize an event for you. He works throughout London, Surrey, Hampshire and Berkshire. Have a look at Bill's website if you'd like to find out more about his events. He also has an online whisky shop selling connoisseurs' bottlings that you won't find on the High Street - worth a look too. Go to the Hutcheson Whisky events site Don't Forget Don't forget that you can win a bottle of Champagne just for forwarding this message on - see the link at the bottom of the newsletter. And email me ASAP if you'd like to take up one of just five FREE wine personal shopper consultations. Find out more about wine personal shopping Quick Links... Go to the Red White & Rosé site Top 5 ways a wine tasting helps your business More About Us email: heather@redwhiteandrose.co.uk phone: 07962 133487 web: http://www.redwhiteandrose.co.uk If you've enjoyed this newsletter and think you know someone else who would too, please forward it on by clicking this link. This email was sent to heather.dougherty@virgin.net, by heather@redwhiteandrose.co.uk Update Profile/Email Address | Instant removal with SafeUnsubscribe™ | Privacy Policy. Powered by Red White & Rosé | Chestnuts | Lower Farm Road | Effingham | Surrey | KT24 5JJ | United Kingdom
 
 
 
Wine not? December 2006 05/03/2008
Wine-not? A special offer to all our readers December 2006 In this issue Insider Info Need to Know Dear Heather, It's not that I want to turn this into an online version of the Evening Standard, offering a Pot Noodle or whatever their the current giveaway is to all of you - but I did want to remind you all of the special deal on offer for Red White & Rosé wine tastings booked before the end of December. Details are below. Other than that, this is a mini version of the Wine Not? newsletter, which will return at full strength in January 2007. In the meantime, a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you all. Kind regards Heather Dougherty Insider Info A reminder that Red White & Rosé are offering a special discount on all wine tastings booked (i.e. confirmed) before the end of December 2006. Our "classic" wine tasting format includes 8 different wines to taste plus accompanying nibbles plus the tasting glasses etc. This would normally cost £30 per head - still a very reasonable price for entertaining clients for an evening. However, if you confirm an event with me before 31 December 2006, I will give you a £5 per head discount - so just £25 per head total cost. Little bit of small print - the special offer applies to tastings for a minimum of 10 people, does not include any venue hire charges and the event has to be scheduled for some time in 2007. So if you are planning how to spend your 2007 client entertainment budget or wondering what would be a fun way to round off an employee meeting, think about a wine tasting - but do it quickly! Find out more about Red White & Rosé Need to Know This is the place for passing on information from the wine world that I think you should know. If you haven't yet stocked up for Christmas and don't have the time to travel far to get your wines, a quick tip is to head for either Waitrose or Marks & Spencer. Waitrose is far and away the best supermarket wine retailer and their range is honestly priced (as their ads remind us) and comprehensive. If you don't have a Waitrose within striking distance then pop along to M&S. They never used to have much of a wine range to shout about, but now stock some seriously interesting wines worth trying. Just make sure you give that vile pre-made Buck's Fizz a wide berth. If you're looking for a good Christmas morning pick me up, grab a cheap bottle of fizz (Cava is good for this) and the most expensive orange juice you can find and Bob's your uncle (or Rudolph's your reindeer). Quick Links... Go to the Red White & Rosé site Top 5 ways a wine tasting helps your business More About Us email: heather@redwhiteandrose.co.uk phone: 07962 133487 web: http://www.redwhiteandrose.co.uk
 
 
 
