Past Tastings

NOTICE: THIS IS A SECOND DATE FOR THE EVENT. IF YOU ARE BOOKED ON THE 29TH OF MARCH YOU DO NOT NEED TO BOOK AGAIN.

Tickets are selling out to our tasting evenings at unbelievable speed. But, to be fair, we are putting on a serious show with some of these selections. The next one will be following this trend as we make a triumphant return to the homeland of top-notch wine. Not just France, but the brilliant creators down in Burgundy.

We will be starting off with white and moving slowly into the reds, with an example from each quality level of Burgundy: Village, Premier Cru, and finishing on Grand Cru. This is to give you a feel of how the area is divided and how the French make sure quality levels are assured. The tasting will consist of 6 absolutely brand new bottles which we have hunted the market for, to make sure we have a selection which really does do it all.

The event will take place on Wednesday 5th of April from 7.30pm to 9.30pm. We ask attendees to arrive around 15 minutes early to allow us to get the show on the road, and get these beautiful bottles open and poured.

This event will be accompanied by the traditional selection of meats, cheeses and all the trimmings. We must warn you however, that it might not equal a meal so a little something beforehand is advised!

Yes it is finally time for our much anticipated Castello Vicchiomaggio Portfolio Tasting. We have proprietor and winemaker John Matta here with us to have a good taste of his wines and explain their origins and story as you cannot get better than the creator himself. John has been Italian winemaker of the year four times and his skills really do show with a wide selection of wines of all colours and many styles. Having a true master here with us will be an exciting evening to say the least.

As we slowly make our way into the warmer months it seems like the right thing to do to make our tastings a little more... refreshing? Cava is just perfect in the sun and so as we reach June it quickly becomes the best choice for a tasting evening. We will be enjoying 5 bottles of differing Cava all from one of our favourite producers as well as 2 bottles of red at the end just to give some balance to the evening. If you've never tasted our gorgeous house Cava then now is your chance as we will be showing off why they are, in our opinion, worth every penny you spend on them.

Matching your wine to your cheese board is always a tough one. The flavours of cheese can vary so much that wine can go from amazing to terrible with just a quick bite so getting it right can make all the difference. We have spent a long time researching the best combinations and also how to find them. It hasn't been easy but we soldiered on and have come up with an absolutely fantastic set. So let us guide you through the minefield that is cheese matching and we promise that you will never again end up with something that just ruins your bottle!

For the first time ever we combine beautiful wines and gorgeous chocolate to show off how these two can effect each other for the better. Sweet, salty, bitter and possibly even nutty; all of these flavours can be drastically changed by the wine you choose to enjoy with it and we are here to show you how to choose and what suits your palate in a calm and enjoyable manner.

It would seem that food matching is one of the most popular styles of tasting we do. The tickets absolutely fly! The food pairing tasting was possibly our best tasting ever and the cheese tasting was a close second. What next? I can tell you what next: Chocolate. There is a world of possibility with this stuff, so many styles and additions allow for a good matching with specific wines. Sweet, salty, bitter and possibly even nutty; all of these flavours can be drastically changed by the wine you choose to enjoy with it and we are here to show you how to choose and what suits your palate in a calm and enjoyable manner.

For the first time ever we will be tasting a beautiful selection of spirits and simple cocktails. The guys at Copper Rivet Distillery work incredibly hard to make sure that everything they release is absolutely perfect. We currently stock their gin, their whisky and also their vodka and all of these are just bottles of perfection so we thought an opportunity to learn more about them would be a great night out.

The time has come again to announce our next tasting event. This time we have something a little more unusual for you, wines from a region that some of you may be totally unfamiliar, and arguably from the last undiscovered corner of the wine world… the premier producer of the Balkans… BULGARIA! The date of our tasting is also very significant as it is the official Day of Liberation of Bulgaria from the Ottoman Dominion, and what better way to celebrate Bulgarian independence than to raise a glass of the world’s finest beverage!  

