Past tastings

Janet Z. Wang, the author of The Chinese Wine Renaissance, will be presenting a portfolio of premium wines from Great Wall.

A subsidiary of state-owned COFCO Group, Great Wall is China’s largest wine producer. They have substantial vineyard holdings in four Chinese provinces: Hebei, Shandong, Ningxia, and Xinjiang. Using modern equipment, mostly sourced from Europe, they produce a wide variety of wine styles, including dry, sweet, fortified, distilled, and sparkling wines. They are advised by international consultants, such as top Bordeaux consultant Michel Rolland. Great Wall has grown to produce premium ranges that have become the preferred choice for diplomatic receptions in China. Please join us in tasting these premium wines with Janet Z. Wang, author of The Chinese Wine Renaissance, contributing author on decanterchina.com, and shortlisted writer for the Circle of Wine Writers’ Young Wine Writer’s Award.

Janet will be showing us the following wines:

1. Great Wall Longyan 2018 (Shacheng) – white
2. Five Star Cab Suav (Shacheng)
3. Ch. Tianfu Cab Sauv. 2015 (Ningxia)
4. Great Wall Cab Sauv./Syrah (Ningxia)
5. Five star Marselan/Syrah (Shandong)
6. Coastal Marselan / Cab Sauv (Shandong)

Tuscany, Italy

Producing the original Super Tuscan, Sassicaia brought Italian wine into the modern era.

It is today, one of the most sought-after wines in the world. Its first vintage was released in 1968 to universal acclaim and is now widely accepted as one of the world’s best Cabernet Sauvignon wines.  In 1994, it made history as it became the only wine from a single estate to be granted its own DOC (Bolgheri Sassicaia DOC). Join us in tasting these intense, extraordinary wines.

CUWS invites you to our Easter Drop-in with the Cambridge Wine Merchants at the University Centre Wine Bar. Whether you are a connoisseur or just wine-curious this is a great chance to taste some delicious wines from the CWM range that are perfect for spring.

Entry is **£5** online or on the door (cash only) and you can stay as long as you wish!

The wine bar is on the Ground floor of the University Centre which is by Scudamore punts near Queens’. The entrance to the University Centre is close to the Doubletree Hilton hotel.

The wine bar is on the Ground floor of the University Centre which is by Scudamore’s punts near Queens’. The entrance to the University Centre is close to the Doubletree Hilton hotel. https://map.cam.ac.uk/University+Centre#52.201128,0.116362,18

Kamptal, Austria

Burger is a wine family whose wine tradition dates back to 1812.  They cultivate 25 hectares located in the small wine village of Zeiselberg-Gobelsburg, 70 km north-west of Vienna. Their location in the Kamptal wine region in Austria gives their wines a special identity resulting in fine, delicate aromas and naturally vibrant acidity.  

Come join us in tasting these special Austrian wines with an excellent reputation – served at the Vienna State Opera and Vienna Opera Ball!

The Lurton family is one of the oldest and greatest dynasties in Bordeaux and have expanded internationally to more than 30 vineyards worldwide.  Within their portfolio are first growths Château Yquem and Château Cheval Blanc as well as Sauternes first growth Chateau Climens. However, they also own properties in Australia, Argentina, Spain, Portugal, Chile, and Languedoc.  Please join us for an unforgettable dinner with ‘Les Lurtons du Vin’.

Dress code: Black tie

Location: The dinner will be held in the Wordsworth Room with a short tasting beforehand to be held in the Old Music Room.

Menu to follow.

Château Changyu (Changyu Pioneer Wine Company) is China’s oldest and largest wine producer. Château Changyu Moser XV is one château in their portfolio that highlights their mission to raise the profile of Chinese wines.

Lenz M. Moser – the fifth generation of the famous Moser family of the Niederösterrich region of Austria – has been the official consultant and winemaking advisor to Changyu since 2005.  Join us in discovering this unique producer from one of China’s most notable wine-growing regions.

Opus One was established by Baron Philippe de Rothschild and vintner Robert Mondavi with a mission to create a single wine of uncompromising quality.  It is one of California’s most high profile wines, as well as one of its best, utilising a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot grown in densely planted vineyards surrounding the state of the art winery in Napa Valley.  Please join us in tasting these wines that combine the founders’ Old and New World expertise in the creation of a blend that surpasses the sum of its parts.

Opus One tasting sheet

This event has a very limited number of places available and so will be a balloted event for members only. 

Tickets will be restricted to one per member.

The ballot will go live tonight Tuesday 19 February at 6pm. Members have until Thursday 21 February at 6pm to apply at which point the ballot will close. We will notify you on Thursday night if you have been allocated a ticket. You will have until Friday 22 February 10pm to pay for your ticket. You MUST pay for your ticket by this time in order to secure your spot. If you fail to pay for your ticket or your payment is not authorised by the deadline, your ticket will be released to the next person on the ballot.

Please note: successful applicants have been emailed and invoiced. If you did not receive an email confirming your place you will remain on the waiting list for any places that may become available.

The story of Kumeu River Wines and the Brajkovich family parallels that of the New Zealand wine industry.  The family is renown for producing world-class wine and the vineyard has grown to be recognised globally as the benchmark for non-Burgundy produced Chardonnay – two of their Chardonnays having been named in the top 100 wines of the world by Wine Spectator.  

Join us in tasting Kumeu River’s wines, some of which are arguably the best in New Zealand!

Kumeu River tasting sheet