OUR LUNCHES & TASTINGS Click here to get a flavour of our tasting lunches: Click here to see a summary of all our tastings and courses Click here for our Special Midweek and Weekend Deals We have added a whole new range of events for 2011/2012. We offer tasting lunches, dinners and Midweek suppers, usually focusing on a grape variety or region, and there is a one day general introductory wine course, which covers tasting technique and the whole world of wine. You can also get some great deals when you combine one of our tastings with a stay for a night or two. All our tastings are very informal. Some of our tastings are at introductory level where all you need is an enthusiasm for wine, others are Master Classes, which go into quite a bit more depth and are ideal if you want to learn more about wine. For our lunches we choose wines generally in the £10 to £12 bracket, for our Master Class dinners the average retail price will be more than £20 per bottle, as wines at this price level offer real quality and the best insight into the region or grape variety. All our wines are tasted in plain bottles. This is not to put anyone on the spot, it is simply to avoid any preconceptions and to let us concentrate on what is actually in the glass, not what is on the label. VERY IMPORTANT - DIETARY REQUIREMENTS & TERMS AND CONDITIONS We are very happy to cater for any dietary requirements, as long as we are advised in advance. The only tasting that really is not suitable for vegetarians or vegans is the Food and Wine Matching Lunch where we do need to offer a range of fish, sea food and meat. For our full terms and conditions, click here. NEW EVENT (Full details of this new course will go up on our site shortly – please let us know if you would like to receive details). Friday 23rd to Sunday 25th March DEVON WINE SCHOOL FINE WINE WEEKEND A special weekend with a series of tutored tastings over 2 days, with wines chosen from some of the world’s top vineyards, all to be matched to Carol’s terrific food. DEVON WINE SCHOOL INTRODUCTION TO WINE The Devon Wine School offers a really good one day introduction to wine. The course, which runs from 11.00AM to 5.00PM, is perfect for someone who is interested in wine and would like to learn how to taste and enjoy it, while at the same time getting some really useful background knowledge as to why a wine tastes as it does and what to look for when faced with rows of bottles on the supermarket shelf. We taste at least 15 wines and have some fun comparing different wine styles and seeing why one wine can cost twice the price of its neighbour. Average retail price of the wines we taste is more than £12 per bottle. A good buffet lunch is included, the course is very informal and relaxed and we polish it all off with a lovely glass of fizz. What we cover: How to taste wine, using the WSET Systematic Approach to Tasting Wine© How wine is made and the factors that influence the style of wine Comparison of New World and Old World styles Is it worth it? Comparison of 2 neighbouring wines with a big price difference Key white and black grape varieties Sparkling and sweet wines Course Dates for 2012: Saturdays 12th May and 16th June. The course runs from 11.00AM to 5.00PM. Course Costs: £155 per person (including £25.83 VAT). We offer a special rate of £135 (including 22.50 VAT) per person when booked as a couple. The cost covers at least 15 good quality tasting wines, tuition by a Master of Wine, tasting booklet, with a light lunch and a certificate. Maximum numbers: Limited to 12 participants SPECIAL INTRODUCTORY WINE COURSE WEEKEND DEAL FOR COUPLES COME AND STAY FRIDAY & SATURDAY NIGHTS, WITH 2 COURSE SUPPER AND A BOTTLE OF FIZZY CRÉMANT DE LIMOUX ON THE FRIDAY NIGHT, THE INTRODUCTORY WINE COURSE ON SATURDAY, AND BREAKFAST ON SATURDAY & SUNDAY MORNINGS. WE'LL BOOK YOU INTO ONE OF OUR EXCELLENT LOCAL PUBS FOR DINNER ON SATURDAY. ALL FOR £255.00 (£275.00 IN SAINT AMOUR) PER PERSON. (DOES NOT INCLUDE THE COST OF THE PUB DINNER ON SATURDAY NIGHT). OUR LUNCHES Our lunches are not grand affairs - we take a theme, a region or a grape variety and choose a range of really interesting wines to get behind the label and explore the key flavours and styles. What is included: An apéritif on arrival 6 wines to taste at an average retail price of £12 Informal tutored talk on tasting techniques and on the key characteristics of the region or grape variety 3 course lunch with coffee Our lunches run from 12.30PM to 3.00PM. 2012 Saturday 11th February – France’s Exciting Country Wines France’s Country Wines were one of the country’s most exciting innovations when they were introduced in the early 1970s. This Vin de Pays category has recently been reformed into IGP (Indication Géographique Protégée) but it remains responsible for some of France’s best value quality red, white and rosé wines from the Loire in the north to Languedoc in the south. Saturday 10th March – Wines from the Loire, France’s Longest River The Loire is home to an extraordinary diversity of wines. The river rises far down in the south of France but the interesting bit, winewise, starts close to the town of Pouilly-sur-Loire, where