The Institute of Wines and Spirits Scotland

Following a previous extremely well-received event, here, we are returning to Du Vin Bouchers for another Sunday afternoon of conviviality.

There will be Crémant de Bourgogne upon arrival, and sharing platters of charcuterie and cheeses will be set out, all for you to enjoy with those around you.

Arrive for 13h30, and drinks will be ready. The food comes out a little later, once most people have arrived. While your ticket price includes access to the sharing platters and the initial bottles of Crémant, there will still be the opportunity to extend the afternoon through the purchase of further bottles to share with your long-standing and/or newly-found friends.

There is no organised end time for this afternoon's enjoyment, but leaving before closing time is essential!! We recommend travelling to Linlithgow by train or bus, and walking the short distance to Du Vin Bouchers - hopefully in the dry. Arriving in good time will mean that you get a fair share of the wine and the food that your ticket price includes.

Attendance is £25.00 per person, and must be paid in cash upon your arrival. If you do not normally carry cash with you, there is a cash machine close by, at Tesco.

Du Vin Bouchers is located at 62 High Street, between Costa and VPZ, and across the road from TRU Barbers.

We look forward to having you join us.

Grenache, Grenache, Grenache!

Alternatively, we could use the Spanish 'Garnacha', or, indeed, a number of other names given to the variety in the other languages and dialects of the areas where it is grown.

Grenache is known primarily as the workhorse grape of the Southern Rhône, in France, and many denominaciones of Spain. However, it is also grown across Europe, as well as further afield - in Australia and South Africa, in particular.

The origin of the grape has been the subject of discussion - even argument - for some time. most people think that it is from Northern Spain, but some suggest that it is from the Italian island of Sardinia. Whichever is correct, the grape has spread across the world, with most languages utilising a name based on either Grenache or Garnacha.

Our guide to the variety of wines and styles able to be produced from this variety is Phoebe Weller, whom many may know as the Manager of the Kelvinbridge wine emporium, Valhalla's Goat. Phoebe spoke to us, last year, on Sauvignon Blanc and wines that can be mistaken for it or are similar to it. All in attendance found her knowledge, enthusiasm and choice of wines excellent, each in equal measure.

We are delighted that Phoebe has accepted our invitation to come back to us and talk about another grape variety - although this one can give a lot more variety to its wines than Sauvignon Blanc can, of course!

Attendance costs £25 per person. Ideally, we would like this in cash, upon arrival, but we do have a card reader if you would rather that some of your payment is taken by the operator of the card machine system, rather than all going to the Institute!!

While this will likely be a red-dominant tasting, there is potential for some wine that is not red. It will also likely be a tasting of wines from around the world.

So, come and explore the wondrous variety of wines obtainable from this one variety. You'll learn more than you ever expected, all in the company of friends - or people who are about to become friends.