Wine not? November 2006 05/03/2008
Wine-not? or what not to drink this Christmas November 2006 In this issue Insider Info Wine Connections Need to Know And finally... Dear Heather, This month could really only be about Christmas couldn't it? Now I'm definitely one for putting the dreaded Christmas shopping off until the last minute, but pondering which wines to buy....that's different. I'm always happy to spend time poring over wine merchants's special offers. In Insider Info this month I've given you some advice to remember when looking for Christmas wines that I hope will be useful. And look out for a top Champagne-buying tip in Need to Know as well as a very special offer for wine-tasting events in And Finally. If you find yourself trying to remember a little nugget of information from past newsletters, you'll be pleased to know that previous editions of Wine not? can now be found here on the Red White & Rosé website. This is also the place to find out about Red White & Rosé's Guildford launch event. Over forty representatives of key local businesses came along to the Guildhall in Guildford to get a taste of one of our wine tasting events - and got to try a biodynamic wine into the bargain! Read more here. It's too early for Christmas wishes, but hoping you all have fun in the run up to the big event. Kind regards Heather Dougherty Insider Info Which wines to buy for Christmas? You'll find no shortage of advice from wine merchants, newspapers, magazines, supermarkets and the like at this time of year. But how useful is it? I would dare to say, not very. I see endless recommendations for such and such Claret, Chablis or fine Burgundy - and I'm sure they're lovely wines, but if you don't already know these styles of wine and drink them during the rest of the year, why would you suddenly want to take them up at Christmas? Christmas is all about having fun and enjoying yourself - and feeling obliged to drink a wine that you don't know and might not even enjoy, despite having spent quite a bit of money on - what's the point of that? If you drink Burgundy generally and want to spend a bit more on a special bottle or two for Christmas, then by all means do it. But if your favourite tipple is a California Cabernet Sauvignon, my guess is the Burgundy is not going to be what you're looking for. So my advice is - forget about all the "Christmas Day survival kit" wines and go your own way. There is no need to conform to an outdated notion of how to do things properly. Pick wines that you know you like, but maybe spend a bit more to get a better one that you would generally. And what "should" you drink with your Christmas Day turkey? Well I like a New Zealand or Oregon Pinot Noir - but it's all about your own taste. And I always make sure there's a white wine too. But if you want to go down the Aussie root and have a sparkling Shiraz with it - then do! Wine Connections If you like this, then why not try...? I've changed this feature from the usual format this month, to accommodate a specific wine recommendation for Christmas. What wine to serve with Christmas pudding, mince pies etc.? Just as we are being encouraged to splash out on Claret and Chablis, you'll see plenty of offers on Sauternes at this time of year too. I love this style of dessert wine as an aperitif, with blue cheese or with strawberries and cream - but with Christmas pud? Noooooo! To stand up to the sweetness and sticky dark fruit flavours of Christmas pudding, Christmas cake and mince pies you need something equally sweet and full-on. My recommendation is an Australian liqueur muscat - a unique wine that positively heaves with raisiny, toffee and smoky flavours that can carry off even the sweetest and stickiest pudding. Majestic have a good range, including Miranda Raisined Muscat 2005, just £4.99 for a half bottle. But the Daddy is De Bortoli Show Liqueur Muscat, currently on special offer at £7.99 a bottle. You can also pick this up at Berry Brothers for £10.95 and at everywine.co.uk for £54 for 6. Incidentally this also went really well with Nigella's clementine cake. And what if you don't like any of that mince pie, Christmas pudding mullarkey? Just have a glass of the liqueuer muscat on its own! Go to Majestic's site Need to Know This is the place for passing on information from the wine world that I think you should know. Buying Champagne Following on from the Christmas wines article, Champagne is another wine we traditionally buy mostly at this time of year. If you're buying Champagne to have at Christmas then there are plenty of offers around at the moment. Majestic generally offer the best deals, if you're prepared to be flexible about which Champagne you want to buy. Have a look at their website for details - see quick link above. But I feel obliged to tell you, dear reader, that the best time to buy your Champagne is January. Yes - we should all squirrel away enough for the coming year just after the New Year. Why so? Firstly, Champagne prices are always at their lowest and special offers at their best in the January sales - especially for things like magnums, which look really impressive for a special occasion. The other reason is that Champagnes (and indeed all wines made in the same "méthode traditionnelle") improve in the bottle and will taste better after a few months being stashed under the stairs. Have I convinced you? Now if only I could follow my own advice... And finally... A special offer for all our readers, as the newspapers like to say. Do you have some client events to organize for next year? Is there an employee get together scheduled which would be improved by something fun to do in the evening? Is your business celebrating an anniversary or milestone next year? A wine-tasting event could be just what you are looking for - and to make it easier for you, Red White & Rosé are making a special offer for any events scheduled in 2007, but booked by the end of 2006. Go to our website to learn more... Get the special offer... Quick Links... Go to the Red White & Rosé site Top 5 ways a wine tasting helps your business More About Us email: heather@redwhiteandrose.co.uk phone: 07962 133487 web: http://www.redwhiteandrose.co.uk If you have enjoyed this newsletter and think you know someone else who would too, please feel free to forward it on. This email was sent to heather.dougherty@virgin.net, by heather@redwhiteandrose.co.uk Update Profile/Email Address | Instant removal with SafeUnsubscribe™ | Privacy Policy. Powered by Red White and Rosé | Chestnuts | Lower Farm Road | Effingham | Surrey | KT24 5JJ | United Kingdom
 
