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TNWG Wine Times: Ep 54: Why Nebbiolo is a grape on the move...

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ANNOUNCEMENTS/EVENTS


💥 Wine Waddle 2.0 💥


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What is the Wine Waddle?


  • It is a walk and a drink with like minded South Yorkshire business folk who want to network.

  • It supports local hospitality, by visiting new and different locations around Sheffield.

  • Part of the small donation to join goes to a charity!

  • It starts the weekend in the correct way, 3pm onwards on a Friday


Friday 17th October is the next one - book here for your ticket: https://www.thenorthernwineguy.co.uk/event-details/wine-waddle-2-0


CALL MY BLUFF at Over The Yardarm Bar - Thursday 16th October


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Come and Test Your Wine Knowledge with a Wine Tasting combined with a game of Call My Bluff with award winning wine host, The Northern Wine Guy!


Lots of fun but also educational at the same time!


Time to test that knowledge and see if you can tell which wine it is from the choices read out!



PAD 12 - Wine and Cheese Evening - TUESDAY 28TH OCTOBER


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It is the SECOND Wine and Cheese Evening to be held at Pad12 Wine and Gin Bar.

Come down to one of the best wine bar locations in the city and enjoy a fun filled Wine and Cheese paired session!



ROTHERHAM TITANS - First Business Club Event


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The Northern Wine Guy is the host for the FIRST EVER Titans Business Club Event - Wednesday 29th October!


Grab your tickets for what is going to be an exciting Wine and Cheese paired session at the Titans Business Club!



The Wine and Cheese Network - October Edition


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Wine. Cheese. Networking.


We know it is the best way of networking! Get your ticket to the best way to networkin in Sheffield.


The charity is agreed for 10% of the ticket sales but we are after a KEYNOTE SPEAKER - so if that is you or you know someone who would be interest - let me know. 



Wine and Tapas at The Library


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Quite possibly the most underrated location in Sheffield. If you haven't been, you will be amazed that this place exists!


The Library is an incredible location for what will be an incredible evening, with tapas courses paired with wines, as we enjoy a Date Night for all. Get yourself down and buy tickets either directly via The Library or via this link:



OTHER DATES FOR YOUR DIARY:


  • SATURDAY 18TH OCTOBER - Seven Hills Whisky Festival - come and see the best whisky festival in the North, maybe the UK: https://sevenhillswhiskyfestival.co.uk/


  • TUESDAY 21ST OCTOBER - Sheffield B2B Expo - Based at DoubleTree in the City, my stand will be there!


NEBBIOLO


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Nebbiolo is predominantly associated with its native Piedmont region in the North of Italy and is closely associated with the likes of 'Barolo', and 'Barbaresco' when discussing its final wines. The fun fact around the grape varietal is that whilst it may look a lot like a Pinot Noir in a glass, packs a full bodied punch like no other.


Nebbiolo comes from the word 'Nebbia' - which means Fog, the origins of this are arguably from the fact that the best sites to grow the grape are above the fog zone that collects in the local valleys. It does have similarities to Pinot Noir, not just from the colour, but it is also quite a difficult grape to grow. In fact, whilst we know of Barolo's from Italy, only 8% of all the grapes grown in Piedmont are Nebbiolo grapes! 🤯


The problematic grape varietal does bud early BUT it ripens late and this in itself can cause issues of frost for early budding varietals and in weaker summer seasons (not 2025!), can struggle to ripen fully as a result. Nebbiolo is also what we would call, 'terrior specific' taking in it's environment and showing localised characteristics linked to its growing environment. 

Nebbiolo is to many, somewhat of a 'game of two halves' for wine. The smell can sometimes be lacklustre and quite light in intensity, rose petal and red fruit dominant are the norm.


However, the palette can blow your mind! Tough on a blind tasting exercise, as the nose typically doesn't agree with the mouth, but the grape varietal tends to come to life and is a brilliant accompaniment to foods too.


How is it evolving?


Whilst Piedmont is the 'home of Nebbiolo', as mentioned, it is not one of the most grown in the region and yet Nebbiolo is gaining more acclaim globally. It is a difficult grape but yet the versions of it are quite striking.


In Mexico in the Guadalupe Valley, Nebbiolo is a lot more darker, less tannic and often carries different flavour profiles too, often a touch riper with dark fruit profiles, which would not be associated with the Italian version. However, if you are keen at trying to find a Mexican version - you may struggle in the UK. Access to these wines is tough at the best oftimes, but if you are heading to Mexico then here are some suggestions for places you could visit to taste their Nebbiolo:


  • Casa Magoli, Relieve Vinicola, Vinicola Torres Alegre and Vina Emiliana


Nebbiolo can also be found in California especially in Paso Robles and Santa Yves and probably the area that is bringing the most out at the moment to the UK market ( or at least that is accessible) is Victoria in Australia - so it would be remiss of me not to suggest some places to visit or seek out for producers of some of the very best:


  • Jasper Hill, Luke Lambert, Giaconda, Pizzini, The Hairy Arm (I'm not joking!).


That's probably enough Nebbiolo talk although if you look at the next area, you will see that one exists in the October explorer case too!


🎉 TNWG WINE EXPLORER CASE - OCTOBER 🎉


You may have heard me mention it by now, but I wanted to bring some wine education to the North and especially to Yorkshire. So with that in mind, we have started our pilot case in South Yorkshire - it includes SIX wines each month, with tasting notes, food pairings and pub quiz info and here is the first six wines that I have chosen :


Jim Barry Riesling Watervale Clare Valley 2023 

Flores-Les Vignerons de Florensac Piquepoul Terret L'Arete de Thua 2024 

Leme Vinho Verde, Avesso 2023

Chateau Saint-Romans Bordeaux 2021 

Nebbiolo D'Alba 'Brumo' 2023

Saint Clair Tuatara Bay Pinot Noir 2021


If you would like a case delivered and live in South Yorkshire, it is FREE delivery and comes at £89! Let me know.



🎄🎄CHRISTMAS - THE C WORD 🎄🎄



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It is only OCTOBER...BUT here is the thing...venues and events are being booked up and if you haven't thought about your Christmas Party yet, then you really need to get a move on!!

ALL Thursdays I am booked out until Christmas in the evenings now ALREADY!


For Christmas - here are some thoughts from me:


Make sure you have your drinks ready for Christmas - dont leave it till the last minute and hit those big queues.


Give The Northern Wine Guy a shout and we can discuss your requirements and get it to you with plenty of time before the main event. Staff Christmas parties?


If you have them, then lets get a venue sorted and a Wine and Cheese or Wine paired meal setup. Whisky Tasting? Have you tried Sake? In-house event? No problem, bring the drinks expert to you - we can do this too!


Let me know if you are looking at getting clients drinks deliveries or you are stocking up for Christmas.


Have a good weekend, that's all from me this week!


Andy a.k.a. The Northern Wine Guy 🍷


 
 
 

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