| Oz Clarke was on fine form for Portugal’s Big Tasting at Lord’s cricket ground in London on Monday evening, which was hosted by ViniPortugal in association with Waitrose. The 300 people watching Oz taste in person were joined by a strong turn out at Waitrose Canary Wharf and the John Lewis Foodhall where the tasting was shown live on giant TV screens. In a groundbreaking new format, Oz was also streamed live on the internet via a remote connection, allowing wine lovers everywhere to taste along in the comfort of their own home.
Nick Room, Waitrose wine buyer for Portugal, was on hand and on stage with Oz Clarke during the round up and conclusion to support the six Waitrose award-winning wines that were tasted, including the Quinta Azevedo Vinho Verde white and the sumptuous Waitrose 'In Partnership With' Douro Red that Oz raved about.
Oz’s passion for the subject was clear from the broad grin he wore throughout - the only moment of eye rolling coming when Ana from ViniPortugal asked “where’s James May this evening?” (As fans of Oz and James’s TV wine journeys will remember, the friendship between the two was somewhat strained at times). He was particularly impressed with the wines at Waitrose, praising the selection available, the skill of the buying team and the “fantastic website”.
The producers of the wines on show were also delighted to be involved with the project; Max Birch, general manager of Sir Cliff Richard’s winery in the Algarve, joined Oz on stage to taste his Vida Nova Syrah / Aragónez. Max was encouraged to see so many people taking an interest in Portuguese grape varieties and regions that they hadn’t previously come across, “English consumers have a bit of a reputation for being scared of trying new things - but not tonight!” he said.
In addition to the wines Oz tasted, visitors were treated to a selection of more than 700 different style shown by producers from across Portugal, from light, fresh sparkling Vinho Verde rosé to a stunning Boal Madeira from 1958. Among the many Waitrose customers who joined Oz at Lord’s were Russell Talbot and Katy Hibbert, who both live in London. Russell was impressed with the turnout and with the wide selection of wines on taste. As a fan of Portuguese wines, he explained that they’re “always hard to get hold of, but there’s a great selection at Waitrose.”
After his stint with Oz in front of the camera, Nick Room was thrilled with how well the event had been received:
"The tasting was adrenaline-pumping and very animated - Oz is such a good presenter. He extolled the virtues of Portuguese wines and our Waitrose range which is pretty unparalleled in the supermarket sector for its depth and character. I do hope this evening helps enthuse people to try the now not-so-hidden treasures of Portuguese wine!”
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