Christmas Wine Fair at St. Albans Museum

Cellar Door Wines 20th Anniversary Christmas Wine Tasting in the St Albans Museum + Gallery is the place to be this festive season! Join them for a fantastic celebration of their 20 years in the business of selling great wine to the lovely folk of St Albans. Sip on a selection of over 100 exquisite wines while soaking in the unique and historic ambiance of the museum. This in-person event promises to be a merry gathering of wine enthusiasts and loyal customers in Hertfordshire.

Join Cellar Door Wines for their fantastic festive Wine Fair being held in the heart of our home city, St Albans. They will be showcasing a selection of their favourite wines made by world class winemakers and producers from every continent from their specially curated range. You can taste every style from warming reds, Port and Sherry to crisp whites and bubbly. This is a special occasion not to be missed!

Your £38 ticket includes sampling of all 100 wines plus a small sampling selection of cheese and crackers from Ed at The Fleetville Larder.

Please speak to Penny or Geraldine if you have any food allergies or intolerances.
The aim of the evening is to help you put together your festive cases of beverages and gifts with the help and advice of our expert team of wine professionals and start to get into the Christmas mood!

What you can expect:
This is a walk about wine tasting held in the beautiful Assembly Room in the St Albans Museum. Please note that there is no seating available. On arrival you will be checked in and given a Riedel Glass, an order booklet and a pen. The wine samples will be poured and explained to you by our wine experts at their tables.

Getting to the venue:
For obvious reasons we recommend that you use public transport or taxis to get to and from the venue. If you live in St Albans, please walk to and from the venue! We recommend that you make an evening of it and book a table at one of the many fabulous, local restaurant in St Albans.

Children and dogs are not allowed.
If you have any questions, please email Penny or Geraldine at sales@cellardoorwines.co.uk.

There are two slots available for this event. Please book your tickets below.

An evening of South American Luxury with Joe Fattorini and Don Melchor.

Indulge in the most exciting fine wine region of the world. Join Joe Fattorini, presenter of The Wine Show (ITV/Channel 5), and the St Albans Cellar Door Wines team in tasting Chile and South America’s finest wines, matched to a menu of South American specialities by Francesc Condal, Catalan Chef.

Joe will take you behind the scenes of filming in Chile and into the vineyards that produce Chile’s original and iconic fine wine, Don Melchor. You will also enjoy Latin America’s finest white, Amelia Chardonnay, and Terrunyo Camenere, the wine that put Chile’s signature grape variety on the map. Don't miss out on an unforgettable evening of epicurean wine and food.

Tickets £120

Organic, Orange and Natural Wine Tasting with Portuguese Story

Ricardo Rodrigues of Portuguese Story Wines regularly hosts tasting for Cellar Door Wines. Those who have met him know that most of his portfolio of wines is made using very little intervention in the vineyard or in the winery. This tasting will be a great opportunity to learn about the difference between natural and organic wines, what makes a wine orange and what a pet nat wine is. We will taste 7 wines from native varietals that will change your perception of Portugal and the natural wine movement altogether!

Cluricaun Pet Nat 2022
Castelo Rodrigo Branco 2021 Organic
Quinta Cova Raposa Alvarinho 2022
Cluricaun Skin 2021
Tiago Teles Raiz Orange 2020
Castelo Rodrigo Tinto 2021 Organic
Tiago Teles Raiz Natural Red 2020

Your ticket price includes generous sharing platters of cheese and cured meats from Katy at Wild Alban. Please contact Penny or Geraldine directly if you have any dietary requirements or allergies.

Please contact Geraldine or Penny directly by email with any allergies or dietary requirements.

If you have any questions, please call Cellar Door Wines +44 (0)1727 854 488

wines of South Africa Summer Tasting 2023

Our Summer tasting theme for 2023 is Wines of South Africa.

Join us in The Riding School at Hatfield House for an afternoon filled with vibrant South African atmosphere. There will be a jazz band inside, traditional Zulu dancers performing in The Stable Yard and authentic South African street food by Now Now Chow. Taste over 100 wines from every region and style in the Cape Winelands.

Having just about recovered from a three year drought, the South African wine industry was hit by government COVID restrictions including a ban on alcohol production, sales and export twice in 2020 and then again in 2021. Post COVID, South Africa continues to face significant challenges with an economic recession and a massive electricity deficit. However, the strength and resilience of South Africans remains and the quality of wine being produced has never been better. We invite you to support SA producers by attending this event and buying their fantastic wine.

We are very proud of our South African wine range which spans all of the key Western Cape regions of Stellenbosch, Paarl, Franschhoek, Elgin, Wellington, Swartland, Darling Hills and Hemel en Aarde.