 
 
Red White and Rosé expand into Guildford 02-11-06 05/03/2008
Red White and Rosé are to expand their wine tasting events to the Guildford area After two years successfully conducting tasting events for corporate clients in London, Red White and Rosé plan to expand into Guildford. Representatives of key local businesses are being invited to a launch event to be held in the Guildhall on Guildford High Street on Tuesday 21 November. The event will run from 6pm until 7.30pm and guests will get a taste of the kind of wine tastings which Heather, Dayne and Linda have been doing for their London-based clients. Wines for the evening are being supplied by les Caves de Pyrène, a local merchant whose wines can be found on restaurant wine lists across the country. Guests will get the chance to try a range of les Caves wine - including a biodynamic wine, made using organic principles, but also in conjunction with the movements of the moon and planets! If you are interested in attending this event, please contact Heather Dougherty on 07962 133487 or heather@redwhiteandrose.co.uk
 
 
 
Wine-Not? October 2006 edition 05/03/2008
Wine-not? October 2006 In this issue Insider Info Wine Connections Need to Know Welcome to the October edition of the Red White and Rosé Newsletter - yes, technically it is still October as I write this, but it's getting close to November! This month's edition seems to have a campaigning character about it as I find myself championing French wines that we find hard to love and don't buy enough of. To paraphrase David Cameron, we need to hug a hoody of the wine world... As we are still, just, in October, I feel unable to mention the C word, but I know that many of you will be planning celebrations of some kind between now and the end of the year. Don't forget that a wine- tasting event could be the perfect way to say thank you to your clients, your employees, or your friends as another year passes. Have a look at redwhiteandrose.co.uk to give you some ideas of themes and formats. Following two years building up business in London, Red White and Rose is expanding its tasting events to Guildford in Surrey, with a launch event planned for 21 November. If you know anyone in business in Guildford who might be interested in coming along to try out one of our tasting events, please forward this newsletter onto them or pass on my contact details. Wishing you all a good November and watch out for Christmas wine recommendations in the next Wine Not? Heather Dougherty Insider Info Once you get hooked on wine-related stuff, you'll find there are all manner of websites dedicated to wine - in fact you could probably make a full-time job out of browsing wine sites on the web. Here are some of the ones that I generally keep an eye on: www.jancisrobinson.com - Jancis Robinson, Master of Wine, wine writer and vastly knowledgeable wine taster has a comprehensive site updated several times a day. Her site includes a free section which contains on-line versions of articles originally published in the Weekend FT and elsewhere, general wine news items, plus helpful links, wine merchant directory and a section for newcomers to wine. If you have a more serious on-line wine habit, you might consider paying the £69 annual fee to get access to the Purple Pages - more wine trade gossip and on-line resources, but mostly you are paying for access to the on-line forum. Here you can ask any question - silly, boring, anoraky - and Jancis or other forum contributors will answer you. This is great if you want to find out, for example, which wineries to visit on your holiday or where to find a suitable bottle to celebrate an important anniversary. www.wine-pages.com is the personal site of Tom Cannavan. It's choc full of information from a real and likeable enthusiast. www.wineanorak.com - the title contains a warning! Yes, there is a possibility of getting a little carried away with the more trainspotting aspects of wine, but there are some good, fairly serious articles on current issues and a huge range to keep you busy. If you must, you can also keep track of Wine Anorak's author via his blog. Wine Connections If you like this, then why not try...? This is the regular feature