A Celebration of Burgundy
- Monday 12 May
- Chablis and its neighbours
- Monday 2 June
- The Côte d'Or
- Monday 7 July
- The Côte Chalonnaise
- Monday 21July
- The Mâconnais
Mornings 10.30am to 1pm, or evenings 6.30pm to 9 pm
Holy Saviour's Parish Centre, Crossway, Tynemouth (just beside Tynemouth Metro)
Fee: £95 for the course or £25 per session, includes 8 or more wines and a light lunch or supper.
The good times have come back to Burgundy. Its fine Pinot Noir reds and its inimitably good Chardonnays are in huge demand. The superb 2005 vintage is in the shops, supported by some really characterful wines from 2004 and 2006. Quality has never been higher and the choice of Burgundy wines, never better.
Helen Savage, who has a deep first-hand knowledge of Burgundy, was invited by the BIVB - (the professional trade organisation of Burgundy wine growers) to take part in the huge, week-long biennial series of trade tastings and seminars 'Les Grands Jours de Bourgogne' this Spring. From this and many other visits to the region, Helen will present an authoritative but highly enjoyable perspective of all that's good and new in Burgundy; and if you don't yet know the wines of this wonderful region it'll be a great way to discover them.
Greek Wines
- Tuesday 10 June, 7pm
- St Giles Church Hall, Claypath, Durham (regular buses from City centre)
- Friday 13 June, 7pm
- Holy Saviour's Parish Hall, Manor Road, Tynemouth (by Tynemouth Metro)
£22.50 including at least eight top wines and a Greek-style lunch or supper.
The Greeks introduced a love of wine to western Europe, but only in the last two generations have they built a modern wine industry capable of standing shoulder to shoulder with the world's best producers.
Helen Savage was the only English wine writer to be invited to attend and report on the recent biennial Greek national wine fair (Oenorma) in Athens and she has visited many wineries in mainland Greece. She brings a lively first-hand knowledge of the best of Greek wine, a thoroughly enjoyable voyage of discovery, with many unique and highly enjoyable flavours to savour.
The South West Experience
- Wednesday 25 June, 7pm
- St Giles Church Hall, Claypath, Durham
- Thursday 26 June, 10.30am to 1pm, or 6.30pm to 9 pm
- Holy Saviour's Parish Centre, Tynemouth
£22.50 including at least 12 wines and a lunch or supper celebrating south western French cuisine.
South West France, the land of goose fat and garlic, is blessed with some of the most distinctive and exciting wine regions of France - a huge variety of styles and flavours, from the rich reds of Madiran and Cahors to the lush sweet wines of Jurançon and Pacherenc du Vic Bihl.
For several years Helen Savage has worked very closely with the growers' organisation in the region - CIVSO, which, unusually in France, represents a wide range of different appellations. Helen took part in a special tasting of South West wines reported in Decanter magazine recently; she lectures in Britain and Ireland on the wines of South West France on behalf of CIVSO and chose the wines from the region to be shown at London's International Wine and Spirit Fair in May this year. From this special selection of the best of the South West she'll present an exciting and uniquely authoritative introduction to the region - a real treat in store.
And coming in the autumn: an exciting choice of tastings and short courses including:
Mediterranean Wine: £120 for 6 sessions, includes either light lunch or supper each week.
To book, and for further information: please email: .