2011 September | Hotel du Vin Blog

Archive for September 2011

An Indian summer

September 29, 2011 | Author admin

Celebrations are in order. We’ve been given another chance to appreciate the sunshine and relax a little with the arrival of this beautiful Indian summer. So don’t shelve the barely worn shorts and sandals just yet, there’s still plenty of alfresco dining, Champagne afternoon teas on the terrace and maybe the odd barbecue still to be had.

If you were a little disappointed with the summer and missed out on that holiday feeling, think of this as a stroke of good fortune. Steal a moment at lunch to sit in the warm air. Take the opportunity after work to dine alfresco with friends over a bottle of chilled sparkling wine recommended by the sommelier. Set your alarm clock a little earlier to catch the most stunning sunrise to inspire you for the day ahead and grab a coffee and some you-time before nine.

It’s not often we get a second chance, so let’s grab this one with both hands and have a most wonderful Indian summer. After all, autumn is just around the corner.

Posted in Events, Hotel Events, News | Tags: afternoon tea, Champagne, dining, du Vin, Food, Hotel du Vin, inspiring, sommelier, sunshine, weather, wine | No Comments »

Sharing a bottle

September 23, 2011 | Author admin

I was asked if I could choose my perfect bottle of wine and name any three people from history that I would like to share it with. Now, I’m not going to pretend my knowledge of wine is expansive, so the basis for my bottle of choice has been influenced mainly by my impending holiday to New Zealand. This is the ‘Roaring Meg’ Pinot Noir from Mount Difficulty, Central Otago. In the time I’ve been with Hotel du Vin I’ve been introduced to quite a lot of wines but this is one of the ones that has stood out. Now if I had more knowledge of wines I’d tell you how its varying levels of depth and flavours made me like it however the reality is altogether less exciting. I just find it really tasty, easy to drink, the bottle doesn’t cost the earth and most importantly I’m visiting the vineyard on my holidays.

OK, this is me setting the scene – a chilled evening, around 6/7pm, the sun is setting – it’s not too cold though, I’m sat on the sofa in one of the cigar shacks with the fire on so the goosebumps are kept at bay. The three guests to share this bottle with? The first two of these were easy due to my slight obsession with them and my love for a good giggle. Richard Pryor and Eric Morecambe, two very funny, but very different men who if I could manage to make either of them laugh would send me home a very content man indeed. The third was slightly trickier however, I’ve gone down the road of comedy so feel I should be thinking of past world leaders, inventers etc. Alternatively I’m also thinking I should be trying to make this blog relevant by choosing a rugby player, which is tempting and I did toy with adding former South African captain Francois Pienaar but instead I have plumped for Jack Nicholson. I think he would have some of the most interesting life stories and would bounce really well of Pryor and Morcambe, plus I’ve convinced myself he would appreciate a glass or two of the ‘Roaring Meg’.

PS. Did I mention I was going to New Zealand?

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