Annual wine tasting with wine expert Nikki Welch

Saturday 12th October 2024, Caledonian Club, 9 Halkin St, London, SW1X7DR

Thank you so much for joining us on Saturday at our annual wine-tasting event at The Caledonia Club. We hope you enjoyed the afternoon filled with great cheer and the chance to connect with both old friends and new faces.

Nikki curated a fantastic selection of wines this year, and we’re thrilled to share the list with you below. We hope you discovered some new favorites!

We hope you enjoyed these selections and discovered some new favorites! Let us know which ones stood out to you.

Wines Served on Arrival

• The Wine Society’s Generation Series Prosecco Treviso Brut 2023 – £10.95 Available from Wine Society

Wine Tasting Selection

1. The Society’s Fino – £8.95Available from Wine Society
2. Denbies Flint Valley – £10.99 Available from Waitrose, Denbies Direct – currently £7.99   https://www.ticketisland.co.uk/i_eshop?bi=Denbies&id=15973
3. Basilicata Rosato Le Ralle, Alovini 2023 – £10.99 Available from Wine Society
4. Santa Julia Reserve Valle de Uco Bonarda 2022 – £10.99 Available from Waitrose
5. Cirò Rosso Gaglioppo, Santa Venere 2022 – £10.99 Available from: Wine Society

Wines Served After the Tasting

• Red: Amandla Shiraz Zinfandel – £9.99 (currently £7.49) Available from Waitrose, also at Sainsbury’s, Tesco
• White: Feudo Arancio Grillo, Sicilia 2021 – £7.49 Available from: Wine Society

A gastronomic adventure in Manchester

Saturday 21st September 2024

We all had a great time on the Scanchester Tour on Saturday! A group of 12 of us spent four hours walking around Manchester, guided by a local tour guide, sharing the city’s rich history while tasting various foods along the way. From fish tacos to brisket hash, everything was truly delicious and enjoyable!

Edinburgh Lunch Club

Saturday 31st August

Our Platinum Amici joined us for our Edinburgh Lunch Club at The Flavours Kitchen where Scott Johnston, our expert Scottish Chef, who cooked up a storm. It was an afternoon of great food, exquisite wine, and even better company!

Busi Jacobsohn Vineyard Tour

Busi Jacobsohn Estate, Eridge, Blackdon Hill, Crowborough TN3 9HX, Thursday 15th August 2024

We had a lovely day at the stunning Busi Jacobsohn Vineyard, where the owners treated us to an insider’s view into the world of winemaking. The day began with a tour of the vineyard, as we strolled through the beautiful vines, taking in the breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape. We chatted with owner Susanna and her husband Douglas, who shared their passion and expertise acquired over the years of running the vineyard. We gained invaluable insights into the art and science of winemaking as they revealed the secrets behind crafting the perfect bottle, from vine to glass.

After the tour and presentation, we enjoyed a guided tasting session, sampling some of the delicious wines. We then took a short trip to The Warren, a renowned local restaurant celebrated for its exceptional cuisine. There, we were served a two-course lunch, expertly crafted with the freshest, locally sourced ingredients. Whether we were wine enthusiasts eager to expand our knowledge or simply looking to savour a day of fine wine and food, this exclusive tour followed by lunch made for a truly memorable experience.

Royal Academy Summer Exhibition

Royal Academy, Burlington House, London, W1J 0BD, Tuesday 30th July 2024

We spent an enriching day together filled with art, culture, and foodie delights. Beginning in the historic halls of the Royal Academy, we were guided around the dazzling display of contemporary art by Art Teacher Mark, who provided insights and context throughout. From bold paintings to intricate sculptures, we were immersed in a world of creativity and imagination. After exploring the artworks, we ate a mouthwatering lunch at Jose Pizarro at the RA. This esteemed restaurant is the brainchild of acclaimed chef Jose Pizarro, known for his innovative approach to Spanish cuisine.

Urban sketching with Mark Holden

Home Grown, 44 Great Cumberland Place, Marylebone, London, W1H 7BS, Sunday 28th July 2024

We joined Mark Holden, Flavours Holidays’ resident art teacher at Homegrown Club in London and its charming surroundings. We had a great day experiencing a hands-on session where we learned the art of capturing the vibrant energy of urban landscapes on paper. Mark’s expert guidance inspired and elevated everyone’s sketching skills!

