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Il Chiosso tasting
23 February 2023
7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Piedmont, Italy
The project of Carlo Cambieri and Marco Arlunno, their two families’ vineyards were brought together to form Il Chiosso in 2007, combining decades of experience in Piedmont’s vineyards. They are dedicated to drawing out and preserving the best of regional wine varietals. Over three generations, they have slowly acquired plots that now allow them to officially produce wines from Gattinara DOCG, Ghemme DOCG, and Fara DOCG, the most historically important crus in the region.
Their production is centered on a high level of respect for natural rhythms, with great care taken at every step of the process to capture the essence of the varietals and the terroir. Only vines typically found in the region, like Nebbiolo, Vespolina, and Uva Rara, are planted.
Please join us in tasting the wines from the cellars of Il Chiosso.
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Capichera tasting
21 February 2023
9:00 pm - 11:00 pm
Sardinia, Italy
Located in Gallura in the northern part of Sardinia, Capichera, led by the Ragnedda family, was the first in demonstrating the ageing potential of Vermentino wines in barrels. Credited with the winemaking revolution and renaissance in Sardinia, they’ve worked to establish standards of quality and expression both in the vineyards and cellars.
Realising the potential of Vermentino in the 1970s, well ahead of its time, Capichera began vinifying it purely and has continued to enhance its processes to produce wines of elegance and structure with this local grape variety. This innovation was not limited to Vermentino but was also later applied to produce red wines from Carignan and Syrah. Come and taste some top-quality Italian local varietals from this outstanding producer.
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Ruinart tasting
16 February 2023
7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Champagne, France
Founded in 1729 by Nicolas Ruinart, Ruinart is the world’s first champagne house. A symbol of elegance and French art de vivre, it is simultaneously timeless and modern, striving for excellence and committed to continuous innovation while supporting local craftsmen, artisans, and protecting the environment. ]
Created at the dawn of the Enlightenment, the House of Ruinart truly reflected the culture of the time, capturing the sophistication, light, beauty, rarity, and elegance of the period. Their wines have a common thread of Chardonnay running through all their cuvées that are fermented and matured in grandiose chalk mine cellars, spanning a length of over eight kilometers underground.
Join us in tasting these exceptional, refined wines!
Ticket and ballot information
We only have a limited number of tickets available, and due to anticipated popularity, the event will be balloted for members only. Members will be able to apply for ONE ticket each and tickets will be allocated through a completely randomised ballot.
The ballot opens on Thursday 9 February at 6pm and will close on 11 February at 6pm. We will be selecting the ballot winners shortly after, and payments are due by Monday 13 Februay at 6pm. 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.
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Grape Britannia tasting
2 February 2023
9:00 pm - 11:00 pm
Cambridge-based independent wine merchants Grape Britannia are the leading experts on English and Welsh wines, specialising solely in these countries. They are winners of the Decanter Retailer Award for England & Wales Specialist Retailer of the Year, each year, from 2020 to 2022. For this tasting, they have selected a range of wines of different styles from across the country with producers ranging from the boutique to the largest.
England is now, rightly, renowned for the quality of its sparkling wines, and four benchmark examples of these will be tasted, but the quality revolution in still wines is perhaps the most exciting development in this relatively young wine region. You will have the opportunity to taste some of the top examples
If you’ve ever been curious about English wine, want to know what’s happening in wine right on our doorstep, or to get to know more about some environmentally friendly wine options, please join us in welcoming them for their first CUWS tasting!
Venue: Sidney Sussex, Knox-Shaw Room
Venue Website: https://www.sid.cam.ac.uk/
Description:
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Lafite dinner
25 January 2023
7:00 pm - 11:00 pm
Bordeaux, France
Owned by the Rothschild family since the 19th century, Château Lafite Rothschild was one of four châteaux of Bordeaux originally awarded Premier Grand Cru in the 1855 Classification with their wines noted as “the most superb in all of Médoc”. It is one of the most renowned wine properties in the Médoc, if not the world, and is also one of the largest Médoc estates. Found in the Pauillac appellation, their wines have a distinguished perfumed elegance and finesse. Please join us at our Bordeaux Dinner to experience these exquisite wines with us.
Pre-Dinner Drinks – R de Rieussec 2020 (AOC Bordeaux Blanc)
MENU
Starter
Château d’Aussières 2016 (AOC Corbières)
Parsnip and parsley risotto fermented turnips, black pepper roasted chickpeas, rocket pesto (VE) (GF)
Intermediate Course
Château Duhart Milon 2016 (AOC Pauillac)
Wild mushroom stuffed supreme of chicken and truffle velouté with fine herbs, citrus-burnt butter dressing, and confit carrots.
