LIWF 2012 – Day 3

Day 3 has been and gone. No seminars today. More about finding the more obscure wines. We all know the usual suspects, France, Spain, Italy, Australia, California. I have absolutely nothing against these wines but, in a more journalistic style, I thought I’d dig out the more unusual wines.

So…what did I go for. Well being a Brit, I opted for English to begin the day. I rather enjoyed working my way through the UK’s own Ridgeview fizz from Sussex. I can see why these guys are picking up all the media attention. Soft, elegant bubbles, well balanced fruit and acidity. From the Blanc de Blanc to their Rose, great wines. Between these and Nyetimber, I can see why all abroad are getting excited about our bubbles. www.ridgeview.co.uk

Where next…..New York, or more to the point, Long Island. Before lunch kicked in, and my diabetic hypo, I discovered the wines from UK supplier, Wine Equals Friends. Wolffer Estate, Channing Daughters, Paumanok Estate and The Lenz Winery. An incredible ensemble of  Bordeauxesque style wines whilst incorporating some randomness that makes these wines worth investigating. Randomness as in the variety of blends. Example, Paumanok Festival Chardonnay – 97% Chardonnay 2% Sauvignon Blanc 1% Chenin Blanc. Channing Daughter Vinos Bianco – 32% Sauvignon Blanc 28% Chardonnay(Musque Clone) 24% Pinot Grigio 16% Tocai Friulano. How’s about this for a red, Channing Daughters Mudd – 72.6% Merlot 19.5% Cabernet Sauvignon 6.4% Blaufrankisch 1.5% Dornfelder. The .00% is particularly impressive. Still, the ability to innovate is what makes all this worth while. wineequals.com

After cooking myself in the lunch time sun, Russia was next on my to do list. Like England, Russia has found itself on the wine radar this year. More with their bubbly. Whilst knocking back the odd glass of fizz I made, what I felt, my discovery of the last three days. From the Black Sea, and only available in Russia for now, Abrau Durso Victor Dravigny sparkling red wine.

100% Cabernet Sauvignon. Lovely delicate bubbles with a rich concentration of red, jammy fruit down the middle of the palate. Incredibly surprising as were the white’s from these guys. Influenced by French winemakers the wine, including their whites show signs of true elegance. For more info click on the link www.abraudurso.ru

This years event was more innovative. You couldn’t help but notice the lack of big name wineries. The upshot was it allowed more focus to the lesser regions, Turkey, Russia, Croatia, Slovenia, Slovakia, Lebanon. Besides the wine, technological areas were prevalent too. Wine dispensers, label makers, digital sommeliers etc.

Good show. See ya next year!

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