Wonderful World of Wine - Australia & NZ

If you thought Australian viticulture was all about big brands and jammy, over-alcoholic wines, then come along and find out how it is all changing! Peppery Coonawarra Cabernets and sleek, elegant Clare Valley Rieslings are the new face of Australian wine. Meanwhile, New Zealand's Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc has come from nowhere to suddenly become a staple choice in British supermarkets. Its vibrancy, gooseberry aromatics and tropical flavours have made it a firm favourite. So buckle up and get ready for an evening of blockbuster wines!

Part 1: New Zealand

The growth of New Zealand wine in recent times has been enormous, especially in comparison to its diminutive size. That success has been spearheaded by some beautiful Marlborough Sauvignon Blancs , but is there more to this story? Other fragrant whites from Pinot Gris to Riesling have started to appear with increasing promise. Pinot Noir has caused a buzz in recent times, especially from Martinborough , but is it good enough to challenge Burgundy and perhaps cement New Zealand's place as a producer of wines worthy of comparison to the very finest? Tonight, you decide....

Part 2: Australia

Plentiful sunshine and a comparative lack of red tape have allowed the Australians to develop a signature of accessible, fruit-driven, competitively priced wines. But a new wave of independent winemakers who are preaching the values of balanced acidity and alcohol, along with a toning down of the use of oak, are making their presence felt. We will be tasting Barossa's intensely rich Shiraz and the Hunter Valley's uniquely long-lived Semillon . Along the way we will discuss the more food friendly aspects to these wines. It promises to be a lively and interesting evening.

All tastings include: minimum of 6 wines, tasting sheet, use of professional tastings glasses and nibbles.