In the lead up to the event, we have chosen to highlight the work of two charitable organisations: WildHearts Foundation Africa and HeadStart Trust . Representatives from both of these foundations will be there on the day to tell us about their initiatives and how we in the UK can contribute. Cellar Door Wines will be donating 10% of ticket sales to these organisations.

Your £36 ticket includes sampling of over 100 wines, a snack pack of biltong or vegetarian alternative and entertainment throughout the afternoon.

These are just a few of the producers you will get to experience: Babylonstoren, Waterkloof, Zorgvliet, Iona, Raats, Doran Vineyards, Groote Post, Drift Estate, De Grendel, Andreas, Diemersfontein, Neil Ellis, KWV Mentors, Boekenhoutskloof, Daschbosch, Wildeberg, De Wetshof, LaibachSpier and De Trafford.

South African Food: Jane White from Now Now Chow will be selling her famous Babotie and Bunny Chow from her stall which will be positioned just outside our shop in the stable yard. Informal seating will be available nearby to enjoy your food. Vegetarian options will be available.

Traditional Zulu Dancers will be performing at various intervals during the afternoon, inside the The Riding School and in the Stable Yard.

There will be a Jazz Quartet playing in background, so do listen out for some special South African Kwela and Penny Whistle sounds.

The aim of the day is to showcase the best of South Africa.

This is a walkabout wine tasting held over two floors in the Riding School Venue in the Stable Yard at Hatfield House. On arrival you will be checked in and given a Riedel Glass, an order booklet, a pen and a small pack of biltong or vegetarian equivalent. The wine samples will be poured and explained to you by our South African wine experts at their tables. We will give you a wrist band which will allow you to move in and out of the Riding School to buy food and explore the Stable Yard. Unfortunately you cannot take your glass outside, however, you can buy wine by the glass from our shop, where there will be seating inside and outside for you to sit and relax(hopefully it will be a lovely sunny day!)

Getting to the venue:

For obvious reasons we recommend that you use public transport or taxis to get to and from the venue.

If you have a designated driver in your group we would like to offer that person a half price ticket. Please email Penny or Geraldine for details. sales@cellardoorwines.co.uk

There is a free Car Park which is accessed through George’s Gate and is located a few hundred yards on from the Station Lodge entrance, at the mini roundabout with a large Citroen dealership. Post Code: AL9 5HX for Sat Nav.

Hatfield Train Station and Bus station is a short walk from the George's Gate.

We do not recommend that you bring dogs or children to this event.

If you have any questions, please call or email Penny or Geraldine sales@cellardoorwines.co.uk

St Albans T: 01727 854488

Hatfield T: 01707 240982

While you are visiting the Stable Yard, you will have the opportunity to browse the other beautiful shops next to ours.

Fiona Rae - Royal Warrant holding designer and jeweller since 2001

Slumbering Hound - Bespoke dog cushions, blankets and accessories

Carl Russell & Co - Country clothing and leather goods

Darlish Ice Cream - Luxury ice cream inspired by natural botanicals and the magical flavours of the Middle East

The Jodhpur Company

Wild Alban in Old Hatfield - Cheese Deli, picnic hampers and baked goods

The Coach House Restaurant will also be open for pre or post -tasting meals and coffee. Contact them to book a table. Telephone: 01707 932725 Email: hatfieldhospitality@compass-group.co.uk

English Wine, Cheese and Mead Tasting with Lyme Bay

To celebrate King Charle's Coronation weekend, we've invited Susie Hewitt from Lyme Bay Winery in Devon to come and talk to us about their English sparkling and still wine and honey mead. This will be a tutored, sit down tasting at our St Albans shop and we will be matching each style of wine and mead with an English cheese.

At Lyme Bay Winery they like to do things a little differently. Since 2015 they’ve been working with some of the best English wine growers to create a selection of delicious and award-winning still and sparkling wines.They are one of a very few wineries that works with growers all over the country to get the best fruit rather than relying on what is grown in their own vineyards. That way, they have access to different grape varieties that grow better on different soils and in different microclimates across the country and use them to make exceptional, full of character still and sparkling wines that suit every palate and occasion.

We will be tasting the following 6 still and sparkling wines as well as 2 meads:

Lyme Bay Brut NV

Lyme Bay Blanc de Blanc 2016

Lyme Bay Bacchus 2021

Lyme Bay Chardonnay 2021

Lyme Bay Pinot Noir Rosé Reserve 2021

Lyme Bay Pinot Noir 2021

Lyme Bay Traditional Mead

Lyme Bay Chilli Mead

Katy from Wild Alban will be providing with 8 fantastic English cheeses to match with the wine and mead. The cheese will be served on large sharing boards. Please email Penny or Geraldine directly if you have any allergies or dietary requirements.

