It is not often that you see twenty odd retailers in one room, particularly when some are the most staunch independent retailers and the others are Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Oddbins and Wine Rack! But on Tuesday night, for the fourth time, that is exactly what happened as the UK wine trade stopped glassing each other with broken bottles (metaphorically speaking of course!) and raised money for Comic Relief.Every two years, Wine Relief, the brainchild of Jancis Robinson MW, holds a wine tasting in Edinburgh, where 450 people rock up and try wine from numerous retailers. As usual, after about half an hour in, words are a little more slurred as the booze has taken hold. And that is just the people manning the stalls, the punters are far worse!
It’s a great event, Rose Murray Brown MW, who organises this event, did a great job again and in two years time, I’d suggest you make an evening of it.
However, for the first time this year, Comic Relief has turned winemaker. Made by SAAM Mountain Vineyards in South Africa, two wines have been launched to help raise money for Comic Relief. The wines have been approved by Jancis, so they should be good, and I got to try them at the tasting.
The 2008 Red Nose White, a Chenin Blanc, was herby, light and fresh. Nice tropical fruit flavours, pretty well balanced with a little under ripe melon and a touch of lime. 7.5/10. The 2008 Red Nose Red, being South African, had to have Pinotage in it, and mixed with Shiraz I wasn’t hoping much for it. I was pleasantly surprised! Some cherry, some raspberry; a touch of burnt car tyre, but not much, but with a nice texture and pretty drinkable. 7/10.
Don’t get me wrong, these are not great wines, but they are very drinkable, well worth the fiver you are paying for them, and, once you take out the pound that goes to Comic Relief, these becoms damn good wines for four pounds.
These wines cost £4.99 each, of which £1 will be donated to Comic Relief. They are available from Booths, Marks & Spencer, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s, Somerfield, Tesco and Waitrose.
Various retailers will be donating 10% from selected wines to Comic Relief. They are Majestic, Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Waitrose, Co-op, Marks & Spencer, Oddbins, Wine Rack, Peckhams, Luvians Bottle Shop, Irvine Robertson Wines, Sideways Wines, Corney & Barrow, Harvey Nichols, Valvona & Crolla, Woodwinters, Friarwood Wines, Great Grog, Edinburgh Wine Merchants, Henderson Wines, Cornelius Wines, Raeburn Wines, Peter Green, Lockett Bros, House of Menzies & Villeneuve Wines
Comic Relief Website
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