Our host, Dilyan Kolev, has a wealth of experience in the UK and Bulgarian wine industries, and is an owner of the premier UK importer of wines from his home region. He will be sharing with us his knowledge of Bulgarian wine history and production, and what the future holds for Bulgarian wine as it grows in popularity across the world.  

As it has been a while since our last excursion to the depths of Champagne, we thought it would be nice to bring to you a company who almost no one has heard of, but produce absolutely amazing wines. They're a new addition to our shop, and absolutely everyone needs to give these guys a try: It's Frerejean Frere.

We have 6 of their beautiful bottles to taste, with all of them produced in the traditional way. Excitement is not a strong enough descriptor of how much we look forward to showing off these wines, as the quality they produce for the price they charge is unheard of. It's about time they broke into the UK, and we are proud to champion them and their creations. Join us for this very special evening, and we are certain you will love them as much as we do.

As a special touch to the evening, we are joined by the UK Brand Director for Frerejean Freres, Louie-Joe Findlater, who will guide us through their gorgeous selection and teach us all about the beauty of their wines, and the lands of Avize.

The event will take place on Wednesday 16th of November from 7.30pm to 9.30pm. We ask attendees to arrive around 15 minutes early to allow us to get the show on the road, and get these beautiful bottles open and poured.

We will be enjoying a lovely, big selection of meats, cheeses, breads and olives with the tasting but we must warn you that it might not equal a meal so please feel free to have something small before.

It's about time that we showed you something particularly outstanding. Have you ever heard of Gaja? They're truly one of the most incredibly wine producing families in the entire world. Based in Barbaresco, their family has been producing wine for 5 generations. Since 1859, their vineyards have grown to hundreds of acres and today produce a vast range and quantity of wine. Anyone who loves wine needs to try this before they die and, just your luck, they're going to be here with us for an evening of wonder and awe.

Bordeaux has always been a firm favourite of ours. Not only are they revered for their amazing first growth producers, the little guys are sometimes just as special. Chateau Montlandrie was purchased in 2009 by the late owner of the incredible Chateau L'Eglise Clinet, a star from Pomerol, and produced some fantastic wines before his death in 2020. We have two vintages to compare at this event and it'll be one for the history books to say the very least.

Join us, as we walk you through these absolute stonkers and discuss the life of one of the greatest producers of our generation. Grab a glass and have a watch. And if you have any questions, please ask away.

If a glass or two sounds like a bit of you, then just grab a ticket and leave us your email address. The ticket includes the wines to be tasted (covers a whole household) which we'll deliver when convenient and you'll get an email on the day before the event which will include a link to the online webinar. Couldn't be easier!

The details:

Friday 19th of March
8pm to 9pm
£60 per entry (including the wine)

Jump aboard as we make our way through a couple of bottles of some of the most famous wines Italy makes: Brunello di Montalcino and Barolo. We'll show off these beauties and what makes them such incredible wines but if we miss something then don't hesitate to get involved and ask away.

If this sounds like a bit of you, then just grab a ticket! Each ticket includes the wines to be tasted (covers a whole household) which we'll deliver when convenient and you'll get an email on the day before the event which will include a link to the online webinar. Couldn't be easier!

The details:

Friday 19th of February
7pm to 8pm
£59 per entry (including the wine)

It's time for us to announce the next event and it's at slightly shorter notice than normal as this one is on the 7th of May! This time we visit the amazing styling of Argentinian Malbec.

Intensity is the name of the game with this monster of a grape. With huge lashings of richness and fruit, these wines are hard to compare to other styles, even those of french Malbec which is very different to say the least! It's one of the most popular grape varieties in todays market so we thought why not show off our gorgeous examples?

Grab a ticket and take a seat as we explain just why this gorgeous grape is as revered as it is, and if you'd like to know a little more then just ask away!

If a glass or two sounds like a bit of you, then just grab a ticket and leave us your email address. The ticket includes the wines to be tasted (covers a whole household) which we'll deliver when convenient and you'll get an email on the day before the event which will include a link to the online webinar. Couldn't be easier!

The details:

Friday 7th of May
8pm to 9pm
£50 per entry (including the wine)

It is with great pleasure that I invite you all to our inaugural online wine tasting webinar on Friday 27th of November!

