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Archive for April, 2011

Barrica helps out with some charity fund raising

Wednesday, April 27th, 2011

Earlier this year Michael Barr, a Poulton based Wealth Manager and good friend of Barrica Wines, hosted a charity dinner at Ribby Hall, which raised £4700 for his adopted charity ‘MAG International’ The Land Mines Advisory charity based in Manchester.

Finishing touches to the second course

During the dinner Michael organised a charity auction with one of the prizes being a dinner party for 6, cooked by international chef Scott Whittaker. Scott has worked in some fabulous restaurants around the world and this prize was highly sought after.

To add an extra zing, Barrica Wines was delighted to provide some fabulous wines, carefully chosen to complement Scott’s delectable menu.

The final meal raised £700 to support MAG International and the recipients were absolutely delighted. You can see the details of what they ate and drank below.

Scott preparing rack of lamb

Menu

On Arrival

Albet y Noya Gran Reserva Cava (Organic)

Spain

Crispy Shrimp dumpling, green tea salt

Scialletti Sammarco Bianco

Italy

Wine to match the prawn balls

Macon Villages – Domaine des Vercheres

France

Truffle Risotto

Lake Chalice Pinot Noir

New Zealand

Herb Crusted Lamb Chop, Kromeski, Shallots, Fondant Potato

Jean Bousquet Malbec (Organic)

Argentina

Lemon Tiramasu

&

Sticky Toffee Pudding

With double cream

Aresti Late Harvest Gewurztraminer

Chile

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A Gastronomic Week

Monday, April 18th, 2011

I am extremely lucky that in my job I get to eat some fabulous meals and drink some truly great wines, but all the same the first week in April proved to be a Gastronomic week to beat all weeks so far.

I started the week at the Institute for Wines of California seminar in Manchester. They are conducting 4 road shows around the UK for independent wine retailers and I was invited to the Malmaison in Manchester. Wines of California were keen to understand why independent wine retailers aren’t stocking more Californian wines. Things are changing in California and there is a really good range of wines at around £7 – £15 available now, from a growing number of boutique wine producers – but to date they haven’t been very good at telling anyone about them. Of course, we HAD to celebrate by dining at Michael Caines ABode restaurant afterwards!

As part of this road show series there was a golden ticket to be won at each venue to visit the Californian vineyards – and GUESS WHAT – I won it! – so look out California, I will be coming to visit you and all your wonderful Vineyards in September.

On Tuesday I moved on to London for a fortified  wine tasting and then dinner at the original Gaucho’s on Charlotte Street, before heading back north.

On Thursday I was invited to Michelin stared Northcote for a lunch hosted by Dirk Niepoort of Niepoort port house. Niepoort is a  5th Generation family owned Port house which also produces some amazing wines from the winery higher up the Douro. Dirk is one of the truly great winemakers and is a real hero of mine. He has an extremely colourful character and Niepoort produce some fabulous wines. When I visited Portugal 3 years ago I was invited to dine at his house and was honoured to visit his personal wine cellar – much to the jealousy of the other guests at the dinner. On this occasion I was delighted to be seated next to Dirk which made my trip to Northcote extra special.

Dirk Niepoort and Jane Cuthbertson

Towards the end of my week Friday was a quiet day, but the week was rounded of very nicely with a trip to Inside Out in Higher Walton – one of the best local restaurants. All in all – not a great week to go on a diet!

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A Fabulous Buying Trip to France

Monday, April 18th, 2011

This month I had the pleasure of taking four customers, and Ali and Kate to France with me on a buying trip and it was a fabulous experience, watching them experience some wonderful French hospitality and of course some remarkably good wines.

We flew to Lyon and then headed towards Burgundy to the Chateau de la Saule in Montagny where they were celebrating the 200th vintage. We expected a bit of a do but were still more than impressed by the informal dinner in the 18th century chateau.

After this we headed to Abbaye in Tournus where we met a small selection of bespoke Burgundy growers.  Having good relationships with the growers is probably more important in Burgundy than anywhere else in the world as the vineyards in this area are small and fragmented and buying directly from the growers allows us to buy some great wines and achieve some fabulous prices.

After this we headed into Beaujolais , heading towards the Rhone, visiting producers all the way. From Avignon we crossed into the Languedoc region where we visited Domaine de La Croix Belle in Cotes du Thongue, then into Corbieres where we found a new exciting range of wines for Barrica – they’ll be on the shelves very soon!

We ended our trip with a relaxing lunch in the sunshine in the square at Limoux and flew out of Carcassonne later in the day. It was a 6 night, 7 day visit which proved to be extremely productive and enormous fun for everyone involved.  Can’t wait to do it again!

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A Return Trip to Argentina

Monday, April 18th, 2011

The first time I was invited to visit Argentina in 2010 was awesome, so much so that when I was invited back for a second time, with a party of 5 independent wine retailers form the UK I was a bit apprehensive. My first visit had had such a profound effect on me that I couldn’t see how it could ever be bettered, and secretly I didn’t think it would be anywhere near as good – but of course I shouldn’t have worried, as my second visit in March this year was 10 times better than my first!

The first time I visited was as part of my prize for winning Independent Wine Retailer of the Year in 2010. This time I was invited by Wines of Argentina, with 5 other independent wine retailers, and in the week that we were there we covered a lot of ground. My first trip had concentrated in and around Mendoza, but this time we also managed to head North, into some beautiful country to visit Salta and Cafayate.

Cafayate was a 4 hour drive from Mendoza and it was a truly spectacular journey. As we headed through the picturesque mountain valleys, the mountains shone bright pink in the sunlight. I sat on our minibus, listening to Argentinean music, looking out over the pink rocky mountains and felt like the luckiest person alive – mesmerising.

I must admit I could have done without the near plane crash at Mendoza airport as we came into land in a huge storm, and the floods in Mendoza city were pretty impressive as the storm water rampaged through the open irrigation channels that run along the city streets – but looked more like a white water rafting course.

Following this visit I am even more committed to Argentinean wine. We already have a further 10 Argentinean wines in store and we have plans for a further 20 – 30 bottles – and last week I was back at the Argentinean Embassy in London for yet another Argentinean wine tasting – so watch this space…..

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  • Barrica Wines

    Huntleys Farm
    Whalley Road (A59)
    Salmesbury, Preston
    Lancashire, PR5 OUN
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