For the 3^rd consecutive year the best of fortified wines will come together under a single roof in a unique trade tasting. The event will take place Glazier’s Hall, London (10am to 6pm), and we will be showcasing on 2 tables a very special selection of wines. A specialist who has been involved with Sherry and Spanish Wines since 1976, like any true specialist, Ehrmanns strives to supply the best at the different quality levels from basic entry level to true treasures.

From our well known Sherry producer Williams & Humbert Established 1877 – W+H Alegria Manzanilla, W+H Collection Fino, W+H Collection Amontillado 12yrs, W+H Collection Oloroso 12yrs, W+H Dos Cortados Rare Old Dry Palo Cortado 20yrs, W+H Jalifa Rare Old Dry Amontillado 30yrs, W+H Dry Sack Sweet Old Oloroso 15yrs and W+H Canasta Cream to odd parcels of really special Sherries which have been bottled specially for us, normally in minuscule quantities. The range selected will feature – Sacristia AB Manzanilla Saca Primavera 2011 (Selected by Antonio Barbadillo Mateo), Sacristia AB Manzanilla Saca Primavera 2012 (Selected by Antonio Barbadillo Mateo), Sanchez Romate Hnos Fino Perdido 1/15 Butts (Selected by Peter J Dauthieu),Cayetano del Pino & Cia Palo Cortado Viejisimo 1/5 Butts (Selected by Peter J Dauthieu), Salto Al Cielo Oloroso 1/5 Butts (Selected by Beltran Domecq Williams)and W+H As You Like It Sweet Old Oloroso 1/27 Butts (Williams & Humbert Treasure Selection). Obviously our fortified selection would not be complete without 2 Finest Sweet Moscatel from our Portuguese producer Bacalhoa – Bacalhoa Moscatel 2005 and Bacalhoa Moscatel Reserve 2000.

For more information about the event visit http://www.thebft.co.uk/ and for registration http://www.thebft.co.uk/index.php/visitor-registration-2012

 Multi award winning Director of Winemaking Larry Cherubino has created a fantastic range of wines, focusing on regional strengths, to respond to different market needs.

 The range will be divided into four tiers targeting emerging sectors such as Independents and e-commerce, as well as the traditional Premium Grocer and On Trade markets. The wines have been selected from quality varietals grown in premium areas such as Margaret River, McLaren Vale and the Mornington Peninsula. The aim of the brand is to get the consumer excited about Australia again and reinvigorate the category with fresh, modern, food friendly wines.

 ROV have established themselves in the last 6 years as a major player in Australia and have achieved good distribution in the States and Canada. They believe Europe offers a great deal of potential and have appointed Barney Davis as General Manager UK & Europe to develop the brand here. Barney joins from the Company of Wine People and will start his new role on the 19^th of March 2012, he will work in close partnership with Ehrmanns to build a strong presence in the British market.

 Speaking on behalf of Ehrmanns, Director of Buying Joy Edmondson comments, “It is a privilege to be working with legendary wine professionals Robert Oatley, Chris Hancock and their team at Robert Oatley Vineyards. We could wish for no better partner to steer Australia through the current state of flux and into the second wave”.

 Edmondson concludes, “We believe our latest partnership with ROV demonstrates how well Ehrmanns is progressing and how dedicated we are to sourcing the very best wines for our customers.”

 Also commenting on the new relationship, Barney Davis (General Manager UK & Europe) said, “we are delighted to appoint Ehrmanns as our UK representative, they have a strong track record for building brands thanks to an efficient multi channel approach.  I am looking forward to developing the ROV portfolio with them in the UK.”

 Sitting alongside boutique winery Tahbilk (Nagambie Lakes) in our portofolio, ROV will have access to all trade channels in the UK Major Off trade, Impulse, Independent & Online via Ehrmanns Independent Selection (EIS) plus the On Trade. Each of these trade channels has its own dedicated sales and marketing team and offers a unique service to our customers.

 The Robert Oatley Vineyards range will be officially launched in May 2012 at the London Wine Trade Fair on the Ehrmanns stand (N42).

For any information on the range, please contact Marianne Fillion at marianne.fillion@ehrmanns.co.uk

Wine of the week written by Majestic Manager Louise Stonestreet, published by Horsham & Billingshurst Advertiser, ‘Quinta da Bacalhoa – Peninsula de Setubal’ buy 2 save £3 per bottle from £13.49.

“The 15th Century Quinta da Bacalhoa estate, formerly known as Vila Fresca, used to be owned by the Portuguese royal family. Turning to commercial wine-making in the 1970s, it is now one of Portugal’s largest porducers.

This wine is an unusual ‘iberian style’ claret, blended from Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. On the nose there is a delightful array of pencil shavings, tobacco and sandal wood. The palate offers a supple mouthfeel boosted by juicy bramble fruit. Careful use of oak produces nutty, cedar-like tannins.

This is a ‘big’ wine which will be best paired to protein-rich food in order to complement the tannins. Why not try it this weekend with your roast beef or fillet steak – or maybe with the cheeseboard afterwards?”