We invite you to our online event where we shall be focusing our attention and tasting skills upon two wines, both of which are examples of beautiful Pinot noir from different countries. It's a simple, 1 hour event where we walk you through the foothills of Burgundy and Monterey with the deep knowledge of our resident fine wine expert Peter, and a helping hand from Andy, too. From the terroir of the areas, to the makers themselves, we will cover everything we can and help you get a deeper understanding of two of our most popular wines.

This time, it consists of...
The wonderful La Crema Monterey Pinot Noir and the famous Rully Rouge by Domaine Drouhin.

La Crema - https://grandcruco.com/wine/usa/la-crema-monterey-pinot-noir-2016-detail Drouhin Rully Rouge - https://grandcruco.com/wine/france/burgundy/joseph-drouhin-rully-rouge-2017-detail

Both of these wines come in at £22.95 but grabbing a ticket to the event brings it to £40 total which also includes the event itself! All we need to get you invited is an email address so upon making your order we will collect this information and get you booked in. We will be using Microsoft Teams due to its lovely simple layout and ease of approach for all involved so don't be scared, all your need is a computer of any kind. It's nice and easy and if there are any problems we will help you fix them before the event starts.

Friday 27th of November
7PM - 8PM
Two beautiful Pinot noirs
£40 per household

There are more than enough spaces to go round, so tell all your friends and family and join us for a lovely easy going evening of wine and laughs. Give us a call on 020 8650 0085, an email to info@grandcruco.com or just purchase the wines from our website at the above links and we will contact you

After the success of our first attempt at an online tasting, we've decided to do it again! This time we continue the region comparison theme with the Rhone varietals grown in the perfect places: The Rhone & Australia.

You're cordially invited to our fun and simple, 1 hour event where we'll walk you through these wonderful wines and regions whilst taking questions from the crowd and having a little glass or two ourselves. We use Microsoft Teams but don't worry, there's no need to download anything if you don't have it already.

After buying this product, we will email to confirm your attendance, have the wine delivered to you (or collected!) and then provide a link for you to follow at 6:45PM to allow us to begin promptly at 7PM. We hope you enjoy!

Come along with us on a journey of discovery during an easy-going 1 hour event where we'll meander through the Loire in France and Marlborough in New Zealand and show you what these regions have to offer. We'll be answering any questions you have and enjoying a couple ourselves, too.

If this sounds like a bit of you, then just grab a ticket from here and leave us your email address. The ticket includes the wines to be tasted (covers a whole household) which we'll deliver when convenient and you'll get an email on the day before the event which will include a link to the online webinar. Couldn't be easier!

The details:

Friday 5th of February
6:45pm to 7:45pm
£35 per entry (including the wine)

Upon purchase of a ticket you will receive a confirmation email which will cover some more information.

It's that time again when we reveal out next online event. This time we take you to one of the most famous and revered regions for wine: Burgundy!

Known for producing some of the most expensive wines in the world, Burgundy is stuffed with skill. The complexity found in their wines is unmatched and because of this they are endlessly sought after. We will be focusing on their Chardonnay, a very versatile grape which the Burgundians mould to their liking.

Come along and grab a glass or two as we venture down into the vineyards and learn more about the history or this beautiful region of France. There really is a lot to learn and if you have any questions that we've missed, please feel free to ask away.

If a glass or two sounds like a bit of you, then just grab a ticket and leave us your email address. The ticket includes the wines to be tasted (covers a whole household) which we'll deliver when convenient and you'll get an email on the day before the event which will include a link to the online webinar. Couldn't be easier! The details: Friday 16th of April 8pm to 9pm £40 per entry (including the wine)

It's time again to announce our brand new online tasting! They're always good fun and are a fantastic way to pass the time and boredom of lockdown. This time we make a short trip to a close neighbour of ours. That's right, this time its Spain!

Spanish red has always been a firm favourite here so grab a ticket, take your seat and fasten your seatbelts because we're going on a journey! We'll be visiting two styles of wine this time, a youthful and vibrant style and a much more intense and worked-upon Reserva, both of which we've championed for a long time. We'll be your guide on this excursion so if you'd like to know more then don't hesitate to ask!

