The Grape Escape wine bar and merchant in Cheltenham is running tasting sessions this month. Katie Purton sampled one of the Introduction to Wine courses.

The thought of winding down with a glass of wine in hand and some (preferably good) company is an appealing thought for many of us. For me, the trusted wine of choice has become any New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc.

Notwithstanding my enjoyment of wine in general, I admittedly know very little on the subject and had never been to a wine tasting event before. This was partly through a sense of fear that I may be deemed to have too common a palate, or say too many unsophisticated things about what seemed to me as an almost sacred science for some.

I was however very pleasantly surprised by my experience at The Grape Escape in Cheltenham. This wine bar offers evenings dedicated to exploring various select groups of wine. I attended the 'Wines of the New World' event with two fellow wine-loving companions who were equally excited about the prospect of learning more about the art of the vine.

We started the night with a Devon fizz, a 2013 Lyme Bay Sparkling Brut. As opposed to the lengthy ageing and double fermentation process involved in making champagne, this delicious drink was made from grapes aged for only around six months. The taste was therefore incredibly light and crispy, a pleasant change to the often yeastier, more heavily flavoured champagne.

We then moved on to sample three white wines. The first of these was a 2013 New Zealand Riesling. I found this one a little off-putting at first when the group unanimously decided it was reminiscent of rubber tyres doused in kerosene (not the most inviting scent in my book). However, as I held my breath and took a sip, I could just about forgive the smell. It was a dry, highly acidic wine which ended with a slightly sweet aftertaste. We were assured it is also the perfect counterbalance to a spicy meal.

The next wine was a spicier, fuller flavoured Argentinian Torrentes. This was certainly warmer with many different notes to it, elderflower coming through the strongest for me.

Our final white wine was a controversial choice as it involved an Australian Chardonnay. The very word 'Chardonnay' always seems to divide opinion due to its oaky flavour. A conversation ensued about the use of oak barrels and the cheeky practice of adding oak chips to cheaper wines, often overpowering the taste.

Time then came to sample four red wines. The first was a 2014 Australian Pinot Noir. Made from a small grape with the thinnest of skins, this red was refreshingly light and fruity.

A Chilean Merlot followed which we decided had a fairly herbal taste, not as tannic as some of the cheaper bottles, with rosemary and thyme dominating. We decided this would go very well with lamb.

We then sampled a 2013 Argentinian Tannat which was far earthier and peppery than the previous two. This was a dry and spicy drink which was remarkably enhanced when a bowl of dry salted beef was passed around the company and we all took another sip after eating.

To finish, we drank 'Old Vine Red' from California. Rather than carrying a vintage, the batch we sampled contained juice from up to four vintages according to its maker, Marietta Cellars, due to the different grapes that are used ageing at different rates. The blend of grapes certainly made this a ripe, earthy wine.

Our host, Anthony, was very informative and helpful throughout the evening, encouraging any comments from the group and keeping the atmosphere relaxed.

The Grape Escape certainly seems to take its wine very seriously, constantly changing its offerings in order to keep people interested and change perceptions of what our standard comfort zone wine/s may be. At the end of the evening one of my companions promptly ordered two bottles of wines which we sampled that night, and the next time I am out, I will be having something other than a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc.

Wines tasted:

1. Lyme Bay Sparkling Brut, 2013, Devon, England £25

2. Saint Clair Riesling, 2013, Marlborough, New Zealand £18

3. Michel Torino 'Don David' Torrontes, 2014, Cafayate, Argentina £14

4. Larry Cherubino 'Hen & Chicken', 2014, Chardonnay, Pemberton, Western Australia £19

5. Larry Cherubino 'Cruel Mistress' Pinot Noir, 2014, Great Southern, Western Australia £19

6. Vina Echeverria Merlot 'Reserva', 2014, Curico Valley, Chile £13

7. Michel Torino 'Don David' Tannat, 2013, Cafayate, Argentina £14

8. Marietta Cellars Old Vine Red 'Lot 61', NV Sonoma County, California, USA £20

The next sessions are:

  • Wednesday March 23, 7.30pm to 9pm - Intro to the wines of France
  • Wednesday March 30, 7.30pm to 9pm - Intro to the wines of the New World

There are only 12 tickets available for each tasting, priced at £20 each.
Tickets can be purchased at The Grape Escape or for more details emailant@thecheltenhamgrape.com, or call 01242 256716.