Its amazing quality scored 93 PTS – EDITOR’S CHOICE – Wine Enthusiast Magazine –December 2009;

93 PTS – EDITOR’S CHOICE – Wine Enthusiast Magazine – September 2010 & TOP 100 Wine Enthusiast Magazine 2010

A fantastic wine to have with red meats, game or with a fine selection of cheese.

For further information on Quinta da Bacalhoa please contact andre.neves@ehrmanns.co.uk

“For the Party

Four Sisters Sauvignon Blanc Sparkling

No celebration is complete without something spakling and this is a perfect party cork to pop at a terrific price. Made by Tahbilk, one of the great names in Australian wine, this is an unpretentious does-what-it-says-on-the-bottle sparkler, full of light, grassy minerality, as clean and invigorating as a Bondi Beach breeze and incredibly gluggable. £9.99, Nisa stores; thedrinkcellar.co.uk”

Although we agree this wine is perfect for Australia Day Celebrations, we believe it is perfect for all kinds of celebrations. So pop a cork tomorrow and give it a go and we believe it will become a firm favourite for all those special occasions.

RRP £9.99

Wholesalers:

Retailers :

• Nisa Stores
• Dallas Liquor Mart Ltd
• The Drink Cellar
• Ye Old Bottoms Up
  

 For further information contact Innessa Melnikova at Inessa.Melnikova@ehrmanns.co.uk or call 02074499916

Ehrmanns is proud to announce the sponsorship, from our prestigious Sherry Bodega Williams & Humbert, of the Celebrations of Dickens’s 200^th Birthday.

During 2012 London will celebrate the bicentenary of the birth of one of its greatest writers, Charles Dickens (1812-1870). Jose Luis Jimenez, the academic from Jerez has been invited by the Dickens Museum director and commissionaire,  Florian Schweizer, for the bicentenary celebration. He will be presenting his Work: ‘Sherry with Dickens’, about the well claimed novelists relationship with the wine from Jerez, which featured so much in his Novels as well as in his private life. This commemorative event where the guests will raise glasses in memory of Dickens will feature these Sherries from Williams & Humbert:

‘Alegria’ Manzanilla – From the seaside town of Sanlucar de Barrameda, this Manzanilla has a pungent ‘yeasty’ aroma, light and fresh on the palate. ‘Alegria’ is the Spanish word for happiness.

‘Dry Sack’ Oloroso 15 Years Old – This is the first age dated Sherry on the market. From the finest Oloroso Soleras of at least 15 years old, we add a touch of 20 Year Old Certified V.O.S. (Very Old Sherry) Pedro Ximenez ‘Don Guido’ Sherry, to give a hint of sweetness on the finish.

Dos Cortados’ Palo Cortado V.O.S. 20 Years Old. A rarity, produced through ageing by oxidation of exceptionally fine wines. A delicate Fino or Manzanilla were the ‘Flor’ (layer of yeast) does not completely form and breaks up. This Sherry is aged with the oxidative process for a minimum of 20 years, it has a dark amber, bright mahogany colour and combines the delicate pungent nose of Amontillados and the structure and roundness of Olorosos.

Williams & Humbert Collection 12 Year Old Oloroso: This Sherry is created using the oxidative aging process in the Oloroso Criaderas and Soleras for a minimum of 12 years. Intense, walnut, nutty nose, very dry, rich with hints of nuts and fruits with a long finish.

‘Don Guido’ Pedro Ximenez  V.O.S. 20 Year Old Sherry: Once harvested, the Pedro Ximenez grapes are left under the Andalusian sun for about two weeks and become almost raisin. The Sherry is then aged in our Criaders and Soleras and is Certified by the Sherry Regulating Council as having an average age of at least 20 years, V.O.S. (Very Old Sherry). Mouth-wateringly luscious, smooth and velvety, very rich and sweet with a delightfully long aftertaste.

Dry Sack Medium: A blend of Oloroso, Amontillado and Pedro Ximenez sherry, each individually aged for 3 years in the Dry Sack Criadera, and then blended and further aged for another 3 years in the Dry Sack Criaderas and Soleras, producing a harmonious blend, with a deep yet delicate bouquet with hints of nuts and full on the palate.

Two major events taking place on 7 February 2012, the date of Dickens’s actual birthday.

Wreathlaying Ceremony at Westminster Abbey at 11am

Bicentenary fundraising dinner at Mansion House, 6.45pm

Tickets at £120 include a three-course meal, sherry reception, entertainment, gift pack. Speakers: Lord Mayor David Wootton, Sir Patrick Stewart, Matthew Dent (designer of the £2 coin issued by The Royal Mint to commemorate Dickens’s bicentenary).

To purchase tickets contact: Events Department, Charles Dickens Museum, 48 Doughty Street, London, WC1N 2LX, events@dickensmuseum.com

For information on Williams & Humbert please contact: andre.neves@ehrmanns.co.uk

Over the recent years the UK market has started to demand younger and lighter styles of Rioja with little or no oak and a more fruit driven palate. It is this style of wine that has become very popular in the UK on trade “by the glass” market. Consequently, when served in such a manner a screw cap bottle is much easier to serve, as well as retaining its freshness much better, and as a by product ensures that no cork tainting problems occur.

