Port Event in London?

Al B. · Post by **Al B.** » Mon Sep 26, 2005 12:11 pm

Inspired by Roy's wonderful description of some of the port events that he has both hosted and attended, I found myself wondering if there is enough interest in a similar port event in London.

On the back of an envelope, I have worked out that if 20 people were interested and would commit hard earned cash and two bottles of port each to the event, I could organise an evening port event in the Napoleonic Cellar of Berry Brothers for slightly under £200 each (including 3 course dinner plus cheese plate).

(Since these cellars can seat up to 60, the more people who are interested, the cheaper the event would be.)

If London doesn't work but you will still be interested in a UK event then let me know and I will investigate Le Maison du Vin in Birmingham as a venue.

I shall now sit back and keep my fingers crossed that I get 18 enthusiastic replies.....

Thanks,

Alex

Stuart Chatfield · Post by **Stuart Chatfield** » Tue Sep 27, 2005 1:47 am

Good idea, I'd be up for it, depending on timing.

I don't know if anyone is going to BBR's annual Christmas port tasting on 1 December? If so, that would be a good place to meet up and talk about it - maybe for late winter/early Spring '06?

Stuart Chatfield · Post by **Stuart Chatfield** » Tue Sep 27, 2005 1:51 am

bridgema wrote:two bottles of port each

Sorry, I missed that............

Two bottles.....each

? I thought I was a real man in port stakes, but I am obviously a real teetotaller

Mind you, didn't the Prince Regent have a case per day

?

Al B. · Post by **Al B.** » Tue Sep 27, 2005 2:29 am

Perhaps 2 bottles each would be a bit excessive, maybe one each would be more appropriate. I'm not sure I could take two full bottles in the space of an evening.

Sadly, I have missed the annual BB&R port tasting ever since they started them. That is the time of year that I tend to travel with my work and I can never predict far enough ahead whether I will be able to make it. Last year I bought a ticket and then couldn't use it - broke my heart not to be in London trying all the fine ports that were put on show.

This year I decided not to buy a ticket. I might try my luck and see if they have any returns when I know where I will be on December 1, but I probably won't be there.

Alex

Stuart Chatfield · Post by **Stuart Chatfield** » Tue Sep 27, 2005 3:28 am

One bottle would leave just enough of my faculties to stagger back to Charing Cross and to avoid passing out on the train and waking up in Hastings at 2am.

Let's see what the response is.

Steven Kooij · Post by **Steven Kooij** » Tue Sep 27, 2005 1:18 pm

Port offlines at BBR are a lot of fun...see this link!

I might be interested, depending on line-up, date and cost...keep me posted!

Al B. · Post by **Al B.** » Tue Sep 27, 2005 1:38 pm

Stevie

Part of my inspiration to see if enough people were interested was the article that you wrote on the '70 vs '77 tasting. Good article - inspiring you could say. Now all we need to do is to see if there are another 16 people who might be interested and then I can start planning.

Alex

Steven Kooij · Post by **Steven Kooij** » Tue Sep 27, 2005 1:42 pm

Hi Alex,

Thank for the compliment! What are you thinking about as a theme? Horizontal, vertical, a combination of both...

Stuart Chatfield · Post by **Stuart Chatfield** » Wed Sep 28, 2005 3:20 am

bridgema wrote:the article that you wrote on the '70 vs '77 tasting. Alex

We could push the boat out and make this London thing, say, a 63 v 66 tasting.

On your original message, does the GBP200 include the port or did you intend 200 for the dinner and room plus a sort of "bring a bottle" aspect on top?

I'm up for that sort of money, but I'd rather most went on the port. If its 200 for room plus food you might get better value and just as good historic surroundings from a room in a livery company hall in the City. There I'm sure we could all "bring a bottle" from our own cellars and get more for the money.

Justin Willott · Post by **Justin Willott** » Wed Sep 28, 2005 1:34 pm

I would be interested in a winter event in London.

I agree that it would be better for people to bring their own bottles rather than buying them retail to keep the costs down.

If we're having 20 bottles, maybe a wider theme, e.g. 63, 66, 70 & 77?

Al B. · Post by **Al B.** » Wed Sep 28, 2005 8:41 pm

The £200 is based on BB&R's minimum spend and would basically only cover the cost of hiring the BB&R cellar for the night and the services of the waiting staff and their cellar chef for the eveing - and the food that she prepared. There should be enough also to buy one or two bottles of port at retail, but not many. The rest of the wine would come from the cellars of the people attending.

I've been to wine dinners at BB&R in the past (which they organised) and I have always been really impressed with both the venue and the quality of the food and service - the same waiting staff have been working there for at least 3 years. I'm happy to consider alternatives but have no experience with the livery companies. I'm an accountant and have to visit the London Headquarters tomorrow and might look into the cost of hiring room and staff there tomorrow.

One alternative that I did look into briefly would be L'Hotel du Vin in Henley. For £195 per person they would do what they call their "24 hour conference" which essentially provides you with lunch, a conference room for the afternoon and evening, dinner, a bed for the night and then breakfast the next morning. They can do this for as few as 6 people. The disadvantage of L'Hotel du Vin is that their "standard" approach is that you have your meals in the restaurant and not in your private room - but I'm sure that is negotiable if I get in touch with them.

