Another excellent night for the Eastbourne Food & Wine School. A further big hand to resident gourmet chef - Steve Dennis of At-Your-Invitation!
Steve prepared three cracking puddings - Crepe Suzette (Crepe a ma Facon). Prepared with Grand Marnier, classic pancakes filled with an orange butter and laced with sugar. The pancakes were filled and grilled and served with Yering Station Late Harvest Riesling. Classic petrol nose and sweet flowery aromas with a cracking refreshing acid bite on the palate. Matching the pancakes and orange butter exceptionaly well.
Next came Steve’s classic French style Bread and Butter Pudding. Prepared with sliced French Sticks, crusts & all. Creme Anglaise and baked in the oven for 15-20 minutes. This dish was served with Lurgashall English Mead. A match made in heaven indeed. The honeyed aromas, followed by great sweet fruit concentration and refreshing acidity to give a cleansing finish. A must try wine, even with strong cheeses. Mead is the UK’s oldest known fermented alcoholic beverage and must not be allowed to dissapear!
Lastly Steve conjoured up an Orange Souffle with a spicy berry and Chilli sauce. Odd, not at all, the flavours all blended in beautifully and we matched this pudding with the delicious Quinta do Crasto LBV 2001. Sweet but not overly so, rich and full-bodied was a perfect match.
Next event for the Eastbourne Food & Wine School is our Gourmet Argentinean Supper, sold out though! But watch this space for more events.
Many Thanks from
Ben & Georgie Furst
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Bionade, the European Soft-Drink success is now over here in the UK. It’s a refreshing change from the usual sugar induced artificial soft drinks in the market place.
Bionade is naturally feremented, like a beer but the sugars are not converetd into alcohol. Additionally as no sugars are added the drink is naturally sweet rather than sickly sweet! Made from organic fruit and obtaining full organic status in the EU, US and Japan.
Giving you 25% of your daily mineral requirements, 60 calories in a 330ml bottle, it is the perfect non-alcoholic alternative. The range covers 4 distinct flavours, Elderberry, Lychee, Herb and Organic/Ginger. With a slight spritz, served chilled a delicious drink for summer, for all drivers who are out and about or simply a great all round soft drink to keep in the fridge!
We are delighted to now be offering you this drink, please “Google” Bionade to find out more for yourself. Reviewed by The Independent and many other independent sources simply backing-up what we feel about this drink.
Alternatively give us a call or e-mail us to enquire.
Have a great summer!
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Visit our Lewes shop every Friday for our free in-store tasting. On the menu this week:
TO DRINK
- Mil Piedras Malbec 2004, Mendoza, Argentina, £6.95 buy 1 and get 1 free
- Iron Horse Dark Ale, Hepworth Brewery, West Sussex, £2.20
- Hepworth IPA, West Sussex, £2.20
TO EAT
- Planeta Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Sicily, £9.95
- Mellow Yellow, Rapeseed Oil, £4.95
See you there!
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April 30, 2008 by sussexinthecellar
We are pleased to announce new wine tasting events 2008, to be held at various venues in Lewes, East Sussex. Choose from Classic Italian Wines, Spanish Wines or experience our tremendous portfolio event where you can sample over 50 wines and some gourmet food products. There will be more tastings announced in the coming months too to whet your appetite.
Want to know more about The Sussex Wine Company or our products? Sign upto our newsletter via our website to receive up to date information about The Sussex Wine Company tastings, news and events.
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Posted in East Sussex Events, Lewes, Wine, Wine Tastings | Tagged East Sussex, Wine Tasting Events | No Comments »
April 28, 2008 by sussexinthecellar
We are extremely pleased to announce that we have opened our new shop in Lewes, the heart of East Sussex. It has already been a really positive experience and we have been bowled over by the encouraging comments and welcome from the people and traders in Lewes.
Lewes is a wonderful town, brimming with quality independent retailers, inspiring cafes and restaurants, pucker pubs, a flourishing arts scene and all set within the glorious South Downs - who could ask for more I say.
The Sussex Wine Company can now be found at 16 Market Street, (behind the needlemakers and next door to pizza perfect Lazzati’s). We’re stocking our usual range of goodies from fine wine and specialist spirits, whisky and of course, gourmet foods (the caviar is delicious).
