More on that below… Plus Taste of London and an elevated client day at Exton Park.
Taste of London, Regent's Park.
I spent a few days at Taste of London, working the Wines of Bourgogne tent. From the outside, events like this can look quite glamorous. What people don't always see is how much energy they take.
This year, the food producers were brilliant - from Oblix to Roti King - and the crowds were bigger than last year. The buzz was fantastic, and Jack Daniels made their Taste of London debut (which wasn't something I saw coming!).
The unpredictability is always what makes it worth it. You never know who you're going to meet, what conversations you'll have, or where an opportunity might come from.
A blind wine challenge on a London rooftop.
Back to the opening question. Earlier this month, I hosted a blind wine tasting for 60-70 guests from an asset management firm at Radio Rooftop. Guests had to rank wines from least to most expensive, tasting blind. Jam Shed vs Saint-Émilion Grand Cru 2010. Casillero del Diablo Chardonnay vs Meursault 2018.
People who initially said "this isn't really my thing" were back for a second round. Senior leaders became surprisingly competitive. I left an hour later than planned because nobody wanted the game to stop.
The trick to assessing blind? Complexity. How many aromas can you find in the glass? And once you've swallowed, how long does the taste last? One second means simple. Five seconds means you're probably holding something special.
If you want to do something a bit different for your next client or team event, feel free to drop me a message.
A day at Exton Park.
Last month I took 25 guests from ITV, Sony and PlayStation to Exton Park vineyard in Hampshire. A lot of client events are easy to replicate. Private dining room. Drinks reception. Same conversations people have every week.
The events people really remember are usually the ones they couldn't have organised themselves. Within ten minutes of arriving, the group was completely engaged. We met winemaker Corinne Seely and tasted a still rosé (not yet launched) made from 100% Pinot Meunier straight from the tank - quite unusual, and brilliant to hear her explain the thinking behind it.
For teams who spend most of their lives in meeting rooms, getting out of London for the day can completely change the energy.
I don't run these trips constantly, but when the right group commits, they're always memorable. Get in touch if it's something you'd like to explore.
Elizabeth Hawthornthwaite
Founder, Elizabeth & Wine
📸 @elizabethwinegirl
Contact:
📞 07850 855818
✉️ elizabeth@elizabethandwine.com
"The wine tasting was genuinely one of the highlights of the day.
We had so many people tell us how much they loved the experience."