THE WINE CONNOISSEUR by Simon Parkinson , Whitmore & White
Wine has been a passion of mine for a long time . I enjoy talking about it , but it ’ s still a daunting task . After all , any recommendation will always be based on my tastes and what I enjoy drinking , and knowing that my recommendation could be the difference between the perfect anniversary meal or a spoilt evening , I feel the pressure ...
At Whitmore and White , we offer a unique customer service experience and the ability to try a selection of wines before you buy . Why is this unique I hear you ask ? It is true that other wine shops will often open a bottle or two at the weekend for you to sample . Well , we decided to invest in the latest technology available to us , and we purchased some ‘ By The Glass ’ machines so that we can offer our customers a choice of 6 different wines to try .
It is not just the ability to offer wines to try that makes these machines so functional - they also keep the open bottles in perfect condition meaning we can leave them in the machine for up to 21 days without compromising the quality of the wine in anyway . That in turn , means we can open more expensive bottles for our customers to try an opportunity most people can ’ t turn down .
The beauty of these machines is in their simplicity and elegance . We can easily change the wines , meaning we can always offer something different . They also allow us to pour wine by the glass meaning you come in and enjoy a glass of wine before choosing whether to buy it .
There is nothing more worrying when buying a bottle of wine from a wine merchant , whether it is for yourself or for someone else , will it be enjoyed ? At last , we can offer a solution to that quandary , try , before you buy !
An Afternoon with Wirral Life .
When Wirral Life asked me to write this piece about our machines , I decided the best thing to do would be to invite them in and show the team exactly how they work . So on a cold Thursday afternoon , the Wirral Life team popped in and we tasted our way through the selection of 6 wines for that week .
The Pouilly-Fumé ( Coteau de Girarmes , 2015 ) with it ’ s crisp and elegant minerality was a wonderful wine to start with , but it was the off-dry German Riesling from Dr Loosen ( Erdener Treppchen Kabinett 2014 ) that was the surprise hit . A surprise to Wirral Life maybe , but not to me . The soft and fruity character of the Riesling had been a favourite with customers all week , and is exactly why these machines are so fantastic . I can open wine that would ordinarily be a very difficult sell , be it through misconceptions about the grape , or a lack of understanding about the country - it makes no difference , if you try something you like , you end up buying it , and why shouldn ’ t you ?
Moving through the reds , we tried a delicate New Zealand Pinot Noir ( Riverby Estate , 2014 ), a Sangiovese from Tuscany , Italy ( Rosso di Montalcnio , Poggio San Polo , 2014 ), and a Bordeaux blend from Chile ( Cousina Macul , Finis Terrae , 2011 ). We finished on an Australian Shiraz by John Duval ( Entity , 2013 ), with its opulent fruit and superb structure , it was the wine the Wirral Life team decided to have a glass of . I paired it with some French Pork & Hazelnut Saucisson and they discovered first hand the fantastic experience anyone walking by can have - great wine served with passionate knowledge and wonderful food . wirrallife . com 27