When we think of wine, we think of picturesque and expansive vineyards of France, Italy, Argentina, and many other exotic climes far away from our very own City of Stories. But if you look closer, you’ll see that there’s a flourishing wine scene right on your doorstep here in East Anglia, and it’s been here since the Roman era!
That’s why, after a successful first year, Norwich Wine Week is making its return to celebrate all things wine this summer (Friday, June 14 – Saturday, June 22). Starting with a three-day festival in Chapelfield Gardens, the celebrations will then move across the city with The Showcase, where local businesses will get involved with their own wine-themed events! In this blog, you can find out more about The Showcase, including what’s on, where, when, and how much!
For more information on The Festival, you can find all you need to know in our blog here.
From Friday, June 14 – Saturday, June 22, Norwich Wine Week: The Showcase sees city venues hold exclusively designed events, tastings, and offers to commemorate wine for all tastes. Whether you’re an afficionado or completely new to the world of wine, these events will teach you different aspects of what goes into a good bottle with pairings, tasty meals, tastings, discounts and even talks around the city. Even if you’re not a lover of wine, you might just find an event to take your fancy!
For this year’s Showcase, there are a whopping 22 events happening around Norwich and Norfolk to bring you the best local and international wine on offer, so there’s plenty of opportunity to get involved! Below, you’ll find a list of every event, including all the details you’ll need to come along and enjoy! To book your tickets to these Showcase events, visit the Norwich Wine Week website.
Benedicts – Island Wines & Al Fresco Dining
Friday, June 14 – Saturday, June 22
St Benedicts Street
During Norwich Wine Week, Michelin Guide featured fine dining restaurant, Benedicts, will be showcasing their favourite island wines! Treat yourself to a wonderful glass of red, white, rosé, or fizz! Plus, if you accompany your glass with a selection of their small plates, you’ve got the perfect pairing for an al fresco meal out! Book your table on the Benedicts website!
Farmyard – Set Menu and Accompanied Wine Flight
Friday, June 14 – Saturday, June 22
St Benedicts Street
Further along St Benedicts Street, you’ll find Farmyard, another one of Norwich’s four Michelin Guide featured restaurants – and for good reason! For Wine Week this year, Farmyard will be putting on an exclusive set menu and accompanied wine flight. It’s all under wraps for now, but keep your eyes peeled for what’s on the menu, and get your table booked as soon as possible!
TipsyJar – Spritz Menu
Friday, June 14 – Saturday, June 22
Redwell Street
For Norwich Wine Week this year, there’s going to be a spritz menu takeover at TipsyJar. Enjoy a choice of Aperol Spritz, White Grape Hugo, or a Sauvignon Paloma, available for just one week! Best of all, if you visit on any day before 7pm, you can mix & match two for £14, making it perfect for a date night or evening out with friends!
The Wallow – Norwich Wine Week Discount
Friday, June 14 – Saturday, June 22
Exchange Street
If you love wine and have never visited The Wallow, you’re missing out. Here, you’ll find one of the finest wine selections in all of the city, and with their self-service wine dispensers, you’ll be able to explore their ever-changing array of wines in a relaxed and informal atmosphere. Plus, during Norwich Wine Week, you can get 25% off their Burn Valley and Provence (Domaine des Diables) vending machines during Norwich Wine Week! So, there really is no better time to visit and find your new go-to. Book your table on The Wallow website!
Britons Arms – Norwich Wine Week Dish
Friday, June 14 – Saturday, June 22 (£20)
Elm Hill
If you’re looking for a relaxed meal out and a fantastic wine pairing, Britons Arms have got you covered. Throughout Norwich Wine Week, this gorgeous Elm Hill restaurant have local white wine paired with steamed cod, prawns, and fennel. It sounds delicious, and is available for the whole week for £20! Book your table at The Britons Arms on their website!
Castle Social – Norwich Wine Week Discount
Friday, June 14 – Saturday, June 22
Castle Quarter
Whether you’re busy shopping at Castle Quarter, or have just finished one of their fantastic leisure activities, why not put your feet up for a quick wine stop at the Pinker & Green bar on level 3? They’ve specially curated a selection of wines to choose from, then you can relax on their sofas or enjoy the garden with a view of Norwich Castle! Plus, throughout Norwich Wine Week, you can enjoy 20% off all wines!
