The Oxford Wine Festival in 2016 is scheduled for September 9 and 10 at the Oxford Union. The festival provides wine lovers with the opportunity to taste wines not always available at local stores.

According to The Oxford Wine Festival website, “We bring together over 40 of the UK’s leading wine merchants and regional specialists in one of Oxford’s most iconic buildings – the Oxford Union. Hundreds of award-winning and rare wines from over twenty countries, accompanied by live music, food, and tutored tastings from the world’s foremost wine authorities.”

Three sessions of tastings scheduled during the festival. Tastings last about one hour while the masterclasses are approximately 90 minutes. Sign up for the festival newsletter for more additions to the wine tastings listed below.

Friday Evening Session offers:

• The Wines of Provence – Eddie McGee, The St Tropez Rose Company
• Food and Wine Pairing with Amelia Singer, ITV’s “The Wine Show”
• “From Minor to Major – the return of Italy’s forgotten vines” – Ben Robson, Bat & Bottle
• The best of English winemaking – Julia Trustram-Eve, English Wine Producers

Saturday Afternoon Session offers:

• “Cool” wines from the USA (Masterclass) – Nancy Gilchrist MW (£10 supplement)
• Grower Champagnes – Howard Abernethy, Finest Fizz
• An Introduction to Portuguese Organic Wines – Ricardo Rodrigues, Portuguese Story
• “A Decent Bottle of Wine in China” – Chris Ruffle, Treaty Port Vineyards

Saturday Evening Session

• France v the Southern Hemisphere (Masterclass) – Richard Bampfield MW (£10 Supplement)
• Das Leben ist zu kurz für einen deutschen Weinetikett, or why life is too short not to give German wine another chance! A tasting of new wave German wines – Nik Darlington, Red Squirrel Wines
• An Introduction to Canadian Wines – Richard Dudley Craig, Wine Sensations
• Meet the Wine Maker – The Nelson Estate, South Africa (wine tasting in association with Corney & Barrow)
• Wines from Turkey – Mark Hopkins, Taste Turkey

Tickets for the three sessions are available online. Ticket prices are £19.50. If you wait until the event, the ticket price is £20.

Many exhibitors are involved with the wine festival. Look for Corney & Barrow, Ehrmanns, The New Zealand Cellar, Go Brazil, Bat and Bottle, Spaniche Wines, Hard to Find Wines, Bordeaux & Beyond, Aussie Rules, Le Saint Tropez Rosé Company, Volfram Selection, Red Squirrel Wine, Just Perfect Wines, Finest Fizz, Gusbourne, Oatley Vineyard, Portuguese Story, Love Wine, Joie de Vin, Podere Sant’Alberto, Harley Wines, Eynsham Cellars, Oxford Chelt Wine School, Kitchen & Vine, Wine Sensations, Bordeaux Undiscovered, Exton Park Vineyard, Watlington Fine Wines, Jag Liquid Gold Trading.

The sponsors of the festival include: Honest Grapes, 1855 Wine Bar Bistro, The Georgian Wine Society, and Wotwine.

The Oxford Wine Festival appears to be a wonderful place to be for tasting numerous wines from many different countries. Check it out and get your tickets soon.

Cheers!
Kathy