Last night saw the launch of the Hardys ‘1853 Club’ in London. The pop-up wine bar experience designed to celebrates the nation’s apparently rediscovered love for Chardonnay and International Chardonnay Day, which if you didn’t know (No we didn’t either) is Friday, 23rd May.
We were invited to the VIP preview launch which was attended by musician and award-winning cheese producer, (not two things we’d naturally put together) Alex James, whose artisan (musical?) cheeses, ‘Alex James Presents’, have been especially paired with a selection of Hardys Chardonnays. Guests got to enjoy this specially curated menu of cheese and wine and took part in Chardonnay tasting sessions, led by wine expert and blogger, Miss Bouquet. Though somehow we never got to do the tasting session, so we never found out if his cheese would have actually be music to our taste buds.
Chardonnay has experienced something of a chequered past thanks to negative perceptions in popular culture, which everyone seems to blame poor Bridget Jones for. Today, however, people are starting to rediscover the grape with a recent survey by Hardys, revealing that 18% of people are drinking more Chardonnay than they were a year ago.
At the event, Alex James said, “It was a wonderful celebration of two of my favourite things – wine and cheese. I was always a fan of red wine with cheese, but all the Hardys whites tonight worked very nicely – a great way to enjoy the chardonnay revival.”
Wine expert and Hardys ambassador, Miss Bouquet, added, “Chardonnay is enjoying a real resurgence in popularity, and the selection from Hardys demonstrates how just much variety there is. It is the perfect wine to enjoy on a warm summer’s day and goes fabulously with cheese as well as many other picnic foods.”
Conclusion: We loved the bar area, the decor and vibe was worth popping in for alone especially with it being so close to Leicester Square. While we sadly cannot comment or review the wine and cheese tasting, the nibbles we did get to try were rather lovely. So if you’re a wine lover and want to fall back in love Chardonnay it’s worth the effort, it’s also worth the effort to go to the wine tasting, if only to gloat to us afterwards.
The Hardys ‘1853 Club’ is open to the public until Saturday 24 May, from 4-11pm. Budding sommeliers and wine fans can ease into the bank holiday weekend and sample the extensive menu of Hardys’ Chardonnays, alongside deliciously matched canapés, all in a specially-designed modern take on a London wine bar. Guests will also have the unique opportunity to experience intimate, light-hearted and engaging Chardonnay tasting sessions, hosted by Miss Bouquet, though these must be booked in advance.
Hardys 1853 Club, The White Space, Great Newport Street, WC2H 7HY
23rd & 24th May, free entry
Book tastings via www.Hardys1853Club.eventbrite.co.uk
The Hardys ‘1853 Club’ coincides with the launch of a new online shop of the same name, where consumers can purchase a range of premium Hardys wines online –www.Hardys1853Club.com. Hardys flagship and award winning Eileen Hardy Chardonnay will be amongst other premium Hardys wines available to buy online.