For the folk of Lewes (or in fact anyone willing to travel to one of our infamous events) we’ll be arranging a new season of wine tasting events which will be posted here and in the shop.
We must bid farewell to our regular customers in Eastbourne - you were troopers in the face of bureaucracy, hypocrisy, petty officials and lack of parking regulations. Come and see us in Lewes where you’ll find many an affordable car park or sign up to out wine box scheme instead which includes the price of delivery…
For the Eastbourne council we say good riddance. We hope you dig yourselves out from the pit of inefficiency and that you’ll eventually find enlightenment and creativity once the good people of Eastbourne (for which there are many) vote you out of office. Eastbourne may then a have a chance to become the thriving place it deserves to be one day…
One final word before we go back to the business of imparting our expert wine knowledge:
From G To B at The Sussex Wine Company, I must say how proud I am of you and think you’ve been Qvality ! Well done, good luck and lots of love xxx 
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Posted in Buy Fine Wine, Lewes, Wine, Wine Merchants UK | Tagged East Sussex, fine wine, Gourmet Food, Independent Wine Merchants, Lewes Retailer | 1 Comment »
March 28, 2008 by sussexinthecellar
Well another successful evening, wine tasting with a great bunch of customers at a local restaurant.
To be honest this was the first pure “Ozzy” wine tasting we have run in over 3 years and were delighted with the response. We sampled 6 wines and whilst not all were enjoyed by everybody there was plenty to talk about and chew upon.
The wines were Turkey Flat Rose (Barossa Valley), Battle of Bosworth Chardonnay Viognier/Organic (McLaren Vale), Hillstowe Oldwell Shiraz (SE Australia), Ashbury Grove Reserve Shiraz (SE Australia), Peter Lehmann “My Word is My Bond” Shiraz (Barossa Valley) and lastly Turkey Flat Grenache (Barossa Valley).
The first two received a mixed response, with the Battle of Bosworth garneshing pleasant responses from non-Chardonnay drinkers. The flight of reds started slowly and built to a nice finish. With the last two wines shining amongst all the tastees.
The Peter Lehmann Shiraz, at only £8.95 is really quite something. Great structure, weight, complexity and soft youthful tanins. This wine will mature very nicely indeed over a few years and offers great value for money.
The Turkey Flat Grenache is always a winner. The perfect match for your Christmas turkey and cranberry sauce! A tremendous family run estate producing excellent wines across the board.
Our next event is April 17th, Fine Wines of Italy and Argentina and is already practically sold out!
Posted in Wine Tastings | Tagged Ashbury Grove | No Comments »
March 21, 2008 by sussexinthecellar
Another great night from the Eastbourne Food and Wine School. Matching three delicious wines with three great fish dishes.
Fillets of sole wrapped around a scallop and baked quickly in a butter dish in the oven. Using home made fish stock, reduced and riched with cream, mushrooms and tomatoes creating a fabulous sauce to coat your fish with. Matched with a delicious Viognier from Argentina, Mil Piedras Viognier. The additional aromatics and weight of this wine suiting the richness of the sauce and scallop well.
Sea Bass in lime and capers. Flour the seasoned bass fillets and pan fry in olive oil skin side first. Brown off your salted butter and add the lime segments and capers. Spoon this heavenly sauce over your freshly cooked sea bass. To match we poured a new and fantastically refreshing wine from Navarra. Campo Nuevo Viura, aromatic and fruity yet dry with citrus notes. Only £5.95 too!!
Seafood risotto using fresh small pieces of prawns, monk fish, salmon and local mussels. Using home made stock cook the rice off with some saffron and turmeric. Flour and garlic your fish melange and flambee with Pernod. Add your fish now to the ready rice and grate in some fresh parmesan. Matched with a fresh, crisp and aromatic Pinot Grigio from Veritiere. Notes of pear drops and citrus.
Next gathering for our small band of gourmands is April 24th when we shall be matching wines with beef. See you then.
