A ‘Taste of England’ with Master of Wine

Mon 9th November 2009 3.47PM

FIFTY guests enjoyed an evening celebration of the best in English food and wine, with renowned Master of Wine, Richard Bampfield, at Stanley House Hotel, Mellor. Richard is one of only 272 Masters of Wine in the world. He has more than 25 years of experience in the wine business and is a regular on the judging panels for English wine awards. The ‘Tasting of England’ event was part of this year’s Pennine Lancashire Festival of Food and Culture. It was hosted by the award-winning team of Cassis at Stanley House, the fine dining restaurant of Lancashire’s top boutique hotel.

Stanley House sommelier, Igor Hobot, expertly matched wines from four of England’s finest vineyards to a four-course dinner menu created for the occasion and inspired by seasonal Lancashire produce. He wowed guests by skillfully opening bottles of champagne with the aid of a sword. After a champagne reception featuring the critically acclaimed Ridgeview Cavendish Sparkling Brut 2006, dinner was served. For starters, ‘Ham and Eggs’ featuring a pressed, smoked ham hock infused with piccalilli flavours was served with an award-winning Camel Valley Bacchus 2007. The fish course of ‘Fish and Chips’ with tandoori roast sea scallops and spicy ketchup was accompanied by England’s best selling Rosé from the Chapel Down vineyard. This was followed by ‘Lancashire Pork’ for the main course, paired with a rich Bookers Pinot Noir 2006, voted ‘Best English Red Wine’ in 2008, and ‘Sticky Toffee Pudding’ for dessert with a Chapel Down Nectar 2007.

Richard offered insight into each of the wines between courses, before leading an ‘open floor’ question and answer session and mingling with the guests over coffee and treats