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Liverpool Independent Wine Festival Recap

Two weeks ago some friends and I took ourselves off to the first ever Liverpool Independent Wine Festival. We’re talking vendors from across the city under one roof, showing off all their best wines mixed with delicious snacks and live Jazz - what’s not to love?

Set-up like a beer fest in the beautiful Baltic Warehouse, we were given a glass and tokens on arrival with the option to buy more if we needed to (we needed to). We were spoiled for choice with all of the best wine bars from around the city waiting for us, so we got cracking.

I made an effort to try wines that I don’t drink as often, so although I did have two glasses of a gorgeous red, I did also sample an unusual Orange wine, some very beautiful whites and one stunning Vermouth which was a first for me.

Let’s talk about this Vermouth. WOW. The one I tried was a Spanish one from Paso Primero and had distinct herbal notes. For a first dabble in Vermouth, I was very impressed and would buy it again for sure. It was slightly sweet, rich and dark and had that interesting earthy finish from the herbs. It went down a treat with the super fresh Oyster from Bitter Social too. 10/10 would Vermouth again.

Introducing SpaceCat (a.k.a. Felicette Blanc). I’d only tried the Rose of this wine before, so I was thrilled to be able to try the white. Created and named in honour of the kitties sent in to space, this wine is crisp and fruity. It’s a super easy drinker and worked a treat with the cheeseboard we were nailing at the time. This would be a great host gift, one to bare in mind if you’re heading to someone’s home for Christmas dinner this year.

Honourable mention to the Red I went back for seconds for, Mas Donis Negre. Hailing from Petit Cafe du Coin, this one is soft and fruity and very easy to drink. It’s a Grenache/Syrah blend, a lovely one to pick up to have with dinner at home for sure.

Last but not least, I couldn’t talk about this festival without mentioning the delicious snacks that were on hand, including not only a top notch cheeseboard, but also a RACLETTE! Melty, gooey, cheese-y, potato-y, pickle-y goodness from the Liverpool Cheese Company. This is before the Croquettes and Oysters from Bitter Social. It was indulgent for sure.

I hope that this festival comes back again, it was such a great day with a lovely atmosphere. If you get the chance you should make the trip, it’s another great asset to our beautiful city, and it’s great to see so many passionate people under one roof.

Salut!