Tastings & Events

Over the past few years we have welcomed some of the wine world’s most celebrated figures including Hugh Johnson OBE and Michael Broadbent MW to The Wine Company, as well as leading producers from Bordeaux, Burgundy, Alsace, Rhone Valley, Rioja, Australia and Chile. We run tastings to suit most pallets and budgets and we make sure to include something for the beginner and connoisseur alike.

As well as enjoying an exciting array of wines, you will also be treated to some of the finest dining in the region thanks to our extremely talented executive chef Craig Formoy. Craig takes great care in creating menus to complement the wines and wherever possible he sources quality local produce, so expect vibrant fresh flavours with contemporary presentation.

Join our mailing list today to receive our latest brochure in the post or alerts via email. Please call 01206 713 560 to book tickets

Upcoming events with The Wine Company... 

'Fromm’ Switzerland with Love via New Zealand
Friday 25th May

Presented by: Georg Fromm, Winemaker

Wine maker Georg Fromm is well known to many of our customers through the famous Clayvin Vineyards in Marlborough, New Zealand, which he jointly owns with Johnny Wheeler. Georg is also a wine maker of some renown in his native Switzerland, so we were delighted when, during a recent visit to The Wine Company, Georg made a promise to return and present a tasting of both his New Zealand and Swiss wine collection.

£69 per person

Further Information

Sir Bobby Robson Charity Football Match with a wine tasting and lunch
Sunday 27th May

1pm-2:30pm Tasting | 3pm Match kick off

On Sunday the 27th of May The Wine Company’s team ‘The Wheeler Wine Masters’, will be playing local restaurateurs ‘Milsoms’ Maestros’ in a charity match in support of the Sir Bobby Robson Cancer Trust, at Ipswich Town’s football stadium; Portman Road.
Wine Tasting Lunch - £35 per adult, £20 for accompanying children*

*Match tickets: £10 per adult, £5 per child, match tickets must be purchased to enter the ground all proceeds from match tickets will go to the Sir Bobby Robson Cancer Trust.

Further Information

Diamond Jubilee Banquet - Black Tie Event
Friday 1st June

Presented by: Hugo Rose MW

2012 marks Her Majesty The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and there will be many a celebration throughout the length and breadth of the Land to honour the occasion. We felt that this historic, truly once in a lifetime event, merits a memorable evening and we therefore cordially invite you to attend our ‘Diamond Jubilee Banquet’.

£99 per person

Further Information

First of the Summer Wine
Saturday 9th June - Cellar doors open 11am-3pm

Burst into summer with our delightfully informal browse, taste and talk event at The Wine Company on Saturday lunchtime. Join us in our tasting cellar to sample a range of over 40 wines which have been hand picked by the team as excellent choices for summer drinking.
You’ll find red, white, rosé and sparkling wines from around the world which are ideal for that summer barbecue or impromptu garden party. The wine company team will of course be on hand to talk you through all of the wines on offer.
Naturally there will be some very special pricing during the event making this the ideal opportunity to stock up for the season.

Just £9 per person!

Australia’s Finest Wine Tasting
Friday 22nd June

Australia undoubtedly produces wines of the finest calibre, but you have to get past the attention grabbing oaked Chardonnay’s and the palate bruising Shiraz’s to uncover what this exceptionally diverse wine producing country has to offer.

£69 per person

Further Information

The ‘Burgundy’ Style
Friday 29th June

Following the popularity of the ‘Bordeaux Style’ event earlier in the year, George Unwin presents a wine dinner this time exploring the varieties traditionally found in France’s prestigious Burgundy region. Burgundy is home to some of the world’s most famous vineyards, planted predominantly with Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, yet producing wines that vary greatly in style.

Today we find these same varieties thousands of miles away from their ancient origins in vineyards across the world which are producing new and exciting wines.

£55 per person

Further Information

The Wine Challenge
Friday 20th July

This summer, we’re proud to welcome you to our very own Wine Challenge at The Wine Company. Our coaching team, George Unwin, Mark Cronshaw and James Russell-Grant, will be going head to head, presenting three wines each in the hope of securing your vote. The winning wine will achieve our coveted top spot on the wine podium.

Who will take the top three positions, or be left with the wooden spoon? Only you can decide as you cast your votes throughout this fun and informal evening. Once a winner has been named, we’ll all settle down to a feast suitable for champions, accompanied by the winning red and white wines.

£49 per person

Further Information

  To Book Your Tickets

Telephone: 01206 713560
Email: events@thewinecompany.co.uk

Past events...

Take to the Skies and Discover the World of Wine
Friday 11th May

Join ‘Captain’ James Russell-Grant onboard The Wine Company’s private jet for a truly international wine tasting and dinner as we circumnavigate the globe through wine.
Flying from ‘Terminal 1’ at The Wine Company we’ll be touching down in nine countries and enjoying the best wines they have to offer.

