West London Wine School: Grape Debate – Cabernet & Merlot
Wednesday 28 February 2018
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Join us for a tasting like no other! The tutors at West London Wine School are to be pitched against each other's wits in a mayoral-style debate defending Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot blends but from four different regions. Jimmy Smith, founder of the school will be championing France, whilst Quentin Sadler will be fervently defending New Zealand. Shane Jones will be pitching in with North America and Anna Spooner will be defending Australia.
Read a review on a previous Grape Debate on Pinot Noir – click here
Your vote will count to see who will be most revered Cabernet Merlot blends.
THE SETTING:
Before the tasting you will be asked to provide your preference of Cabernet/Merlot from France, The Americas, Australia and New Zealand. 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 four lecterns propping up the tutors. The compere will introduce the evening and each tutor will launch into a short introduction outlining their Cabernet Merlot manifesto.
THE TASTING:
Then the tasting begins for two rounds:
- Round 1: Cabernet/Merlot under £15 retail
- Round 2: Cabernet/Merlot £15-£30 retail
With each round, the tutor will present their wine, tasting it with everyone and explain why it is the greatest and most exciting example 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 for a game-clinching closing statement from each tutor. Then you will be asked to write down your new preferences again from the regions 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 winner!
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 different nations. There will be plenty of wine to go around as well as plenty of interraction.