designed to help you explore more wines, starting with something you know you like. I'll suggest alternatives which shouldn't take you too far from your "safe" choice. If there's a wine style or grape variety that you'd like to see featured here, please send me a message and let me know! There is a relatively small but dedicated band of people who can't really enjoy wine unless it is red Bordeaux, claret, call it what you will. If you want to do a bit of wine exploring, where should you start? Bordeaux wines are generally a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and, sometimes Cabernet Franc grapes. You could, of course, just look for those single varietal names on the label but, I'm guessing, if you like red Bordeaux then the blend of those varieties is what makes things more interesting. So, where to start? There are many "Bordeaux blends" around but, unhelpfully, they tend not to stick this on the label! So to help, here are some personal recommendations: Dogalolo - made by Carpineto, from Tuscany in Italy. This wine has an ugly-sounding name but a beautiful label (Autumn leaves, particularly apt at this time of year) and is a juicy blend of Cabernet Sauvignon with Sangiovese, Italy's best-known native grape variety. Majestic are the most reliable stockists and have the 2004 vintage for £7.99 or £6.99 if you buy 2. Don't forget to check on www.wine-searcher.com for other suppliers. South Africa is a good source of wines which offer Old World tradition and grape varieties combined with some New World suppleness and drinkability. Warwick Trilogy is a traditional blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot which should please lovers of Bordeaux from riper vintages! Plenty of fruit, but with proper structure. everywine.co.uk have the 2004 vintage for £172.73 for a case of 12, or just over £14 a bottle. Not cheap, but not classed growth Bordeaux prices either! Finally - I'm breaking my own rules here, but I'll explain - why not just stick with Bordeaux? They make some cracking wines and not enough of us (me included) drink them. The trouble is, how do you tell the bright stars amongst all the sub-standard dross? Well there are no easy answers, but I've picked out a couple of wines that I think show what Bordeaux can do at prices that we can all afford. So, a plea to try at least one of these if you get the chance: Seigneurs d'Aiguilhe - I know, the name alone explains at least part of the reason why we shy away from French wines. But, this is a seriously delicious wine which seems to taste wonderfully ripe and rounded, yet still has real Bordeaux character year in year out. Waitrose usually stock it and they have the 2004 vintage for £7.59. What's not to like? Tesco currently have Chateau Reysson 2002 for £9.99. It has lovely aromas of coffee/mocha and it just the ticket to go with roast lamb. Go on, have a go! Suggest a wine style or grape variety for this feature Need to Know This is the place for passing on information from the wine world that I think you should know. Wines from the South of France Following on from the Bordeaux theme above, the slice of sunny France from Marseilles round to Perpignan near the Spanish border produces vast amounts of wine, much of it under the banner of Vin de Pays d'Oc. The trouble is, just looking for Vin de Pays d'Oc could lead you to a cheap and cheerful sub £5 bargain, a highly sought-after and high-priced boutique wine, or something cheap but not so cheerful. How do you know where to look for quality, but without the sky high prices? I have three areas that you should look for, which by themselves don't guarantee quality and value for money, but do increase your chances of getting a good wine for a good price. All of them are small areas, with quality- conscious and dynamic producers, making interesting- tasting wines. Pic Saint Loup (pronounced peek-san-loo) Costieres de Nimes (cost-y-air d neem) Minervois la Liviniere (min-air-vwa la liv-in- yair) See if you can track one down in November,and let me know what you think. Go to the Red White and Rosé website... Quick Links... More About Us email: heather@redwhiteandrose.co.uk phone: 07962 133487 web: http://www.redwhiteandrose.co.uk
 
 
 
