English Wine Tasting Tours

Here at The Amazing Blog, we love a nice glass of wine at the end of the week, but as the Christmas season is upon us, we felt it was appropriate to kick it up a notch in the tipple department. English Wine Tasting Tours makes the perfect gift for a loved one who appreciates a good grape. And with next year’s tours starting in May, it’s sure to give them something to look forward to when those post-Christmas blues inevitably set in.

We all have someone near and dear who probably considers themselves a bit of a wine connoisseur, so why not treat them to a tour next year, where they can opt for a jaunt in either the Kent or Sussex countryside. They’ll be able to taste some delicious, authentic English wines and ciders whilst eating gastronomic treats, away from the city smog and traffic, on a unique and authentic day out that I’m sure they’ll wish to repeat every single year.

Leaving from London Bridge, the Kent tasting tour has two main stops: the Hush Heath Estate, producer of the Balfour Brut Rose’ and the Chapel Down Winery, which specialises in sparkling wines and Curious beers & cider, much appreciated by the likes of Gordon Ramsey and Jamie Oliver. With 18 different wine and cider samples to sip on, and a pitstop at the Goudhurst Inn for a tasty lunch and a selection of English cheeses, they’ll feel spoilt rotten.  Of course, no two grapes are the same, so they may prefer to taste what Sussex has to offer. The Sussex tour journeys to the Bolney Estate vineyard, famous for it’s environmentally friendly ethos, where not only great grapes are welcome but even butterflies, rabbits and dragonflies. Not too far from Bolney, they will get to know the Bluebell Vineyard and its love for traditional English sparkling wines as well as tasting delicious hand harvested grapes, nurtured with as little herbicide as possible. The day finishes in a nice gastro pub for a hearty meal that perfectly pairs with a newfound favourite wine. As an added perk, English Wine Tasting Tours offer a 10% discount to customers, so they can grab a bottle of the best wine England has to offer for a little less.

Give the gift of wine this Christmas, with Sussex and Kent tours costing £89 each, from here. Or take the stress out of guessing and grab a gift voucher, here, and your loved one can pick the perfect date for them.  And if you can’t wait until May, check out these videos from the tour to tide you over in the meantime!

New opera ‘Dorothy’ comes to Balham

Here at The Amazing Blog we love a bit of culture, especially when it involves a pub! This December (1st, 2nd and 3rd) we'll be heading down to the premier of a brand new opera called "Dorothy" debuting at Theatre N16 at The Bedford in Balham.

The opera tells the story of Dorothy (no, not the one from The Wizard of Oz), who is imprisoned for her faith and sentenced to death, just for being a Christian. But worse than that, her husband-to-be abandons her and continues to berate her, all because of a belief that he can't understand. Before she is executed he challenges her to bring back fruit and flowers from heaven's garden to prove what she professes is true. But will she return to him, and will he finally believe...?

“Dorothy” is brought to you by Secret Opera, an innovative opera company that likes to push the boundaries of traditional works and new commissions. The role of Dorothy will be played by up and coming sopranos Emma Newman-Young (www.londonsopranogirl.com)  on 1st and 3rd December, and Heather Heighway (www.heatherheighway.com/) on the 2nd. Dorothy’s betrothed is to be played by tenor Jack Tebbut, and the 8 part chorus by vocal ensemble ‘Pieces of Eight’.

What’s more, the opera is only 1 hour 30 minutes, with a 20 minute interval – so plenty of time for drinks before and after the performance – what’s not to like! The performance begins at 7:30pm, and you can buy your tickets  here (£15 for adults, £12 for concessions).

Handmade in Britain: The Annual Contemporary Crafts and Design Fair

Forget trudging the high street this November looking for the best Christmas gifts. Here at The Amazing Blog we want to make gift shopping a luxurious and pleasurable experience. Handmade in Britain are hosting The Contemporary Crafts Design Fair in Chelsea Old Town Hall, where you can find 120 of the UK’s finest designer-makers.

This is an interactive shopping experience where you'll have the opportunity to speak to each designer to help understand their work and discover their influences. They'll be on hand to help you pick out the perfect gift - think of them as your own personal shopper. The event is sponsored by House of Artisans who are also hosting a late night shopping even on the 14th November, so plenty of time to pop on down after work. The event will host a variety of exquisite and luxurious products, including ceramics, glass, textiles, jewellery and silverware.

Beautiful ceramics can really hold a room together, talented artists such as Elizabeth Renton, Chito Kuroda and Jill Ford will showcase their different styles. Choose from muted toned tableware, modern porcelain pieces, and contemporary vases. The likes of Samantha Sweet, Elin Isaksson and Vicky Higginson will also display their beautiful and elegant glass art/vessels.  It is surely going to be a feast for the eyes, as well as the wallet.

