Just back from a rockin’ weekend of presenting workshops in Bristol at The Tesco Wine Fair. Tesco Wine by the Case  have some fantastic offers on until midnight 25^th September. All the prices quoted below are promotional prices and are per case 6 x 75cl.

The Wine Tipster’s workshops started with Jacob’s Creek Cool Harvest Range (the grapes are harvested at night time) and their Moscato wines, with Jacob’s Creek Cool Harvest Vermentino 2011, £25.62 a case,  and the Moscato Rosé, £33.66 per case popular choices. Next up were Brindisa’s Gordal Olives, Almonds and Manchego to get people in the mood for Journey to Rioja with Campo Viejo and as ever their Tempranillo 2010, £22.50 per case, Reserva 2007, £31.44 per case and Gran Reserva 2004, £60.00 per case were all vote winners.  From Spain we then travelled to Marlborough to taste Brancott Estate’s high quality Sauvignon Blancs and Pinot Noirs. The Brancott Estate “B” Sauvignon Blanc 2010 is high class, well priced at £12.99 for premium  Kiwi Sauvignon Blanc and is on offer at £44.94 per case, whilst Brancott Estate’s Pinot Noir “T” 2010 £69.66 per case, is enjoyable now, however will  continue to develop for 5-7 years.

Other wines on the The Wine Tipster’s radar included, from Chile, the Kiwi style grassy, gooseberry Montes Selection Sauvignon Blanc 2012, £47.94 per case and the intense, smooth Montes Selection Cabernet Carmenère 2011, £47.94 per case. From Portugal, Tesco’s Finest Vinho Verde 2011, £22.50 per case, is crisp, fresh and zingy and Tesco’s Finest Touriga Nacional 2010, £35.94 per case, from the beautiful  Alentejo region in southern Portugal is packed with flavours of damsons and plums.
Away from The Tesco Wine Fair, The Wine Tipster recommends the contemporary Hilton Garden Inn for an overnight stay, with good wines by the glass including the Riff Pinot Grigio delle Venezie Terra Alpina 2011.

See you in Brighton next weekend.

The Wine Tipster picture by Jim Winslet, t.+44 7802 448 309 www.jimwinslet.com

The first of The 2012 Tesco Wine Fairs kicked off in Manchester last weekend to a roaring success. The Wine Tipster was once again presenting at the Tesco Workshops and as ever we had full sessions, packing plenty in to our 30 minute themed  tastings. This year in my Campo Viejo Rioja masterclasses, which included their impressive Tempranillo 2010,  we really had everyone thinking they were in Logrono (well , almost)  with manchego, delicious Gordal olives and moreish Salted Marcona Almonds from the wonderful Brindisa in Borough Market – you can buy online, so get ordering.  In the Jacob’s Creek sessions, strawberries were the perfect match to their fruity, light and lower alcohol Cool Harvest range, whilst in the New Zealand workshop Brancott Estate’s quality Marlborough Sauvignon Blancs were bang on form as ever.In this session The Wine Tipster also featured one of the best easy drinking and completely underrated reds around: Brancott Estate Marlborough Pinot Noir 2011, £36.00 per case of 6 x 75cl down from £65.94 per case, Tesco Wine Club which is a steal at this price.

Away from the workshops there was an opportunity for everyone to have a go at a new, fun competition where you could become the guest pundit for the Tesco Wine Community and win a year’s supply of wine. To enter visit the Tesco Wine Community at each of the fairs and also remember whilst you are there to download the new Tesco Discover App.

Thank you Manchester and see you in Bristol 22nd/23rd September , Brighton 29th/30th September, Edinburgh October 20th/21st October or London 27th/28th October.