Wine Not? September 2006 edition 05/03/2008
Wine-not? September 2006 In this issue Insider Info Wine Connections Need to Know Welcome to the September edition of the Red White and Rosé Newsletter! Thank you for all the great feedback I received from many of you following the first edition. Well summer is definitely on the way out and there's a nip in the air in the evenings, so this month my Wine Connections feature is all about finding warming winter wines. And for those of us who like to find a bargain, I've sniffed out a great website for tracking High Street wine discounts for Insider Info. Have a look at Need to Know for nuggets of information that I feel the need to pass on to you. And if there's anything that puzzles you about wine - then get in touch! Heather Dougherty Insider Info Do you have "old favourite" wines that you always look out for when you're wine shopping? Would you like to know where those wines are on promotion? If so, then http://www. quaffersoffers.co.uk could find its way onto your favourites list. The idea behind the site is simple - a database of wines being sold at a discount at supermarkets and UK High Street merchants. But it gives us wine shoppers a very powerful tool. Imagine you are just off to do the weekly shop at Sainsbury's. Check out which wines are on offer there before you go and go straight for them when you get there, without needing to trawl up and down looking for something that looks like a good deal. Or say you know which wine you're looking for, by checking Quaffersoffers before you leave the house you can be sure to go to the shop where you'll buy it at the best possible price. We all love the feeling of having bagged a bargain, so see what you can find! Go to the Quaffersoffers website... Wine Connections If you like this, then why not try...? This is the regular feature designed to help you explore more wines, starting with something you know you like. I'll suggest alternatives which shouldn't take you too far from your "safe" choice. If there's a wine style or grape variety that you'd like to see featured here, please send me a message and let me know! This month's starting point is Shiraz or Syrah. In France you'll usually see this grape called Syrah, in the rest of the world it's generally known as Shiraz - but there are more and more exceptions to this rule. Whatever you see, it's the same variety! If you enjoy the warming fruity spice of this grape variety, but would like, just occasionally, to try something a little different, then think about: Malbec from Argentina Malbec shares many qualities with Shiraz/Syrah (let's just settle on Shiraz) It is big in the bold, spicy fruit department and is definitely one that goes down well on cooler Autumn evenings. I see from the Quaffersoffers site that both Norton Malbec and Argento Malbec are on offer at £3.99 instead of £4.99 a bottle at Majestic until the end of October. These are both good introductions to the variety at the lighter end of the scale. At the more serious end Clos de los Siete caught my eye at £8.79 instead of £10.99 until 30 October at - guess where - Majestic. I love the rich, opulent style of this wine and OK, it's actually 50% Malbec, with some Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah - but let's not be too picky. Next up is Pinotage. I was going to say that this unique variety is grown only in South Africa, but I found a New Zealand rosé with some in the other day. Anyway, Pinotage can be a bit of a Marmite variety (you either love it or hate it) but I do think it has plenty of juicy fruit, combined with a meaty/savoury edge. Beyerskloof Pinotage is usually reliable and generally on offer somewhere. Sure enough Majestic have it for £4.63 until 30 October. For a richer, more serious style try the Graham Beck at Tesco for £4.99 down from £6.99 until 10 October. Suggest a wine style or grape variety for this feature Need to Know This is the place for passing on information from the wine world that I think you should know. Shiraz and Viognier I don't know about you, but I've started seeing wines labelled Shiraz Viognier all over the place recently. What's it all about? As you know, Shiraz/Syrah is a red grape variety. Viognier is a white grape variety. So what are they doing in the same bottle of wine? Well, traditionally in the Côte Rôtie area of the Northern Rhône in France, winemakers were allowed to put a small amount of Viognier into their Syrahs in order to soften them a little and make them more perfumed. The practice pretty much died out in the Rhône but has recently become rather fashionable in the New World. There are quite a few around in the UK at the moment, so why not get hold of one and see if you can detect the perfume and softness of Viognier. If you have a wine query or quandary that you would like me to answer, or a suggestion for one of the regular features, then please feel free to contact me and I'll feature it in a future newsletter. I hope you've enjoyed this issue of Wine Not? and hope to see some of you at one of our wine events soon! Go to the Red White and Rosé website... Quick Links... More About Us Quaffers Offers website email: heather@redwhiteandrose.co.uk phone: 07962 133487 web: http://www.redwhiteandrose.co.uk
 
