Taste With Me

I’d really like to meet you and talk to you about natural wine, whoever you are. This vine branch is all about providing information about places I’ll be so that you can, if you feel so inclined, come taste with me.

I’ve designed a couple of natural wine lists so you can check those out. For real fine dining at a 2-star Michelin restaurant, there’s Hibiscus. I’m really proud of our list there and Romain Henri, the Head Sommelier, will take care of you a treat.

I also give wine classes (all natural of course) at Divertimenti and have a Supper Club.

Most importantly, if you can’t be bothered leaving the house and would prefer drinking natural wine at home, then check out my wine box.

Restaurants

Hibiscus

In autumn 2010 Claude Bosi asked me to redo the wine list at his 2-star Michelin restaurant in Mayfair. It was a gorgeous thing to get to do. I helped him hire a brilliant Head Sommelier who is as crazy about natural wines as I am and I gutted Claude’s list completely. Hibiscus’ list is now nearly all natural, the first Michelin-starred restaurant in the UK to do so, and it boasts its very own orange wine selection. As Claude says, “now thanks to Isa we have reds, whites and oranges!”

I’m hoping to see lots more top end restaurants going this way, after all these are not cookie cutter wines, they’re authentic, delicious and exciting and are really the only thing worth drinking alongside truly exceptional food.

Be sure to book well in advance for dinner as spots fill up really fast – but a great tip is try lunch. Phenomenal food for a very reasonable price! Their tel number is: 0207 629 2999.

Fox & Grapes

This gastropub belongs to Claude Bosi (of 2-star Michelin Hibiscus fame) as well and is run by his brother, Cedric. It’s on Wimbledon Common and only just opened in February 2011. I was asked to sort out the wine list with Romain, Hibiscus’ Head Sommelier, and we managed to sneak quite a few low intervention wines onto the list.

I’ve annotated it so that you know which of the wines are natural in case you fancy stopping by for a drink and some grub. Alternatively the un-annotated version is available on the pub’s website online.

The Supper Club

These suppers are a real pick and mix because like that it’s far more exciting all round and it’ll be a great opportunity to try all sorts of fine, natural wines against all sorts of great foodie backdrops.

Sometimes we’ll be munching our way through Michelin-starred meals, other times we might be out at a private member’s club or even perhaps a BYO. We’ll definitely eat well but above all else I promise we’ll drink incredibly. Wherever we go, the chef and I will design a tasting extravaganza so that it’ll get your taste buds working like never before.

And sometimes, if one’s in town and we’re very lucky, we might even get the winemaker to come along.

The Wine School

I founded the Wine School @ Divertimenti in Marylebone about six years ago. They’re a Cookery School cum cooking shop and they kindly gave me a space in amongst the pots and pans to teach people all about wine. I’ve done all sorts of classes over the years and they’ve always been really supportive.

Now, after my becoming a born-again natural wine aficionado, they’ve been totally behind me yet again. All my classes now focus on fine, natural wines from around the world. I’m also doing a variety of food and wine classes with a selection of great chefs.

Ask Isa

Why not hook up with me on Facebook, Twitter or Skype?

You can just follow and listen or you can ask me any questions you might have. I’m really happy to help out and would genuinely love to hear from you.

Alternatively, if you can’t be bothered with pfaffing around on social networks, check out my Vine Blog. There are bitesize written thoughts, videos and photos so you’re sure to find some wine inspiration there.

And if you want it even easier than all of that and are willing to give my palate the benefit of the doubt there’s always my wine box… like that I can buy wine for you directly.