Argentine Malbec and Tango Celebration at Hatfield House

Our Spring Wine Tasting 2023 will be all about Argentina...

Join us in the Stable Yard at Hatfield house for an entertaining evening of Argentine Wine, Empanadas and Tango. We will be celebrating Argentina's World Malbec Day as well as their spectacular World Cup win in December.

We will be hosting this event in our beautiful shop and just outside it, in the courtyard on Friday the 21st of April between 5:30 and 8:30pm. There will be 16 different Argentine wines to taste and buy by the glass, accompanied by delicious meat and vegetable Empanadas.

We have chosen this date in April to coincide with Malbec World Day which has been celebrated on the 17th of April every year since 1953, to commemorate the day when Argentine president Domingo Faustino Sarmiento made it part of his manifesto to turn around Argentina's wine industry. He procured the help of a French soil expert to find the best grapes to suit the Argentine Terroirs. 'Malbec World Day' translates from Spanish "Día Mundial del Malbec" which means "Malbec throughout the world". The name stuck and continues to bamboozle English speakers, and most have ended up calling it "World Malbec Day", or "Malbec Mondo".

Your ticket includes a glass of Argentine fizz on arrival, sampling of 16 red and white wines, an empanada and other Argentine street food snacks. The sensational Paula Duarte and Bruno Vandenabeele, award winning tango dancers, will entertain us throughout the evening. This is a walkabout tasting, with very little seating available.

Please contact Penny or Geraldine at Cellar Door Wines directly if you have any allergies or dietary requirements for the wine tasting. (E) sales@cellardoorwines.co.uk (T) 01727854488

In keeping with the theme of the evening, The Coach House Restaurant will be serving steak dinner. They are offering ticket holders to this event a 10% discount on their total bill as well as a free glass of Malbec with their meal. Book your table by emailing them directly. coachhousekitchen@compass-group.co.uk

If you have any questions, please call Cellar Door Wines +44 (0)1727 854 488

Port, Cheese and Chocolate with João Belo of Kopke

We're warming up for the festive season and getting to grips with Port, matching it with two classic accompaniments: cheese and chocolate. We are also going to give you a special treat at the end with some of the best Portuguese custard tarts in town!

Kopke was founded in 1638, many years before the establishment of the Douro Demarcated Wine Region. This historic Port house also is renowned for its impressive library stock of very old wines, including rare Tawny and White Ports. We be trying 6 different ages and styles with Port expert and Kopke representative João Belo.

Kopke Fine White Port
Kopke LBV 2016
Kopke 10 YO Tawny
Kopke 2008 Colheita White
Kopke 10 Year Old White Port
Kopke 30 Year Old Tawny

Chocolate will be supplied by local chocolatier Yvette's Chocolates.

The cheese selection will be provided by Wild Alban.

Please let Penny or Geraldine know if you have any dietary requirements or allergies.
If you have any questions, please call Cellar Door Wines +44 (0)1727 854 488

Perfectly timed to help you get your cellar stocked and stockings filled in the run up to Christmas.

Our St. Albans Christmas tasting has become an annual tradition for many of our customers. We thought that last year might be our last event on the Verulam Industrial Estate. Thankfully there have been a few planning delays and we get to stay a while longer for what will be our 18th Christmas trading next to the railway arches on the London Road.

Join us for an afternoon of fabulous, festive wine tasting in our beautiful and unique St Albans store. Some of our producers will be outside under marquees, unless the weather is stormy. Either way, please dress warmly!

We will be showcasing some of our very favourite wines (over 50 to taste) and Betsabe from Bacanas will be serving hot Argentine emapanadas. Please speak to Penny or Geraldine if you have any food allergies or intolerances.

On arrival you will be checked in and given a Riedel Glass, an order booklet, a pen and a food token. The wine samples will be poured and explained to you by our wine experts at their tables.

We will be hosting two session to keep things less crowded. 1pm to 3:30pm and 3:30pm to 6pm

As always, this is a walkabout wine tasting and there is no formal seating. Unfortunately it is not a dog or child friendly event.

The aim of the day is to help you put together your festive cases of beverages with the help and advice of our expert team of wine professionals.

