3.2.16 Graham Hines Retires

A delightful man, Graham was director of the Sherry Institute in the UK for 21 years and a past director of Wines from Spain in London. He is a member of the Gran Orden de los Caballeros del Vino and a Sherry Educator. Consejo president Beltrán Domecq sent his best wishes while recognising and thanking him for his significant contribution to the promotion of Sherry in Britain, one of its principal markets. He said “The last 8 years have been decisive in the recovery of Sherry in Britain and it has been an honour to count on Graham to preside over such an important period in our history. Under his direction we have achieved a more solid position in the market with a record number of importers and bodegas represented as well as a growing number of styles of Sherry hitherto not so well known there.”

Beltran Domecq and Graham Hines with proper Sherry glasses

For his part Graham said that “With mixed feelings I decided to retire after a challenging, but at the same time gratifying, period in which I dedicated myself entirely to Sherry. I shall continue to follow its from close by and wish it great success in the future.” Angeline Bayly, who will take over Graham’s role, said “It has been a privilege to work with him for the last 7 years during which we have done much promotional activity, and I am grateful to him for all I have learned. We will miss his extraordinary knowledge but I am convinced that we can count on a fascinating and innovative campaign during 2016 based on the projects on which Graham worked so hard.” Angeline, who is the director of Bespoke Drinks Media, will take over Graham’s role as of now.

The Great Sherry Tasting, London 17.9.12

145 Sherries - the most ever assembled at a UK tasting!

What a tasting! In the presence of the president of the Consejo Regulador, Don Beltran Domecq Williams, (for whom "Sherry is not just a vocation, it is a passion") and Graham Hines, (president of the Sherry Institute of Spain in London, and a fellow "aficionado") we assembled for a tasting of epic proportions.

The venue, the Imagination Gallery, just off Tottenham Court Road was an interesting choice, easy to reach and in a nice area, on a nice day. But it was on the top floor, and while there were great views over London, one had to cross a metal bridge to reach the tasting area which I felt was rather small as the tasting was full (160 people), so hopefully they wouldn't all come at once, or it would be chaotic. Luckily when Beltran Domecq did his two talks, there was more room at the tasting. Not that I wanted to miss the talks, but I could hear them anyway while tasting!

The wines were well laid out according to style and (roughly) in ascending order of weight and body, starting with the Manzanillas. It is very difficult to decide on the order for such a tasting. For example, the Manzanillas start delicate and fresh then work up the scale through Manzanilla Pasada (older, fuller, more oxidised) to Manzanilla Amontillada (virtually Amontillado, from Sanlucar). Then you have to double back to begin with the lighter Finos again and work your way up the scale, but one can taste in any order one likes, dotting about as required, so no trouble really.

Unfortunately there were no bodega representatives there to discuss the wines with, which I felt was a missed opportunity, but then it would have taken much longer to get through the wines. Luckily I had tasted many before, so was able to concentrate on the rest. And there were some beauties! The following were my highlights:

Manzanilla en rama Goya XL, Delgado Zuleta
La Bota de Fino Macharnudo No. 35, Equipo Navazos
La Bota de Palo Cortado No. 34, Equipo Navazos
Palo Cortado Viejo CP, Valdespino
Palo Cortado VORS, Bodegas Tradicion
Palo Cortado Vintage 1982, Gonzalez Byass
Oloroso Pata de Gallina 1/38, Lustau
Venerable PX VORS, Osborne

I can only say that it was a wonderful tasting and a great opportunity to taste some hard-to-obtain wines. Given the drastically reduced budget, it was a spectacular success which I hope repaid the enormous efforts which had been gone to. Roll on the next tasting!!