 
 
Wine Not? August 2006 edition 05/03/2008
Wine-not? August 2006 In this issue Insider Info Wine Connections Top 5 Welcome to the first Red White and Rosé Newsletter! Do you want insider tips for finding great wines? Would you like help to discover new wines to try? Each month I'll put together handy information for wine lovers to help them get more out of their wine. I'll also send out a quick weekly recommendation for a wine or two that you can grab on the way home and enjoy over the weekend. If this sounds like something you'd enjoy, then read on! Heather Dougherty Insider Info Hands up who's ever tried a wine in a restaurant and loved it, but never been able to find a bottle of it to buy in a shop? Or have you really enjoyed a bottle of wine from your favourite High Street wine shop and gone back to buy more, only to find that they no longer have it? We've all been in situations like this at some time, but now there is a website which may help track down your lost wine for you and tell you where you can buy it. Wine- searcher.com catalogues wines sold all over the world by thousands of merchants. All you need to do is go to their site, fill in the search form and it will return names of merchants who stock the wine you want. You can then contact the merchant directly, by phone or via their website, and order up the wine you thought you might never find again. Two things you should be aware of : 1. Because it's a worldwide site, wine-searcher's prices do not include VAT. This means the price on wine-searcher will be lower than the one you see when you go to a merchant's website. However, you can compare prices like for like on wine-searcher, but just bear in mind that the real price will be 17.5% higher. 2. The search function is free to use, but includes only merchants who are paid up "sponsors" of the site, so you may not be seeing all the shops who stock a particular wine. If getting the whole picture is important to you, wine-searcher offers a Pro Version costing $29.95 for 12 months - not bad if this is something you might do fairly frequently. However, I still use the free function, which I find invaluable when I'm looking for particular wines for one of our tastings. Go to the wine searcher website... Wine Connections If you like this, then why not try...? Do you tend to choose the same style of wine over and over again? Would you like to try something new, but find it hard to break away from the "safe" choice? If yes, then this regular feature is for you - giving you a way to spread your wine wings without the fear that you're going to pick something you really don't like. I'll start with a popular grape variety, then point you towards some alternatives, which still have some of the qualities that you know and love. This month it's Sauvignon Blanc. If you enjoy this grape variety, including wines from Sancerre and Pouilly Fumé in France, but would like, just occasionally, to try something a little different, then think about: Verdejo (from Spain), known as Verdelho everywhere else. This grape variety produces light-bodied wines with the same fresh, crisp and herbaceous character as Sauvignon Blanc. Albarino A variety only found in Spain (although you never know who's going to try planting what nowadays). It is crisp and fresh, but it also has a hint of floral and sometimes peachy character. It goes really well with fish. Riesling One of the world's best grape varieties and deserves to be more popular. If you really love the pungent New Zealand Sauvignons, then try the same producer's Riesling if you can. It will be clean, crisp, with more body and usually a lovely zing of lime zest. It's a great food wine. Do you have a favourite wine style or grape variety that you'd like me to suggest alternatives for? Just send me an email and I'll feature it in a Wine Connections column. Suggest a wine style or grape variety for this feature Top 5 Don't forget that a wine tasting event is a great way to entertain your clients or reward your employees. Check out our Top 5 Reasons to Have a Wine Tasting on the Red White and Rosé website. If you have a wine query or quandary, or a suggestion for one of the regular features, then please feel free to contac t me and I'll try and feature it in a future newsletter. I hope you've enjoyed this first issue and hope to see some of you at one of our wine events soon! Go to the Red White and Rosé website... Quick Links... More About Us Wine Searcher website email: heather@redwhiteandrose.co.uk phone: 07962 133487 web: http://redwhiteandrose.co.uk
 
 
 
 
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