The Belfry prides itself on an extensive wine list that includes a range of wines to suit all palettes. Our wine tasting experience near Birmingham will introduce you to the basics of wine tasting. Our very own wine specialist Alex has hand-picked four wines that will enable the taster to experience an array of notes, styles and aromas.
Alex will be on hand to describe wine characteristics, typical notes and the general procedure behind wine tasting. You will also learn the difference between old and new world wines and the varying characteristics between wine regions.
A word from Alex
‘Growing up in Portugal, wine is a part of my culture. Renowned for full bodied reds and the ‘Touriga Nacional’ – the most common grape in Portugal, my love for wine was inevitable. I gained my first wine experience working in a fish restaurant on the seafront in Portugal – often watching other servers explaining how wines would complement certain dishes fascinated me, and my curiosity began to grow.
When I moved to England in 2015 and started at The Belfry, I was given the opportunity to complete level 1 WSET in wine tasting; a world recognised qualification. Passing with flying colours I soon went on to complete my level 2 and my passion was really born. I now regularly wine pair menus for various events resort-wide and it is with this knowledge that I have crafted this course.
My future goal is to progress to higher levels of wine stature and hopefully one day reach sommelier status. With this I ultimately hope to develop a business in creating wine lists for restaurants as well as buying and distributing wines on a global scale.’
Wines you’ll be tasting
Pinot Noir (Light bodied red)
Wine from the Languedoc-Rousillon region is produced in the South of France, ranging from the Mediterranean coast to Provence. It is the biggest wine producing region in the world, responsible for over 1/3 of France’s wine production. In fact, as recently as 2001 the region produced more wine than the entire United States.
Catena Malbec (Full bodied red)
Heavily dependent on where they are grown for variations on flavour, Argentinian Malbec has quickly become a world favourite due to the characteristics that the high altitude climate and soils impart to the fruit. Originally from France, it has found an amazingly hospitable home in the mountains of Argentina from which some of the world’s bestselling Malbecs are grown.
Sauvignon Blanc (Full bodied white)
Sauvignon Blanc is the flagship varietal of New Zealand; the name Sauvignon Blanc translates to ‘Wild White’. Marlborough is the most revered wine-producing region in the small country, accounting for 62%of all wine produced in New Zealand.
Albarino (Light bodied white)
Consisting of most grapes grown in the Northwest Rias Baixas region of Spain, Rias Baixas, meaning "lower estuaries" or "rivers" is one of Spain's most famous and well-loved wine regions. Albarino is quickly gaining esteem for its playfulness and whimsical nature; mouth-watering and clean, this wine has a complexity that is nearly impossible to dislike.
Join us on the night
Alex’s wine tasting event takes you through two reds and two whites – one full-bodied and one light-bodied of each, all for just £50 per person.
Wine events at The Belfry run all year round. To enquire and book, call 01675 238 600.