AND (Veg/vegan option)
Goats cheese mousse textures of beetroot, radish, horseradish snow, and sorrel cress. (V) (GF)
Main
Château Lafite 2008 (AOC Pauillac)
Braised shoulder of local lamb topped with toasted oats, minted pearl barley, roasted celeriac purée, glazed offal faggot, pea and pancetta, crumbled feta, and split jus.
AND (veg/vegan option)
Butter roasted cauliflower steak, cauliflower, and smoked cheddar velouté, buttered greens, pickled shallots, toasted pine kernels, beurre noisette vinaigrette (V) (GF).
Cheese
Château Rieussec 2019 (AOC Sauternes)
Dessert
Salted caramel tart quince gel, milk sorbet, sesame tuile. (V)
Dress code: Black tie
Ticket and ballot information
We only have a limited number of tickets available, and due to anticipated popularity, the event will be balloted for members only. Members will be able to apply for ONE ticket each and tickets will be allocated through a completely randomised ballot.
The ballot opens on Sunday 15 January at 4pm and will close on 17 January at 6pm. Please indicate any dietary restrictions and seating preferences when you submit your ballot. We will be selecting the ballot winners shortly after, and payments are due by Wednesday 18 January at 6pm. 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.
Venue: Clare College, Garden Room
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Pietramatta/Nove Lune tasting
19 January 2023
7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Lombardy, Italy
With nearly 30 years of experience, Andrea Sala, the creator, owner, and director of Pietramatta, has harnessed his fascination with the world of viticulture to deliver some incredibly innovative and exciting wines from his home in Bergamo. Pietramatta’s focus is to utilise traditional methods as starting points but to continuously experiment, putting their wines through a thorough testing process with constant analysis in order to aim for excellence in their production. This rigorous methodology starts in the vineyard and continues all the way through to the cellar, resulting in award-winning, exclusive wines.
His brother, Alessandra Sala, of Nove Lune is no different. Championing the importance of environmental sustainability and organic production, he is passionate about producing quality wines from disease-resistant varietals that require no chemical treatment. Creating an eco-compatible cellar, he has gone on to produce award-winning wines in many styles, including passito, orange, and sparkling, all while respecting the environment. Please join us in discovering these cutting-edge, boutique wines!
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Gravner
1 December 2022
9:00 pm - 11:00 pm
Friuli, Italy
Founded by visionary Josko Gravner, Gravner has become the standard for clay-fermented, skin contact, low intervention wines, with winemakers worldwide seeking inspiration from their style. He has established benchmarks for a viticultural approach, production method, region, and the expression of many grape varieties, and is considered one of the fathers of the modern orange/amber wine movement.
Now in the safe hands of his daughter, Mateja, their wines are vinified using traditional, local techniques that bring out the purity and expressiveness of each variety. Come join us in tasting these ‘cult status’ wines, some of the finest natural wines on offer!
Venue: Sidney Sussex, Knox-Shaw Room
Venue Website: https://www.sid.cam.ac.uk/
Description:
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Luis Seabra Vinhos
21 November 2022
9:00 pm - 11:00 pm
Portugal
After making his name as Niepoort’s winemaker, Luis Seabra set out to revolutionise wine-making in Portugal. Setting up his own project in 2013, he is central to a cultural shift in Portuguese wine, championing the authenticity of terroir and region and low intervention wines.
Internationally known as one of the leaders of the “New Portugal” renaissance in wine, he aims to produce wines without compromise – the wines he wishes to make, not those the market wants. We hope you can join us to taste these incredible wines!
Venue: St John's College. Wordsworth room
Address:
Description:
Go up the staircase in the far left corner of First Court to the first floor. map.cam.ac.uk more…
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Delas
16 November 2022
9:00 pm - 11:00 pm
Rhône, France
Established in 1835 by Philippe Delas and Charles Audibert, Delas Frères is a name synonymous with quality and excellence. It was first acquired by the Champagne House Deutz in 1977, which later became a part of Louis Roederer. Cultivating vineyards on the northern Rhône’s steep granite slopes, they produce some of the most refined wines in the region, notable for their elegance and finesse, showcasing an intensity of flavour that highlights some of the most prestigious appellations of the region. Join us in tasting these amazing Rhône wines!
Venue: Sidney Sussex, Knox-Shaw Room
Venue Website: https://www.sid.cam.ac.uk/
Description:
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Wiston Estate
2 November 2022
9:00 pm - 11:00 pm
West Sussex, England, UK
Join us for a tasting of sparkling wines from Wiston Estate, a multi-award-winning, family-owned, Sussex vineyard, and winery.
Set in the ancient chalk downlands of the South Downs, Wiston has a winemaking heritage dating back to Roman times and today houses an impressive tasting room and fine dining restaurant, as well as making some of the UK’s finest traditional method sparkling wine.