Well that was A-LOT of fun!
Speakeasy Club started with a few friends sharing some fantastic wines, and opening up some about personal challenges through lockdown.
With sport and wine being huge passions of ours it was inevitable that we would bring them together at some stage.
On the 13th July at the Old Penarthians Rugby Club we hosted the very first #winetastingthroughsport evening. We were joined by Wales & British/Irish Lions legend Mike Phillips with the evening themed around South Africa. It coincided nicely with the Hockey Wales Senior Mens and Women sides, along with the Wales senior mens rugby squad taking on their South African counterparts.
Led by our local wine expert Nat Williams from there Bottle shop in Penarth, we tasted 5 superb South African wines ( 1 sparkling, 2 white & 2 red) learning plenty along the way.
After a top up off everyone’s favourite wine, we were delighted to talk to Mike Phillips and hear all about his time in rugby, particularly his experiences playing in and against fearsome South African opposition.
To round off the night we enjoyed sampling 4 other wines specially secreted by Nat. See below for the full wine list from the evening (all available from the Bottle shop in Penarth, Roath & Pontcanna)
| No | Style | Producer | Wine | Grape | Country |
| 1 | Spk | The Liberator | Episode 30 Come Quickly I Am Drinking The Stars | 60% Chardonnay 40% Pinot Noir | Napier South Africa |
| 2 | W | The Liberator | Francophile Chenin Blanc | Chenin Blanc | Stellenbosch South Africa |
| 3 | W | Jordan | Barrel Fermented Chardonnay | Chardonnay | Stellenbosch South Africa |
| 4 | R | David Finlayson | The Pepper Pot | 59% Syrah 19% Mouvedre 13% Grenache 9% Tannat | Stellenbosch South Africa |
| 5 | R | Post House | The Penny Black | Shiraz 32%, Merlot 29%, Cabernet Sauvignon 27%, Petit Verdot 6% and Chenin Blanc 6% | Stellenbosch South Africa |
| 6 | W | Iona | Sauvignon Blanc | Sauvignon Blanc | Elgin South Africa |
| 7 | W | Vasco + The Explorers | Dry Muscat | Muscat | St Helena Bay Franschhoek South Africa |
| 8 | R | The Liberator | Francophile Syrah | Syrah | Stellenbosch South Africa |
| 9 | R | The Liberator | Episode 35 Dial P For Pinot | Pinot Noir | Simonsberg- Paarl South Africa |
Big thanks to our book partner Griffin Books who brilliantly sourced a number of Mike’s book ”Half Truths” which were sold on the night with 100% profits going to mind Cymru.
Plans for the next #winetastingthroughsport evenings in the autumn are well under way so stay tuned and we look forward to welcoming you to the clubhouse soon.
Take care and Speak Easy
Simon
