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Here at The Fabulous Wine Company we believe in sharing knowledge and experiences of wine which is why we have set up The Wine Club. Below you find the club diary; giving you all the latest news from the world of wine, advertising up coming events and information on past events including tasting lists and notes so you can sample the wines yourself and draw your own opinions. Wine Tasting Supper at The Old Custom House - (30th May 2010)Our next wine tasting supper will take place at The Old Custom House in Barnstaple on Wednesday 9th June at 7.30pm. The evening will be based on wine from Languedoc region of south west France and we are pleased to welcome guest presenter Neasa Miquel. Neasa's family has been making wines at the Château Cazal Viel since 1789. However, wine making at Cazal Viel goes back even further and the superb terroir was first planted by Roman warriors, the ruins of whose villas and an ancient well still stand on the grounds of the estate. Then for almost six centuries from 1200 the monks of the local Abbaye de Fontcaude crafted their wine at Cazal Viel. Today, Château Cazal Viel is the largest private producer in the appellation and is the Languedoc specialist for Syrah and Viognier. Working closely with chef James Duckett we have matched five wines with five courses as below:- Falafel with fish soup Moroccan style Cazal Viel Chardonnay Viognier d'O c ***** Seared red mullet, with arancini of shrimps and a saffron beurre blanc Caval Viel Grande Reserve Viognier d'Oc ***** Warm salad of pigs' trotter stuffed with wild mushrooms served with garlic and rosemary crutons Cazal Viel Syrah Granache d'Oc ***** Assiette of new season lamb with garlic, tomato and olive jus Cazal Viel Grande Reserve Syrah d'Oc ***** Bitter chocolate tart with raspberries Château Cazal Viel AC Saint Chinian Cuvée des Fees ***** Five courses, five wines, £45.00 per person. To reserve places please contact Brett Stephens on 0330 440 1812 or 07743 752518 (email: mail@fabulous-wine.co.uk). Alternatively, bookings can be made through Andrew Phillips at The Old Custom House on 01271 370123 (please mention The Fabulous Wine Company when booking).Food & Wine Matching Dinner At The Old Custom House - (28th February 2010)We now have the full menu for our forthcoming dinner at The Old Custom House on Thursday 18th March. The cost per head is £55 for six courses including wines and bookings can be made with Brett Stephens on 0330 440 1812 or 07743 752518 (email: mail@fabulous-wine.co.uk)or through The Old Custom House on 01271 370123. Appetizers on arrival La Defina Prosecco Frizzante (Italy): Cappuccino of green apple and Italian mountain ham Fritatada with potato and chard ◊◊◊◊◊◊ Deinhard Riesling QbA Rheinhessen (Germany): White Pudding with wild rabbit, green lentils and tarragon ◊◊◊◊◊◊ Colleccion Torrentés de Cafayate, Michel Torino (Argentina):Seared Tuna Loin With chimi churi and pisto ◊◊◊◊◊◊ Vita Novus Cabernet Sauvignon (Australia): BBQ Creedy Duck With plums, aged balsamic and Hallwood Farm pak choy ◊◊◊◊◊◊ Fontanario de Pegões Red, Palmela DOC (Portugal): Picos Blue Cheese and Caramelised Onion Bric With red pepper salsa ◊◊◊◊◊◊ Muscat de Beaumes de Venise, Domaine de Coyeux (France) Orange Chocolate semi-fredo With blueberries and almond crust
Gourmet Dinner At The Old Custom House, Barnstaple - (20th February 2010)Following the success of last year's Wine and Food course at The Old Custom House, we are delighted to announce that we are holding a dinner that focuses on the art of food and wine matching. The six course dinner will take place on Thursday 18th of March and will include six wines which will be selected from both the old world and new world and will be matched with each dish that is served. The evening will be hosted by our resident expert, Brett Stephens, who will talk a little about each wine and each food dish and why they have been partnered. Full details will be following shortly, but to secure your place(s) please contact Brett on 0330 440 1812 or 07743 752518 (email: mail@fabulous-wine.co.uk). Alternatively, bookings can be made through The Old Custom House on 01271 370123. We will also be running our Wine and Food Course at The Old Custom House again in the spring. This eight week course gives a base knowledge of wine and winemaking as well as a thorough guide on how to taste and analyse wines as well as tips on food and wine pairings. If you would like further details or woul like to register please use the above contact details. The first of the 2010 courses commences on Wednesday 14th April 2010 and runs for eight consecutive Wednesdays, ending on Wednesday 2nd June.Wine and Food Tasting Club - (2nd September 2009)Interested in