the river flows north-west past the vineyards of Sancerre and Pouilly Fumé. It then passes on to Vouvray, home to the versatile Chenin Blanc, continuing past Chinon and Bourgueil, with its attractive Cabernet Franc based reds, on through the town of Saumur, a rival to Champagne with refreshing fizzy wines, then past the vineyards of Anjou, with its range of sweet and dry whites and delicate rosés, before finally passing through the vineyards of Muscadet out to the Atlantic by Nantes. Saturday 2nd June – Sauvignon Blanc around the World This very popular white grape variety is responsible for some of the best loved aperitif wines. Refreshing and vibrant, its spiritual home is in the Loire Valley around Sancerre and Pouilly-sur-Loire but New Zealand then countries like Chile and South Africa have joined the romance. We’ll be looking at some particularly good examples from all over the globe. The cost for all Tasting Lunches, with an aperitif and 6 wines to taste, followed by a 3 course meal is £95 per person, with a special rate of £78.50 per head when booked as couples. OUR DINNERS Our Master Class dinners go into a little more depth. We start at 6.30PM with an aperitif, then a sit down tutored tasting of 6 wines, followed by a 3 course dinner matched to the wines we have been tasting. We normally finish around 10.00PM. What is included: An apéritif on arrival 6 wines to taste at an average retail price of at least £15 Informal tutored talk on tasting techniques and on the key characteristics of the region or grape variety 3 course dinner with coffee 2012 Saturday 25th February – Australia’s Serious Wines (Not a Brand in sight) Over the last decade, Australia has found huge success with major brands like Jacob’s Creek and Banrock Station. These wines are very drinkable but they are made to offend as few drinkers as possible. There is, however, much more to Australia which is so often overlooked. Adelaide in South Australia has always been a centre of excellence, and Coonawarra in the Limestone Coast between Adelaide and Melbourne, the state of Victoria and the vineyards of Western Australia, south of Perth, all have exceptional offerings. We will taste some great examples and see how well Australia can perform at the top end. Saturday 3rd March – Bordeaux, the World’s Greatest Quality Region Bordeaux is the biggest quality wine producing area in the world, by far. It is a region of great red wines and enticing dry and sweet white wines. It is also a region whose wines repay ageing. For reds, the Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon grape varieties are king, for whites it is Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc. Come and get under Bordeaux's skin and taste how age and the different communes within the Bordeaux wine region make such startlingly good wines. Saturday 19th May – Compare the New World We are going to take 2 grape varieties, one white, the other red and compare how they fare when grown in the very different environments of 4 New World wine producing countries, South Africa, Chile, New Zealand and Australia. Is it all about grape variety or is the country of origin more important? Come and find out. Saturday 26th May – Chardonnay can be Delicious This versatile grape sometimes gets a bad press for producing dull flat oaky wines. However this is far removed from the reality. Chardonnay is one of the few grape varieties that flourishes in cool, moderate and hot climates. Whether your preference is for elegant dry sparkling wine from Champagne's Côte des Blancs, a delicious clean mineral refreshing Chablis or a soft fuller flavoured style with lovely tropical fruit flavours, then this tasting is for you. Saturday 9th June – Summer Reds (and a Rosé or Two) The trend today seems to be for more and more red wines to be become fuller-bodied and increasingly alcoholic. But there are lots of lovely lighter reds out there which are just perfect for summer drinking and we will throw in a Rosé or two for good measure to get us in the mood. Saturday 23rd June – South Africa’s Gems No country has done more over the last few years to re-invent its wine industry than South Africa. Capitalising on its biodiversity and helped by the friendly rand, South Africa now offers a stunning array of wines at affordable prices. The climate, the terrain and the presence of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans around Cape Town are helping to create wines that mix New World ripeness and flamboyance with Old World elegance and style. Saturday 30th June - Glorious Burgundy Burgundy, home to Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, is a fascinating patchwork of vineyards on soils which go back millions of years. The region includes Chablis to the north, with the famous Côte d’Or some 70 miles to the south. The Côte d’Or is divided into the Côte de Nuits and Côte de Beaune, which together produce some of the region’s most memorable wines and then there is the Côte Chalonnaise and Mâconnais to the south. Come and experience the sheer diversity. Our Tasting Dinners start with an aperitif and we then taste 6 really good quality wines, before