As for a theme, I'm open to suggestions. I have exchanged messages with Richard on the topic of the '63s (the year of our birth). I would be up for a '63 v '66 v '70 theme.

And finally, if there aren't 20 people interested I would still be up for organising something more modest in a decent restaurant with rooms for the night. I have somewhere in mind on the A4 about half-way between Reading and Maidenhead where my wife and I go occasionally. I'll give that some thought.

Alex

Stuart Chatfield · Post by **Stuart Chatfield** » Thu Sep 29, 2005 6:47 am

Won't bore the world with all the details but totting it up for 20 people:

1. We could have the whole of Vintner's Hall starting at about GBP160 per person for a room (any room including the big, old, impressive one) plus food and corkage. This is a "starting at" price and therefore is likely to end up matching BBR probably. Food not as good as BBR I'm sure but room even nicer.

2. We could have a small room and food in Merchant Taylor's Hall starting at about GBP100 per person. Not quite as nice as Vintner's Hall but not far off; food won't match BBR but well-priced and freeing-up more port money!

Central London much better for me, so above are a couple of hats thrown in for ideas. They've both got websites that are easy to Google so have a look. (Bear in mind I'm a port and wood-pannelled room fan, and not at all a foodie, so lets wait for other suggestions).

Post by **Roy Hersh** » Thu Sep 29, 2005 11:46 pm

Depending on the dates, I may be able to attend. I head to Portugal later this month and will be flying through London if I can arrange that. It would probably be easiest for me to meet you folks on my way back ... if it works out. Most likely the first weekend in Nov. Will know by Sunday what dates I'll be there.

NickA · Post by **NickA** » Fri Sep 30, 2005 9:02 am

I certainly have interest in such an event, not being able to make the previous one at BBR. But I'm not convinced it's worth such a premium (£100+) just for the venue (the previous BBR event was effectively free as a favour) - when there's some good restaurant options, even if corkage for Michelin starred places such as the Square charge £25 corkage - it's still a good gig, and venues can accomodate nicely for much less.

Either way, a post from someone who's interested.

Cheers

Post by **Roy Hersh** » Fri Sep 30, 2005 1:41 pm

Nick,

I agree with you. Albeit BBR is a great place to drink Port (or other wine), to pay that type of premium just to use their facility is crazy, IMO. Find a restaurant that wants your business and arrange to have a price fixed multi-course meal that includes tip and taxes. Just my 2 cents.

Al B. · Post by **Al B.** » Fri Sep 30, 2005 7:05 pm

Thanks for the input from everyone and from Stuart on the Livery companies. Since I'm definitely also in the category of port wine and wood-panneling I will certainly look at these.

So far, I've had positive responses from 3 people and Roy if we time it right - which would be interesting! With 4/5 people a private room in a decent restaurant might be the preferred option. There are a couple of restaurants that I know and use regularly in the centre of London so I will start with these.

With 4/5 people our practical themes are a little restricted, but I would suggest either a '63 horizontal or a Fonseca vertical (I have a few of these wines). I'm also very open to other suggestions.

How does Roy's thoughts on the first weekend in November work for people?

Alex

Post by **Roy Hersh** » Fri Sep 30, 2005 11:34 pm

I know of at least 2 - 4 more Londoners who would join us for a Port gig.

Tom Archer · Post by **Tom Archer** » Sat Oct 01, 2005 12:50 am

First weekend in November is a tad busy for me - I'm a firework manufacturer...

Al B. · Post by **Al B.** » Sun Oct 02, 2005 9:43 am

We'll wait for Roy to confirm his timing through London before we start to consider dates and times for a London event. It would be great if we could coincide the timing.

Whether we organise something this side of Christmas or next year, I don't think we'll have a problem finding a venue for what I think will be 6-10 of us.

I also had another thought on a possible theme for the event - I was bored as I was cutting my grass this morning and started wondering which bottle I should open tonight. This started me thinking about the halves I had...and led me to think that a third option for a theme might be a format horizontal! I have often read that wine in halves matures more quickly than wine in bottles and bottles more quickly than magnum, but I have never had the opportunity to taste one against the other. An event such as the London event might be an opportunity to compare and taste these VP's side by side so we could see whether the difference is real and how pronounced it is.

I have halves of Niepoort 87, Sandeman 27 and Warre's from 83, 85, 94 and 2000. I would happily bring one or more of these if someone else can match the wines with bottles.

Alex

Stuart Chatfield · Post by **Stuart Chatfield** » Mon Oct 03, 2005 7:08 am

Looking forward to it - with the 3/4 people on this site, plus 3/4 of Roy's friends it would be enough. I think we'd probably need about 8 to make it worthwhile, but 20 would keep costs down.

However, November/December may be tricky for me. Early '06 would be better.

What about a random tasting - everyone brings a bottle of their favourite wine. Less stress organisationally and such events can be just as good. Unless, of course, everyone brings the same

For The Love Of Port

Port Event in London?

Port Event in London?

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