wine and food? Why not join us for an 8 week introductory course in wine and the art of matching food with wine. This unique opportunity will be held at The Old Custom House in Barnstaple and hosted by Brett Stephens of The Fabulous Wine Company. You will have the chance to learn how to taste and analyse wines, understand the basics of viticulture and vinification and taste an impressive selection of wines from around the world. Each tasting session will be followed by four or five dishes prepared by Chef James Duckett, demonstrating the art of food and wine matching. The course commences on Wednesday 30th September and will run for 8 consecutive weeks, finishing on Wednesday 18th November (7pm to 9.30pm) As a guideline, we have listed below the 8 modules:- • Grapes and wine production, how to taste a wine. • Wines of France • Wines of Germany & Italy • Wines of Spain & Portugal • Wines of Australia & New Zealand • Wines of South Africa & the USA • Wines of Wines of Chile & Argentina • Sparkling, Champagne & Fortified Wines This Fabulous opportunity costs just £300 per person for the full 8 sessions which includes wine, food and tasting guides. For a couple we offer a 15% discount, i.e. joint membership of £510. If you cannot commit to the full course you may select individual modules at £45.00 each. Club members , i.e. those signing up for the full course will receive a set of six ISO tasting glasses and will be entitled to a 10% discount* both at the Restaurant and with The Fabulous Wine Company for the duration of the course. For the duration of the course, those attending will be entitled to a 10% discount both at The Old Custom House and with The Fabulous Wine Company. For further details or to secure your place for this unique opportunity, call Brett Stephens on 0330 440 182 or 07743 752518 or email: mail@fabulous-wine.co.uk *not redeemable in addition to any other offer
Rioja Dinner, Courtyard Restaurant, Woolacombe - (20th August 2009)Another Fab dinner is on its way at The Courtyard Restaurant in Woolacombe. On Wednesday 9th September at 7.30pm, we will be joined by Carlos Latas from Rioja producers Bodegas Paternina. For those of you who have tasted any of the Paternina Riojas you will know the great quality 'old school' wines that will be in store and for those of you who haven't, you will not be disappointed! The wines (from entry level up to Gran Reserva) will be matched with some great Spanish influenced dishes from Chef Noel Corston and you can expect to hear plenty of Spanish patter from Noel and his sous chef. We will start the evening with the Paternina Banda Rosa as an aperitif and this will be followed by five delicious courses and Carlos will talk a little about each wine as it is served. The cost per head (including food and wine) will be just £50 and a full menu will soon be announced on our website. If you would like to book or would like further information, please contact Brett Stephens on 0330 440 1812 or 07743 752518 or email: mail@fabulous-wine.co.uk . We will be organising 8 seater taxis from The Quay in Bideford and from Newport in Barnstaple and, should you require transport from either destination, there will be a small additional cost of £12 per person (this covers transport to and from the Courtyard). As you know, these fun and informative events tend to sell out quite quickly so please do not hesitate to get in touch!
The Truly Local Gourmet Dinner - (27th May 2009)We are pleased to announce full details of our forthcoming dinner at The Courtyard Restaurant in Woolacombe on Wednesday 10th June at 7.30pm. This dinner will showcase the best of locally sourced food and wine with five courses matched with local wines from Yearlstone Vineyards in Bickleigh. Those of you who attended our previous dinner at The Courtyard will know that Noel's food is of an exceptionally high standard and the service and warmth at the venue make for a highly enjoyable evening. The cost for the dinner, including wines, will be just £50 per head and we will also be offering transport for a small additional cost from Bideford and Barnstaple. Below you will find details of the menu: On arrival: Yearlstone Vintage Brut 2006 *** Amuse Bouche Yearlstone Number 3, Delicate Dry Rosé *** Belly of Pork, Surf Clams, Orange, Peas, Wood Sorrel Yearlstone Number 1, Refreshing D ry White *** Pollack, Duck Hearts, Apple, Wild Garlic, Cauliflower Yearlstone Number 2, Soft and Floral Dry White *** Artisan Cheeses Yearlstone Number 4, Light Fruity Red *** Pear Sablé Five Year Old Somerset Cider Brandy *** Coffee and Fudge *** For further details or to book your place(s), contact brett Stephens on 0330 440 1812 or 07743 752518 or email: mail@fabulous-wine.co.uk We look forward to hearing from you soon.
