THE UK’s first National Wine Month in May aims to take the average wine drinker beyond their normal wine boundaries and to explore, discover and enjoy the wide variety of wines available in the UK.
To celebrate, Gulpfood.com is co-hosting an exclusive wine tasting and glass demonstration (Make Time for Wine – in the right glass) with Maximilian J Riedel, CEO Riedel Crystal at Mansfield Traquair, Edinburgh on 23rd May.
Says a spokesperson: “This 8,000 year-old beverage is said to be purchased by more shoppers than any other alcoholic drink, and May traditionally marks the start of the summer wine-drinking period.
“The Riedel event will focus on the significance of the relationship between the shape of the wine glass and the enjoyment of wine, in marked contrast to the usual focus on the attributes of the wine being tasted.
“The event is part of the month long initiative created by the Wine and Spirit Education Trust.”
Gulp offers a range of functional, quirky and elegant products – ‘everything inedible for eating, drinking, cooking, entertaining, living and giving’ – including award-winning European designs, a number of exclusives and a comprehensive range of Riedel wine glasses, all personally selected by owner, Miriam Fogarty.
Since August 2010 there has been a Gulp store in North Berwick High Street, East Lothian and the website (www.gulpfood.com) has been in operation for just over a year.
Miriam said: “This Riedel event is really exciting news for any wine lover. I have been a fan of the glassware for years and was delighted when I was able to persuade the family to consider Edinburgh for one of these rare occasions.”
Riedel Crystal has a 250-year history and was the first company to introduce the concept of grape-specific glassware which maximises the pleasure and sensory qualities of wine and is recognised worldwide as a producer of high quality and unique glassware.
Riedel is 100 per cent family-owned and operated by Georg J. Riedel and his son, Maximilian J. Riedel.
Each calendar year, father or son conducts a limited number of demonstrations around the world.
Visits to the UK and particularly Scotland are rare – it is more than ten years since an Edinburgh visit.
Make Time for Wine this May with Gulp and Riedel.
ENDS
Notes to Editors
Ticket prices, times and booking details:
Edinburgh Wine Tasting and Glass Demonstration, Mansfield Traquair, Monday 23rd May 2011.
Single Ticket £65 – includes complimentary Vinum XL Tasting Set (£100) http://www.riedel.co.uk/index.php/riedel/wine-tastings/tasting-with-maximilian-j-riedel-on-thursday-26th-may-2011-single-ticket-6.html
Group of Six Tickets £325/£54.15 each – includes six complimentary Vinum XL Tasting Sets £600) http://www.riedel.co.uk/index.php/riedel/wine-tastings/tasting-with-maximilian-j-riedel-on-thursday-26th-may-2011-single-ticket-7.html
VIP Grand Cru Pass for Two £395 – includes signed Mamba decanter (£375) and two Vinum XL Tasting Sets (£575) http://www.riedel.co.uk/index.php/riedel/wine-tastings/tasting-with-maximilian-j-riedel-on-thursday-26th-may-2011-single-ticket-8.html
Doors open at 6pm, wine tasting and demonstration 7pm, 8.30pm guests depart Mansfield Traquair.
Dinner option at Le Café Saint Honore. Gulp has reserved the restaurant at Le Café Saint Honore, N.W. Thistle Street Lane with for a post-tasting dinner option. Le Café Saint Honore is a long-established Edinburgh eatery and its head chef, Neil Forbes, was named Chef of the Year at Scottish Restaurant Awards earlier this month.
For more information on National Wine Month, visit www.nationalwinemonth.org
To view Riedel glassware, visit www.gulpfood.com
Biography
Miriam started cooking nearly 20 years ago and since then has learnt that some things are beyond anyone’s control, so she taught herself to remain calm, to improvise and sometimes to completely wing-it! It was during the late 80s at the start of a 20-year spell as a lawyer/tax consultant Miriam became aware of the thrill and delight in finding (and buying!) eye-catching pieces.
From the early nineties, cooking and entertaining became an additional channel for her creative juices and in 1996/7 she set up Kaffe Politik, a cafe/restaurant in Edinburgh.
Still in her ‘day job’ Kaffe Politik was managed by Ali Walker and pioneered a range of freshly squeezed juices, ‘real’ hot chocolate, tea infusions and the full range of coffees.
At that time, the only similar offering was at Cafe Nero in Regent Street, London.
As for ‘entertaining’ (she shares her motto with the French genius Billiart) her role is to spoil and indulge everyone she invites to her home and if the food happens to ‘work’ or be fabulous… fantastic. Miriam believes that no matter how technically tasty a meal is, if it is made with resentment, reticence and/or stress that always shines through.
In Miriam’s world, it’s all about the warmth of the welcome and the little details that light up any get-together. She lives in Edinburgh with her husband and two children.
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