Winter may be upon us, but the numerous textile stalls will leave you feeling cosy in their range of knitwear from Hattie Kerrs and Katie Mawson. If you don’t feel like succumbing to winter clothing, keep the colour in your wardrobe with vibrant silks from Taisir Gibreel. There is something to appeal to everyone’s taste. We are particularly excited at the prospect of Catherine Aitken’s collection, the Scottish designer is known for her quality tweeds, the pure strength and luxury of her work. Take some time for yourself and indulge. Step out of your jewellery comfort zone and take a look at the unique pieces showcased by Sabine Konig, Victoria Walker, and Joana Cunha to name a few. The innovative, vibrant and unique pieces would make the perfect gift this Christmas, or cheeky treat for yourself. It doesn’t end there, silversmiths like Adrian Hope and Sally Cox will also showcase their stunning silverware both contemporary and traditional. Spoil yourself with some lavish new Christmas tableware. 

This is a rare and unique shopping fair that is not to be missed, so get on down to Chelsea Old Town Hall from 13th-15th November 2015. Book your tickets here or pay £10 on the door.  

Clerkenwell Vintage Fashion Fair

Something special is happening this weekend at The Old Finsbury Town Hall. An event that The Amazing Blog and every fashionista won’t miss no matter what. Whether you’re a vintage lover or simply curious we will be expecting you at the new edition of the Clerkenwell Vintage Fashion Fair, this Sunday 25th October.

This unmissable carousel of colours and style has been nominated for a London Vintage Award for a reason. It offers 50 stalls displaying womenswear, accessories, textiles and menswear, where you can indulge your inner fashion addict! Step inside and forget about 2015 while browsing among unique and exclusive stylish creations from the Victorian Age to 1980s.

With only 2 months until Christmas, this is the perfect place to pick up an original and totally unique gift, and if you're worried about sizes/little flaws, head on down to the Yellow Room for all your altering needs.

If you’re thinking that it’s all about dresses and jewels, you’ll be surprised. Juggling between a pair of shoes and a bag that you absolutely have to have, you can rest your tired shopaholic-feet having your nails done at the Vintage Salon. Alternatively enjoy a traditional English Afternoon-Tea in the Tea Room des Artists accompanied by vintage-flavoured bands like The Polka Dots Dolls and The Marjory Belles.  

Jump in an old-fashion painting for one day and renew your closet with something that you only will own and nobody else. The event will start at 11am and will go on until 5pm; the price at the entrance is £4, students can enter for only £2.

Festival of Heat

Here at The Amazing Blog, we have come across an event to spice up your weekend. The Festival of Heat is London’s leading Chilli Festival for the past 3 years, the work of Mercadito Productions. Heat-seekers everywhere join to celebrate various cultural uses for chilli, including the different eating, growing and cooking methods.

The Festival is attracting both aspiring and established talent; there will be producers, market traders and chefs from all over the UK. A few names you may recognise are hot pepper sauce brand Encona, Mushemi Fire, Zambian Chilli Products and Grim Reaper Foods Ltd. Encona will be this year’s sole sponsor of The Festival Kitchen, a fun and educational area with cooking demonstrations, food workshops and tasting activities for the whole family to enjoy. Whether its sweet and mild you’re after, or hot and fiery, Encona will have the sauce for you. They will also offer a range of delicious marinades to put life back into dull meal times; these are available in Korean BBQ, Jamaican Jerk BBQ and Moroccan Harissa. The exotic names are enough to make the mouth water.

Flavour Gurus from The World of Zing and Made in Hackney share their tips in master classes, workshops and demonstrations in the Festival Kitchen. In which you can learn ‘How to make a good curry’ and ‘Cooking with chilli to achieve the perfect heat’. For budding spice sellers, you can even pick up top tips on marketing your own hot sauce.

The Festival Kitchen Debate will hold several special guests, whom are to be announced. This is a hub of discussion around issues that affect us as consumers. You can have your own say on why we should buy from local producers and ask where it is our food comes from. If you want a break from all of this information, there will be DJs and bands providing music from across the world. There will surely be something to suit everyone as the music follows the multi-cultural theme, expect anything from live folk music to Bangladeshi dancing. In an ever growing multi-ethnic community it’s important to learn about different cultures, food and music are the social centres for most, making it the perfect place to start.

If you want a fun-filled and informative day out, make sure you attend the Festival of Heat  for just £7.50 per person, children under 16 go free if accompanied by an adult. The festival takes place on the 27th September 2015 in Red Market, London.​