Gourmet Dinner at The Old Custom House, 19th May 2009 - (6th May 2009)It's Fabulous Gourmet Dinner time again and we are delighted to announce the return of François Pages of Château de Campuget in the Rhône Valley as our special guest - not to mention his wines! Our venue is The Old Custom House in Barnstaple which has a growing reputation as one of the best restaurants in the area thanks to chef James Duckett. François visited us only a few weeks ago for our dinner in Woolacombe and his knowledge combined with his informal style of presentation certainly added to a very enjoyable evening. Château de Campuget is based in Costières de Nimes in the Rhône Valley and produces a stunning portfolio of wines from Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre, Rousanne and Viognier grapes. Combine this with the high standard of food that we know we can expect from James, then we should be in for a fantastic evening for all you food and wine lovers. This eight course dinner, including wines, will cost just £48 per head. For further details and to book your place(s) call Brett Stephens on 0330 440 1812 or 07743 752518.
Another Fabulous Gourmet Dinner! - (15th April 2009)We are pleased to announce that we have arranged another Fabulous Gourmet Dinner, this time at The Courtyard Restaurant in Woolacombe on 21st April 2009 at 7.30pm. The Courtyard is run by Chef, Noel Corston, who has many years experience both locally and internationally in a number of prestigious restaurants, many of which have held Michelin stars. Noel's food is described as modern European and he sources the freshest and best of local ingredients to which he applies a light touch which encourages the ingredients to speak for themselves. As well as the lovely surroundings of the restaurant (if the weather is nice we may even be able to roll back the sliding roof!) we are also pleased to announce that we have a guest speaker, M. Francois Pages of Château de Campuget. The Château is based in Costieres de Nimes in the Rhône Valley and produces a stunning portfolio of wines from Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre, Rousanne and Viognier grapes. The wines will be matched to each course and Francois will speak about each wine as it is served and will give us some interesting background on Château du Campuget itself. As Noel insists on using the freshest ingredients, the menu will be finalised nearer the time depending on what he feels is the best produce available. However, we do have a sample menu to give you an idea of what to expect:- Parsnip Cream, Rosemary, Truffle Oil... Open Ravioli of Duck Confit with Pumpkin, Apple and Chestnut... Roast Cornish Ling, Herb Risotto, Garlic Chips, Crisp Chicken Wings, Jus Gras... Apple Tart Fine, Ginger Caramel, Earl Grey Ice Cream... For further details, contact Brett Stephens on 0330 440 1812 or by email: mail@fabulous-wine.co.ukHappy New Year - (12th January 2009)In 2009 we will pursuing our love of wine tasting and, of course, food and wine matching and we will be very active this year in organising a number of events at different venues throughout North Devon and we will keep you notified with our monthly updates. We will also be working with our trade clients to bring you more Fabulous Gourmet Dinners and already in the pipeline are plans to return to No6 St James in Ilfraombe and to The Old Custom House as well as some new venues including Zena’s Restaurant plus a possible little trip to France to visit mon ami Guy Boursot. To stay up to date, either join our club or just pop back to this page every now and then - there will be things you will not want to miss!November Tastings - (1st November 2008)Sorry to say it but Christmas is well and truly on its way. However, with this in mind, we have a number of tastings coming up before the red nosed alcoholic arrives in his red suit and drinks all of your sherry…and we are talking about Santa and not Uncle Ken. Our first tasting (1st & 2nd November) will have a couple of bargains: Casa Solera Chenin Blanc and Bonarda/Malbec; a pair of new French wines from the Languedoc, and a couple of old favourites in the shape of Saint Clair’s 2007 Riesling and the 2003 Les Gauries Saint Emilion. The second tasting (15th & 16th November ) will also kick off with a couple of bargains (South Africa’s Pendulum Semillon/Chardonnay and Ruby Cabernet as well as a couple of Saint Clair’s spectacular Pioneer Block wines: Block 4 Sauvignon Blanc 2007 and Doctor’s Creek Block 14 Pinot Noir 2007. We are pleased to announce that Richard Halliday, Marketing and Design Director of Dartington Crystal, will be with us on Saturday 15th November from 11.30am to 3pm to present some of their wine glasses and explain how the glasses enhance the aromas and flavours of your favourite Fabulous wines. There will also be more tastings in December