PLATINUM AMICI EVENT – Feast in the heart of the Cotswolds with Henry Herbert

Hobbs House Bakery, Nailsworth, 4 George St, Nailsworth, Stroud GL6 0AG, UK

We spent an unforgettable evening in the heart of the Cotswolds with Henry Herbert. Henry created an exquisite six-course menu using locally sourced ingredients, everything was delicious:

MENU

• Pork and Pistachio Terrine, Apricots
• Crab Beignets, Smoked Garlic, Cucumber
• Westcombe Ricotta Ravioli, Heritage Tomato
• Roast Old Spot, Lentils, Chard, Peas, Salsa Verde
• Final Temptations of Buttermilk Pudding with Peach or Raspberry Truffle

Each dish was perfectly paired with carefully selected wines.

Henry and his brother Tom are known as  The Fabulous Baker Brothers.

The brothers have been bringing the ultimate bread and meat combinations to you since 2012, with a series on Channel 4 and More4. When they were growing up Henry decided that Tom had the bread thing covered and that he wouldn’t follow his path but would become a chef.

Little did he know that, after a few successful years in London, that the two brothers would end up working next door to each other, Henry as the Butcher and Tom as the Baker. Find out more about the brothers at: https://www.hobbshousebakery.co.uk/pages/the-fabulous-baker-brothers

Fashion, Friendship and Flourishing

Home Grown, 44 Great Cumberland Place, Marylebone, London, W1H 7BS, Sunday 30th June 2024

We joined Trish McEvoy, as she divulged her industry secrets and makeup techniques

We were also thrilled to host Fiona Lambert, a vanguard of business and champion of women’s empowerment. She is known for her transformative roles at Next, Jaeger, and many others. Fiona shared her dressing tips with us.

As a beacon of positive aging, Fiona unveiled, “Invincible Not Invisible,” offering insights into her inspiring journey.

It was a day of stimulating discussions and connecting with the Amici community in a celebration of empowerment, inspiration, and networking.

Chelsea Physic Gardens & Lunch

Chelsea Physic Garden, 66 Royal Hospital Road, Chelsea, LONDON, SW3 4HS, Wednesday 12th June 2024 

What a lovely day! We had a private guided walking tour of the grounds, taking in a variety of botanical plants, followed by a lovely lunch. in the Venetian restaurant, Polpo.

Experimental Perfume Club experience

EPC Lab, 53 Monmouth Street, London WC2H 9DG,  Monday 10th June 2024

Our senses were delighted with an afternoon at The Experimental Perfume Club. We delved into the fascinating world of scent in this creative, hands-on, fun, and a expert-led workshop.

Cookbook Demo with Letitia Clark

Flavours Office, Dean Village, Wednesday May 29th, 2024

Author, Chef, and Sardinian resident, Letitia Clark shared her favourite Italian dishes with Amici guests in Edinburgh. Guests sampled seasonal dishes including sumptuous Orange Blossom and Honey Amarettis. The day was a great opportunity to network with other Amici guests and take home a signed copy of this vibrant cookbook.

Visit to Denbies Wine Estate

Denbies Wine Estate Ltd, London Road, Dorking Surrey RH5 6AA, Thursday 23rd May 2024

Amici Events 2024 got off to a great start on Thursday 23rd May at Denbies Wine Estate, one of England’s largest single estate vineyards, with an exclusive guided tour of their stunning vineyard and learn about their wine-making process. The tour was followed by a private wine tasting in their impressive cellar after which we enjoyed a delicious two-course lunch in their light and airy restaurant. We then wandered through the lush vineyards and took in the Surrey Hills’ beauty while learning about Denbies’ rich winemaking heritage. Join us for an insightful and indulgent day out to one of the UK’s leading wine producers, responsible for more than 10% of the UK-grown vines.

Turner in January at the National Gallery

Turner Exhibition of Watercolours Edinburgh, Thursday 11th January 2024

We had another successful trip to the National Gallery of Scotland in January, a small group got together with Pippa and Mark Holden to view the exhibition.

