Manchester's best shops, Ochin Clovis hosts a wine fair + more!
What’s the craic?
Welcome back to the Natural Swill wineletter.
As always - thank you kindly for subscribing! We have some juicy news for you today, so stay tuned.
Today it’s all about current news in the natural wine scene; Manchester’s Finest list of the best wine shops in Manchester. Ochin Clovis debuts his first natural wine fair - ‘NATURALL’, in collaboration with Massimo of Partida Creus, and I touch on my first appearance at ‘The Good Life Society’ festival hosting a natural wine tasting!
‘NATURALL’ wine fair makes its home debut!
A collaboration wine fair hosted by natural wine advocate Ochin Clovis and Massimo of Partida Creus - NATURALL, makes its debut this year.
19 winemakers will attend the fair; Clos Lentiscus, De Babass, La Boheme, Antonio Gismondi, Hannes & Claudio, Les Valseuses, La Rural, Aurelien Lefort, Emilie Mutombo, Partida Creus, JC Garnier, Can Libero, Hannah Fuellenkemper, Julie Balagny, Renaud Bruyere, Adeline Houillon, Elementterre, Benoit Rosenbeger and Verre de Terre.
Saturday, February 5th, 10 am - 6 pm are the most important details... as well as the location - ‘Le moulin de drapas’ in Anjou, France.
The idea is simple, pure juice…nothing else…no bulshit. NATURALL is the start of a movement that will help and provide the best juice and the best humans that in my point of view, are the most important things in wine. This year we start with our friends, my peoples; the one’s who have always shown love and are a part of my life… we are family!
Manchester’s Finest ‘best wine shops’.
A listicle was recently posted on the best wine shops in Manchester, by the team at Manchester’s Finest which features natural wine establishments such as Isca in Levenshulme, Ad-Hoq in the Northern Quarter and of course, Flawd in New Islington.
Be warned! This is a mix between natural and conventional wine bars/shops - a factor I have no problem with.
I see this roundup as a kind of ‘ultimate guide’ curated by Kelly Bishop; it’s reliable, factual, and should be helpful for newcomers to Manchester.
Most of these small wine merchants offer regular tasting events, so a visit to one of them counts as an educational journey, not just a piss up, honest. They often double as bars and sometimes even restaurants, making them the ideal night out especially if you want to take the best kind of goody bag home with you afterwards.
My upcoming appearance at The Good Life Society festival.
The Good Life Society festival is an independent festival that celebrates the outdoors, disappearing crafts, art, design, ideas and food.
The festival runs for four consecutive weekends, the first being the 7th - 10th of July and is limited to 125 people.
I will be hosting an intimate, enjoyable natural wine tasting at the festival on the 9th of July and would love to see you there!
The days are filled with workshops and activities, and then the evenings are spent enjoying amazing dinner cooked over the fire, after which there are talks and/or music. It’s a place to unwind, learn new things, and meet like-minded people… in short, it’s great.
As always, I hope this has reached you well and you managed to cypher some form of insight out of the wineletter. Your continued support is so appreciated and don’t forget if you enjoy this newsletter - tell a friend, or even better, tell a friend to tell a friend!
Eoghan