By Chris Hemmings
Celebrating its fifth year, this years BIg Indie Wine Fest pitched up inside the Great Hall; at the heart of the Manchester Food & Drink Festival. The event attracted the finest independent wine merchants from across the North West and the Town Halls gothic centrepiece provided the perfect atmosphere to sample some superb, lesser known varieties.
Be under no illusions, the whole event was an elegant sales pitch to the gathered amateurs and connoisseurs alike. This being immediately apparent on approaching the Hanging Ditch stall. The purveyor, surrounded by outstretched arms grasping their complimentary vessels, took great delight in pouring his wares and delivering a brief synopsis of each. Youll like this one ladies, its biscuity, he proclaimed. He was right, too - and a steal at only a tenner. After much slurping, sipping and very little spitting, he summed the whole experience up exquisitely by stating, admirably, Anyway, if youre like me, youll drink anything.
One of Manchesters newer ventures, Bakerie, cunningly had their house red and white in pride of place - tasty as they are, and more than reasonably priced. Rioja has always scraped my pallet, but their white variety blew me away. Its only twenty quid, and thats restaurant prices.
Inevitably, the raw volume of alcohol on offer took its toll. So, as a nutritional interlude? Cheese, obviously. Hickson & Blacks of Chorlton proffered a grand display. Their blue, Fourme dAmbert, is both sensational and economical at only £1.75/100g. At a slightly higher price point was their brie, but the intense flavour more than matched the added cost. Salvis mozzarella bar at the Corn Exchange is definitely worth a visit. Olives, meats and cheeses so fine, I could taste the gout.
Im a sucker for a good story, and there were plenty on offer. Moreton estates front man offered up whats described as a halfway-house between champagne and prosecco. The creators designed a special blend for Mimi, their daughter, on her 18th birthday - complete with its own bottle design. The contents are superb, and unsurprisingly became a sensation in Mimis native New Zealand. Moreton also delivered the red of the day, from Stellenbosch, SA. The only Zulu winery in the region buys in their grapes to creates a strong pinot noir. Their Botanica is £22 a bottle, but you should be happy to pay that to Nziki in her little workshop behind a railway station.
Tour de Belfort, a shop in Hale, has its very own vineyard in the South of France, creating complex blends. And, as Muriel aptly pointed out: like French women, the best wines are subtle and complex. Then theres chocolate wine. Yep, chocolate. Origin are the distributors, and whilst being very coy over the finer details, they say its one of their best sellers. The Chocolate Shop sells at £9 a bottle and would be ideal as a gift. Its surprisingly tasty, but not one to drink whilst putting the world to rights.
The Town Hall was an appropriate setting for what was an Autumn afternoon and £11 well spent. The merchants were a healthy mix of experts and enthusiasts - more than happy to converse as they poured. For the enthusiastic and increasingly cheery patrons it was a case of wine, rinse, repeat.