Ask an expat why they chose to spend the rest of their days in a foreign country, moving away from everything & everyone they know & into an unfamiliar land and you’ll often get the same top three answers: the climate, the slower pace of life & the food and drink. For me the latter was high on my plus points list and more specifically it was the wine.
Spanish wine has had a place in my heart for years. Whilst on holiday in the north of Spain I passed through Rioja and visited some of the oldest and most revered bodegas of this world-famous region and I fell in love.
From the cobweb lined cellars to the musty smell of a barrel room I just wanted to immerse myself in the history, the stories and of course, the wine.
When I returned to Manchester I threw myself into my studies and gained the qualifications I needed to edge my way into the world of wine. I soon discovered that the real joy, for me, was sharing my passion for this ancient libation with others. More than that I wanted to help change the way people saw wine tastings. I thought they should be fun, they should be an adventure, a journey into the unknown & an experience for the senses. I started to run tastings back in rainy Manchester, England but something wasn’t quite right.
“Wonderful afternoon of tasting! I felt I was amongst friends, a luxurious, informed & friendly space was expertly created by Linda & co. I am curious about wine but no expert, information shared through storytelling was fascinating, questions responded to with enthusiasm. Lovely way to learn & meet new friends!”
I wanted to immerse myself further into this culture of tradition & heritage, of vineyards passed down through generations and of such respect for the grape, the careful nurturing of the vine and the intense yet seemingly effortless focus of crafting it.
And so, as the UK shifted politically at the end of 2020 we hot footed it over to Malaga, Spain whilst we still had the chance. I can tell you this much, I have no regrets.
It didn’t take long for Winederlust to spring to life. ‘Wine for the People’ would be my slogan. No pretence, no fussiness or stuffiness. Just great wines shared with good people through storytelling and of course plenty of tasting.
So now we run Spanish wine tastings under the glorious sun and share their stories with fellow wine lovers. Our web store offers the wine we show along with mixed cases to help people get to know new styles and push the boundaries of their wine comfort zones. Our Vine Club lands monthly cases of wine at your door to help you on your journey of discovery & support small artisan bodegas at the same time.
There is so much more to Spanish wine than the house Rioja & Verdejo at every other bar. Let us show you what treasures are just beyond those supermarket shelves! Head over to our Winederlust Malaga website for more information.
