This year's support for raising funds via wine for Comic Relief in the run up to Red Nose Day on Friday 14 March is more exciting than ever. I'll be reviewing the 200+ wines selected by the major retailers of which 10 per cent of the retail price goes straight to Comic Relief from early to mid February.
Look out too for many fund raising events, the Edinburgh wine tasting for example, and even some quite silly ways of raising money via wine.
Where: Anywhere. Following the success of its Manhattan predecessor, La Paulée de New York, the stateside version of the annual Paulée wine festival in Burgundy, will be held Saturday 8 February at the W New York Hotel (541 Lexington Avenue). The event, organised by wellknown New York sommelier Daniel Johnnes, will consist of an afternoon walk-around tasting and a gala dinner that evening. Among the domaines showing their wines this year: Romanée-Conti (dinner only), Domaine Leflaive, Comte de Vogüé, Guy Roulot, Hubert Lignier, Jean Grivot, Marc Colin, and Comte Armand. Not bad, eh? Where: W New York Hotel, 541 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY. Another repeat event, this time a wallow in some of the finest examples of the world's great white grape Riesling from all over the world. For the first time this unique collaboration between some of Britain's finest wine importers to present examples of Riesling at its finest is being opened up to the public in the evening. This non-profit-making venture is supported by both German and Austrian generic wine bodies (though there will be wines from much further afield than just Germany and Austria). Its aim is to introduce the delights of Riesling to the wine drinking public. Please come – especially if you are so far unconvinced of the virtues of this extremely distinctive grape. Where: Royal United Services Institute, Whitehall, London SW1. Another repeat event, this time a wallow in some of the finest examples of the world's great white grape Riesling from all over the world. For the first time this unique collaboration between some of Britain's finest wine importers to present examples of Riesling at its finest is being opened up to the public in the evening. This non-profit-making venture is supported by both German and Austrian generic wine bodies (though there will be wines from much further afield than just Germany and Austria). Its aim is to introduce the delights of Riesling to the wine drinking public. Please come – especially if you are so far unconvinced of the virtues of this extremely distinctive grape. Where: Royal United Services Institute, Whitehall, London SW1.
When: Early February until Friday 14 March.
How: Should you wish to organise anything off your own bat, please contact Briony Slot on b.slot@comicrelief.org.uk for more details of how you can contribute. She is coordinating Wine Relief for Comic Relief and every little idea and contribution is welcome.La Paulée de New York
When: Saturday 8 February 2003 noon-3pm (tasting); 6-12pm (dinner).
How: For more information, visit the event's web site at www.lapaulee.com, call 212 625 2519 or contact Daniel Johnnes of Drew Niepoorent's restaurants at Daniel@Danieljohnnes.com. Fifty dollars from each $250 ticket to the Grand Tasting goes to Citymeals-on-Wheels. Admission to the dinner and tasting costs $1200.Rieslingfest in London
When: Monday 17 March, 2003 17.30-20.00.
How: For tickets (£10) contact Jenny Smith of Montrachet Fine Wine, London SE1 on 020 7928 1990 or email jenny@montrachetwine.com.Rieslingfest in London
When: Monday 17 March, 2003 17.30-20.00.
How: For tickets (£10) contact Jenny Smith of Montrachet Fine Wine, London SE1 on 020 7928 1990 or email jenny@montrachetwine.com.
La Paulée de New York
Following the success of its Manhattan predecessor, La Paulée de New York, the stateside version of the annual Paulée wine festival in Burgundy, will be held Saturday 8 February at the W New York Hotel (541 Lexington Avenue). The event, organised by wellknown New York sommelier Daniel Johnnes, will consist of an afternoon walk-around tasting and a gala dinner that evening. Among the domaines showing their wines this year: Romanée-Conti (dinner only), Domaine Leflaive, Comte de Vogüé, Guy Roulot, Hubert Lignier, Jean Grivot, Marc Colin, and Comte Armand. Not bad, eh?
Where: W New York Hotel, 541 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY. Another repeat event, this time a wallow in some of the finest examples of the world's great white grape Riesling from all over the world. For the first time this unique collaboration between some of Britain's finest wine importers to present examples of Riesling at its finest is being opened up to the public in the evening. This non-profit-making venture is supported by both German and Austrian generic wine bodies (though there will be wines from much further afield than just Germany and Austria). Its aim is to introduce the delights of Riesling to the wine drinking public. Please come – especially if you are so far unconvinced of the virtues of this extremely distinctive grape. Where: Royal United Services Institute, Whitehall, London SW1.
When: Saturday 8 February 2003 noon-3pm (tasting); 6-12pm (dinner).
How: For more information, visit the event's web site at www.lapaulee.com, call 212 625 2519 or contact Daniel Johnnes of Drew Niepoorent's restaurants at Daniel@Danieljohnnes.com. Fifty dollars from each $250 ticket to the Grand Tasting goes to Citymeals-on-Wheels. Admission to the dinner and tasting costs $1200.Rieslingfest in London
When: Monday 17 March, 2003 17.30-20.00.
How: For tickets (£10) contact Jenny Smith of Montrachet Fine Wine, London SE1 on 020 7928 1990 or email jenny@montrachetwine.com.
Rieslingfest in London
Another repeat event, this time a wallow in some of the finest examples of the world's great white grape Riesling from all over the world. For the first time this unique collaboration between some of Britain's finest wine importers to present examples of Riesling at its finest is being opened up to the public in the evening. This non-profit-making venture is supported by both German and Austrian generic wine bodies (though there will be wines from much further afield than just Germany and Austria). Its aim is to introduce the delights of Riesling to the wine drinking public. Please come – especially if you are so far unconvinced of the virtues of this extremely distinctive grape.
Where: Royal United Services Institute, Whitehall, London SW1.
When: Monday 17 March, 2003 17.30-20.00.
How: For tickets (£10) contact Jenny Smith of Montrachet Fine Wine, London SE1 on 020 7928 1990 or email jenny@montrachetwine.com.