Small Is Beautiful: A Picnic in Grapes Hill Garden

Thursday July 10th, 5.30pm

Whilst Starmer & Reeves search ever more desperately for the growth lever, we’re celebrating the small – small batch production, small independent business and our favourite grass roots local community project.

We’ll be pouring six natural wines that are only available in small volumes, and which are exclusive to Substrata in the UK. We’ve selected beverages well suited to al fresco summer drinking, and to complete the picnic feel we have the pleasure of working once again with Rambling Roots, who have devised a mouth watering menu of plant based canapés to augment the tasting.

The menu:

Sparkling White: Gardunha Sul, Gatafunho Pop 2023 (12% –16 bottles left in the UK; rrp £25) Light and fresh, lightly sparkling. Yeasty; lemon & custard apple

Sparkling Red: Chateau Rioublanc, Pétillant Naturel, 2023 (12% abv –150 bottles in the UK; rrp £22.50) Lightly fizzy, with floral aromas and flavours of blackcurrant and blueberry. Easy going and fruity fizz  

Paired with a CANAPÉ of: Strawberry, basil & ricotta bruschetta – balsamic macerated strawberries, fresh basil, soya ricotta, extra virgin olive oil, toasted baguette

White: Smallfry Wines, Fool’s Gold Riesling 2024 (10.5% – 120 bottles in the UK; rrp £27) Off-dry (a little sweet), light and moreish; apple blossom, lime, nectarine.

Thai flavours Thai red curry oyster mushroom cake, with sweet chilli jam, and fresh mint, coriander & cucumber garnish

Orange: Gardunha Sul, Primeiras Gotas Fonte 2022 (13.5% – 28 bottles left; rrp £28) A bold, succulent and rich skin-contact/orange wine. Saline; lemon, apricot, and an appealing almond bitterness. Spring onion & almond cheese arancini, with lemon & garlic aioli

Rosé: Gardunha Sul, Primeiras Gotas Dark Rosé 2022 (12.5% – 18 bottles left; rrp £26) More light red in appearance, but with the clean freshness of a rosé. Distinctive flavours of hibiscus, rosewater, watermelon and umeboshi plum.

Little gem cup with tamarind & lime dressed chickpea, pomegranate, tomato & cucumber chopped salad

Red: Domaine La Lauzeta, Fantazia Syrah 2023 (14.5% abv – 400 bottles made! rrp £25) The deepest and darkest small batch red. Spicy, with notes of blackberries, black pepper, black olive and hints of farmyard

Caponata tartlet – a crisp pastry shell with a filling of rich & smoky charred aubergine, capers, olives & pine nuts

*Attendees can enjoy a 10% discount on the rrp when buying wine on the night*