Get Ready for London Wine Week!

I've been rather a fan of London Cocktail Week for some time, so when I discovered the team behind that marvellous event in October is now producing the first London Wine Week on 2-8 June this year, I was pretty bloomin' chuffed. I'm even more chuffed that they've asked us to be one of their official blog partners.

So what is it? Well, it's a series of events around the capital - there's several of them each day, running throughout the day - from tastings to food-pairing events, from pop-ups to fancy soirees, and all of them look like they're featuring seriously good wines.

A great way to get involved is with the London Wine Week wristband, which costs just a tenner but entitles you to lots of goodies, such as:

• Premium wines, or wine-tasting flights, for just £5 a glass at over 100 partner venues
• Discounts and deals at loads of indie wine merchants
• Specially created pairing menus at lots of swanky bars and restaurants

You can buy the wristband here - it'll really add some oomph to your week.

That's step one sorted - but what about picking a couple of the best wine events and heading over to them too? Some of them are incredible value for money, and here are my top picks:

Food Pairings

1. Paul A Young Port and Chocolate Matching  on Wednesday 4th June - £30

Several different varieties of Port (all of them by the brilliant Churchill's) matched with the likes of a cigar leaf caramel and honey and almond truffle.

Now, I've had a wine and chocolate matching workshop with Paul A Young before, and let me tell you - you'll never forget them.

To book, email info@churchills-porthouse.com or call 07826624711

2. The Elegance of Elgin, Walker Bay and Hermanus on Tuesday 3rd June at Vivat Bacchus in Farringdon (7.30pm) - £49

As wine dinners go, this is pretty special - you'll be guided through wines by Liesl Cluver - daughter of the legendary Paul Cluver - and by Peter Finlayson, who founded the well-known and highly respected Bouchard Finlayson winery.

These are two of my favourite South African winemakers and I'm staggered that the dinner and wines is under £50!

To book, email info@vivatbacchus.co.uk or call 0207 353 2648


Pop-ups

Three Wine Men Summer Tasting, Oval Cricket Ground - sessions on Saturday and Sunday for £25 each
Celebrity wine buff alert! The guys are hosting a range of tastings, with added masterclasses for an extra fiver, and the opportunity to try lots of artisan foodie bites.


Soirees

It's All Greek To Us! An Evening of Greek Wines and Mezze on Tuesday 3rd at Vinoteca, Chiswick - £20

Yes! Finally someone shouting about the brilliance of Greek wine. Not only do you get to try a range

of them - presented by Greek winemakers - but you also get to nibble on mezze. Well worth the £20.

Chapas Tour - 6.30-9.30pm on Monday 2nd June, starting at Salt Yard - £49

Like a pub crawl, only with amazing sherry and tapas instead. Visiting 6 venues - this is surely the most delicious way to spend a Monday night.

To book, email sophie@winechap.com or call 020 7935 6003


Tastings

Hedonism Drop-in Tastings - Monday to Thursday 5.30-8.30pm, Hedonism Wines - FREE!

Our post featuring this Aladdin's cave of a wine shop has been one of our most popular reads, and it really is the sort of place you MUST visit if you're a wine geek.

These free tastings should give you a taster of what they're about - and you can use your handy wristband to buy wines for a special discount!

No need to book - just drop in!

Fizz and Frivolity: A Taste of the 1920s, 7-9pm on Thursday 5th June at Roux, Parliament Square - £25

The glamour and music of the 1920s, plus loads of champagne and canapes. I make that a winner.

Lebanese Winemaker Wine Tasting - 6.45pm on Wednesday 4th June at City Beverage, Old Street - £10

Pretty much everyone who's into wine will be familiar with Chateau Musar, and this is your chance to meet the legendary winemaker Gaston Hochar - a thoroughly nice chap, believe me - and taste through his wines with him. Amazing for a tenner!

To book, email stuart@citybeverage.co.uk

Wine Car Boot - 12-6pm on Sunday 7th June at West Handyside Canopy, Kings Cross - £10

We've told you all about this event before, and now it's back so you can experience it too!

So that's just a taster of all the wondrous things in store - there's loads more listed on their website - and we'd love to hear which ones you'd most like to go to! Tell us in the comments - and maybe we'll see you there!