A DROITWICH pub owner has enlisted the help of a wine expert and connoisseur to create the first ever ‘Wine Library’.
Simon Berry from the Gardeners Arms, Vines Lane, has teamed up with Phil Davis who has more than 20 years experience working with Crown Cellars – one of the World’s biggest wine traders.
He said: “My biggest achievements are sourcing some amazing wines from around the world, dealing with large producers but also some small family run wineries which produce some fantastic wines.
“Working with Simon we have together produced The Wine Library – an innovative way of combining food and wine, allowing customers to experience a wide variety of different styles of wine.”
Simon added: “Wine is the people’s drink and has an appeal to all ages and tastes – it is a question of finding the right one and that is what the Wine Library sets out to do.
Phil and Simon have selected 18 world class wines for people to try – eight red, eight white and two rose – from a number of countries, including Spain, France, Italy, Australia, New Zealand and Chile.
Thanks to the colour co-ordinated ‘menu’, people can match them up to the different meals, have them with a cheese board or just drink them on their own with friends.
‘The Wine Library’ also features tasting notes on each of the wines and hints and tips about how to ‘taste’ wine.
Rather than buying a bottle of wine and drinking the same one, people can pay for the equivalent of a bottle (three large glasses or six small glasses) and then choose three or six different wines.
The Gardeners Arms also has a February Ale Festival, featuring 12 ales from 12 of the UK’s oldest breweries which will be on sale for £2.50-a-pint.
