July 2026 York Section News

A LONG‑AWAITED SUMMER TASTING WITH JORDAN THOMSON OF LOVE CHEESE AT ST OLAVE’S CHURCH HALLl

This tasting had a really easy, relaxed vibe from the moment we started. Jordan set the tone straight away with his laid‑back, chatty style — nothing formal, nothing fussy, just good wine talk delivered in a way everyone could enjoy. He had brilliant support from Mya and Maddy, who kept everything flowing and looked after the room effortlessly. By the end of the night, people were heading out saying how much they’d loved it.

A huge thank‑you to Julie, who co‑curated the event with Jordan and helped bring the whole evening together, and to Leighton and Moira, who assisted with laying out the tables — beautifully finished with sprigs of lavender freshly picked from Julie’s garden. All those thoughtful touches made the hall feel welcoming and perfectly set for a summer tasting.

With the room ready and the wines lined up, we eased into an evening of good wine, good cheese and good company.

 
🥂 London Clay Brut NV • Essex, England • 11% ABV • Pinot Noir & Chardonnay

A bright, modern English sparkler with crisp orchard fruit, citrus lift and gentle brioche notes.
Cheese pairing: 🧀 Délice de Bourgogne — a decadent triple‑cream Burgundy cheese with a silky, whipped texture. Its richness was beautifully cut by the fizz’s acidity.

🍋 Muscadet Sèvre & Maine Sur Lie 2023 • Loire, France • 12% ABV • Melon de Bourgogne

Saline, citrus‑driven and softened by lees ageing for extra texture.
Cheese pairing: 🧀 Swaledale Traditional — crumbly, lightly tangy and herbal. A Yorkshire classic that echoed the Muscadet’s coastal freshness.

🌸 Bieler Père et Fils ‘Sabine’ Rosé 2024 • Provence, France • 13% ABV • Grenache, Syrah, Cinsault

Wild strawberry, peach and soft herbs — summer in a glass.
Cheese pairing: 🐐 Capra al Fieno — an Italian goat’s cheese aged in hay, giving it rustic aromatics and a creamy, pastoral character that matched the rosé’s gentle fruit and herbal lift.

🍷 Palacio de Otoño Rioja Crianza 2021 • Rioja, Spain • 13.5% ABV • Tempranillo

Red cherry, vanilla, warm spice and polished oak — classic, elegant Rioja.
Cheese pairing: 🍷🧀 Red Wine Farmer — a Swiss cow’s milk cheese washed in red wine, developing nutty depth and a striking burgundy rind. A rich, flavour‑layered match.

🍇 Tikveš Kratošija 2022 • North Macedonia • 13.5% ABV • Kratošija

Plum, black cherry and soft tannins with a lively finish — a real discovery.
Cheese pairing: 💙🧀 Bleu d’Auvergne — creamy, mellow blue with gentle spice and earthy depth. The wine’s ripe fruit wrapped around the cheese’s savoury character beautifully.

MARGIN TASTING NOTES...

Looking Ahead…

📅 Friday 4 September 2026
📍 The Waterfront Café, York Marina (YO19 4RW)
 🕡 6.30 pm – 9.45 pm
 🪟 In the conservatory overlooking the river

Join us for an enjoyable and informative evening as our friend, the inimitable Dr Stuart Calder, leads a tutored tasting themed “Discover the Wines of Alsace” — one of France’s most distinctive wine regions, where centuries of tradition meet remarkable purity of expression.

Having visited Alsace regularly over many years, Stuart will guide us through a carefully selected range of six outstanding wines from some of the region’s most respected producers, exploring the history, geography and winemaking traditions that make Alsace unique.

🌿 During the evening we’ll explore:

  • Why Alsace is unlike any other French wine region

  • Terroir, geology and the influence of the Vosges Mountains

  • The distinctive characteristics of its principal grape varieties

  • Grand Cru vineyards and what makes them special

  • Food pairing opportunities for restaurants and wine bars

  • Current trends and the renaissance of Alsace wines

Whatever your curiosity — whether you’re discovering Alsace for the first time or deepening an existing interest — this tasting offers a chance to explore one of France’s most rewarding regions through a line‑up of exceptional wines.

🍷 The tasting journey

Crémant → Sylvaner → Pinot Blanc → Pinot Gris → Riesling Grand Cru → Gewürztraminer Finale A narrative progression from sparkling to aromatic, each wine revealing a new facet of Alsace’s character.

Booking details will be issued soon.

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