It was a happy coincidence back in July last year that a family friend introduced me to Global Partnership whilst enjoying exceedingly good Bollinger La Grande Année 1996 on a long boat in Stratford, UK.
Harlington Wine Private Members’ Club arranged its first event with Global Partnership at The Farmers Club in the heart of Whitehall last November to introduce our high-touch wine services to their members. The turnout at the event was fantastic with the room filled to capacity. There was a real buzz in the air and the wine tasting turned out to be a real metaphorical eye opener.
Enlightening experience
I very much enjoy participating in blind tastings of wines as they can be an enlightening experience. All preconceived notions of brand, prestige and packaging are left at the door.
Most of us are aware of the halo effect, both positive and negative, when tasting wine.
When presented with a prestigious label, we tend to give it the benefit of the doubt. We know it is supposed to be good, and therefore it becomes good regardless of how it actually tastes.
By the same token, we tend to dismiss wines that come from more humble origins or from obscure grapes that we have never heard of. Thus, the importance of a blind tasting that takes away preconceived notions regarding quality and at the same time opens vistas of enjoyment for wines we never may have considered.
The fun part of a blind tasting is when the wines tasted and rated are then ‘unmasked’ and we learn what we liked the most and the least. The real surprise stars of the November event were a Chenin Blanc from Bot River in South Africa, the Domaine du Salvard Cheverny, a white wine from the lesser-known Cheverny appellation in the French Loire Valley and a Californian Merlot from St. Helena, Barkus.
Wine app launch
As well as a high-touch concierge service, one of the most exciting elements is our market disruptive wine app that is being officially launched to members in early 2015. The app not only allows you to take photographs of a bottle of wine you’ve discovered that you love and want to learn more about it, but also allows you to request that we find it for you and deliver it to you anywhere in the world!The app provides a central platform for all your wine needs including keeping track of your cellar, making recommendations based on your tastes of the ‘best wines you have never heard of ’ and managing your diary of events.
Members of Harlington Wine’s exclusive club with Global Partnership have access to their very own personal trusted wine advisor who will manage everything vinous for each member including organising tastings and events.
It can be quite a challenge to organise and run a blind tasting without a guide. Harlington Wines can offer members training in how to participate in a blind tasting, and wine education in general, from the comfort of their own homes. Our premier, lifestyle wine services are exclusively tailored to the specific requirements of private wealth owners, practitioners and family members.
2015 is going to be a very exciting year and the diary is already filling up with events with Global Partnership. I look forward to exploring the world of wine blind with you!