For obvious reasons we recommend that you walk, use public transport or taxis to get to and from the tasting. However, if you have a designated driver in your group we would like to offer that person a half price ticket. Please email Penny or Geraldine for details. sales@cellardoorwines.co.uk

If you have any questions, please call or email Penny or Geraldine

St Albans T: 01727 854488

Flagship Wines Wine Fair 2022

Date – Friday 18th November 2022

Venue – St. Saviours Church, Sandpit Lane, St Albans, AL1 4DF

Time – 7pm to 10pm

Tickets £25 per person – must be bought in advance

Why not bring your friends to enjoy tasting 80 Wines, Champagnes, Ports, Sherries, Madeiras and Gins & there will be the UK agent or winemaker with expert knowledge at each table to give you insight into the wines.

Try the wines you like at your own pace, and chat to friends working your own way through the tasting list where the wines range from £10 a bottle.

You can also order on the night and receive 10% discount, try before you buy to stock up your wine rack, buy gifts or cater for Christmas or any occasion.

Wines to taste at the Fair will include:

• many new wines including some from France, Spain and Italy

• amazing ciders from around the world with Alistair from Cider is Wine

• more natural wines from Graft Wines

• new Portuguese wines from Esporao

• special offers for Christmas and lovely packaging too

and many more………

There’ll be a masterclass or two to join in with too…

We know the Ports, Madeira and Sherries are firm favourites with our customers. Thus with Christmas in mind we will have a range from port houses such as Grahams, Dows and Warres, Sherries and Madeiras

There’ll be lots more on the night plus the usual high quality delicious canapes and also some cheeses.

See you there.

Perfectly timed to help you get your cellar stocked and stockings filled in the run up to Christmas.

Join Cellar Door Wines for their fantastic festive Wine Fair being held for the first time in the beautiful setting of The Stable Yard at historic Hatfield House. They will be showcasing over 100 of their wines made by world class winemakers and producers from every continent. You can taste every style from warming reds, Port and Sherry to crisp whites and bubbly. There will also be local craft ale and spirits to sample. This is set to be their most exciting tasting yet!

Food: Your ticket includes a sampling plate of 4 artisan cheeses from local delicatessan Wild Alban and a hot emapanada from Bacanas in Tring. Additional cheese and empanadas will also be available to buy.

Please speak to Penny or Geraldine if you have any food allergies or intolerances

The aim of the day is to help you put together your festive cases of beverages with the help and advice of their expert team of wine professionals.

They will be running two sessions to keep things less crowded: 1-3pm and 4-6pm

What you can expect:

This is a walk-about wine tasting held over two floors in the Riding School Venue in the Stable Yard at Hatfield House. On arrival you will be checked in and given a Riedel Glass, an order booklet, a pen and two food tokens. The wine samples will be poured and explained to you by their wine experts at their tables.

Getting to the venue:

It is recommended that you use public transport or taxis to get to and from the venue.

If you have a designated driver in your group they would like to offer that person a half price ticket. Please email Penny or Geraldine for details. sales@cellardoorwines.co.uk

There is a free Car Park which is accessed through George’s Gate and is located a few hundred yards on from the Station Lodge entrance, at the mini roundabout with a large Citroen dealership. Post Code: AL9 5HX for Sat Nav.

Hatfield Train Station and Bus station is a short walk from the George's Gate

This is a standing/ walk about tasting, there is no formal seating is provided.

Unfortunately, this is not a child or dog friendly event.

If you have any questions, please call or email Penny or Geraldine sales@cellardoorwines.co.uk

St Albans T: 01727 854488

Hatfield T: 01707 240982

While you are visiting the Stable Yard, before and after your tasting session, you will have the opportunity to browse the other beautiful shops next to ours.

Fiona Rae - Royal Warrant holding designer and jeweller since 2001

Slumbering Hound - Bespoke dog cushions, blankets and accessories

Carl Russell & Co - Country clothing and leather goods

The Coach House Restaurant will also be open for pre or post -tasting meals and coffee. Contact them to book a table. Telephone: 01707 932725 Email: hatfieldhospitality@compass-group.co.uk

Flagship Wines: Te Mata Estate Wine Tasting Fleetville Larder

Coleraine, Bullnose, Zara….the one thing they have in common is that they are the names given to the icon or ‘flagship’ wines made at Te Mata Estate, North Island New Zealand.

We are delighted that on September 23rd, Toby Buck from Te Mata will be with us to present and taste with us the range of  Te Mata’s top wines .

His background is as follows –

Toby grew up at Coleraine, planting vines and working in Te Mata’s cellars. As he kid, he travelled multiple times with his parents to meet agents, coopers, and winemakers in Europe and the UK. He’s worked most vintages at Te Mata, and in wineries from Bordeaux to Chile, Greece, Portugal, and Argentina.