The watercolours are exhibited every year, free of charge, but only for January when the light is at its weakest. Since 1901, NGS has faithfully maintained this tradition and displayed the watercolours for the first month of the year only. So it is always a pleasure to see these watercolours displayed to such an exact standard. The room was light-painted, unlike previous years where the paintings had been displayed against a darker backdrop – for us this made the watercolours come alive. Taking time to ‘look’ we saw the figure in the right foreground of the painting that was gifted to Sir Walter Scott is a self-portrait of Turner himself, the painting of the view of Melrose with the Tweed winding off to the Eildon Hills all painted around Abbotsford – Scott’s home are only a few inches high.

We then took ourselves off for a well-earned coffee and cake and enjoyed a good catch-up in the Scottish Cafe.

West End Does Christmas 2023 – Cadogan Hall

We had a fun night out on Sunday 10th December 2023 at Cadogan Hall for West End Does Christmas 2023, in aid of the Dementia Choir

The hall itself is a gem – built in 1907 as a Christian Science Church with fantastic stain glass windows designed by a Danish nobleman. Hidden almost but in the heart of Chelsea – seating for 950 but it was a surprisingly intimate venue and we experienced a very real feeling of being part of the performance. We were a group of 12 to see the West End does Christmas 2023 – it was lovely to see our Guests and spend time together

The concert was a mix of contemporary and traditional carols and songs and included guest choirs from Stagebox Musical Theatre, Guildford School of Acting and Our Dementia Choir.

We all really had a great time and enjoyed all the singing, the atmosphere really helped to make us all feel like Christmas was coming !

We will be back again, so watch this space…

Pippa’s Christmas Workshop

Thank you to our Amici Wreath team for joining us on 20th November 2023 for our Christmas Workshop, in the office.
We had a productive morning. 13 wreaths were made and mince pies were eaten.

To quote one of our guests:
‘Who would not enjoy tangling a Virginia creeper and trimming a teasel while munching mince pies and sipping Prosecco? and for such a good cause! ‘

Grayson Perry | Smash Hits Exhibition at the National Gallery

We had a really interesting visit to the Grayson Perry exhibition on Thursday 2nd November 2023. Mark, one of our painting tutors, was joined by Pippa and eight Amicis to see the show. Visually impressive the show is definitely a talking piece – we enjoyed getting together for a natter over tea and cake afterward to share our thoughts.

Jenny Eclair at the Duchess Theatre, London

Another enjoyable evening watching Jenny Eclair at the Duchess Theatre on Monday 23rd October 2023.

London Wine Tasting Event 2023

Another fantastic wine-tasting event with Nikki Welch supported by the Flavours Team and some of our Italian team as well. 100  Amicis together at The Caledonian Club in Belgravia with wine chosen by Nikki from The Great Wine Company, an independent wine company celebrating 40 years this year.

This year we focused on Italian wine from the regions that we visit with our holidays. Nikki chose some unusual wines and it was interesting to try them and experience something new.

Lots of fun and reconnections were made!

Don’t forget you can get a 20% discount if you’re buying from The Great Wine Company.
Please contact us for more details.

London Wine Tasting Event 2022

We are delighted to say that our annual wine-tasting events made a comeback for 2022. Our favourite wine expert and founder of the Wine Tube Map, Nikki Welch, hosted our wine tasting and our favourite wine merchant, Tom Gilbey supplied the wines for us to taste chosen by Nikki.

It was a pleasure seeing our Amici in London at the Caledonian Club on Saturday 29th of October 2022.

2022 Edinburgh wine-tasting event

Some of our Amici joined us up in Edinburgh at the Flavours Holidays office to taste traditional Italian wines from various different regions! Nikki Welch was absolutely fantastic and taught us so much about the wines.

2019 Pasta Grannies Book Launch

We loved catching up with so many of you at our Pasta Grannies book launch events this winter. As many you know, our long-time host Livia is involved in the hugely successful Pasta Grannies project. We teamed up with her and Pasta Grannies founder Vicky Bennison at their cookbook launch evenings in London, Manchester, and Edinburgh. Below are some photos from the events.

2019 Travel Fair – Complimentary tickets for Amici guests.

Sponsored talks by Matthew Fort & Jenny Eclair.

2018 Event with Jenny Eclair at the Groucho Club in London

2018 Event with Matthew Fort at the Groucho Club in London