The dynamic duo of Decanter Men of the Year, Steven Spurrier MW (2017) and Eduardo Chadwick (2018) joined forces in London and Paris last week to host the first Into the Future masterclasses championing fine wines from Chile and the UK.
This is the start of a new global initiative by Spurrier and Chadwick, who enjoy helping the world expand their knowledge of fine wines. The London event was held at the exclusive London members only wine club 67 Pall Mall followed the next day by a tasting with Spurrier’s L’Académie du Vin at Le Taillevent Restaurant in Paris.
The seated Masterclasses had Eduardo Chadwick flying the flag for his top wines from Viña Seña and Viña Errázuriz and Steven Spurrier showing the rosé from his English Sparkling wine vineyard, Bride Valley and two of his favourite English sparkling wines.
The full line included:
- Bride Valley, Dorset (Spurrier’s wine); Nyetimber, Sussex; Wiston Estate, Sussex
- Errázuriz Don Maximiano Founders Reserve; Seña; Viñedo Chadwick (the first 100 Point wine from Chile, James Suckling); Errázuriz Kai; Errazuriz Las Pizarras Chardonnay and Pinot Noir
Steven Spurrier comments: “The two Into the Future” Master Classes showed the same wines, but were very different in presentation. At 67 Pall Mall Eduardo Chadwick and I presented the English and Chilean wines to a sold-out room of the Club’s members, all of whom were as impressed as we had hoped. At Taillevent in Paris we gave a brief introduction, but the presentation of the wines was in the hands of Uber-sommelier Georges Lepré and Taillevent wine director Antoine Petrus, in front of a group of merchants and press. Neither M. Lepré nor M. Petrus had ever tasted these wines before and there was no need for them to be polite to their hosts, for the quality was evident in every glass. It is fair to say that in London, this was a confirmation, while in Paris it was a revelation. “
Eduardo Chadwick summed up the evenings: “It was very interesting to showcase to wine lovers and wine professionals in London and Paris respectively and to surprise them with the harmony, balance and overall quality of our wines, especially the French sommeliers who are not used to tasting wines from Chile.”
The two are now looking east and plan to take the masterclasses with a varied selection of top Chilean and English wines to Tokyo and Beijing showing a varied range of wines in each country.
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