He completed an MSc at Edinburgh and is a fan of a good book and a good wine. In 2014 he won the Katherine Mansfield short story award and, in 2019, NZ’s top essay prize. You can read his recent writing on regenerative farming practices at Te Mata here at JancisRobinson.com

Since 2016 he’s been responsible for sales in Te Mata’s domestic and international markets and hosting the wineries popular Vintage Showcase tastings. Now based in Amsterdam, he’s currently developing the winery’s presence across Europe, the UK, and Dubai.

It promises to be a fun and informative evening, especially as the excellent wines will be accompanied with delicious cheeses and charcuterie from Fleetville Larder, chosen by Ed to match the wines.

Date – Friday 23rd September 2022

Venue – Fleetville Larder

Time – 7.30pm to 9.30pm

Tickets – £30 per person, must be bought in advance

Organic Wine Tasting with Domaine Les Caizergues

Domaines Les Caizergues is located in the foothills of the Cevennes mountain range just north of Montpellier. The estate benefits from having both a warm, sunny Mediterranean climate and an elevated position. This means that there are distinct differences between the average temperatures experienced during the day and those at night. As a result, the wines are wonderfully expressive and fresh. The land's heritage is both as a wine producer and as a centre for silk production in the region. The names of the wines and theDomaine's branding all bear witness to this.

Bob and Pat Middleton bought the Caizergues vineyard in 2017 with a view to further developing its potential. They have set about introducing modern and environmentally-friendly viticultural and vinicultural practices to the estate, always mindful of the importance of remaining true to its heritage and terroir.

Languedoc wine expert Anne Pestiaux represents the Middleton's organic wines here in the UK and will be presenting six Domaine Les Caizergues wines. The range includes a tradtional method sparkling, rosé, white and three reds. This will be our first in store tasting at our beautiful new store in the Hatfield House Stable Yard. Anne will share the story and history of the Domaine and explain their organic and sustainable farming principles.

Your ticket includes savoury snacks and cheese/ cured meat sharing platters from Katy at Wild Alban in Hatfield Old Town. If you have any dietary requirements or intolerances, please contact Penny or Geraldine before the event.

sales@cellardoorwine.co.uk

Tickets are limited so book soon to avoid disappointment!

If you have any questions, please call Cellar Door Wines +44 (0)1727 854 488

Summer Wine Fair 2022 ‐ Wines of Portugal Saturday 25th June

We are very happy to announce that our annual summer tasting this year will be focussing solely on the wines of Portugal!

Come and see us and our producers ‐ we will be setting up big marquees in the carpark in front of our shop on the Verulam Industrial Estate, just off London Road, St Albans. You will have the opportunity to taste over 50 different styles of still, sparkling, rosé and fortified wines from all of the wine producing regions of Portugal.

We plan to give you an afternoon of escape to the regions of Douro, Dão, Alentejo, Tejo and Vinho Verde.

Your ticket price includes snacks, water and authentic Portuguese small plates from local private Chef, Francesc Condal.

We will be running two sessions to keep things less crowded: 2‐4pm and 4‐6pm.

This is a standing/ walk about tasting, no formal seating is provided. Most of the producers will be exhibiting outside under marquees. Please dress suitably for the weather (hopefully sunglasses and hats will be needed!)

For tickets for the 2-4pm session please visit here
For tickets for the 4-6pm session please visit here

If you have any questions about the event, please call Penny or Geraldine at the shop on +44 (0)1727 854 488

Vejo você lá!

Unit 1 Verulam Industrial Estate St Albans AL1 1JB

www.cellardoorwines.co.uk

South African Virtual Tasting with Winemaker Izele van Blerk

An online masterclass with the KWV Mentors winemaker.

The KWV name is historically synonymous with South African wine and brandy - often the everyday drinking end of the spectrum. Since its launch in 2006, The Mentors range has established itself as one of the most sought-after premium brands in the South African wine landscape. Built around a philosophy of expressing terroir and pioneering new wines and winemaking techniques, it is wine that showcases the original philosophy of KWV, and the rich history and depth of expertise at one of South Africa’s leading wine producers and exporters.

Highly acclaimed winemaker, Izele van Blerk joined KWV’s premium Mentor's range cellar team in 2009 where her focus was and still is to maintain the high standard of producing leading, multi-regional wines from the best grapes South Africa has to offer.

We are very much looking forward to meeting Izele on Zoom and tasting a through 3 of her top shelf wines.

Don't miss out - book your ticket asap!

How does it work?
One £60 ticket includes:
- A Zoom Link to log in to the tasting at 19:30 hosted by Penny @ Cellar Door Wines and Izele Van Blerk.
- We will deliver 3 bottles of wine to you plus cheese and snacks.