Posted in Wine | Tagged White Wines, Viognier, Pinot Grigio | No Comments »
March 12, 2008 by sussexinthecellar
The first ever Eastbourne Festival is due to start from the 15th to 30th March. We’re extremely excited about this long awaited event and hope that the people of Eastbourne embrace it as keenly as we have! It’s a place to celebrate art, music, comedy, theatre etc etc.
A major part of the festival is the Artists Open Houses. Artists open their houses/studios to the general public to view their work. Many will have painting demonstrations, children’s activities and some will even be serving cakes We’re currently running an ‘Open Window’, inviting artists to display their work in our wine shop window in Eastbourne, along with any promotional material. Participating artists will receive a 10% discount on wines for their events too.
We’re delighted with the response we’ve had to our Open Window and particularly the involvement of Blue Monkey Studios. They have installed a project called ‘Pushing the Boat Out’ which can also be seen at the lovely and extremely popular Bumper Bookshop, in Grove Road (a favourite haunt for our kids - Bumper Books do a gorgeous carrot cake and their cappuccinos are near perfect!).
This post wouldn’t be quite the same if I didn’t give a small plug to my own Open House (yes the image is mine). Whilst assisting in the operation of the Sussex Wine Company Empire, kids and staying sane I do occasionally find time to paint. Call us 01323 43 11 43 for details!
So come on Eastbourne and Sussex, if you’re looking for something interesting, cultural and different to do whilst having a peek at an artists house/studio come and support the Eastbourne Festival.
Posted in Wine | Tagged Art & Wine, Eastbourne Festival, Eastbourne Open Houses, Sussex Arts Events | No Comments »
February 27, 2008 by sussexinthecellar
Now don’t get me wrong I love all well made interesting wines but when push comes to shove and one has to choose, it’s no contest really!
Nestled up in North East Italy lies the wonderful commune of Veneto. Home to arguably some of the greatest wines on the planet (hyperbole perhaps). However Italy in general lays claim to about 2000 indigenous grape varieties including some great ones un-used and tried anywhere else. Like Corvina, Molinara & Rondinella. By themesleves okay, nothing great but together, blended in the right proportions miracles are created.
Where on earth can you take 3 indigenous grape varieties, untried really anywhere else and create 4 distinct classic wines and let me remind you - using the same grapes!! From the humble juicy straight Valpolicella to the Ripassa della Valpolicella, the Amarone della Valpolicella to the unique and totally delicious Recioto. And, and if that was not enough for any wine enthusiast throw in some Prosecco to start, follwed swiftly by a wonderful Soave Classico then even perhaps by a juicy little straight Corvina!
There are many excellent Veneto estates and wines out there so try a few and see what you think. Our recent tastings have led to our new listing of Cantina Valpantena - a lovely range of wines, all well made with great concentration and complexities throughout.
If you can ever lay your hands on anything by Romano Dalforno or Guiseppe Quintarelli then please share your tasting notes with us.
Enjoy the wonderful wines of Veneto!
Posted in Wine | Tagged Amarone, Valpolicella, Recioto, Veneto | No Comments »
February 22, 2008 by sussexinthecellar
If you have never been, and you love sea food this is a must. Roughly the same week every year, 2nd-3rd week of February when they are harvested.
We were delighted to present a range of Sussex wines at the fish restaurant, Webbe @ The Fish Cafe. Run by Paul Webbe, a kitchen maestro and a big big thanks to Paul and all the staff for a superb show for the 19th Feb.
A brief listing of food with wine on the night as follows; Breaky Bottom Muller Thurgau 1996 Beetroot Terrine, Carr-Taylor Sparkling Rose NV & Parcel of Rock Salmon with Caviar Sauce, Carr-Taylor Sparkling Brut NV & Seared Scallops with a Caulifower Puree, Breaky Bottom Sparkling Brut 2003 & Scallop Ceviche with Fennel, Breaky Bottom Kir Royal NV & Olde Sussex Cheese with Quince Chutney and lastly (but best of all) Lurgashall English Mead & Panetone Bread and Butter Pudding.
All matched superbly, by chance perhaps but the quality of the wines as well as the food was unquestioned. Would like to think that we shall be back presenting in 2009!
Posted in Wine | Tagged Breaky Bottom, Lurgashall, Mead, Sussex Wines | No Comments »
