Wine Unearthed – (Browns, Covent Garden)

Well, this was a Christmas gift from more than a year ago that if I’m honest I was in two minds about …

A little part of me was worried that this would be full of pretentious tosspots talking about ‘notes’ and ‘body’ and trying to out-snob each other!

Nahh, I really shouldn’t have worried. It was full of relatively ‘normal’ alcoholics who, after a glass or two, were simply eager to have a good time and learn a few tips.

The experience was one of two halves. White wines to start and reds to finish.

Sandwiched between some amazing food; a meal that was just delicious!

Old world wine and new world audacity. Grapes, regions, styles, names, altitude and history, I must admit I learned a LOT!

The people we’d just met became instant friends and the end of the event came far too soon.

My legs would say the ‘end’ came at just about the right time, given I could still walk out, without a stretcher being called.

During the afternoon I had half an eye on the Leyton Orient v Manchester City fourth round FA cup live result feed… and it was going so well at half time with the Os going in with a 1:0 lead following a Jamie Donley wonder chip over the keeper – click here for a peek. Unfortunately the Premier League club won at full time. But hey ho. Great effort!

So as the wine tasting ended, we headed off for a Bethnal Green urban winery called ‘Renegade’ to raise a glass for the “Os” performance.