enjoying them with a 3 course meal and coffee. Cost is £115 per person, with a special rate of £105 per head when booked as couples. MIDWEEK SUPPERS These tutored tastings and suppers are very informal and fantastic value. They are the perfect way to learn about choosing and enjoying wine. We will find 4 wines which are available locally but which you may not have discovered and then enjoy them with a two course supper. Our Midweek Suppers run from 7.00PM to 9.30PM. 2012 Wednesday 8th February – Beautiful Beaujolais There is much more to Beaujolais than just Nouveau. This beautiful region just to the north of the city of Lyon is home to the Gamay grape, which produces some sublimely flavoured wines with lovely red fruits. Wednesday 7th March – Unusual Whites Most have heard of Riesling, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc, so we thought we would go out and find some really delicious whites with grape names that don't roll off the tongue. Wednesday 18th April – The Surprising Lebanon This Mediterranean hotspot has recently seen growing international interest and an upsurge in its wine production, in spite of flying bullets. The famous Château Musar was the pioneer but a number of new and serious wine companies have joined in and are producing some great red and white wines. It will be an excuse for some flat bread and traditional Lebanese dishes. Wednesday 16th May – Spanish Paella Evening Spain has developed its wine industry quite dramatically over the last decade. The country now has a wealth of interesting whites and soft reds and we will choose a small selection to match Carol’s stunning paella, which, weather permitting, will make for a great evening. The cost per person for our Midweek Suppers is £45 for a two course supper, an aperitif and a 4 wine tutored tasting. OUR VERY SPECIAL DEALS MAKE IT A REAL OCCASION - COME AND ENJOY OUR WINE TASTINGS AND STAY IN ONE OF OUR VERY COMFORTABLE VISITBRITAIN 5 STAR GOLD AWARD EN-SUITE ROOMS WITH SUPER KING-SIZE BEDS. THE WEEKEND DEAL FOR COUPLES TASTING LUNCH WEEKEND DEAL (2 NIGHTS) COME AND STAY FRIDAY & SATURDAY NIGHTS, WITH A BOTTLE OF DELICIOUS FIZZY WINE ON ARRIVAL, 2 COURSE SUPPER ON FRIDAY NIGHT, A TASTING LUNCH, AND BREAKFAST ON SATURDAY & SUNDAY MORNINGS. WE'LL BOOK YOU INTO ONE OF OUR EXCELLENT LOCAL PUBS FOR DINNER ON SATURDAY. ALL FOR £205 PER PERSON. (£225 IN SAINT AMOUR). (DOES NOT INCLUDE THE COST OF THE PUB DINNER ON SATURDAY NIGHT). MASTER CLASS DINNER WEEKEND DEAL (2 NIGHTS) COME AND STAY FRIDAY & SATURDAY NIGHTS, WITH A BOTTLE OF DELICIOUS FIZZY WINE ON ARRIVAL, 2 COURSE SUPPER ON FRIDAY NIGHT, THE DAY FREE, AN EARLY EVENING TASTING FOLLOWED BY DINNER, AND BREAKFAST ON SATURDAY & SUNDAY MORNINGS. ALL FOR £230 PER PERSON. (£250 IN SAINT AMOUR). MIDWEEK SUPPER DEAL FOR 1 OR 2 NIGHTS 1 NIGHT BED AND FULL ENGLISH BREAKFAST, WITH 2 PLACES ON ANY MIDWEEK SUPPER, ALL FOR £80 PER PERSON, (£87.50 PER PERSON FOR SAINT AMOUR). . OR, IF YOU CAN GET A PARTY OF 5 COUPLES TOGETHER, WE HAVE A VERY SPECIAL WEEKEND ACCOMMODATION DEAL FOR YOU. TAKE THE PLACE OVER AND BOOK OUR 5 ROOMS FOR THE 2 NIGHTS OF FRIDAY AND SATURDAY FOR JUST £965, TO INCLUDE FULL ENGLISH BREAKFAST, A SAVING OF £135 ON OUR NORMAL ACCOMMODATION PRICES. To make enquiries or to reserve a place on one of our lunches or dinners, please telephone or email Carol or Alastair Peebles TERMS & CONDITIONS All our prices include service and VAT at 20.0% Full payment, by cheque or credit card, should be made at the time of booking. We do not accept provisional bookings and places will only be confirmed once payment is received. Cancellation and Insurance Cancellations or changes to confirmed places are accepted up to 21 days prior to the tasting. After this time, full refunds, transfers or exchanges will only be given if we are able to re-sell your places. If for any reason we cannot re-sell the accommodation or fill your tasting place(s), you will still be liable to pay for the booking in full, even if we have not received your balance. Please note that your deposit is not refundable for rooms or course/tastings. We would recommend that you take out cancellation insurance to cover both your deposit and any balance that will have to be paid in the event of cancellation. Please note that it is not possible to do these tastings with less than 8 people, because we taste relatively expensive wines and the cost of these wines makes it uneconomical for smaller groups. If we do not have sufficient numbers, Devon Wine School does therefore reserve the right within 7 days of the tasting to offer our clients the choice of either a new date or a complete refund. VERY IMPORTANT We are very happy to cater for any dietary requirements, as long as we are advised in advance. The only tasting that really is not suitable for vegetarians or vegans is the Food and Wine Matching Lunch where we do need to offer a range of fish, sea food and meat. Click here to return to the top of the page Click here to return to the top of the page Alastair and Carol Peebles, The Devon Wine School, Redyeates Farm, Cheriton Fitzpaine, Crediton, Devon EX17 4HG United Kingdom Tel: +44 (0) 1363 866742     Email