Bristol: Carmen Street Wine hosted its first wine tasting on February 12, featuring low-intervention wines. The event attracted a lively crowd, with guest sommelier Holly guiding participants through diverse wine selections alongside gourmet snacks, highlighting its growing popularity within the local community.
Carmen Street Wine, situated in the Carriage Works development on Carmen Beckford Street, hosted its inaugural wine tasting event on Wednesday, February 12. The establishment, which is affiliated with the well-regarded Stokes Croft restaurant Caper and Cure, opened its doors in November and has since become a local favourite. Caper and Cure was honoured last year in the Good Food Guide’s 100 Best Local Restaurants for 2024, enhancing the reputation of its sister venue.
The wine tasting event centred around the theme of ‘low-intervention wines’, a term that signifies wines produced with minimal chemical additives, commercial yeasts, or added sulphites, and often from hand-picked grapes. Holly, the sommelier for both Carmen Street Wine and Caper and Cure, explained that low-intervention wines could also be biodynamically farmed, a practice that integrates lunar cycles into agricultural practices, viewing the vineyard as a self-sustaining ecosystem. Holly remarked, “Low intervention wines give a truer expression of the grapes, vineyard and vintage. And importantly, they make more interesting wine to drink.”
Upon arrival, guests were seated at the bar or around tables in a cosy setting, with a plate of snacks and empty wine glasses prepared for their tasting experience. After a brief wait, Holly poured the first wine—a sparkling white from Peasmarsh, East Sussex—and provided insights into the wine’s origins and the history of its vineyard before guests were invited to indulge in the drink.
Throughout the evening, Holly’s knowledgeable and friendly demeanour contributed to a relaxed atmosphere, effectively dispelling any potential snobbishness sometimes associated with wine tastings. Attendees were encouraged to ask questions, and Holly adeptly addressed inquiries ranging from the broader history of winemaking to specific terminology.
Each wine served was paired with snacks, including manchego cheese, cured meats, olives, chutney, and sweet tortilla. There was, however, some confusion about which snacks complemented the wines best, which Holly addressed midway through the event. In the tasting, participants tried a variety of wines, including an orange wine from Piedmont, Italy, a red from Caunes-Minervois, France, and a sparkling red from Andillac, France.
The immersive experience received positive feedback, with attendees expressing difficulty in selecting a favourite among the selections, each offering unique flavours and engagement with the tasting process. The overall cost of the event was priced at £25 per person, considered reasonable for the experience provided.
While the event benefitted from a knowledgeable host and an enthusiastic atmosphere, minor logistical aspects, such as clearer communication regarding food pairings, were noted as areas for improvement. Despite these small details, the popularity of Carmen Street Wine and its associated venue suggests a promising future for similar events. The Bristol Post reports that if attendees missed this session, another wine tasting is scheduled for the following month, indicating high demand for such experiences within the community.
Source: Noah Wire Services
