Grape Debate: Syrah/Shiraz
Thursday 11 September 2014
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Join us for a tasting like no other! The three tutors at West London Wine School are to be pitched against each other's wits in a mayoral-style debate defending the spicy Syrah/Shiraz but from three different countries. Jimmy Smith, founder of the school will be championing France, whilst Quentin Sadler will be fervently defending The Americas and Cherie Agnew, our resident Kiwi, will be of course lashing superlatives about New Zealand and Australia.
Your vote will count to see who will be most serious about Syrah.
THE SETTING:
Before the tasting you will be asked to provide your preference of Syrah from France, The Americas and Australasia. These results will be collated and displayed in a classic election bar chart on the projector. You'll gather around, and at the front of the room stand three lecterns propping up the three tutors. The compere will introduce the evening and each tutor will launch into a short Introduction outlining their Syrah Manifesto.
THE TASTING:
Then the tasting begins for three rounds:
Round 1: Syrah under £12
Round 2: Syrah between £12-25
Round 3: Syrah between £25-50
With each round each tutor will present their wine, tasting it with everyone and explain why it is the greatest and exciting in that category. At the end of each round the floor will be open for questions from the floor (that's you guys!). Expect difficult questions, nervy answers, robust remarks and aggressive quips as each tutor attempts to out-wit the other.
THE FINALE:
There will be a chance of a game-clinching closing statement from each tutor. Then you will be asked to write down your new preferences again from France, The Americas and Australasia and we'll display the new set of results on the election bar chart – the tutor with biggest swing of results will be lauded as the most serious about Syrah.
This is a tasting that will be extremely fun, different and energetic but will also open your eyes up to the diversity of one specific grape variety across three different nations. There will be plenty of wine to go around, plenty of interaction, and a great way to kick off your weekend (you can skip out Friday)