* Delivery is free if you are local to us, but an extra £9.95 (*possibly more depending on how rural you are) if you are not in the St Albans area. Please note that we cannot send you the wine and food if you are not on the UK mainland!*

The 3 wines you will receive are:
- Mentors Grenache Blanc 2020
- Mentors Pinotage 2019
- KWV Roodeberg1949 Red Blend 2018

The snacks you will receive:
- 1 small waxed truckle of Dambuster Cheddar
- 1 small pack of Smalley's Biltong (please let us know if you are vegetarian and we can replace it)
- 1 box of Peter's Yard Crackers
- 1 small bar of Love Cocoa Chocolate

Unfortunately we cannot courier the popular Spanish crisps, as our new eco-packing doesn't allow space, but if you live locally and would like a pack of these included in your tasting pack, please let us know.

Izele and Penny will talk you through the wines and answer any questions you might have about South African wine in general.

If you have any questions, please call Cellar Door Wines +44 (0)1727 854 488

Click here to purchase a ticket!

Uruguayan Wine Tasting with Francisco Pizzorno

Pizzorno winery was founded by Don Próspero José Pizzorno, an Italian immigrant who came to Uruguay in the late 1800's. The family owned winery is now run by the fourth generation of the Pizzorno family. Carlos Pizzorno is currently in charge, and is also Winemaking Director, and he and his children and family in run the winery. With 21 hectares of vineyards surrounding the winery in Canelones, the Pizzorno vineyards are located on a gentle slope with shallow clay loam and calcareous soils. The vineyards are managed sustainably and without the use of fertilizers. The Pizzorno winery has one of the most innovative portfolios in Canelones with Uruguay’s first carbonic maceration Tannat wine.

We're very happy to be welcoming Carlos' son Francisco Pizzorno to the store in April to host an evening tasting of 6 of his wines. These are the wines will be tasting.

Pizzorno Around the World Sauvignon Blanc

Pizzorno Merlot Rosé

Pizzorno Mayúsculas Marselan

Pizzorno Mayúsculas Tannat

Pizzorno Tannat Reserve

Pizzorno Select Blend Reserve

A great South American tasting wouldn't be the same without food, so we will be serving Empanadas from Bacanas of Tring and salads from Buongiorno Italia in St. Albans.

Tickets are limited so book soon to avoid disappointment!

If you have any questions, please call Cellar Door Wines +44 (0)1727 854 488

Click here to purchase a ticket!

A Saturday afternoon tasting with Rachel Hollis, representing Boschendal wines of South Africa.

Founded in 1685, Boschendal (Dutch for bush and dale) is one of the oldest wine farms in South Africa. Located between Franschhoek and Stellenbosch in South Africa’s Western Cape, this iconic wine farm is situated in one of the most picturesque valleys in the Cape Winelands. Last year they marked their 40 year anniversary of 'Method Cap Classique' sparkling wine production on the estate, the first Boschendal Brut was made in 1981 by Achim van Arnim, considered one of the pioneers of traditional method sparkling wine in South Africa.

Valentine's day will be on our minds on Saturday the 12th of February, so included in Rachel's tasting will be the delicious Boschendal Brut Rosé sparkling. If that isn't aphrodisiac enough for you then we also have these new additions to our portfolio to taste:

Boschendal Chardonnay Pinot Noir Rosé

Boschendal Rachelsfontein Chenin Blanc

Boschendal Elgin Chardonnay

Boschendal Elgin Pinot Noir

Boschendal Nicholas Red

This is an informal drop in tasting, but please register to let us know that you will be attending. Lights snacks (including biltong of course!) will be served.

Click here to register a ticket!

If you have any questions, please call Cellar Door Wines +44 (0)1727 854 488

Christmas Wine Fair at Cellar Door Wines

Cellar Door Wines have missed seeing all of our lovely customers face to face...this will be their second in-person tasting this year and our first Christmas tasting since 2019...

Come and see them and their producers in 2 big marquees in the carpark in front of their shop on the Verulam Industrial Estate, just off London Road, St Albans. Dress warmly!

You will have the opportunity to taste over 50 different styles of still, sparkling, fortified and sweet wine from around the globe. Perfectly timed to help you get your cellar stocked and stockings filled in the run up to Christmas. Put together your festive case of beverages with the help of our drinks business experts.

Your ticket includes an individual snack pack full of savoury and sweet treats like crisps, cheese, chocolate and crackers to keep you going for the afternoon. We will be running 3 sessions to keep things safe and less crowded: 12-1:45pm, 2-3:45pm and 4-5:45pm- book your slot now!

Adam from Mozzarella Fellas will be selling pizza from is van from 12-6pm if you need some something more substantial to keep you going before or after your tasting session. 