£49 per person

Further Information

Spring Farmers’ Market at The Wine Company
Saturday 28th April

Visit The Wine Company on Saturday 28th of April and enjoy more than just our wonderful selection of exciting wines, as we kick start Spring with the return of our seasonal farmers’ market.

We’ve carefully hand picked a selection of top local producers to showcase their wares at our in-store market. From smoked cheeses and fresh breads through to home made chutneys, fresh seafood and even artisan soaps! There’s sure to be something to tickle your fancy. Of course no visit to The Wine Company would be complete without tasting some of our latest wines so join the team at the tasting bar and sample some of our Spring favourites.

10:00am - 4:00pm

Producer Details - Whats on Offer...

Tasting Class - All that sparkles is not Champagne!
Saturday 21st April

Sparkling wine is synonymous with celebration and success, but what makes one different from the next and what should you look out for when choosing a bottle of bubbly? Join us in our cosy library room for the second in our series of fun, informal Saturday morning tasting events where this time we’ll be tackling sparkling wines head on.

Includes a tasting of Mature Louis Roederer Champagne from Sir Andrew Lloyd-Webber's private cellar!

Only £9 per person or 2 tickets for £16
Further Information & Wine List

A Taste of Italy
Friday 20th April 2012

Our guest speaker for this evening’s tasting is Elena Ciurletti, who works closely with every winemaker in the Orion portfolio, the range we will be tasting from this evening. When it comes to the art of combining food and wine, it’s very hard to beat the Italian’s approach: always serve the two in tandem. Our in house Chef Craig Formoy will serve a selection of bruchetta with Elena’s tasting selections, and follow with a two-course supper. This is a tasting not to be missed.

Ten wine tasting with food and supper

£49 per person.

Further information
 

John Thorogood's New Zealand
Friday 13th April 2012

A tasting just perfect for the springtime. Fresh from his travels to New Zealand, John Thorogood will present a tasting of his favourite new finds, as well as new vintages of established favourites. After a ten wine tasting of some of the best wines the ‘land of the long white cloud’ has to offer, we will serve a delicious four course dinner prepared by our chef Craig Formoy, with accompanying wines. Ten wine tasting and dinner

£65 per person.

Further information
  

The New Spain
Friday 30th March 2012

From fresh, zippy Verdejo’s from Rueda and Yecla; to big intense blended reds from the northern border regions of Emporda and Costers del Segre; there’s a whole host of new wines that we can’t wait to show you. Spanish wines go hand-in-hand with Iberia’s gastronomy, and the increasing popularity of Spanish cuisine has no doubt had a hand in making Spain one of the ‘hottest’ wine regions around.

Four course ‘tapas’ and wine dinner

£55 per person.

Further information
 

Seafood Extravaganza
Saturday 24th March 2012

Our hugely popular Seafood Extravaganza is a celebration of the Colchester Native Oyster, probably the most renowned in epicurean circles, and provides a unique opportunity to taste them in a stunning new setting as close to their natural habitat as one can get. Upon your arrival at the new Oyster Sheds, you will be greeted with a glass of Champagne, before a five-course seafood luncheon is served accompanied by a top-flight selection of wines.

Champagne aperitif and fine wine luncheon

£125 per person.

Further information

Read Ben's blog here, with a review of the event
 

The Art of Tasting Wine
11:00 – 12:00 Saturday 10th March 2012

Join The Wine Company team in the Library tasting room and discover how to evaluate wine from the look as it swirls in the glass, to the aroma on the nose and taste on the palate. We’ll talk you through the tasting processes then, together, taste and evaluate a selection of six wines of varying styles from across the world. The event will be fun, educational, not too formal and very interactive and of course you are welcome to ask as many questions as you like, which we will try our best to answer!

After the class you are welcome to browse the vast array of wines in the store or join us at the in-store tasting bar. You will also benefit from a selection of exclusive special offers on wines purchased on the day.

£8.50 per person. £15 for 2.
 

Ten Under Ten
Saturday 18th February 2012

We at The Wine Company are never shy of a challenge and with the knowledge that an element of competition is always relished by the Team we have set Buying Manager Ben Godfrey and Shop Manager James Russell-Grant the task of selecting five wines each; all with a price tag of £10 or less. Their challenge is simple – to persuade you, our discerning audience, that their quintet offers the best in taste, value and enjoyment.

Ten wine tasting and lunch.

£39 per person.

Further information
 

The ‘Bordeaux’ Style
Friday 10th February 2012

The noble grapes of Bordeaux; Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, together with their cousins Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Malbec, have travelled far and wide from their original home on the banks of the Gironde, confirming their high reputation for stunning quality. George has carefully chosen ten wines from across the globe to assist us in deciphering the ‘Bordeaux’ style.

Wine dinner.

£49 per person.

Further information
 

2010 White Burgundy
Friday 27th January 2012

So excited were we about the quality of the 2010 vintage in Burgundy, that for our first event of 2012, we couldn’t resist showing these delicious wines almost as soon as they are shipped...

Ten wine tasting and dinner.

£59 per person.

Further information

Read Ben's blog here, with a review of the event