Melville & Mayell – Norwich Wine Week Discount and Informal Tastings
Friday, June 14 – Saturday, June 22
St Benedicts Street
Norwich-based wine merchants Melville & Mayell are getting involved in the fun of Norwich Wine Week this year, as they’re putting on a range of discounts and informal tastings! So, on a trip to the city during Norwich Wine Week, make sure you visit and speak to their friendly experts, who will help you find the perfect wine for you!
SquareGrapes – Norwich Wine Week Discount
Friday, June 14 – Saturday, June 22
Online
Local, family-owned wine merchants, SquareGrapes, are giving you the perfect excuse to stock your own wine cabinet with some fantastic bottles with a 25% discount on their exclusive wines throughout Norwich Wine Week! Their selection will spoil you for choice, with 21 wines to choose from!
Substrata and The Steam Packet – South of France Wine Dinner
Tuesday, June 18
Crown Road
Fantastic local merchants Substrata (find them on Norwich Market) are teaming up with The Steam Packet for a carefully curated south of France wine dinner, featuring the wines they import from Domaine La Lauzeta, a biodynamic estate in Saint-Chinian. The full menu and ticketing information will be released for this special evening soon, but in the meantime you can register your interest here!
Substrata will also be exhibiting at Norwich Wine Week: The Festival, so if you’d like to find out more, check out our blog here!
HarperWells and Flint Vineyard – Fun in the Sun Summer Tasting
Tuesday, June 18, 6pm – 8pm (£10 per person)
HarperWells, Ber Street
Join Norwich-based Wine Merchants, HarperWells, as they collaborate with Norfolk-based Flint Vineyard for the ‘Fun in the Sun Summer Tasting’. Hosted by Brian of HarperWells, you’ll try 2 whites, 2 reds, and 2 rosés that are all absolutely perfect for those summer picnics and barbecues. In addition, Dan Kirby of Flint will be showcasing their mighty fine wine selection. Best of all, this tasting costs just £10 per person! Book your space soon on the HarperWells website.
Sir Toby’s Beers – Wine Cocktails vs Beer Cocktails
Wednesday, June 19, 7pm, (£24.99 per person)
Norwich Market
You’ve had wine and beer on their own, but have you ever tried a wine or beer cocktail? It sounds incredibly interesting! This year, Sir Toby’s Beers are mixing up some creative cocktails with these two drinks for you to try and see who comes out on top. In this tasting, you’ll receive four cocktails per person (which you’ve most likely never tried before) to put to the test. This event costs £24.99 per person, with booking opening soon!
YALM – Emerging Regions with Steve Daniels
Wednesday, June 19 (£40 per person)
Royal Arcade
Take your place at a very special one-off event for Norwich Wine Week with YALM suppliers, Hallgarten Wines. Head Wine Buyer, Steve Daniels, will be helping you to explore wines from emerging regions in the private dining room. Taste 6 esoteric wines from these regions, paired with small plates from Eric Snaith and his team at YALM. Both a lunch and dinner session is available, but be sure to book quickly, as these two limited opportunities are sure to sell out quickly! Book your space here!
Bowling House – Wine Tasting and Film Screening
Wednesday, June 19
Dereham Road
How does wine and a good film sound? That’s the evening planned at Bowling House! On this one-off evening, you’ll join Sara of Berkman Wines for a delicious wine tasting accompanied by canapes to pair with each wine. Then, finish off the evening with a screening of the film ‘Sideways’. If you’re looking for a laid back, ambient tasting, this is the night for you! You can book your space onto this evening here.
Maids Head Hotel and Chet Valley Vineyard – Wine Tasting
Wednesday, June 19, 6:30pm – 8:30pm (£30 per person)
Tombland
Join John from local vineyard Chet Valley as he takes you through three of their best wines. In this tasting, you’ll see the passion and knowledge that goes into making a fantastic wine – it’s truly an unforgettable experience. On top of these three wonderful wines, you’ll enjoy a charcuterie board and cheese sharing platter – with tasting notes also provided! This event costs £30 per person, and why not make it a real night of luxury with an overnight stay at the Maids Head? For more information or to book your space on this wine tasting, call the Maids Head events team on 01603 272008 or email [email protected].