Aware of this trend from both the UK and export markets Paternina undertook the necessary steps by funding investigations to create the right wines, without losing their heritage. They wanted to supply a more modern style of young Rioja in a screw cap for the UK and for other export markets where the trend had started to emerge.

It’s a turning point for Rioja, not only in terms of the new style of wine, but also delivering a rejuvenated image thus attracting a much younger demographic who are able to consume these good value for money wines.

Ehrmanns are now able to deliver to the market these lighter young red, white and rose Rioja wines in screw cap.  Paternina has risen to the challenge by demonstrating that these modern styles still retain their traditional characteristics and image yet deliver all the freshness, body and great fruit character which the market demands.

Range Available in Screwcap:

Banda Dorada 2010 / 11

Banda Rosa 2010 / 11

Monte Haro Joven 2009 / 10

For More Information on Paternina please contact andre.neves@ehrmanns.co.uk

Our Miopasso Nero d’Avola has been selected by Joanna Simon for her “Wines of the month” column in House & Garden’s December issue. The journalist wrote :”  Miopasso Nero d’Avola is a new red made using a proportion of sun-dried grapes – the traditional ripasso method – to give extra concentration. The result is smooth and rounded with spicy cherry and damson flavours and a touch of sweetness…” - House & Garden – December 2011

Matthew Jukes was also seduced by this Sicilian Nero d’Avola back in August 2011 and noted at the time :”  Made with a small percentage of dried grapes for added concentration, Miopasso is a wondrous, fruit cocktail scented red with lashings of coffee beans and liquorice notes.It’s a great alternative to more run-of-the-mill syrahs and cabernets” – The Daily Mail – August 2011

 The Miopasso range is the brainchild of The Wine People, a company headed by Stefano Girelli of “Casa Girelli” fame. The Wine People’s winemaker - Andrea Valentinuzzi – has created a brand which showcases modern Italian winemaking made with local grapes. Different vineyards in both Sicily and Puglia have been handpicked for their quality and characteristics which suit best specific indigenous grapes.  In addition to the Sicilian Nero d’Avola, the range counts a lovely Sicilian Fiano and an intense Primitivo from Puglia. We will also be adding a Miopasso Sicilian Grillo to the range in February 2012.

Miopasso Nero d’Avola stockists : Cambridge Wine Merchants – Planet of the Grapes – Corkscrew Wines - Field & Fawcett Wine Merchants – Hawkshead Wines – Jubilee Wines – Grapes Expectations – Robert & Speight – S.H. Jones …

RRP : £8.99

For any information on the Miopasso range or other wines by The Wine People, please contact Marianne Fillion: marianne.fillion@ehrmanns.co.uk

For more information about the event visit http://www.amiando.com/spanishencounter2011.html

Jancis Robinson MW published her Top 65 favourite white wines last weekend (10th of December 2011). Our Godello from Bodegas Valdesil shined with 17 points – Jancis Robinson MW wrote:

Valdesil Godello 2010 Valdeorras 17 Drink 2011-2012
”From a producer who has been shaking up one of the most exciting white wine regions in Spain, in the cool, green, far northwest. Godello is the revitalised local grape variety; 30-year-old vines grown on high, … slate slopes. Lovely freshness, smokiness and sheer confidence – racy but not feeble. Creamy. 13%”

£15.99 Waitrose

For the full list go to:

http://www.jancisrobinson.com/articles/a201112014.html

FT website:

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/f699c2fe-1fbf-11e1-9916-00144feabdc0.html#axzz1gQZDQ9s7

For a full list of stokists or more information on the Valdesil Godello, you can contact Andre Neves at: andre.neves@ehrmanns.co.uk

Wine critic Fiona Beckett has recommended Tahbilk Marsanne as a quality alternative to wine offers in the supermarkets. She writes : “And if you’re lucky enough to have an old bottle of Tahbilk Marsanne, a rarity among Australian whites in that it ages for a good 10 years and still tastes fresh, fish it out – or buy a couple, one to drink now ( its rich, musky, grilled pineapple flavours would be great with leftover ham), the other in five to 10 years: the award winning 2007 vintage is around £9.49-£9.99 at Waitrose and other independent, an amazingly good price for such a classic.”

RRP : £9.99

Stockists : The Wine Society, Waitrose, Booths, Bat & Bottle Wine Merchants, Corkscrew Wines, Eagles Wines, Gwinology, Jeroboams, Planet of the Grapes, Robert & Speight, The Guildford Wine Company, Topsham Wines & Wines Importers of Edinburgh.

And if you want something special the Tahbilk 1927 vines Marsanne is an interesting and rare wine made from old vines. Its quality shines through and is one again that will age extremely well.

For a full list of stockists and more information on Tahbilk wines, please contact Inessa Melnikova at : inessa.melnikova@ehrmanns.co.uk