If a glass or two sounds like a bit of you, then just grab a ticket and leave us your email address. The ticket includes the wines to be tasted (covers a whole household) which we'll deliver when convenient and you'll get an email on the day before the event which will include a link to the online webinar. Couldn't be easier!

Sometimes we need to move away from our safe and familiar territory and try something a little different. Don't worry though, we won't be pushing the boat out too far! We are going to take the opportunity to show you some amazing and refreshing whites which are perfect for the summer heat. Beginning in Slovenia and then moving from country to country we will show off what we consider to be a wonderful selection of wines, all of which will really stand out from the norm as these guys like to play with some interesting grapes. Some of it is a little sweeter than you may be used to but the style and finesse that is put into these bottles is just astounding.

After the huge success of our last tasting evening, we would like to leap into the next with equal fervor. So we have decided to choose one of our absolute favourite grapes to be the subject of attention. At one point it almost disappeared, but due to the South Americans it has continued to be a staple bottle for any wine lover: Malbec.

One of the most popular grapes in the wine world has to be Malbec, capable of being enjoyed in the depths of winter and also at the summer barbeque, its versatility is unmatched. Most commonly known for the styles produced in Argentina, this grape has it's origins in the south west of France, where the flavours produced are quite different to those found in South America. It's this ability to produce distinctly different profiles which make this wonderful grape stand out, and we would love to show you how these compare.  

We aim to show off the most popular styles of Malbec, with both old and new world productions. If you've never tried French Malbec then you're in for a treat as the amazing vignerons of today really do draw out every drop of brilliance that this grape produces. 

It is quickly becoming apparent that the thing people want the most is to meet the producers of our wines and have them guide them through an evening of beautiful wines. Well, we thought we would listen to your requests and set up another!

From the wondrous lands of Spain we have the region of Priorat. Some of the greatest wines in the world come from this area and the producer we have coming has even had two of their wines named "Best in Priorat" which is a huge accolade. We have the fantastic Marco Abella coming along to show off his wines and to discuss what makes them so brilliant. Do not miss this one, it's gonna be big!

The tasting will be held on Tuesday the 21st of January from 7.30 to 10pm. As our licensing requires us to close the shop by 10pm latest we kindly ask participants to arrive at the shop by 7pm in order to begin on schedule.

As temperatures drop, and leaves begin to fall, it signifies the changing of the wine. From light and easy summer bottles, to bigger and more robust styles instead. What better way to welcome in the winter than to enjoy a few beautiful reds with good food and good company? This time, it's Merlot!

As always, we will be covering a gorgeous selection of 6 wines from around the world, each of a different style or country, and each at the upper echelons of quality. If you love a drop of merlot, or if this sounds like something you might enjoy giving a try, then please join us for this wonderous evening!

The event will take place on Wednesday 9th of November from 7.30pm to 9.30pm. We ask attendees to arrive around 15 minutes early to allow us to get the show on the road, and get these beautiful bottles open and poured.

We will be enjoying a lovely, big selection of meats, cheeses, breads and olives with the tasting but we must warn you that it might not equal a meal so please feel free to have something small before.

It is with great please that we announce the next wine tasting evening and this time we go back to our roots in terms of layout and style with Northern Italy. This amazing region has incredible amounts of potential and a lot of it is currently being use to it's maximum. Beautiful vineyards host amazing vines and grapes which are worked heavily to produce some of the worlds most fantastic wine. Light and easy to deep and powerful, they do it all and none of it is to be missed.

As the sun's out and the warmth begins we should really celebrate with something fitting. What better than Spain and Portugal?! They live in the gorgeous sun and their grapes do too. You need some sun to fully appreciate these wonderful wines so the opportunity shall not be missed. We wander from one country to the next and back again this time with classics such as Rioja and Ribera being juxtaposed against amazing new styles like Vinho Verde. There is, as always, something for everyone to enjoy and we promise that everything will surprise and entice you.