These evenings are designed for lovers of fine wines and food, are great fun and not neccessarily for wine experts. They are held around the third Friday of every month except August when everybody except Hoteliers and Restaurateurs seem to be on holiday.
The evening starts at 7.30 with an Aperitif in the Drawing Room Bar and an opportunity to meet that evening`s presenter and to mingle with other guests. A table seating plan, together with the Menu and list of wines to be tasted are displayed in the Hall.
At 8 o’clock we all go into the Private Dining Room and, hosted by Bill, proceed with a five course dinner especially chosen to go with a different wine to accompany each course. The wines are introduced by the presenter, who is expected to talk about each wine only so long as his own dinner doesn’t get cold although he’s normally happy enough to answer any questions between mouthfuls.
Before the main course we have a `blind tasting` where guests are invited to taste and identify one of the wine as to country, vintage, region etc.This is a lighthearted interlude but marks are awarded and a winner announced who receives a prize – normally a nice bottle!
When dinner is over coffee is taken back in the Drawing Room Bar and there is an opportunity to chat with guests who were placed on other tables and to meet Christine who will have cooked dinner. It is probably best to have booked a taxi home and you are welcome to leave your car here overnight or even book a room and enjoy a great Hereford breakfast in the morning.
Hopefully you will have had an enjoyable evening, with good food, great wines and convivial company, and in the morning – if you can remember, you might think that you have learned something of the magic of wine.
If you would like to go on our mailing list and receive advance notice of future Wine Dinners, please ask a member of staff to record your details – including email address as we are almost ready to join the computer age. We advise you to book a wine evening that you are interested in as soon as is possible as numbers are limited and sell out quickly………..and we hate to disappoint! Regretably we require at least 48 hours notice of cancellations or a full charge will be made.
Cost, depending on the wines, usually around £55-£60 per person.
“An ideal opportunity to entertain friends or celebrate a special occasion”
FORTH COMING WINE DINNERS
Our new season of wine dinners kicks off on Friday 24th September with John Villar
who will be presenting a range of New World wines for Autumn drinking carefully chosen from his Bibendum contacts…see menu below.
On Friday 15th October we welcome back Emanuel Bylianjaro from Vintage Roots for an Organic and Bio dynamic wine evening starting with champagne and finishing with a Reserve port, all helped along with buried horns filled with manure and planted at full moon!
On Friday 12th November Tom Innes from Fingal Rock in Monmouth, fully recovered from his nuptials, is hosting a Bordeaux Wine Dinner here. Famous for his expertise on all wine matters Burgundian this evening will cause no conflict of interest to Tom.
Our Annual Christmas Wine Dinner will be on Friday 3rd December and once more we look forward to John Villar hosting this awesome evening. Black tie and tiaras please for this one.





Booking essential
September Wine Evening Friday 24th with John Villar
NEW WORLD WINE FOR AUTUMN DRINKING
SEPTEMBER 2010
MENU
ROASTED VINE TOMATO AND BASIL SOUP
WITH PESTO CROUTONS
***
PAN ROASTED AUTUMN SQUASH SALAD
WITH FINN SOFT CHEESE AND A THREE HERB BALSAMIC DRESSING
***
BREAST OF LARKS PASTURE GUINEA FOWL WITH A GRAPEFRUIT, WALNUT AND POMEGRANATE DRESSING
SERVED ON PEPPERED GREENS
WITH CRUSHED GARLIC POTATOES
***
HEREFORDSHIRE VICTORIA PLUM AND APRICOT TART
WITH CRÈME FRAÎCHE
***
ARTISAN MARCHES CHEESES WITH GRAPES AND BISCUITS
***
COFFEE
e-mail glewstone@aol.com