The pub has invited Mike Lury of 240-year old Corney and Barrow to talk on four classic grape varieties from the Old and New World: Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Merlot.  Customers can listen and discuss wines with Mike and compare and contrast the wines for themselves.

Mill Race manager, Hayley Coombs, said: “Corney and Barrow supply the majority of our wines and we enjoy Mike’s regular visits when we choose new wines for our wine list.   He has an incredible knowledge that we want to share with our customers.”

During the evening the pub will launch The Mill Race Wine Club.   “Enjoying wine is one of life’s greatest pleasures,” said Hayley.  “The Mill Race Wine Club will share expert wine knowledge, offer discounts on wine purchases and once a year we hope to organise a trip to a vineyard – we’ve already got some ideas for this year’s visit but will discuss it with customers at the wine tasting.”

The Mill Race wine tasting will take place from 6.30pm after which dinner will be available for customers wishing to make an evening of it.

“Some people feel intimidated when tasting wine, but it’s more straightforward than it might appear,” said Hayley.

Three tips for tasting wine:

The Look: Colour and clarity.

An older red wine will often have more orange tinges on the edges of color than younger red wines. Older white wines are darker, than younger white wines when comparing the same variety at different ages.

Smell: Swirling the wine in the glass before smelling helps release its natural aromas.   A quick whiff then stick your nose in the glass and inhale deeply.   A wine’s aroma is a good indicator of quality and unique characteristics.

Taste: Start with a small sip and roll it around the mouth. There are three stages of taste: the Attack phase, the Evolution phase and the Finish.

i)      Attack – initial impression of the wine.

ii)    Evolution – what the wine actually tastes like on the palette.

iii)   Finish – how long the flavour lasts after it’s swallowed.

Notes to editors:  About The Mill Race

The Mill Race is located on the border of South Herefordshire and the beautiful Forest of Dean.   It is a multi award-winning pub (PubChef, The Publican, Flavours of Herefordshire), serving very good quality local food, ales and ciders at sensible prices and has one of the most extensive and well-researched wine lists in the area.  Inside, the pub has recently been refurbished and there is a pretty sun terrace at the rear.   The pub is open for lunch and dinner Monday-Friday from 12pm-2pm and 6pm-9.30pm, Saturday for food from 10am-2.30pm and 6pm-9.30pm; Sunday from 12pm-9pm. The Mill Race has a Pizza Kitchen open Tuesdays & Thursday from 6pm.

www.millrace.info, www.facebook.com/mill-race

Wroughton bar goes to Swindon Town

If they look carefully, former customers of the Three Tuns at Wroughton, who are NOT fans of Swindon Town Football Club, might recognise the bar at the football club’s brand new Away bar.

For the brewery has donated the old bar from The Three Tuns, which sadly closed earlier this year, to furnish the football club’s Bar 71, which opened a few week’s ago for Away fans.

Brewery director Nick Arkell, said: “It seemed a big waste to have such a lovely bar not being used, so as we are sponsors of the football club we asked if it might be useful.”

Mark Issac Operations manager, jumped at the chance.   “We were planning a new bar for Away fans and this was the ideal contribution from Arkell’s.”

Swindon Town Football Club’s new Away Bar is called Bar 71 as there are 72 clubs in the football league and this is open to every one of them except, of course, town fans who have their own bar.

Since opening, Bar 71 is proving hugely successful, according to Mark.  “More than 150 people enjoyed themselves here after the match, and it’s also available to hire,” he added.

Nick added: “It’s always sad when a pub has to close, and luckily for Arkell’s this doesn’t happen very often, but it’s good to see some of the furniture and fittings being put to good use elsewhere.”