The Tatler Wine Club
While we may not yet be sharing bottles of heady Châteauneuf-du-Pape with friends over dinner, or clinking glasses of sparkling English wine at glamorous summer parties, there are still ways to enjoy the best wines and engaging conversation from the comfort and safety of one’s own home.
Introducing the Tatler Wine Club: The ultimate alternative to a glittering night out, escape into the wonderfully hedonistic world of fine wine and high society via an exclusive virtual experience. Every other Saturday, from the 6th June, at 7:30pm, Elliot Awin, Tatler’s go-to wine aficionado, will be hosting a wine tasting through Instagram Live on @tatlermagazine. Tune in fortnightly as Awin guides us through three carefully curated wines, joined by some of Britain’s most in-demand faces.
Whether you’re a wine connoisseur or a newcomer seeking to expand your knowledge of this fascinating field, there’s never been a better moment to indulge your interest at home. Including the opportunity to pose your own burning questions, from what wines will best compliment your favourite dishes to what to look out for when choosing wine in a restaurant (once the time comes again), let Elliot be your trusted guide through this delightful world.
Tatler Wine Club Tasting Case – Saturday 4th July
In celebration of English Wine Week, for the third Tatler Wine Club tasting Elliot has curated a triptych of fine Sussex-based wines.
Starting with the Wiston Estate Brut NV, a sparkling vintage used by Her Majesty The Queen to launch P&O’s Britannia cruise liner in 2015. The Goring family have been the custodians over the 6,000 acre Wiston Estate since 1745 but established the vineyard in 2006.
The Brut NV is a blend of Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier in equal parts. The result? A refreshing, elegant blend that combines notes of crisp green apples and ripe lemons with richer, mature characters.
This is followed by a crisp white wine from Nutbourne Vineyards, an award-winning producer nestled in the heart of West Sussex. The family-run business is a pioneer in the English wine world, planting their first vineyard in 1980 and now producing a full range of still and sparkling wines. The Nutbourne Reserve 2018 is a ‘field blend’ still white wine that combines two German varietals with Pinot Noir. The outcome is crisp and dry with tremendous freshness and wild fruit flavours: a perfect aperitif.
And finally, a light red wine from the Rathfinny Estate, a relative newcomer, who planted their first vines on the chalk slopes of the South Downs in 2012. The Rathfinny Cradle Estate Pinot Noir is a true reflection of the wonderful summer of 2018: with heady notes of raspberry, red cherry and wild strawberries, this Pinot Noir has silky smooth tannins and a peppery palate with layers of red fruits.
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Tatler Wine Club Tasting Case – Saturday 6th June
Elliot has selected a multi-award winning line up for the inaugural Tatler Wine Club tasting.
Starting with, Weingut Allram from Kamptal in Austria, one of Austria’s most high profile wine regions.The winery that has previously won the Best White Wine in the World Award at the International Wine Challenge competition in London.
This is followed by a juicy red from Stellenbosch, South Africa. Winemaking duo, Gary and Kathy Jordan, receive recognition year on year for their exceptional wines and have previously lifted the coveted Best South African Producer Trophy at the International Wine & Spirit Competition.
And finally, a red from Casas del Bosque, one of the first wineries to be established in the cool climate Casablanca region of Chile. The winery was awarded the Best Chilean Producer Trophy at the International Wine & Spirit Competition.
Join Elliot on the @tatlermagazine Instagram account on Saturday the 6th June at 7:30pm to taste along and discover these exceptional examples of their region and variety.
Tatler Wine Club Tasting Case – Saturday 20th June
For the 2nd Tatler Wine Club tasting, Elliot has curated a case that will guide you through an off-the-beaten-track tour of Europe, discovering some under-the-radar gems that don’t always receive the attention they deserve.
With over 250 native grape varieties, Portugal is one of the most diverse winegrowing regions in Europe, however many would struggle to name one indigenous grape. The first wine in the tasting is a refreshing Dom Rafael, from Herdade do Mouchão in Alentejo, which is a blend of two white grapes, Arinto and Antão Vaz. Mouchão is a traditional family winery, with a history dating back more than 100 years, and with a commitment to the use of old techniques.
The Gamay grape is the hero of Beaujolais, where it produces light red wines perfect for summer drinking. The second wine, Lapierre Raisins Gaulois Gamay 2019, beautifully demonstrates the capability of this region. With 45-year-old vines at his disposal, young Mathieu Lapierre utilises organic and biodynamic practices in the vineyards, as his father did before him. The grapes are harvested at the last possible moment to ensure ultimate ripeness.
The last wine, Maro Cariñeno Tinto, is from the little-known region of Cariñena in the province of Aragon. This area is currently going through a renaissance, with some 32 square miles of vineyards offering fantastic value and amazing full flavoured wines. The winds that whistle through the region keep the vines cool and disease at bay. Despite its relative obscurity it is the second oldest region in Spain, with a winemaking history dating back to the 15th century and is considered the birthplace of the Garnacha grape.