Explore Bordeaux, Rhone and South of France

Join us in Bristol for an eveing wine tasting dedicated to the world of South and West French wine...

...filled with rich, spicy and warming reds made from the noble varieties of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Grenache and Syrah.  Join us as we discover why the British have enjoyed such a long love affair with the wines of this region.

Part 1: Bordeaux

The quintessential drink of a British gentleman! Bordeaux has for centuries been a global by-word for premium quality wine. It brings to mind the villages of Margaux, St Julien and St Emilion and their robust, complex and multi-faceted reds which evolve over decades in the bottle. Our tasting seeks to unwrap the mysteries which shroud these wines: is it the climate which makes these wines so special? The wine making practices? Or, the grapes themselves? Or is it, as the French would simply say, down to terroir?

Part 2: The Rhone Valley and the Languedoc-Roussillon

Long before the Australians discovered how to make soft peppery Shiraz, their French counterparts in the Rhone Valley were wowing people with their deep, smoky Syrah (the original French name for Shiraz) from Hermitage and Cote Rotie. To the south, villages like Chateauneuf-du-Pape and Gigondas were growing Grenache to produce juicy, ripe strawberry-tinged wines. Today, these historic greats are joined by the contemporary face of French wine-making from the Languedoc, where great value Bordeaux and Rhone-look-a-likes prosper.

All tastings include: a minimum of 6 wines sourced locally so you can find them easily if you like them, full tasting notes, tasting sheet, use of professional tastings glasses and a selection of nibbles to accompany the wines.