On the grapevine: Tasting offers selection from family estates
IMAGINE you have so much money that you just pick out some of the nicest wineries in the world and buy them. This is how the Hess family estates has gathered together properties such as Peter Lehmann in Australia, Colomé in Argentina, Glen Carlou in South Africa and Sequana in California. At the heart of the Hess empire is the Hess Collection, from Mount Veeder Estate and Hess Napa Valley. Sadly, Donald Hess himself won’t be coming to Yorkshire but his director of winemaking Dave Guffy, right, will present a range of wines from the Hess Collection on Friday April 1 at The Piazza by Anthony, Corn Exchange, Leeds, starting at 7pm. Tickets cost just £12.50 and can be obtained from Latitude Wines, 0113 245 3393. This is a tasting that should not be missed.
Wine sale
One of the best ways to afford decent drinking is to buy quantities of wine en primeur and then off-load excess stock at auction. Barrels and Bottles will auction of everyday wines and fine wines, on March 19 in Sheepbridge (01246 453399) and if you have wine to sell you should contact them. This is also a great opportunity for buyers to snap up wines at a good price. Sounds like a good morning out.