Chet Valley Vineyard are also exhibiting their wine selection at Norwich Wine Week: The Festival, so if you miss a place in this tasting, you can sample their tipples here!
The Last – A Taste of Burgundy
Wednesday, June 19, 7pm (£85 per person)
St George’s Street
Join an evening with one of The Last’s key producers – Michael Troy from Boisset in Burgundy, who has paired their wines Marsannay, Nuits-Saint-George and Pommard to a specially prepared menu from the Head Chef. The menu will have classical French undertones in a modern British style, and each course will be paired with a fine wine and accompanied by an explanatory talk-through from the producer! This event is limited in its numbers, but you can expect a few extra surprises from The Last’s chefs! This is a wonderful event for anyone passionate about both food and wine! This event costs £85 per person and can be booked on The Last’s website, or by calling 01604 626626!
Jarrolds and Chet Valley Vineyard – Local Wine and Cheese Tasting
Thursday, June 20, 6:30pm – 8pm (£36 per person)
Exchange Street
Don’t miss another of Chet Valley Vineyard’s wonderful tastings this year, as they team up with Norwich’s longest-running family-owned business, Jarrolds. Joined by owner and winemaker, John Hemmant, this evening will include the opportunity to sample and learn more about Chet Valley’s award-winning wines, including a preview of Jarrolds new and exclusive wine. These wines will also be paired with local cheese from Jarrolds’ instore Cheese Room; expertly selected by their Food Hall Buyer, Judith. For wine lovers and supporters of local produce, this is the ultimate event!
The Last – A Taste of Italy
Thursday, June 20, 7pm (£65 per person)
St George’s Street
What better way to spend an evening than with interesting wine, fantastic food, stories, and background on how to pair wine with food? Historic Norwich restaurant and bar, The Last, has teamed up with one of their favourite Italian producers, Castello di Buttrio, to match interesting wines perfectly with this delicious menu made by their Head Chef. Expect ‘hidden gems’, entertaining discussion, and a delicious dinner! Book your space on this delightful evening for £65 per person by visiting The Last website or calling 01603 626626!
Yalm and Flint Vineyard – Grazing and Masterclass
Thursday, June 20, 5:30pm – 10:30pm (£20 – £60 per person)
Royal Arcade
The award-winning Flint Vineyard will be joining YALM for their second showcase of Norwich Wine Week, as they share their incredible wines, made in Suffolk. With grazing and masterclass tickets available, there will be something for everyone.
The grazing tickets include an informal showing of the fantastic Flint range with some nibbles included from Yalm vendors. This ticket costs £20 per person!
Meanwhile, the masterclass ticket includes a tutored tasting with Dan Kirby, plus a special collaboration menu from Yalm vendors – which is sure to be a delicious meal! This ticket costs £60 per person. Both tickets can be booked here!
Benedicts – Women in Wine-Making with Berkmann Wine Cellars
Thursday, June 20, arrival from 6:30pm
St Benedicts Street
For one night only, the talented chefs of Benedicts will be designing a bespoke menu to pair perfectly with specially selected wines. So, sit back and enjoy these wonderful new flavours while learning all about women in wine-making! Right now, the menu and wines to come are all under wraps, but to say you’ll be pleasantly surprised is an understatement! Booking for this wonderful evening will open soon, so keep your eyes peeled!
Kuoni Norwich – Wine Tasting & Tours
Thursday, June 20, 6pm – 8pm
John Lewis, Westlegate
When it comes to international wines, who better to take you through a tasting than international travel agent, Kuoni Norwich? Hosted in partnership with Jules Verne Tours, Abby will be showcasing the top European tours on offer that have been paired with Waitrose Wine. So, you not only get to try some tasty new wines, but you can also gain some inspiration for your next holiday! That sounds like a perfect evening to us.
