Review

For those of you who like to plan ahead here is sneaky preview of the catalogue.

Seminars and movies ...
... are open to all. Check out the times and plan your visit accordingly. One erratum In movie section: Jonathan Nossiter’s talk will start at 1.00 pm on Sunday 20^th rather than 2.00 pm as advertised in the catalogue.

Grab a bite!
A visit to the Real Wine Fair should take in the fantastic street food supplied by Modern Pantry, Ottolenghi, Morito and Ham & Cheese respectively. You will also be able to taste and buy bread, smoked salmon and cheese amongst other artisan products. Then find a seat at the Real Wine Café or eat on the hoof.

Drink!
Have a coffee (care of Caravan) – or a beer (Camden Town Brewery) – and try some London dry gin (Sipsmith and Sacred), Vodka...  Or, if you want to keep a clear head, try a Pixley juice.

Art!
Check the walls!

Find the growers
Simply this. There are four rooms where the growers will be exhibiting. There will be a map at the bottom of the stairs to indicate what’s where.

• All the French growers and their wines are housed in one large room
• Spain & Portugal will also be sharing this area
• Italy, Slovenia and Croatia are in a dedicated room
• Georgia and Hungary will be snuggling together near the cafe
• Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Chile & Argentina are flying the collective new world flag in another room

Buy!
If you taste something you love please make a note and order it from the Real Wine Pop-Up Shop by the venue’s entrance. The shop will also have a selection of bottles on display to buy from most of the growers at the fair.

Cash!
There are three ATMs within a minute of the venue.

Information?
The organisers of the Fair will be on the front desk throughout the fair and pleased to help you in any way.

For more detailed information check out the Real Wine Fair web site: www.therealwinefair.com or contact the organisers at info@therealwinefair.com. For pr matters please contact Natasha Claxton  or Rosamund Barton from R & R Teamwork on 020 7384 1333

Peter Schell: Spinifex, Barossa Valley

Check out our Spinifex range

Schwarz Dustkicker Hunt & Gather @ £12.95

Casa Marin Cipreses Sauvignon Blanc 2009 @ £19.95

Vina Leyda Sauvignon Blanc Garuma 2010 @ £11.50

Carte Blanche Wines Limited

From: Ben Llewelyn, Managing Director
Date of appointment May 1st 2012
New strategic appointment for Carte Blanche Wines

Carte Blanche Wines Limited has appointed Joel Lauga as On Trade Sales Director.

Carte Blanche Wines Limited (CBW), the independent wine importer and wholesaler specialising in small artisan wine growers has appointed Joel Lauga to the new position of On Trade Sales Director. Joel’s appointment starts the next phase of CBW’s growth in the restaurant trade having focussed primarily on the independent wine merchant sector to date.

Ben Llewelyn, Managing Director said, “We are thrilled that Joel will be joining the team and this is a very exciting development for the future of the business. Joel has an enviable reputation in the trade and has a great understanding of what makes wine great, which is an immense compliment to our current producers.”

“As a company we have had a fascinating two years of development, including the purchasing of retail business Caviste in June 2011. Joel’s arrival means that we can really start to drive the CBW agency business in 2012 and beyond. These are exciting times!”

Joel, who spent his formative years in South West France among the vineyards of Jurançon started his working life at Gravetye Manor in West Sussex. After a few years spent working as a sommelier in many Country House hotels across England, ending up at Lucknam Park Hotel, he joined Bath Merchant Great Western Wine. Joel’s knowledge of wine producing regions helped GWW grow their portfolio as well as their on trade sales before the company merged with Enotria in August 2010.

Joel starts on 1st May 2012 and will be focusing on the HoReCa sector in London and the South of England and will become part of the buying team for the company.

CBW background
Carte Blanche Wines Ltd. is a wholesale wine agency and importer providing wines of quality, integrity and personality that will give our customers a point of difference in today's wine market.

Our aim is to source great value, terroir-focused wines from small to mediumsized
growers across the world and distribute them throughout the UK.

We love discovering new producers crafting distinctive wines and our portfolio is a work in progress. The point of Carte Blanche is not to restrict ourselves to one particular area or category of wine. Our mission is to create a well-honed selection of interesting wines that ultimately provide our customers with an attractive commercial proposition and something delicious to drink.

We love our wines, our producers and our work and we hope you do too.

