Thank goodness for 2nd chances

After my previous rant, I went to De Bortoli, Craggy Range and Ch Musar and they firmly restored my faith in LWF. The people on the stands we're engaging, friendly and actively went out of their way to talk to me personally not just sales speach. 

I tasted the new La Boheme range from De Bortoli as well as their range of fortifieds (which were lovely). At Craggy Range I tasted everything and I enjoyed every single one! And I tasted all of what Ch Musar had to offer...spectacular as always. The Musar White is definitely a firm favourite of mine...show stopping every time. 

I would recommend visiting all of the above highly! 

London Wine Fair - hopefully first experiences aren't lasting

This is the first time I have been able to go to LWF because of previous work commitments, so I jumped at the chance to go! I booked 2 days off work months ago, booked my train tickets well in advance and waited for today to come. I've been researching who I wanted to see and what I wanted to taste for weeks!

Having been to looooaaads of other wine tasting events, I'm not quite sure what I was expecting. I thought it would be like others, where it was rows of tables with winemakers and reps wanting to chat and wax lyrical about their wines....wrong. 

Not to sound negative, but the LWF just seems more like a networking event for buyers than a tasting event, which I'm sure is what it's meant to be, but I am in the trade and sometimes I'm not even being acknowledged. So it's safe to say I am a little disgruntled....I have spent the last few hours stood waiting to be even looked at when stood at some brands. I shan't say who the rudest were, but I felt very ignored. 

The weird thing is, even with all my attempts to be polite, pleases and thank yous, making conversation and trying to chat away, I have been met with very few replies. This is an event packed full of the very kind of people you expect to be into wine - arrogant and self important (although a lot of people here are important, but that doesn't give them carte blanche to be rude).

I have had such a hard time today that I was contemplating not coming back tomorrow...which I find very sad after waiting so long to come. But luckily, after some fantastic wines and chat from Gonzalez Byass (Tio Pepe) and Metzendorff (Henrique & Henrique Madeira, Hidalgo Sherry) I realise I should just forget about people and focus on the wine....after realising this, I have been stuck in and tasting non stop!

This started off as me trying to write about wine, but ended up as a sort of rant....apologies. I don't want to put anyone off going to LWF, the quality of wine under one roof here is phenomenal! That's the important thing....I should just man up and get on with it! 

Also...there aren't many places to sit down....and I paid £2.25 for a very small bottle of water earlier....went out for some lunch, walked 250m down the road to a shop and paid 75p for a bottle 3x it's size....extortion!