Mumsnet Wine Club launch wine tasting 9-10pm Thursday 24th March 2011

[CatherineHMumsnet]

By now, some of you should have had delivery of either the tasting cases you won in our prize draw, or the ones you ordered.

Inside your case you'll find six bottles which will enable you to take part in our first online wine tasting and discussion.

The bar opens at 9pm on Thursday 24th March 2011 with last orders at 10pm. All you have to do is find a glass, log on to Mumsnet and let us know what you think of what you're drinking.

We'll have one of the winemakers whose wine is included in the case, Heidi Seifried, logging in from her vineyard in Nelson, which is on the western side of New Zealand as well as Rowan Gormley, Naked Wines' founder from not-so-far-away Norfolk, who'll be on hand to answer any general wine questions you might have.

WIN CHAMPAGNE!
And if all that's not enough of an incentive, we've got three bottles of champagne on ice to offer out to Mumsnetters who join in the chat.

So whether you want to just try one bottle with us or open all six from the tasting case and invite some friends round to share the fun, we look forward to seeing you online on the night.

There's still time to order your case if you haven't done so already. It's £39.99 for the six bottles (a discount of over £25) and if you order before 21st March you'll have your wines in time for the tasting.

Cheers!

I've gone back to the Antoine what-his-name one while we wait for the Gewurtz and it's a lot gentler than the Aotea (which is a more interesting drink I think) - amazing how the same grape can provide such different tastes!

I agree with Rowan re serving temp of wines.... too many wines are overchilled particalarly in our part of the world. This makes the wines hard to 'see' and enjoy - they are too closed. Slightly shilled is ideal for whites ... you will find they continue to open up as you taste them revealing more and more. Likewise reds - not too cool, but definitely not too warm as this will display the alcohol / heat / tannins.... Of course food is very important also in your perception of any wine.

Crisp and fresh, not too heavy like French wines; I like it :)

Not liking this one, it smelled a bit like vomit when I opened the bottle (sorry Heidi) . I'm not a huge fan of white wines anyway.

@kittycat234

The NZ wine is fantastic Heidi, more of what I have been acustomed to (white).

@ Rowan I am a huge fan of South African wines, what would you recommend?

My Favourites are the Arabella's, made by a man who looks and sounds like God!

www.nakedwines.com/search.htm?searchText=stephen&pageIndex=0&view=Winemakers&layout=list

Ooh, the Gewurtztraminer is great - interestingly not as powerful as some I've tried.

Heidi, I have just realised why my aunt moved to NZ, it must of been for the wine !!!!

Please can I ask a question about champagne? How long can that keep for? Someone once told me they can be kept like wine, but someone else told me that they are best consumed within a year of purchase?

Found the Gewurztraminer a bit sweet to start with, but as we have progressed through the bottle have started to enjoy it. Thought this had a slight fizz to it at the start as well

@5inthebed

Not liking this one, it smelled a bit like vomit when I opened the bottle (sorry Heidi) . I'm not a huge fan of white wines anyway.

Oh dear Heidi, was vomit one of the notes you were aiming for here? :)

Sounds great - I'll take a closer look when I've finished doing serious wine tasting!!!

Honestly no judgy-pants, but the mind boggles at adding lemonade to Cabernet Sauvignon! Does it really taste nice?

I must experiment!

but not with good quality wine like this

@mum2supercharlie

Please can I ask a question about champagne? How long can that keep for? Someone once told me they can be kept like wine, but someone else told me that they are best consumed within a year of purchase?

Champagnes DO keep very well, and often get better with age

The reason is that they are VERY acidic, which preserves them. and as they age, the acidity declines.

Personally...i never have the patience.

Oh, and I would go for a £8 Prosecco over a £16 Champagne any time

My sistersuggested adding lemonade to white wine. I think that would just ruin the wine. I'm not a lush I promise

Dont think I like the syrah Cabernet franc - its too heavy

Same, I didn't 'get' the fizz on the gewurztraminer at first but actually it makes the wine fresher and not so heavy. Delicious.

I thought that said a man who looks and sounds like a God.

You're right he does look like God

Sorry for the late sign in! I confess to having started on the wine earlier this week, and have made some notes on them along the way - didn't want to miss anything I must say firstly that I am not a red wine girl, but did try them. Am not a convert, but they were as bad as I thought

I love love love the Gewurtztraminer. Officially the most amazing wine I have ever tried. Just wanted to say that before continuing with the rest of the talk

The gewurtz is very sweet and I don't normally like sweet wines but I really enjoyed this. Loved the floweryness.

I was very pleased to see it as I first tried it last summer on the isle of Harris and forgot what it was called.

Dh has declared it too sweet for him and the Aotea too fruity but he prefers reds anyway.

have to agree that the gewurtz is getting better and better the longer the bottle has been opened for, hubby best be quick if he wants any more LOL, nice and light, not too heavy or sickly

The Gewurtztraminer was fab. Sweeter than I expected and what I was used to, but a real quality white. Best wine I'd had in a long time.

kittycat the Arabella's have gone down very well in this house, in fact I've ordered more of that than anything else. I've also ended up letting friends take a bottle home because it's so nice

The Gewurtz is really good Heidi - you're onto a winner here!

How would this work as an alternative to a dessert wine?

Ahh thank you! Good tip too, I'll have to try that