With Gin being ever so popular nowadays and Spring (and hopefully Summer) approaching, we thought it was high time we explored what our local artisan distillers are creating. There is an array of Gins to select from now and it'll be great to taste them side by side. We will be tasting Gins from Reid & Reid, Lighthouse, Denzien and Blush to name a few. There will be at least eight producers on hand with one to three Gins to showcase and we will also have on hand, some locally made tonic from Bootleggers and East Imperial Burma Tonic.

It's hard to believe that it has been a year since our last non-vintage tasting. It's lucky that we have been practicing during the year, as like last year, we will be doing this tasting blind! This is a great way to decide on your choice of bubbles for the Christmas/New Year period, without any preconceptions. Every year we have done this, the most popular wine is always different, and it is the most fun tasting that we do.

Jackson Estate is a small boutique winery that produces great grapes, that in turn, make premium wines. While they are recognised for their white wines, namely; Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling and Chardonnay, there is a programme in place at Jackson Estate that concentrates solely on Pinot Noir. From the Homestead through to the Somerset and the Gum Emperor, the Pinot Noir grapes at Jackson Estate get the same attention to detail. Jackson Estate are at the fortefront of intelligent technology but still run with a hands on approach. We will have with us Krystal Palmer, one of the Winemakers from Jackson Estate, to guide us through their current range, as well as some back vintages.

Following hot on the heels of the Non Vintage tasting and while the taste buds are still tingling I am happy to bring you the Vintage tasting. This year I have put together an intrguing array of producers, including a couple of Grower Champagnes and we will taste vintages that span from 2008 to 2012. Vintage Champagne has the ability to age and apart from obviously being from a single vintage that is what sets them apart from NV, which is made to drink early.

We’re delighted to be hosting Jérôme Pilet from Bordeaux négociants Compagnie Médocaine, stablemates of the famous estates we’ll be enjoying. Jérôme will present an exceptional line up of wines from these sensational properties, travelling from Portugal to Bordeaux and on to Hungary. We’ll start with the white port from Quinta do Noval before tasting Château Suduiraut S de Suduiraut 2014, and Tourelles de Longueville Pauillac 2016. We then try one of Bordeaux greatest wines, the 2nd Growth Château Pichon Longueville Baron Pauillac 2016,From the right bank it will be Château Petit Village Pomerol 2014. Then the famed Sauternes Chateau Suduiraut 2007, We return to Portugal with one of the finest properties Quinta do Noval 10-year-old Tawny Port. Finally the famous sweet wines of Hungary, Disznoko Late Harvest Furmit and Disznoko Tokaji 6 Puttonyos. Tickets will sell quickly at $45 per person, so be in quick!

Ten years ago, you might have looked sideways at someone offering English sparkling, but no longer! The worldwide demand for the best of their traditional method offerings is at unprecented levels. Vineyard holdings in southern England have doubled in the past ten years. Climate change combined with a geoloical structure almost identical to Champagne, has meant the quality of these wines is now extremely high. Unsurprising that there are so many French champagne houses investing in vineyards in England. Tonight we will be looking at two of the best from Kent, Chapel Down Winery and Gusbourne Estate. After starting with the fantastic Chapel Down Pinot Noir Gin on arrival, we will be tasting Chapel down Non Vintage Brut, Rosé Brut, Kit's Coty Blanc de Blancs Vintage, Kit's Coty Blanc de Noirs Vintage. Then we move up to the premium Gusbourne Estate, that dates back to 1410. We will be tasting their Blanc de Blancs Vintage, Rosé Vintage and Brut Reserve Vintage.