9 Merseyside virtual tasting sessions you can enjoy at home

We can’t get put to the pub or our favourite bar at the moment – but they can come to us!

There are loads of online tasting evenings coming up, from wine and whisky, to gin and beer, so we can have a great night ‘out’ from the comfort of our own homes.

So, let’s raise a glass to some of the wonderful people who’re keeping us entertained and our spirits topped up!

Ropes & Twines’ – Vegan Virtual Wine Tasting

Saturday, January 30 – 7pm

It costs £35 for 6 vegan chocolate bonbons and 5 wines that have been paired by Remy (Ropes & Twines’ chocolatier) and Helena (their wine connoisseur) specifically to complement each other. The extra bonbon is a dessert!

The boxes will be delivered this week, leading up to the tasting and links for the Zoom event will be sent out on the day of the tasting. Remy and Helena will start the tasting at 7pm, discussing the products and what you can expect from the flavours/aroma etc.

Tickets are available here.

Whisky Business

Friday, February 5 & 12 – 7.30pm

Another lockdown means they’re keeping things online – ‘maybe one day we’ll be able to do these in person again!’ – and, if you haven’t joined the Berry Street folk before, their sessions run from 7:30pm.

They deliver five whisky samples direct to your door, and its host direct to your screens.

The next two sessions are ‘Region to Region: A Scottish Whisky Tour’ which looks at the characteristics each area brings, and ‘The Taketsuru Story’, which looks at the birth of Japanese whisky as told through its founding father, Masataka Taketsuru.

It’s an open conversation on Zoom and you can ask all the questions you want in between sips. It costs £35 per pack – or £60 for a double pack.

To find out more about these and other tastings or to book go to the website here.

Lunya Virtual Abba-themed Spanish Food, Drink & Music Quiz (Zoom)

Friday, February 12th – 7pm

You can dance, you can jive – you can have the time of your life … with this Abba-themed online evening courtesy of the lovely people at Catalonian restaurants, Lunya and Lunyalita.

If you want something that is just great fun and sociable, then this is for you. There are questions on food and drink, and the live music round will be in the very capable hands of master Flamenco guitarist Alex Mackenzie who’ll be playing 10 abba songs Flamenco style, culminating in a huge sing and dance-along – so wear your best attempt at Abba fancy dress or just get out your old ‘70s glad rags.

It is £25 per person and, for that, you get all the food and drink for the quiz, plus a make-your-own deli platter of goodies and bottle of wine (per 2 people), as well as entrance into the quiz.

Pickled Olive, Woolton

Saturday, January 30 – 8pm

Join the Woolton Street cocktail bar virtually as it explores ‘some smashing wines from Argentina’.

They’ll have an aromatic Semillon, a warm and spicy Cabernet Franc and ‘of course a big fella’ – Malbec! – all of which will be paired with some tasty little nibbles and all delivered to your door.

Packages costs £75 for all three bottles and food pairing, and £30 for a glass package where you’ll get a 250ml glass of each wine and food pairing.

It’s getting busy this one so to book your space drop them a message on Facebook or email kat@thepickledolive.co.uk

The Dead Crafty Beer Company, Liverpool City Centre

Whenever’s good for you!

The Dale Street company reckons a Dead Crafty virtual beer tasting is a great way to spend night in lockdown – and we wouldn’t argue.

They say, if you like beer, want to learn about different styles, taste new breweries and have a good laugh over Zoom, then get in touch. The DCBC can tailor each tasting pack to suit your group or household’s needs, whether it be alcoholic or non-alcoholic, gluten and/or lactose-free, or vegan.

The tasting costs £30 for 5 different styles of beer, from 5 different breweries from all over the world – a non-alcohol tasting is £17 – increasing in strength as the tasting progresses. Owners Vicky and Gareth, and local brewing guide Ben, take you through each beer and are on hand to answer any questions.

The tasting lasts around 2-3hrs. So, ‘if you want a night out on your sofa, then let us bring the bar to you! Sound good?’ Email them for more details at deadcraftybeerco@gmail.com

The Friday Night Gin Club, Wirral – Beer & Gin Tasting

Friday, February 12 – 7pm

Join the Brimstage beer and gin company for ‘a fully-hosted great night of craft beer and gin tasting’ where they’ll guide you through four great beers and gins from the comfort of your own sofa!

It costs £16 for a pack of four craft beers or £16 for a pack of four craft gins – or £30 if you choose to select a pack of each – and, for that, its panel of experts will take you on a fun tasting experience and there’ll be a quiz and prizes during the evening which will run from 7pm to 8.30pm on both YouTube and Facebook.

For more info or to book go to the website here.

Bacchus Wine Tasting

Friday, February 5 – 8pm

Bacchus invite you to tap into professional and fun wine tasting entertainment direct to your home. Throughout February it’s focusing on New World Wines, the first stopping off in South America with ‘Viva Argentina’.

You can enjoy, they say, a superb white and red wine from the region (and there’s also a sparkling wine available to make up a trio should you wish). Argentine Luis Vico is joining the session live as Bacchus discuss the wines of his homeland.

The Duo (including a white and red) is £35 per household, and for the Trio (adding a bottle of sparkling Malbec), it’s £60.

Delivery across Merseyside is free. To book email them at bacchuswinetasting@gmail.com or contact them on Twitter or Facebook.

One Foot in the Grapes – discover wines via Zoom!

Bespoke dates to suit you

Gather your family and friends and join Jane Clare, aka One Foot in the Grapes, for a relaxed evening discovering your favourite grape varieties. You can pick from a jaunt around grapes like chardonnay, pinot noir, cabernet sauvignon, or Riesling – or a favourite theme is definitely fizz, whether it’s prosecco or champers. Or maybe you’d like a mix and match of wines – it’s your choice.

Jane will set up a bespoke Zoom gathering for you at only £5 a head (minimum £55), and all you have to do is buy a bottle to suit the theme and away you go! In 90 minutes, Jane will share the basics of wine tasting, grape variety facts, wines to look out for on the Big Shop, and food and wine pairing tips.

If you want to go a step further, then Jane can help you gain a qualification in wine, so you can impress your friends with your new wine know-how! The Crosby-based One Foot in the Grapes is an approved programme provider for the Wine & Spirit Education Trust.

To book, or for more info, email jane@onefootinthegrapes.co.uk or go to the website https://www.onefootinthegrapes.co.uk/

The Fermentation Station

Saturday, February 6 – 2-3pm

It wasn’t how The Fermentation Station had originally planned its Water Kefir workshop … “but we couldn’t wait any longer and we are sure you’re sick of your four walls by now”.

The workshop will include an introduction to Water Kefir (fermented, fruit-infused water), its heritage and health benefits, how TFS invented its flavours, a sneak-peek at its Spring 21 offering and a live tasting.

As this is their first workshop and they can’t be with you in person, they’re offering a reduced price – so grab it quick. The workshop is £7.50 per person, and all those attending will be emailed a Zoom link 48 hours before the workshop.

If you want to take part in the live tasting they reckon you should order your Water Kefirs by Wednesday (January 27) to ensure that they arrive in time. The Water Kefir Collection costs £18 (with a discount, not including shipping) and individual Kefirs are currently on offer for a discounted price too (use code TREATME10).

More info here.