We regret that this is not a child friendly event.

If you have any questions, please call Cellar Door Wines +44 (0)1727 854 488

Book tickets Here….

Click here to purchase a ticket for the 12-1:45pm slot

Click here to purchase a ticket for the 2-3:45pm slot

Click here to purchase a ticket for the 4-5:45pm slot

Orange and Natural Wine Virtual Tasting with Tiago Teles

'It had always been Tiago’s dream to own his own vineyards and find himself through the wine. In 2012 he got the opportunity and, in partnership with his father, began planting himself in the Bairrada. Tiago holds two qualities above all else: freedom and friendship, both gained out of their family’s history and passion for the sea.’

Join Cellar Door Wines for a fun and informative evening, learning about Tiago's natural and sustainable wine making techniques.

Don't miss out - book your ticket asap!

How does it work?
One £75 ticket includes:
- A Zoom Link to log in to the tasting at 19:30 hosted by Penny @ Cellar Door Wines, Tiago Teles and Ricardo Rodrigues of Portuguese Story.
- 3 full bottles of wine delivered to you. 1 from Quinta do Montaldo which Ricardo will introduce you to and 2 from Tiago Teles, plus cheese and snacks.

* Delivery is free if you are local to us, but an extra £9.95 (*possibly more depending on how rural you are) if you are not in the St Albans area. Please note that we cannot send you the wine and food if you are not on the UK mainland!*

The 3 wines you will receive are:
- Cluricaun Skin 2020 - Quinta do Montaldo
- Tiago Teles Raiz Orange
- Tiago Teles Raiz Natural Red

The snacks you will receive:
- 1 large round of Casteloes Portuguese Cheese (tbc - may be just Cheddar if we can't get hold of this!)
- 1 large bag of Patatas Fritas Spanish Salted Crisps

Tiago, Ricardo and Penny will talk you through the wines and answer any questions you might have about Portuguese, Orange and Natural wine in general.

If you have any questions, please call Cellar Door Wines +44 (0)1727 854 488

Click here to purchase a ticket!

'Winemaking at De Grendel is a careful balance between science and art.' Charles Hopkins – Cellar Master

The De Grendel cellar sits majestically elevated on the fynbos-covered slopes of the Tygerberg with a postcard-perfect panorama of Table Mountain and the city of Cape Town. 

The Graaf family vineyards of the Tygerberg Valley, which face the setting sun, offer cooling breezes off the cold Antarctic Benguela current from the Atlantic Ocean only 7 kilometres away, and works well for Sauvignon Blanc and Merlot. The Graaffs have also been farming near Ceres in the Witzenberg mountains for generations, and recognise the cool climate allowing the grapes to hang for longer - perfect for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.

This is an exciting opportunity to have a taste of the Western Cape and get to know De Grendel with 4th generation estate owner Sir De Villiers Graaf and Cellar Master Charles Hopkins. They will talk us through 3 of their award winning wines.

Don't miss out - book your ticket asap!

How does it work?
One £68 ticket includes:
- A Zoom Link to log in to the tasting at 19:30 hosted by Penny @ Cellar Door Wines, Charles and De Villiers.
- We will deliver 3 bottles of wine to you plus cheese, biltong and snacks.

* Delivery is free if you are local to us, but an extra £9.95 (*possibly more depending on how rural you are) if you are not in the St Albans area. Please note that we cannot send you the wine and food if you are not on the UK mainland!*

The 3 wines you will receive are:
- De Grendel Sauvignon
- De Grendel 'Op Die Berg' Chardonnay
- De Grendel Shiraz

The snacks you will receive:
- 1 small waxed truckle of Dambuster Cheddar
- 1 large bag of Salted Patatas Fritas (Crisps)
- 1 small pack of Smalley's biltong

De Villiers, Charles and Penny will talk you through the wines and answer any questions you might have about South African wine in general.

If you have any questions, please call Cellar Door Wines +44 (0)1727 854 488

Click here to purchase a ticket!

Welcome back to wine tasting in person with a PINK wine party!

“We've missed seeing all of our lovely customers face to face...this will be our first in-person tasting held in over a year...

Come and see us and our producers - we will be setting up a big marquee in the carpark in front of our shop on the Verulam Industrial Estate, just off London Road, St Albans.

You will have the opportunity to taste over 40 different styles of still and sparkling rosé wines from around the globe. We plan to give you an afternoon of escape to the countries of France, Italy, Romania and South Africa to name but a few. We will also be celebrating English wine week with Bolney, Henners and Wimbushes' rosé wines available to taste.”

