by Catherine Collins.
It can be hard to get into the festive spirit when you don’t have little ones, so this year I made a conscious effort to try out a few events aimed more at adults, rather than the usual panto we’d attend.
That’s how I found myself sipping wines from all around Hampshire at Festive Fairy Lights and Fizz in Winchester Guildhall on Friday 9 December.
There were samples from 31 wines on offer – most of them sparkling – in a room decked with thousands of glittering lights. On arrival, we were given a returnable tasting glass and a note book to help you record which you liked.
Chatting to some of the producers, we were able to learn about new grapes and blends, and taste as many wines as were on offer – I managed 18 before I had to admit it had beaten me, my husband did 21!
There was food available at an extra cost, and although no hard selling was involved – there were bottles available to purchase should you find one (or more) that you liked.
We stayed a couple of hours, chatting to some of the many people in attendance and came away with a couple of new bottles for Christmas, and a new event in my December calendar that I have recommended to many people since.
Vineyards of Hampshire hold only two events a year that offer the opportunity to sample and enjoy the widest range of Hampshire’s finest sparkling and still wines.
But don’t worry if you missed this one, Fizz Fest will take place on 23 July 2023 between 12 and 4.30pm at Hambledon Vineyard – England’s oldest commercial vineyard!
With over 20 sparkling and still wines available for tasting from Hampshire’s Vineyards against a backdrop of summer, surrounded by vines.
With a glass of fizz in hand, enjoy something tasty to eat sitting on a hay bale or your picnic blanket with music wafting through the air and the sound of corks popping.
Honestly, I can’t wait!
Tickets for Fizz Fest 2023 cost £32.93 and are available to purchase from Eventbrite: https://bit.ly/3FnVEML.
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