Key agencies:
Patrick Piuze, Chablis; Domaine Cheveau, Pouilly-Fuissé; Ludovic Chanson,
Montlouis; Domaine de L’R, Chinon; J-F Mérieau, Touraine; Domaine de la
Graveirette, Châteauneuf du Pape; Mas de Restanques, Gigondas; Castell
d’Encus, Costers del Segre; Dominio do Bibei, Ribeira Sacra; Agricola Labastida,
Rioja; Forjas del Salnes, Rias Baixas; Buglioni, Valpolicella; Pietro Beconcini,
Chianti; Spinifex, Barossa; Alluviale; Hawkes Bay

For more information please contact:
Ben Llewelyn
ben@carteblanchewines.com
01256772233

The wines all received at least 92 points and are the highest scores form Costers del Segre. Tharlan Syrah gets 95 points - surely a Spanish icon in the making?

Overton & Hungerford
Good Friday: CLOSED
Easter Saturday: 10am - 6pm
Easter Sunday: CLOSED
Easter Monday: CLOSED

Caviste Odiham
Good Friday: 9am - 1pm
Easter Saturday: 10am - 5pm
Easter Sunday: CLOSED
Easter Monday: CLOSED

You don't need to be queuing for the latest tech gadget to be at the hottest event in town this week-end. Just hop on down to Overton in beautiful Hampshire and join the Caviste team for our Grand Easter Tasting!

Saturday 17th March, 10.30am - 5.30pm.

By all means bring your favourite tech and video/photograph/share until your hearts content. We're @caviste on Twitter and would love to see any photos/videos posted to our Facebook page. But remember to leave one hand free for carrying your tasting glass!

1) A special table of Eight Wines Under Eight Pounds

2) Spotlight on the Loire Valley – all Caviste discoveries over the last 18 months including Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc, Cabernet Franc and Pinot Noir wines – oh yes, and a delicious Malbec wine as well...

3) New Arrivals of Old Favourites – including the superb new vintage of Petit Chablis from Patrick Piuze, the delicious Naissance from Domaine Cheveau (Mâconnais) and our first Givry from Domaine Déliance.

4) New World Classics– if you have not already done so, you must taste the already famous Secateurs Chenin Blanc from Adi Badenhorst (Swartland, South Africa), encounter the generous flavours of Gladstone Pinot Noir from Wairarapa, New Zealand – and catch up with the most recent vintage of Spinifex Papillon, the delicate Rhône blend from Peter Schell in the Barossa Valley.

32 Stunning Wines, 6 Cheerful Caviste staff, 3 Delicious British cheeses and hopefully 1 Beautiful spring day. Download tasting brochure.

Tickets are £8.50 if bought before the event and £10 on the day.

Buy your ticket online or call the shop now on 01256 770397.

>> View our list of other upcoming tasting events online

Spoil your Mum this Mothering Sunday with a delicous bottle of sparkling wine. We have a wide range to choose from but would like to draw your attention to two of our current favourites:
Domaine Deliance Cremant de Bourgogne Ruban d`Or NV @ £16.95
One of the best alternatives to a decent Champagne but at half the price!

Bisol Jeio Prosecco NV @ £12.95
Fairly intense honeysuckle aroma, good mouthfeel and plenty of fresh fruit flavours.

The wines from the Torrevento winery have formed a vital part of Caviste’s evolving range of small production wines, since Ben first discovered this estate in the autumn of 2011.  Situated in heel of the Italian peninsular, Puglia is a land of plains and low lying hills, over a bedrock of limestone that has resulted in spectacular caves and underground water reservoirs.  While wines have been produced by small family producers for three thousand years, it seems that only in the last ten years has the ever curious wine drinker discovered the region’s vinous flavours.  Torre del Vento translates as Wind Tower, where 400 hectares of farmland surround an ancient monastery.  Two brothers, Francesco and Domenico Liantonio, have taken these vineyards and winery to a new level, using indigenous grapes of Fiano Bianco, Primitivo and Aglianico as well as incorporating some of the better known varieties.

Full list of Torrevento wines - click on any wine name to order online

While the daffodils are beginning to burst forth, we are eager to pull out the corks of over 24 wines that we shall be sharing with Caviste customers in the Overton shop.  Included will be the recent shipment of Domaine Déliance Crémant de Bourgogne as well as the wines that have just arrived from Agricola Buglioni in the Italian Veneto.  Whether light-hearted and easy, or serious and complex, there is a wine for every palate and wallet.  There will be our usual spread of fine English cheeses and baguettes to help your taste buds on their way.

Tickets £8.50 in advance or £10.00 on the door.

Buy your ticket online

Or telephone Peter or Stafford in the Overton shop on 01256 770397 to book your tickets - or just drop by and book in person next time you are passing.We look forward to seeing you there on 17th March!