ONLINE TASTING: 'Pinot Noir of the World' Comparison Tasting

We are very excited to launch our exciting series of grape variety tastings showcasing some of the best examples across the world of wine of a given variety. These wines are expertly hand-picked by wine school owner Jimmy Smith to represent a broad diversity, and we begin our adventure with the world-famous Pinot Noir. The tasting will discover the trials and tribulations of growing Pinot Noir and where in the world we find this regal variety. Countries/regions tasted will be France, California, Oregon (both USA), Italy, Germany, Tasmania (Australia), South Africa and New Zealand and the wines are premium-priced retailing at £20-£60. Pinot Noir Pinot noir is arguably the most charismatic of all grape varieties, and without doubt the hardest to get right. When it works, though, it's sublime. No other grape has the same power of seduction, from its naturally delicate colour to the charming raspberry and cherry notes of a young pinot noir, through to the more gamey aromas that appear with age. Burgundy is the spiritual home of fine pinot noir, producing wines with a silky texture haunting herbal, forest floor aromas that come with a bit of age. Germany and Austria tend to make light-bodied, cherry-scented pinot noir. And in the new world in cooler areas – New Zealand, the Pacific north-west and cooler areas of Chile – are best for growing this sensitive, thin-skinned grape. Expect a more velvety palate, riper fruit flavours and less herbal aromas than you'd find in European pinot noir. There are many versions of pinot noir, which mutates easily and which growers find exasperatingly difficult to grow successfully. It remains therefore an irresistible challenge to wine-growers as far apart as Oregon, Argentina, New Zealand and Hungary. Tasting Date: Thursday 20th January 2022 at 7:30pm (the tasting will last approximately 1.5 - 2 hours) TASTING FEE STRUCTURE: For this special two-hour tasting, a wine tasting kit is included in the listed price which includes a 50ml tasting sample of each wine. Note: Tasting kits will be despatched to attendees within the week leading up to the tasting.  DON'T WANT TO RECEIVE A TASTING KIT? We understand that not everyone will want to receive the wine samples, and would rather just register to participate in the online evening without the wines. That is absolutely fine! The fee to just register for this evening without receiving a tasting kit is £10. Just enter the promotional code: 50REGONLY when checking out to ensure you just pay the registration cost.  TASTING FORMAT: Jimmy Smith will host this exclusive tasting live at 7:30pm on Thursday 20 January 2022. This single-evening tasting will be approximately 1.5 - 2 hours in length.  Unable to commit on the evening? No problem! Anyone registered for this tasting will gain access to the video recording of the live event, so you can always revisit any of these at anytime in the future - whether its because you missed participating in the live evening or if you want to revisit the presentation at a later date. Wines Included in Tasting Kit (8 wines):

• Walter Scott, La Combe Verte Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley AVA, 2018
• Cantina Girlan, Patricia Pinot Noir, Alto-Adige, Italy, 2018
• Jean Stodden, J Spatburgunder, Ahr, Germany, 2018
• Greywacke Pinot Noir, Marlborough, New Zealand, 2019
• Tolpuddle Coal River Pinot Noir, Tasmania, Australia, 2020
• De Loach, Russian River Pinot Noir, Sonoma, California, 2018
• Newton Johnson Family Vineyards Pinot Noir, Hemel-en-Aarde, South Africa, 2019
• Burgundy TBC

RATHER ATTEND THIS TASTING IN-PERSON? We are hosting this same tasting again at our flagship venue in West London on Friday11th March 2022 at 7:00pm.