Toastings the experts
Above: Wine producer Vincent Dampt, from Daniel Dampt, Chablis France
Above: Wine producer Robert Watkins, from Longboard, California
Above: Yorkshire Life publisher Chris Jennings introduces Rudding Park's head chef Stephanie Moon
Above: John Gresswell
There was a gentle clinking of glasses as guests took their seats for the Yorkshire Life wine tasting dinner. The rows of wine glasses which crowded the tables left little room for the food which was about to be served. The dinner was in honour of two wine producers Robert Watkins and Vincent Dampt who had travelled from California and France respectively to talk about their work. The experts and their wines were featured in earlier issues of Yorkshire Life and readers were invited to buy cases of selected bottles at a discounted price as part of the Yorkshire Life Prestige Collection. The wines tasted included Domaine Daniel Dampt’s Chablis 2006; Chablis ler Cru ‘Cote de Lechet’ 2005 and Chablis ler Cru ‘Vaillons’ 2005 as well as Longboard’s Sauvignon Blanc 2006; Merlot ‘Dakine’ 2005 and Syrah 2004. The dinner at Rudding Park, Harrogate, the first held in association with Thirsk-based wine merchants Playford Ros, was an ideal way to learn more about wine making and how to choose wines for many different occasions. Michael Bailey, associate director of Playford Ros, said the wines selected from Daniel Dampt et Fils, Chablis, France and Longboard, California, were very well received. ‘A wine tasting dinner such as this is an ideal way to learn about wines, how they are made, about the background to the wineries, the use of the land, and the care taken in producing some very fine wines. ‘The public are much more informed about wine these days but we would like to make more of the question and answer sessions to help inform people just what is involved.’ It’s to this end that Playford Ros are hoping to do more wine tasting events for their customers and members of the public as well as dinners and have appointed a new member of staff Mark Chapman to encourage better understanding of the wine industry. Award winning head chef of Rudding Park, Stephanie Moon, a champion of local food producers, prepared the meal for the evening which included Kilnsey smoked trout, roast cannon of Bolton Abbey Estate lamb and Pudsey rhubarb cheesecake. See page 176 for the latest reader offer from the Yorkshire Life Prestige Collection 2008. www.playfordros.com www.ruddingpark.com