which we will let you know about in due course.Wine Tasting Lunch - (3rd September 2008)A WINE TASTING LUNCH AT THE OLD CUSTOM HOUSE, BARNSTAPLE SUNDAY 28th SEPTEMBER 2008 at 12.30pm: With the help of an old colleague and friend of ours, Guy Boursot, we have sourced a number of new and exciting wines from France (soon to be available on-line) and to introduce some of these wines, we would like to invite you to an informal lunch on Sunday 28th September at 12.30pm at the Old Custom House in Barnstaple. I am delighted to announce that Guy will be our guest speaker for the lunch. Guy spent 17 years at Berry Bros & Rudd, the UK’s most prestigious wine merchant and ran his own family business, A. Boursot & Co, for 11 years before returning to his ancestral home in France where he has set up businesses advising both British and French companies and individuals on various aspects of wine. Since 2004 he has developed his wine writing, his vineyard tours business and more recently has set up a wine shop in the historic town of Ardres in northern France. Guy is a member of the Circle of Wine Writers, has appeared on UK television and radio and is an accomplished and knowledgeable speaker. The Old Custom House is now in the more than capable hands of Chef James Duckett. After completing a degree in Business and Hospitality, James first went to France to work at a small Michelin starred restaurant in the vineyards of the Plan Medoc under the watchful eye of chef/patron Christian Sauvage. Having spent a year as Commis Chef, James developed a true passion for French cooking and so Christian Sauvage sent him off to work with his old friend Albert Roux, firstly at his restaurant in Amsterdam at the Grand Hotel and then subsequently at the two Michelin star Gavroche in London. Later, while in London James helped in the opening of Gordon Ramsey’s second restaurant venture, L’Oronger, under Marcus Wareing where a Michelin star was quickly gained, completed a spell at Frederick’s in Islington and then moved to work with Philip Howard at The Square in Mayfair as part of the team which secured the restaurant’s second Michelin star. As well as all of this, he has worked at prestigious eateries in Australia and Spain, adding even further to his international experience. As you can see, this promises to be an amazing way to spend a Sunday lunchtime and we are very pleased to have Guy coming to speak and very excited about having such a talented chef here in Barnstaple. Tickets are priced at just £50 per head to include food and wine. Please contact Brett Stephens as soon as possible to secure your places on 01271 370097 or email: mail@fabulous-wine.co.uk – as usual, we can only book on a first come, first served basis. A full menu can be downloaded below.Download the tasting notes for this event: New Arrivals! - (4th August 2008)Our next wine tasting, which will take place on Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th June 2008, will feature a few new wines that we have recently added to our portfolio. The research was tough but, as they say, somebody has to do it. We will also be matching some of the wines with a few local cheeses which have been provided by our neighbours at Orchards Farm Shop. Although there is a lot of new scientific evidence to suggest that cheese and wine are incompatable, we know that there is nothing better than the right cheese with the right wine!To see the wines for this event click here. New Site Up & Running - (26th November 2007)To mark the launch of our new website, we are pleased to announce our next two Christmas Wine Tasting Weekends. The first weekend will take place at our premises in Barnstaple on the 1st and 2nd of December and the second on the 15th and 16th. Both will feature a range of wines from fizzies to stickies, reds and whites through to port. We have invited members of our Wine Club along but the weekend is open to anybody who would like to drop in. If you would like more details please do not hesitate to contact us.To see the wines for this event click here.
Sherry is Back! - (27th November 2007)Back in the summer, we had to suffer the hard task of enjoying a Sherry tasting with Williams & Humbert, one of Jerez's leading producers. Being the magnanimous types we are, we then invited our Wine Club members to enjoy some of the sherries with us. On the 17th and 18th of November, we offered a range of sherries for tasting from the bone-dry Fino through to the amazing 20 year old Pedro Ximenez (described by some as liquid Christmas Cake!) We also invited Adam King (head chef at no. 6 St. James in Ilfracombe) to create selection of tapas stlye nibbles to be sampled along with the different sherries. They came, they drank, they ate and thouroughly enjoyed..!To see the wines for this event click here. |
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