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York - Battle of the Bottles dinner
Get ready for a fun and competitive twist on food and wine matching with our brand-new Battle of the Bottles dinner! Two of our Tastings & Events colleagues will go head-to-head, each selecting one wine to pair with each course of a specially designed three-course menu. As you enjoy the evening, you’ll have the chance to taste both pairings, compare them, and cast your vote for your favourite per dish.
We’re excited to introduce a brand-new event: Battle of the Bottles. This lively and interactive dinner will put wine and food matching to the ultimate test, with a playful competitive twist! This unique dinner will see Tastings team colleagues Gil Riggans and Jim Baxter go head-to-head in a contest of palate, instinct, and food-and-wine know-how. Each has carefully chosen one wine to match with every course of a specially crafted three-course menu, showcasing their own style and approach to perfect pairings.
As the evening unfolds, you’ll have the chance to taste, compare, and cast your vote for your favourite pairing per course. Will you be won over by a bold, unexpected choice or side with a classic, tried-and-true match?
This is a fantastic opportunity to explore how wine and food can complement each other in different ways, while enjoying great company, friendly rivalry, and a feast of flavours. Who will win your vote?
About Fish & Forest:
"An independent restaurant on Grape Lane, York, serving seasonal and sustainable fish, game and forest foods. Menus take inspiration from the sea, the forest and the Yorkshire countryside.
Michelin Guide: “The name is a clue as to this intimate restaurant’s focus, as well as to its sustainable ethos. Tucked down a narrow, cobbled street in York's pretty city centre, not far from the famous Shambles, its menu focuses on fish from small boats, meats reared putting husbandry first and game from local shoots. All parts of the ingredients are used too, so that the constantly evolving blackboard menu produces little waste. The self-taught chef's cooking has an ambitious edge, with dishes proving to be fresh and vibrant. The friendly team add to the appeal.”
The menu and the list of wines to be tasted will appear nearer the time when the seasonal menu has been decided upon.
These events are all about ensuring our members get to taste as many of our wines as possible. They vary in size and theme, but all provide a relaxed environment for our members to guide their own tasting with a glass and booklet provided on arrival. Whether you want to discover something new, reconnect with an old favourite or try a wine you’d never ordinarily approach, then our walkaround tastings could be for you.
Do you send physical tickets or is it all e-tickets?
We no longer send out physical tickets for our events. An email confirming registration will be sent to the member who has purchased the ticket(s) and this email can be used as confirmation upon arrival at the event.
Can I bring a non-member?
Yes. Tickets must be booked by a member, but you are welcome to bring non-member guests.
Do I need to know lots about wine to attend?
Absolutely not! Our events target a range of experience and knowledge levels, and we try to make this clear on our event pages. If you’re unsure if an event is for you, simply contact tastings@thewinesociety.com and we will try to help.
Do I get a discount on wines after events?
After our ‘in person’ events, we offer attendees a 10% discount on the wines we have shown, subject to availability. You will be provided with a private code after attending the event to redeem the discount
What is your cancellation policy?
Full details on our cancellation policy can be found here.
Can I join a waiting list for sold out events?
Yes. Please do feel free to join our waiting lists for sold out events. If tickets become available you will be contacted by email.
To ensure our tastings and events run smoothly and are enjoyed by all, we would ask members and guests to:
• Be respectful of others by moving away from the tables once a sample has been poured, unless talking with a producer or staff member
• Be aware of others waiting to try the wines when talking to producers and staff members
• Not wear perfume or aftershave as this can make it difficult for others to taste the wines
• Avoid crowding around the spittoons to keep them accessible to others
• Avoid bringing large bags into the room or wearing back packs, for the comfort of others
• Be mindful of your alcohol intake and make use of the spittoons and water provided.
Please note that:
• We operate a Challenge25 policy and you or your guest/s may therefore be asked to show ID to confirm being over 18. We reserve the right to refuse service should it be deemed necessary.
• We have a duty of care to Society, venue and agency staff, winemakers and producers in attendance, as well as to members and guests. Any inappropriate behaviour or harassment will therefore not be tolerated. Instances of inappropriate behaviour or harassment will be dealt with by the Events Manager or Head of Tastings & Events in attendance, and if it's deemed that the behaviour is harmful, the offender will be asked to leave the tasting, with further action to follow.