How does it work?
Your ticket includes an individual snack pack full of savoury treats like biltong, crisps and crackers to keep you going for the afternoon. We will be running two sessions to keep things COVID safe and less crowded: 2-4pm and 4-6pm - book your slot now!

Click here to purchase a ticket for Session 1 (2pm-4pm) and here to purchase a ticket for Session 2 (4pm-6pm)

If you have any questions, please call Cellar Door Wines +44 (0)1727 854 488

Ribera Del Duero Virtual Tasting with Vicente Pliego of Pinea

PINEA is born of the founder's desire to make a wine on a par with the world’s finest....

Childhood friends Vicente Pliego and Hugo Del Pozzo founded Pinea with a simple but ambitious purpose: to produce one of the best wines in the world. To do so, they assembled 80 acres of mature vineyards ranging from 40 to 90+ years of age in Ribera del Duero, Spain. Their renowned winemaker Isaac Fernandez, applies passion to viticulture (sustainable and bio-dynamic) and attention to detail to produce wines that awaken a person’s senses, brings joy and creates memorable experiences.

Pinea is made with 100% Tempranillo grapes that reflects the heart of Spain's wine culture and the passion of it's artisans by utilizing time-honored viticultural and winemaking techniques. The focus on old vine viticulture, attention to detail and patience in wine making combine to create intense concentration and complex aromatics, with an elegant supple body present in each of their wines.

The fruit for the 2017 vintage of PINEA was sourced from our 80-acre Estate in Ribera del Duero which is a mosaic of seven primary vineyard parcels with different soil characteristics, slope and vines that range from 30 to 90+ years. Such amazing terroir provided the Pinea wine-making team an expansive selection of fruit giving great structure, acidity and complexity. We will have the great privilege of tasting two world class 2017 wines from Pinea with Vincente.

Don't miss out - book your ticket asap!

How does it work?
One £160 ticket includes:

- A Zoom Link to log in to the tasting at 19:30 hosted by Penny @ Cellar Door Wines and Vincente Pliego of Pinea.
- We will deliver 2 full bottles of wine to you plus cheese, chocolate and snacks.

* Delivery is free if you are local to us, but an extra £9.95 (*possibly more depending on how rural you are) if you are not in the St Albans area. Please note that we cannot send you the wine and food if you are not on the UK mainland!*

The 2 wines you will receive are:
- Pinea 17
- Pinea Ribera del Duero 2017

The snacks you will receive:
- 1 small block of Love Cocoa Chocolate Maldon Sea Salt 70%
- 1 small block of Manchego Curado
- 1 large bag of Salted Patatas Fritas (Crisps)
- 1 small pack Spanish cured meat

Vincente and Penny will talk you through the wines and answer any questions you might have about Ribera del Duero wine in general.

If you have any questions, please call Cellar Door Wines 01727 85 44 88

Click here to purchase a ticket!

Cellar Door Wines English Virtual Wine Tasting with Winemaker Michael Rhodes

Accidental Winemakers Michael and Irene Rhodes will tell us their story of how they came to be making the fine and rare English wines of Wimbushes in St. Albans and Hawkswood in Thurston.

Michael and Irene will be talking us through 4 of their wines. Two are from grapes grown on the Wimbushes Estate in St Albans from the 2020 harvest and two are from his Estate, Thurston Place in Suffolk.

We will also be joined by the owners of St. Albans' Wimbushes Vineyard - Andrew and Karina Harrison, who will talk about their Solaris and Rondo vines and the challenges of running a vineyard as a hobby. Don't miss out - book your ticket asap!

How does it work?
One £75 ticket includes:
- A Zoom Link to log in to the tasting at 19:30 hosted by Penny @ Cellar Door Wines and Michael Rhodes.
- We will deliver 4 bottles of wine to you plus cheese and snacks.

* Delivery is free if you are local to us, but an extra £9.95 (*possibly more depending on how rural you are) if you are not in the St Albans area. Please note that we cannot send you the wine and food if you are not on the UK mainland!*

The 4 wines you will receive:
- Wimbushes Vineyard Solaris 2020
- Wimbushes Rondo Rosé 2020
- Hawkswood Bacchus 2020
- Hawkswood Pinot Noir 2019

The snacks you will receive:
- 1 small block of Wobbly Bottom Farm Mature Goat's Cheese
- 1 small box Peters Yard Fig and Spelt Sourdough Crackers
- 1 large bag of Salted Patatas Fritas (Crisps)

Michael, Andrew and Penny will talk you through the wines and answer any questions you might have about English wine in general. If you have any questions, please call Cellar Door Wines 01727 85 44 88

Click here to purchase a ticket!